Peter Campbell; Cobungra Station - Photo by Peter O'Callaghan	Peter Campbell; Cobungra Station - Photo by Peter O'Callaghan

Riders on the second Alpine Delight enjoyed an excellent day with near perfect conditions for the ride.  Eleven riders started on the not-too-cold morning and soon settled into individual climbing rhthyms.  This was my first hill ride on my new bike with a carbon fibre frame.  The light overall weight made climbing a breeze.  However, the gearing was a challenge.  I had opted for a 39/23 combination, a higher gear than my previous 26 cog.  Warm sun greeted us above the treeline.  We cycled past the stunning vistas extending in all directions, with the thin alpine air on the Mt Hotham ridge rasping at our lungs.

A short fast sweeping descent through Mount Hotham to coffee and snacks in the sun at Dinner Plain was a welcome respite after the big climb.  Peter's wife Gloria assisted with the welcome refreshments.  Ed Chan, Warren Mead, Peter O'Callaghan and I then headed for Omeo as a group.  We rode together, pushing into a headwind at times and made great progress.  Whizzing down the final hill to Omeo at speeds up to 70km/h, I memorised glimpses of the scenery to mentally prepare myself for the climb back out after lunch.

After a good lunch and rest we exchanged greetings with Tom Behrsing who arrived as we were leaving Omeo.  We took it easy on the first part of the climb, as I remembered it being difficult the previous year.  The climb gets steeper and hotter near the top however, and I struggled to stay on top of my 23 cog without overheating.   Like last year, it again felt like the hardest climb of the day.

Once over the hill, the scenic undulating route back to Dinner Plain past Cobungra Station is a nice distraction from the large climb looming in the distance.  By this stage, Peter O'Callaghan and I were riding together.  We tackled the climb at a brisk pace, then eventually slowed to an easier tempo.  I spent some time fighting off cramps.  I found speeding up and spinning actually helped - it seems to clear out lactic acid.

Back at Dinner Plain it felt like we were nearly home.  However, as Warren observed later, the checkpoints are not followed by big descents, unlike the Alpine Classic where they are usually at the top of climbs.  Peter and I cruised back over the summit to tackle the ridge then the descent.  The two remaining uphills along the ridge are short, sharp and hard.  However, the long final descent, finishing at the Snowline Hotel in Harrietville, is an appropriate grand finale.  A lemon squash never tasted so good.

Warren, Ed, John and I relaxed over dinner in the hotel in Bright that night.  Warren looked me in the eye and said "great ride, but I don't think the name is right - Alpine Delight doesn't quite reflect our day's efforts".  Andy Moore finished this line of conversation the next night over the phone.  "It should be called the Alpine Agony" he stated emphatically.  "It is definitely harder than the Alpine Classic".  I think most of the nine riders who finished would concur.  Congratulations to both Andy and Alan Bull, who timed their run to perfection; both finishing with minutes to spare.

For those keen to try the Alpine Delight next millenium, some training on serious hills is recommended preparation.  You also need to be well prepared for potentially harsh alpine weather and limited food stops.  The ride is definitely not easy, but it is rewarding.

Riders who finished