Weekend Cycling Ride Reports - November 26/27
 

Tell us about your rides this weekend! Are you doing any interesting events? Or have you switched to winter sports?


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

Saturday - rain was predicted all day today, but when we set off on the first climb (Falls Creek), it was actually quite nice ... relatively cool, mix of sun and clouds.

The climb started immediately out of Mount Beauty, but wasn't too difficult for the first half (16 km) to Bogong ... a climb of course, but a few descents to break it up. The second half (16 km) was a steady climb to the top. And it got cooler and more overcast as we climbed.

4 km from the top, it started to rain ... a cold rain. And about 1 km from the top, the wind started to blow and drive the rain across the road. Fortunately we were close to the top then.

We got a stamp in our passport booklets, then carried our bicycles up a long flight of stairs to a restaurant where I had two large mugs of hot coffee, and Rowan had a latte and a hot chocolate. And we tried to warm up. After sitting around for a while watching the wind and rain, we decided to start going down.

We made some clothing adjustments and began the slow descent. The clouds had rolled in, and we were in a thick rainy fog for several km. We finally got out of the fog, but it continued to rain all the rest of the way down, so it was a bit of a slow descent.

I should have changed clothes entirely because I was quite chilly by the time I got to the bottom. Rowan, however, was fine.

Stats:
Distance 32 km (up)
Rise: 1300 metres
Grade Average: 6%
Grade Maximum: 10%

All that, and no walking. I cycled all the way to the top! There was a time the only way I could have done this climb would have been to walk most of it.


We saw several other cyclists around ... there were 4 others at the top of the climb with us when we got there, but I think they were all doing different things. It was nice to see other cyclists going through what we were going through. :)


Tomorrow ... we'll see what's next.


I've just started going through the photos I took on the way up ... clicking the photo will take you to my 7 Peaks set of photos.

This was probably about 10-ish km up the climb ...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6...fa44b4b8_z.jpg

Sunday - it's sunny down here in the valley ... and we're getting ready to go for a ride. Maybe today will be slightly warmer and drier than yesterday. :)

Well I just finished up a 50 mile ride on the LeMond Zurich. Put some new Conti Grand Prix 4 Season tires on it to hopefully give me better flat protection on the messy winter roads. Temps in the mid 30s with only a mild breeze.

Did not each much today so I felt flat on the ride. Ate a power bar around mile 20 and then finally was able to get moving at a decent pace.

Planning on the same distance or more tomorrow. But this time I'll mix up a big bowl of my high energy irish oatmeal.

Sort of wishing for some major snow storms to come in because I get some kind of perverse pleasure riding in a blinding snowstorm.:lol::lol:

Did 27 miles today. Would have been 22 but I lost my riding partner on a hill and couldn't find him. I rode 5 miles in loops hoping to run into him to no avail. We ended up back at my house 10 minutes apart. Fun though, my farthest ride so far. Helps having bib shorts.

I beat my old long distance in a day record and did 80 miles today!!!

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%

Rode Saturday and Sunday. It was actually almost dry and not too windy this weekend, so I had to ride. It rained all last week, supposed to rain all this week, and I leave for a year-long Army deployment in Afghanistan very soon and this was my last chance to ride. Did pretty much the same route each day, with slight variations so Saturday was 29.4mi; Sunday 30.5mi. Daylight afternoon ride Saturday, evening darkness ride Sunday. I ended up with better stats on Saturday, but I felt better on Sunday's ride. That's probably because it was dark and I couldn't see my cyclocomputer stats. I am not happy under 20mph on moderately flat terrain.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6...cd5cd3c6_z.jpg

This was Thanksgiving Day weekend in the US, so my weekend started on Thursday. I was sick earlier in the week, and my wife was sick Wednesday and Thursday, so I just got in a few miles riding around town on Thursday. I've been skating on Thursdays, and I rode by the skate place while I was out.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...CN1674_398.jpg

Friday, I went on a 45 mile ride with Greater Dallas Bicyclists. A couple of video clips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3p_9TRXJ2I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGAVBHm8SWM

Then yesterday, we did a 200k brevet. It was cold and windy all day, and I was having eye problems the last half, but made it through and made it home. We stopped when it was sunny (which wasn't much) and Gary snapped a picture, which I borrowed here:
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z...011/photoX.jpg


I need 29 more miles to make a 1,000 for the month, so I'll be out somewhere this afternoon as well.

Take care of yourself and your teammates over there and a Hooah from this old retired 1SG.

