The Ride

It’s called “The Great Ocean and Otway Classic”, it’s over. The reason for the training is done. For now…

It started with a knock on the door at 6:00am. It was our cycling colleague, come to take us all to Geelong for the start of the big event. It planned to be a big day with 3000 having registered to ride. We drove down to Geelong, found a park, lathered up with sun-screen, gave our bikes one last check over, made sure we had our food and fluid then rode down to the starting line. There were quite a few milling around, applying the final coat of sun-screen and fixing inevitable punctures. The event was running about 5 minutes late and while we waited we spotted the guy that dragged the Lamborghini away from the lights on the ATB ride, so we figured we were in good company.

Eventually, at about 7:35, the horn was sounded for our group, which was the “less than 6.5 hours” contingent. I’d never experienced the sound of about 500 riders all clipping their cleats into their pedals at the same time before and I was quite impressed. As we climbed up into Geelong proper from the beach, we found ourselves a nice easy pace in among the main pack, or I should say, “the peloton” (it sounds so much better when you say it like that).

We headed out of Geelong on the stretch up to Moriac where the 90km event riders turned left and headed back toward Geelong. We had a quick stop for the purposes of relief, then continued on into the Otway Ranges for the climb to the top.

I found the country roads a bit interesting. It really is quite amazing the amount of resistance there is on those rough country roads. At one point we were all coasting along nicely on some nice smooth bitumen, then we hit the rough stony stuff and dropped a good 10km/h. I thought that was a bit unfair, especially since we were going to be climbing on this sort of surface. But, there was nothing to be done about it, so it was head down and pedal.

Then we started on the hills. Having come off my bike the Sunday before the event and hurt my shoulder rather badly, I hadn’t been able to do any training that last week so figured I was in for a torrid time, especially since I’d also done no real hill climbing in the lead up at all. Hill climbing is best done at your own pace, so my two comrades and I soon found ourselves separated, with me lagging way behind.

I knew there was a big one coming (see the course profile here) so I couldn’t help but think that we’d done the biggy when I got to the top of each one totally out of breath. Trouble was that we were riding through some rather spectacular rain forest which made seeing the lay of the land a little difficult. The other problem is that the Otways have managed to space their climbs so that there’s not quite enough down between the ups for an unfit old bugger to catch his breath in between.

When I finally reached the big one however, I knew it. There was something just a little different here. It hurt more than the others and my lowest gear didn’t quite seem to be low enough. Still, there was nothing for it so I resolved myself to slow painful climb to the top. I’d be able to rest soon enough, so best just to get there. So much for the lovely rain forest…

I discovered during this ascent, that I don’t like hills with curves in them. You can’t see the top of the damn things so there’s no way to judge how much longer the torture is going to continue. Anyway, I was almost at the top, just a couple more turns to go, according to the more seasoned riders that were overtaking me, when I got the most spectacular cramp I’ve ever had in the front of my left thigh. I had to stop and stretch. When I tried to stretch however, my left calf and the back of my left thigh also cramped. It was then, once I’d put all my weight on my right foot, that my right leg decided it needed to severely cramp as well. At that stage there was nought to do but to sit down, shake my legs out and wait for it to pass. After that I thought I’d better do something different with my legs for a bit, so I walked for about 5 minutes, just to ease the cramps out a bit more. It worked and I was back on my bike, to the cheers of some more passers-by.

I have to admit, the encouragement of my fellow cyclists was fantastic. The worst I heard from anyone going past was “Good work, not far to go” when really, they could have got stuck right in because I was completely unprepared. But no, not one single bad word was heard, not even when I was walking. Mind you, I wasn’t the only one and there were plenty better bikes than mine being pushed.

So it was that when I overtook another walker with a much more expensive bike, I figured I must have the strength back to ride. I climbed back on and yes, sweet bliss, my legs didn’t hurt much at all. Another couple of turns and there it was, the crest. My colleagues were dutifully waiting for me at the top, so I took a little time here to get off and stretch some more, then it was into the descent into Lorne.

Now wasn’t that just a little bit of fun. A constant 55 – 60km/h with a top speed of 70 as we rolled down the hills and flew through the corners yelling “How good’s this!” at the top of our lungs. I’m pleased to report that my new wheels are quite impressive. I managed to out-coast people who were pedalling and that takes good hubs. Seriously good hubs considering the bikes I was overtaking. Then it was into Lorne to top up the water and Gatorade before we tackled the Great Ocean Road.

