Campag Hyperion tubulars for training.....lol.

those stickers used to be a tnuc to get off, too....

...mavic Cosmic carbone...to be entirely accurate...nah don't train on 'em. Feel like enough of a w!nker even owning them!....but they sure are quick...you get to about 35kph & they just take off. I'll be using them tomorrow provided its not to windy

Mate....you are gonna be looking THE GOODS!!!! Henk's going to get the texta out and write 122 on his forearm....lol.

O00h, my big chance:

This one includes wind direction and other details for over 60 locations around the state
http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDV65119.shtml

There's a map right at the bottom of the page

I'm such a geek

...i'll look like I can ride, even if I can't.....the sponsor even came up with a new jersey!

Hitch, have you got any team mates, or anyone?

just read the HS....watch that Hans de Clerq bloke.....form the looks of him, I reckon he can ride a bit.



:D

yeah...got a support vehicle, a bloke doing my feeds & stuff....5 blokes from my club doing it....we'll all at different levels though, me being at the lowest...I probably won't see them after the first 50km......but at least i know I'll have someone at 'warnie' to welcome me in!...(they've all got torches!)

hitchy

Don't get stuck behind the Omara guys :D

In the interest of Aussi Thread team harmony I choose to ignore this comment!!

*****'s hitting the fan all over the place here at the moment so haven't been able to chat.

Hitchy...excellent luck for tomorrow. I live vicariously through you so don't bother coming back if you don't finish in the top 10!! Enjoy the ride and post pain entertainment. Catcha.

Pete

Good luck, Hitch.
Wish I was out there....:)

...thanks for your wishes guys....I'll need all the help I can get. I'll post a report, (assuming 'Warnie' intensive care unit has internet access!)

cheers,

Hitchy

G'day all,

Be it known that Hitchy has officially completed the worlds longest Road race within the qualifying time!.....much to tell you, but still recovering!...more when I'm able to sit for longer than 2 minutes...ahh well,back to bed!

Hitchy

Bewdy.

Did ya get hammered on the way home?

Details, hitchy.....

In the meantime....I cleaned the Scapin. guess that means I'll have to ride it soon.