Thursday Morning 7:12am - 26 miles 32 degrees
Friday Morning 8:04am - 26 miles 32 degrees
Saturday Morning 9:13am - Raked leaves, used power blower, mulched them, GF and I walked about 3 miles.
Sunday Morning 8:43am - 24 miles 44 degrees
Total Miles - 76 miles

Excited about my new bike sitting in its box from CC, a BMC TE-01.

Hooah! Thank you and will do, 1SG.

Managed to get in another 50 mile ride this morning. Temps in the mid 20s but calm and sunny so I really nice day. Had a bad night of sleep and even though I ate well prior to the ride I still boinked with about 6 miles to go.

Really want to do another climbing ride up Snowbasin Mt but not sure of the road conditions.

I am now 510 miles away from doing 8000 miles for the year. Fighting snowy weather and lack of daylight after work now but I think I will easily make the goal. :thumb:

I kicked off my cycling training with a 50 mile ride Saturday . I am currently trying to find a route that doesn't involve Baltimore the city streets are hard to maintain cadence. This morning I went for a 3 hr rock climbing session in the gym. Afterwords ruined my diet with a Chipotle steak burrito, wings, and a pitcher of beer. What can I say I burned a lot of calories this weekend. I feel like the "human meat" episode from Sunny in Philadelphia, nothing can satisfy my hunger.

Cheers,

I took the old Cannondale for a 50 Mile ride along the coast in San Diego today. Really nice weather in the high 70's with a light breeze. Tons of Bikes, Runners, and Surfers along the whole ride.

Had a great 5-day stretch of riding every day - early break for Thanksgiving Wednesday then riding every day (even in < 4C temps on Saturday). Only about 35km on each day (but closer to 50km today), and more or less flat (out on the plains, not up in the foothills). Absolutely glorious weather really - even when it was cold it was brilliantly sunny, clear skies, with snow-capped peaks in the distance.

So yeah, just another sh***y day in paradise here in Boulder:

http://i.imgur.com/eQlc8.jpg



http://i.imgur.com/BI4UD.jpg

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

Monday - Today we took on the Mount Buffalo climb.

The Mount Buffalo climb begins in Eurobin, which is not much more than a hamlet. We found a place to park, unloaded the bicycle and cycled to Porepunkah ... a relatively flat ride along a lovely road. Good way to begin a climbing ride! At Porepunkah, we turned down the Mount Buffalo road, and for the next 5 km or so, it continued to be flat. Nice!

But that all came to an end with a practice hill. I took the hill a bit too hard and was huffing and puffing by the top. I really wondered about my ability to finish this ride and reach the top of the big climb, and I questioned the wisdom of doing 3 tough climbs in a row!!

Down that hill, a little more flat, and then, roughly 11 km into the ride, the real climbing began and did not end until the top, almost 30 km later. Switchbacks ... lots and lots of switchbacks.

One of the best parts of this route was all the waterfalls ... the sound of falling water accompanied us all the way up and we passed all sorts from little trickles to gushing torrents.

Another good part of this route were the many views of the valley below.

Although I think this route was easier than yesterday's, I struggled ... my legs were tired and I didn't feel particularly well. I had good moments where I found my rhythm ... and those moments lasted about 20 minutes at a time, but then I had to rest a minute.

However, we kept plugging away, and all of a sudden we crested a hill and began a descent into a hollow quite near the top. From there it was up to the Park Office and up to the little shop at the top where we got something to eat and drink. And we completed our third climb!


I've been developing my climbing skills ... a year ago, I would never have even considered doing a climbing challenge like this. Now I'm a slow, but relatively steady climber. :)

However, I am still not fond of descending ... but we made it down.

Stats
Distance: ~40 km (up)
Rise: 1095 metres
Grade Average: 5%
Grade Max: 11%


Of the three climbs we did this weekend, Rowan said he'd like to do the Hotham one again because of the spectacular views, and I said I'd like to do the Mt Buffalo one again because of all the waterfalls. :)

Falls Creek climb photos ...

A flattish portion of the climb ...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/6...81bb02bc7c.jpg


Looking down at the road below ...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7009/6...c75aaa738a.jpg

Looking out at the rain ...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6...61941db176.jpg

A very welcome coffee break at the top ...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6...92b35d0d23.jpg

Rowan in the mist ...
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7009/6...10e57f38fc.jpg

Nice to see all the 'local' climbs Machka. Well done on the ascents!

I did GMR from the base to the shack on sunday 11/27 and just finished mt baldy to usps today =)

It's a beautiful area ... and not far from where we live. We'd like to go back on another weekend and have another look around. :)