|
Day |
Saturday 27 November 2004 |
|
Start |
6:35am Bright, Visitors Centre |
|
Finish |
Harrietville, Snowline Hotel |
|
Distance |
100 & 200km |
|
Total Riders / Finishers |
20 / 17 |
|
Ride organiser |
Peter Campbell |
Warm and sunny; clear skies with no clouds; air temperatures 15 to 30 C, very little wind. Perfect conditions again. It looked like it would be hot returning from Omeo but a strong northerly kept the temperature down a bit.
Over 60 riders departed as a peleton on a warm morning from Bright for both the 100km & 200km distances of the 2004 Alpine Delight. The ride is becoming more popular as word spreads about the fantastic mountain scenery with unparalled views of the Bogong High Plans, Mt Feathertop, the Razorback and Mt Buffalo in the distance.
The thin air on the Hotham summit makes it a challenge, but the fast descent through the Mt Hotham village then the ride through snowgum plains to Dinner Plain is a great reward. The High Plains Lodge put on their usual great muffins and coffee - this is now a welcome feature of the ride.
The big hill down to Cobungra station saw riders clock speeds in excess of 90km/h!
Omeo seems to coping well in the aftermath of the dreadful bushfires of 2003. Events like this are a small contributor to the health of small rural towns like Omeo, particularly outside of the main winter tourist season.
After a quick lunch (about 30 minutes) we set off back up the big hill out of Omeo following Ken Dacomb who had departed 10 minutes earlier. Thankfully, a northerly breeze kept the temperature down for this gut busting climb.
Wrestling off a few cramps that I always seem to get on the short sharp climb up from the Victoria River, we settled into a good tempo for the rest of the climb back up to Dinner Plain. Leigh Patterson put in his usual huge turns working hard into the headwind.
Once you know about the Slippery pinch and are prepared for it, it is a welcome signal that Dinner Plain is approaching. For those who don't know it, beware - this is glycogen depletion zone and sever hunger flats have seen many riders get off their bikes here.
After another welcome respite at the High Plains lodge the return over Mt Hotham beckoned. The major challenge is gunning it up the three short sharp pinches on the Great Alpine Road without cramping, then fighting off cramps on the descent.
The lemon squashes back at the Snowline Hotel went down well, with some incredulous but friendly bikies querying us about the route and how long we had been riding.
The peloton formed for the post-ride return to Bright where showers and a pub meal awaited.
Overall, the ride was again a great success. 24 of the 37 riders who started the 200km finished with a brevet, while for the 100km, 20 finished out of 28 starters. I think some more may have finished but unfortunately didn't hand in their brevet cards.
The 100km riders climb Hotham to Dinner Plain then return, so most get back to Harrietville around midday and can spend the afternoon relaxing in Bright.
For those keen to try the Alpine Delight, training on serious hills (800+ metres) is realistic prerequisite. This is not a ride to be taken lightly – the total altitude gain for the day is 3,920 metres.
You also need to be well prepared for potentially harsh alpine weather (even snow) by carrying sufficient warm clothing. Being unsupported, you also need to carry enough food and drink to make it comfortably between checkpoints.
The ride is definitely not easy, but it is rewarding.
The next Alpine Delight will be on Saturday
19 November 2005. The ride is moving to this earlier date as the Tour of
Bright is now taking the first weekend in December. Note that the start time
will shift to 6am so riders on the 200 won't have to carry lights. Also note
that entries on the day will be more costly.
I hope to see you there.
200KM
|
|
|
||
|
First
name |
Surname |
Start |
Finish |
Duration |
|
David |
Anderson |
6:35 |
16:36 |
10:01 |
|
Nick |
Bamber |
6:35 |
18:10 |
11:35 |
|
Jorgen |
Bobenko |
6:35 |
18:10 |
11:35 |
|
John |
Boyle |
6:35 |
16:10 |
9:35 |
|
Steven |
Brown |
6:35 |
17:27 |
10:52 |
|
Peter |
Campbell |
6:35 |
15:45 |
9:10 |
|
Robert |
Campbell |
6:35 |
17:51 |
9:10 |
|
Ramon |
Cardosi |
6:35 |
17:25 |
10:50 |
|
Barry |
Challenger |
6:35 |
17:51 |
11:16 |
|
Ed |
Chan |
6:35 |
16:36 |
10:01 |
|
Ken |
Dacomb |
6:35 |
16:00 |
9:25 |
|
Tim |
Fitzgerald |
6:35 |
16:45 |
10:10 |
|
Quentin |
Frayne |
6:35 |
16:00 |
9:25 |
|
Peter |
Hansen |
6:35 |
16:04 |
9:29 |
|
Michael |
Hay |
6:35 |
15:45 |
9:10 |
|
Rick |
Jaksch |
6:35 |
17:00 |
10:25 |
|
Ron |
Kirwan |
6:35 |
16:00 |
9:25 |
|
Robert |
Lim |
6:35 |
16:50 |
10:15 |
|
Raymond |
Malone |
6:35 |
17:25 |
10:50 |
|
Jules |
Montana |
6:35 |
16:35 |
10:00 |
|
David |
Morgan |
6:35 |
16:50 |
10:15 |
|
Peter |
O'Callaghan |
6:35 |
15:50 |
9:15 |
|
Leigh |
Paterson |
6:35 |
15:45 |
9:10 |
|
Richard |
Rossiter |
6:35 |
16:30 |
9:55 |
|
Gary |
Scheld |
6:35 |
16:02 |
9:27 |
|
Nick |
Tapp |
6:35 |
17:29 |
10:54 |
100KM
|
|
|
|
|
|
First
name |
Surname |
Start |
Finish |
Duration |
|
Nick |
Boylan |
6:35 |
12:00 |
5:25 |
|
Simon |
Costa |
6:35 |
11:30 |
4:55 |
|
Jim |
Coyne |
6:35 |
12:10 |
5:35 |
|
Anne |
Cronin |
6:35 |
13:10 |
6:35 |
|
Stephen |
George |
6:35 |
11:45 |
5:10 |
|
Simon |
Hurn |
6:35 |
12:30 |
5:55 |
|
Treve |
Jenkin |
6:35 |
12:30 |
5:55 |
|
Nicholas |
Jones |
6:35 |
12:15 |
5:40 |
|
Simon |
Milnes |
6:35 |
12:00 |
5:25 |
|
Ben |
Muller |
6:35 |
12:15 |
5:40 |
|
Jan |
Ohlsen |
6:35 |
12:16 |
5:41 |
|
Marnie |
Rose |
6:35 |
12:35 |
6:00 |
|
Daniel |
Rothenflum |
6:35 |
12:00 |
5:25 |
|
Mark |
Taylor |
6:35 |
12:00 |
5:25 |
|
Ray |
Teichert |
6:35 |
12:16 |
5:41 |
|
Michael |
Verdaasdonk |
6:35 |
12:35 |
6:00 |
|
Michael |
Zylan |
6:35 |
13:15 |
6:40 |