The accommodation was booked months ago, but I only entered after deciding on the distance a week out. I didn't want to ride Buffalo in the afternoon heat again, but I chose the longer ride! Not sure it was logical, but I did have my second look at the Back of Falls climb during the New Year period and with 45 mostly downhill k's in the legs, I thought it's not too hard!
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| The ride profile |
Anyway, without any 'out and back' epics from home to Donna Buang under the belt before this years ride, I started the Mt Hotham climb like I had climbing legs and was in form. This worked fairly well and as the bunch spread out, a rough group formed with similar speeds and we worked together through the middle third and again in the final pinches to share some of the pacemaking. Just like last years ACE, the views from the top of Hotham were sensational. Mt Buffalo, Mt Feathertop and the Bogong High Plains were all clearly visible under blue skies.
The road down to Dinner Plain and then Omeo is not the quickest descent especially near Dinner Plain. It's heavy and a real slog with lots of pedalling. Rolling out of the Dinner Plain checkpoint I avoided a huge yellow belly black snake which helped get the heart going again. There still were a few quick drops which keep you on your toes as you get into Omeo.
The road along Big River through Anglers Rest was again a pleasure to ride on. Corner after corner of level road, with a big drop off down to the river. It is a great section of road.
The turn onto the Bogong High Plains road comes soon enough (Back of Falls), and with 150 plus k's in the legs, the road just points skywards and there is only one gear to choose. It was time to settle in and grind my way up to some respite. The Marchies do laps of you as you climb, like they are taunting you. There is no shade, just sun beating down relentlessly. Eventually, the road eases and the Raspberry Hill campsite provides some extra water and banana's. It's still 17k from Falls Creek at this point with still some further climbing to go. The climbing speed at this point was quite slow for me now, I was yo-yoing off the back of a couple of guys, eventually getting back on their wheel on the flat around Rocky Valley Lake.
At the Falls Creek checkpoint, I ate a heap of the creamed rice I had been hanging out for. I got going pretty quick hoping the long descent would give me some extra recovery time. The descent down Falls to Mt Beauty was not overly fast as the body was quite stiff now and I couldn't relax and enjoy it.
The last climb over Tawonga Gap was well known to me, but I knew from the previous 20k or so of climbing behind Falls, this was going to be slow.The climb started nice and cruisy, just trying to maintain a tempo. The body was trying to say no, but I kept pushing it along, counting down the k's to the top. It was great to crest the gap, but the descent had to be navigated with some care. Towards the bottom, a pair of big guys came past and it was perfect timing to score a tow into Bright for the finish.
At the finish, I remember thinking I would not do this again, I was too sore and stiff, the pain was too fresh. Writing this a week later, I am thinking I will do it again! As much as it is a very hard ride to do and I could have trained a lot more for it, the scenery and roads and just plain challenge of the ride is enough for me to want to give it another go.
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| Hug from the kids after finishing |
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| Taking old man steps into the Ovens for a recovery dip |
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