A ride of firsts. Longest ride – 145 km. (Technically 135 km, but I’ll explain later). Most Elevation Gain – 630 metres. First group crash. Ouch! The result. An inability to change down to the small ring on the front resulting in 105 km’s of riding on the large ring. Me. I was fine. A bruised knee or two and a sore thumb. I have more sympathy for Richie Porte now. Even at 35 kmh, I had no time to react to the guy in front of me who appeared to be spooked by something inexplicable, lost his confidence and jack knifed his bike, sparking some burning rubber upon breaking. He tumbled and I crashed like a bag of spuds over him. Richie. I profusely apologize. I can now understand how things can go terribly pear-shaped. It’s not a course management problem. Sometimes things don’t turn out the way you wan’t them to.
Elevation Gain – 630 metres. Don’t believe the advertising that the majority of the climbing is in the section to Queenscliff. Whether or not it was the pain in the legs or the big gearing, the hills around Mt Martha were harder than those on the Bellarine. Repeated hills of 7-8% get tiring for a non regular rider, but the views are magnificent. Mornington Penisula is Pancake Parlour standard. Just lovely! IMHO, better than the Great Ocean Road when viewing it on a bike.
The day commences at Rippleside Park, Geelong. From memory of a previous ride ( Lara to Barwon Heads on a Good Windy Friday) it also has a sea view; but it was dark, so it was wasted on me at the time.
The morning was a bit chilly. I suggest layering up. I have no idea how some guys start these Spring these events in summer gear. However much it affects my Strava rating, I’m prepared to lose the seconds off my average pace in the time that it takes to strip off. Besides, I lost heaps across my average proving that cycling is a religious experience. Tip for first timers, manually pause your Garmin, don’t rely on auto pause. It is now digitally recorded into the realms of history that I actually rode on water for 10 or so kms. We’re a special bred, even us hack riders!
Mornington to Frankston was difficult for me. I was a bit ragged after Mt Martha. It never looked daunting on the bike, but my legs weren’t lying – it the longest uphill on the ride. In hindsight, I should have taken advantage of the rest stop at Dromana, but I thought that the 50 odd kms between Sorrento and Frankston would be breeze. I was feeling great after coming off the ferry. I mean, after floating across the bay. The three clicks after Mt Eliza is also a steady climb. Rewards do arrive in the guise of a superslide into Frankston for lunch. At this stage I was knackered. Even after Mordiallic, it took guzzling a coke at Black Rock to put the wind back into the sails.
After almost six hours of riding and 15 mins shy of eights hours elapsed time – I reiterate, some of which was across water (call me John Lennon) – I had completed my greatest achievement thus far on a pushie as I rode around Albert Park lake. It is funny how competitive and tragic cyclists can be. After 133 kms (yes – almost home), one tearaway, acting on the need to engage his inner Peter Sagan, decide to gun it. Head down and without fear, straight into one of those traffic signs that adorn the centre of Lakeside Drive. Screwed his bike and was spitting out some claret. Double ouch. Personally, I don’t think I could do any greater distance – not without a lot more training and artificial stimulants. So hats off to those that do the full bay. I was lucky enough to get on the back of a couple of groups. Geelong to Queenscliff was just plain and simple fun (bar the crash). Frankston to Mordiallic was nice and cruisy; and thanks to those two that allowed me to sit behind them after Mordiallic. Not in nice way, I was bonking at the stage. Note to self – take caffeine shots next time.
Looking forward to next year. Will I go the whole hog?