G'day,

4.29am Sat....alarm goes off....hitchy sits bolt up right in bed...this is it!...todays the day!...Oh *****!!!!!.....Everything packed & ready the night before...convinced I've forgotten something...double check...very nervous & aprehensive...a quick prayer to the cycling gods!....brekky, a good pooh (thank god the body is awake enough!)..out the door. Arrive at the start in plenty of time...feeling good.....very, very nervous.....see 'lotto', FDjuex, columbia, Aussie champs, & numerous other jerseys warming up...trrying not to think about them....talk to a few familiar faces, wish a few luck, getting lots of encouragement from everyone....Commissaire tells me I may well be the oldest 1st timer, ever to finish....if I do!.......warm up...takes away a few butterflys....got the food, last instructions to the 'support crew'!...see ya at warnie!.....1 minute to go...some guy prattleing instructions over the PA...couldn't tell you a word he said...absolutely *****ting myself now!.....geez i could do with the 31st p!ss of the morning as well....30secs...holy *****....a rental bus has pulled across the start line & is unloading the whole Irish team!...bikes in pieces everwhere!...will they hold the start?...NUH...we're off.!......pace not to bad, we're under 'control' for the first 8km...but last year they were doing 50kph under 'control'....abit more sedate this year, probably waiting for the Irish....people everywhere, clapping & cheering...coppers on bikes, horns, 20 language variations in the bunch, commisaires on PA's...this is amazing...I had to keep reminding myself that i was a competitor not just an onlooker!.....I didn't see the red flag drop for the start...but the sudden increase in pace gave me the message...1st sprint only 2km into the race....55km an hour down single lane roads...feeling awesome...remember to drink!....into werribee...people everywhere...65km sprint, spot the 'support crew'...give em a thumbs up.....sitting in the middle of the bunch...."g'day ruba marin, owya goin'?"....english isn't his strong point!.....theres henk & willo...how good is this?...oohh bit o' crosswind here...managed to stay covered.....50kph but feeling comfortable...just staying outta the wind & outta trouble....bit of drizzle...blokes have started doing the 'pro p!ss'....getting pushed by their mates....can't believe they need a P1ss already, we're only 40km in...hope thats drizzle on me face!...don't lick the lips!......sprint into lara.....still comfortable with the bunch...here the commissaire saying 2 away, willo & some other bloke...no ones chasing so the pace is comfortable at 45kph......turning into Corio....*****...they're sprinting!....caught in the wind....HRM....175....177....gotta get cover....65kph.....180...struggling......67kph .....53-12 ......115 cadence...HR 184 MAX..MAX ...MAX...can't push.......gone...hitchy has detonated....off the main bunch at 65km...ah well, hopefully, I'm not the first off.....look around.....blokes scattered everywhere behind me....keep pushing.....try & form a group...picking up blokes coming off the bunch as well...ahhh the first hill climb....I was always gunna get dropped here anyway, so it happened pretty much where I thought anyway....don't panic....climbed well...can still see the main bunch...but don't harbour any ambitions to get back.......where's these blokes behind?...are they coming up or what?......1 bloke comes up & says heaps have pulled the pin!....bloody wimps...makes my job harder too.....5 of us form up......1st feed at Inverleigh...feeling good...trying not to think about the 200km remaining....pick up a few more stragglers...8 of us now...abit better although only a few are working.......150km feeling ok...has been a head wind all the way...a couple of these blokes are soft pedalling at the front......another bloke gives them a serve.....we take the pledge to stay together if possible & keep working.....Cressy......feeling abit crap now......cross wind off lake corangamite taking it's toll.....still heaps of people stopping & clapping.....I yell, "are we there yet" & get some laughter from the bunch......boys are tiring now...turns are shorter & ave speed has dropped....we have picked up our own commissaire...he's a good guy...giving us plenty of encouragement....180km...P!ss stop!...we all lay down the bikes & bolt into the bushes....a few drops...must be dehydrated a bit....keep drinking & eating...I'm never eating a 'snickers marathon' bar again....making me feel sick...shoulda diluted the gatorade as well!.....on..on....200 km down.....feeling 'shouse' now....push thru it...give it another hour & see where the bodies at.......left knee is swelling up...fantastic...thats the 'good' knee....right calf is sending 'cramp imminent' messages...WARNING WILL ROBINSON...WARNING...WARNING!....oh *****...a fall....1 guy has ridden into the wheel of another.....gone down real hard....think he's broken the collarbone......lost plenty o' skin....the whole bunch stops to wait & see...he's up...1 guy in the bushes having a spew!....I'm not good, but I'm better than that.....off we go.....actually the 2 minute rest has revived me a bit...feeling a bit better....bike is perfect...can't imagine doing this on anything other than carbon....last feed.....hear that Will walker has made a break with 8km to go...Go willy!.....hmm he's at 8 to go & we're at 60.....52 km behind!!!...some quick maths works out that at our current pace, we'll make the cut off comfortably...encourage the lads...c'mon boys.....50km to go...not much talk now...everyone is in their own world of pain...robotically swap turns....most of the bunch are soft pedalling now....I'm suffering bad...but i've come to far to stop now......20km to go...gee hitchy...i think ya gunna make it....cars going by in the other direction with bikes on the racks...giving us the gee up...c'mon.......10km.......5km...warrnie city limits......I can't believe I've done this...I'm actually quite emotional...thinking of how hard I worked for this, all the training, all the time wondering whether I could do it.......1km...hey..all the blokes that have been on the back for 100km....are suddenly at the front!.....don't tell me they're gunna sprint...*****!......theres the finish...if they're sprinting....so am I...If I can....jump 500mts to go 45kph....50kph......under the finish banner....a blur of noise & activity...stop the clock.......familiar faces clapping me on the back....some old bloke shaking my hand.."G'day...I'm john Craven...great effort..congratulations".....whose this other bloke shaking me hand?...."g'day jamie drew...well done"...brain doesn't take much of this in.......pull the feet out....massive calf cramp....lie on the grass......whose got me bike.?.......some bloke is trying to put a medal around me neck...I kiss it...tears welling in my eyes...just as well i still got the shades on!......It occurs to me...I've just finished the worlds longest single day roadrace!!!!!.......the 'coaching nazi' is here..shaking my hand...."recovery session tomorrow"!....I tell him to "Get Farked!".....to much laughter of all around us.

the Vital stats: Distance 299.4km Time: 9 hrs 50 minutes 50sec...ave Speed 30.7kph (including 3 P!ss stops & a crash stop)...calories burnt 7790....ave Hr 147...max HR 186....max speed 71.4 kph......

Hitchy

I'm gonna get a coffee and come back and read this......

super effort hitchy.

Fantastic effort! Can only dream of covering that sort of distance in a day!

What a legend! Well done Hitchy, makes my upcoming 200km effort seem easy by comparison!

Lindsay

...very nice looking piece of machinery Ed....now all it needs is a rider!....hmmmm

Hitchy

I'll be tagging along on some of your Sunday sorties soon enough.......if the Warnie hasn't sworn you off cycling for good!!

how are the "meat pies" today?? taking the lift instead of the stairs?? lol.....

Awesome!!! Seriously, if I absolutely killed meself, I might be able to do that distance in three days, but most likely four! :D

Can't believe all them blokes pulled out at the first climb. Who were they? Name names?

Did you get back with the main bunch after the stack?

What happened to the Irish?

Can you give us some more eating/drinking tips?

Wattsy stands and applauds as he reads your report. In fact I started welling up with pride just knowing you...WELL DONE!!

So has the planning started for next year?