Now isn’t that just spectacular. Yes, there’s a few hills, but nothing as bad the mountains we’d just come through, but once again it was a matter of finding that comfortable cadence and sticking with it. We went through Fairhaven and Aireys Inlet. On the climb out of Aireys, one colleague was waiting. We didn’t see our other comrade and decided to go on to Anglesea. It transpired that the comrade we were waiting for had gotten a puncture. I waited at Anglesea for him to catch up while the other continued on. He figured he could beat the 6.5 hours on the clock, not just time on bike, so off he went and good luck to him.

As Torquay loomed in the distance, the rain began. It was quite nice at first because it was rather hot and oppressive out there, so a cool shower was just what the doctor ordered. The massive thunderstorm that ensued however, I could quite easily have lived without. When it comes down like that, rain hurts! Anyway, we stopped at the Maccas at the top of the hill and sucked down some caffeine laced fluids and waited for the rain to stop. That didn’t take long so it wasn’t to long before we were back on the road, riding the last 20km back to Geelong.

It was fairly uneventful as we trundled along the edge of the freeway heading home. One thing surprised me though. About 8km out we saw the “sag wagon” picking up people to give them a lift back. I said to my colleague that after doing what we’d done and having made it this far, I don’t think my pride would have allowed me to do the last 10km in the bus. If I was at the point where I had no choice, I’d have been crying I think. But to much exercise can do that to you.

So how did we go? Well, my computer said:

155.99km with a 27.3km/h average. 5 hours and 50 minutes on the bike.

I maintain that I beat my 6.5 hours nominated time, but of course, our colleague that actually beat the clock by a couple of minutes says that he was the only one that really made it…

1:00 PM - 5/3/2007 - post comment

Untitled Comment

god, well done plonka. Big effort. How are the thighs and butt feeling today. Oh, they're going to be much worse tomorrow!!

catdog - 1:30 PM - 5/3/2007

Pain...

Thanks Cat. I have to admit, I was stuffed...:)

I'm actually not to bad today though. My shoulder hurts the worst still. My legs just have that ultra tired feeling when I flex them.

My butt doesn't seem to have suffered much at all, thankfully. That wasn't the case after ATB though, so maybe that one had toughened me up a bit in that area...

plonka - 1:49 PM - 5/3/2007

Nifty report Ted

Just showed Liz your excellent description of the ride. She was pleased to see that others sometimes have to walk on the serious stuff.

Oh. I'm glad you remembered the stack hat this time. ;-)

On the WA ride there was a 109k day. Some poor girl clocked the 100 but couldn't manage the last little bit. Jeeze I felt sorry for her.

I actually caught the Sag one day and it was down near Lorne too. We took an optional scenic "Rail trail" path thinking it would be less steep. Unfortunately it was longer, covered in loose gravel, and the trail ended on some seriously steep stuff. It also pi**ed down rain and I reckon I was 1 degree about hypothermia.

Ah. But from then on it was the Great Ocean Rd. Magic views.

Super effort. Well done.

petermcc - 6:45 PM - 5/3/2007

I am insanely jealous

...that you have the Gt Ocean Rd within cyclable distance. When I was riding motorcycles, doing that stretch was one of my goals. The other was to do a few laps at Phillip Island. I never got to do both as other things just kept getting in the way. One day... maybe. Great read! Hope the legs are recovering nicely.

Ninja - 7:16 PM - 5/3/2007

Feet

Are made for walking Pete...:)

I really didn't have much choice though. It was that or wait for the wagon. I hear it tends to bucket down for most of the organised rides down that way, I guess rain is what you get in rain forests, eh...?

The Ocean Road is quite spectacular though. It's almost enough to take your mind off the pain...almost...:)

plonka - 7:58 PM - 5/3/2007

Not really

...witin cycling distance Ninja, but if I drive for half an hour then ride, well that put's it within range. I normally only go as far as Geelong and back to Werribee.

I can see why it was a favourite place of Amy Gillet to train. Nice hills and spectacular scenery. I thoroughly recommend it Ninja.

plonka - 8:03 PM - 5/3/2007

cycling

I suppose now isn't the time to admit that the only time I would even contemplate doing such a ride would be if all the hounds of hell were at my back.

And even then, I might have prefered my chances of whacking the crapola out of them with the bike frame.

beepbeepitsme - 12:10 PM - 6/3/2007

Frames

Bike frames do make a good weapon if used properly Beep, there's no doubt about it...:)

plonka - 1:36 PM - 6/3/2007

Gt Ocean Road

Lovely country down there.

But you're still insane for doing that ride. :)

dikkii - 12:54 AM - 8/3/2007

Stunning

There were a couple of spots I'd have liked to stop, but running against the clock tends to discourage that sort of thing.

But thanks for the vote of confidence Dikkii...:)

plonka - 9:31 PM - 8/3/2007