Rowan and I decided to make this a 3-day weekend by taking Monday off, and we're working on the 7 Peak Alpine Ascent Challenge:
http://www.visitvictoria.com/Regions...Challenge.aspx
Sunday - Today we took on the Harrietville to Mount Hotham climb.
The Harrietville - Mt Hotham climb is one of the more difficult climbs of the 7 in the challenge because of the steepness of the grades encountered, and also sometimes because of the weather at the top. It can get very, very windy and cold up there.
The ride starts in Harrietville, a lovely little town, and immediately starts climbing. The first kilometre or so is quite steep (what a rude way to start a ride!!) and then it kind of settles down into a grade where I could maintain a comfortable 7 km/h for the next 8 km. We were surrounded by forest providing shade, and full of all sorts of birds all singing away. I overheated 400 metres into the climb, and was down into shorts and a short-sleeved jersey from there for most of the rest of the way up.
At the 9 km point we encountered, "The Meg". The Meg is quite a steep climb that goes on for about 1 km. We both cycled all the way up and then stopped for a little break. My heart rate felt like it was beating so fast, it had just gone into one big beat.
After The Meg, the road becomes significantly more gradual ... flat in places ... for the next 10 km. That was a wonderful part of the route. We could keep up a decent pace, and there were great views of the valley below. We also encountered a lot of other cyclists coming down ... including one who started the ride at the same time we had, and presumably made it to the top and was already on his way back down!!
At the 20 km point, the ride got tougher. First was the climb to Mt St Bernard, a tough climb similar to The Meg. Then there was a brief rest before we were faced with the first "wall". The road descends suddenly and steeply for about half a km, and then climbs straight up the side of the mountain at about 18% for 1200 metres. I made it 500 metres before I was off and walking, but Rowan rode all the way up.
There was another brief rest period (a climb where I could maintain about 7 km/h again), and then ... another "wall"! I had driven this route back in 2004, and I remember a "wall", but not TWO walls!! This one started at about 18% and then eased up to probably around 12% after about 1.5 km. I made it 500 metres ... and walked the rest of the way. On this one, I walked probably about 2 km.
At the top, we put on light jackets because it was a good deal cooler up there, and because there was a descent into the Hotham Heights village. But we were really fortunate with the weather today. It can get pretty nasty up there.
The only thing open was all the way through to the other side of the village. It's not ski season, so these mountain top resorts are quiet. But we were able to get our passports signed and get some nutrition before the return trip.
In the first 10 km on the way down, we had three fairly significant climbs. But the rest was pretty good. I'm not a good descender, so I liked the flattish bit in the middle the best, but we managed to get down all right.
And we encountered no rain at all!
Stats
Distance 30 km (up)
Rise: 1320 metres
Grade Average: 4.2%
Grade Maximum: 18%