Eastern veterans cycling club www.easternvets.com Newsletter February 4 2006 Racing Cancelled January 21, too hot, Racing Cancelled January 28, too Wet!!! The weather gods have conspired against us for the past The big discussion point for day was of course the Alpine two Saturdays. First of all it was too hot and the decision Classic for 2006 which has now joined the annals of to cancel was easy. No matter which criteria you used, cycling folklore along with the Around the Bay in a Day of common sense, air temperature of 35º or the Wet Bulb 2003. What a contrast in the conditions between the two Globe Temperature of 28º, racing was always going to be events!!!! cancelled. The Australian Open now uses a WBGT of 28º Congratulations to those who rode and even more so to to determine whether the roof should be closed and Audax those who completed their planned ride. As far as I am also indicated that a WBGT of 28º might be used as a aware the only Eastern riders to complete the 200 were trigger to for cancelling the Alpine Classic. The next Sally Both, Quentin Frayne, Ted and Debbie McCoy and Saturday was not quite so clear cut. At 11.30 careful study Greg Davis in a very creditable total time of 7 hr 38 and a of the radar indicated that although there was plenty of rain ride time of 7 hr 25!!! According to the Audax website, for around sweeping down from the north west, it might clear the 200, 41% of the riders from the 0620 start and 42% by 2.00pm. This was not to be, at about 1.55 gentle rain from the 0640 start completed the event. For the 140, 73% began for a few minutes before the heavens opened, of riders finished. (Figures based on the riders who sending everyone scurrying for the shelter and that was the actually started and finished). end of racing for the day. TALES FROM THE ALPINE CLASSIC 2006 (more next week) Roy and HG were there water and a few clouds had come over I continued. The (Ghost written by someone from the Hawthorn CC) For water stop half way up was very welcome with ice cold the full story of their coverage go to water as was the ice cream at the Chalet. And getting back http://www.boroondarabug.org/other_resources/TheA into Bright with friends and strangers cheering was a great feeling. lpineDream.pdf . They had this to say about Eastern riders: Peter Shanahan Alpine Classic revisited, thanks to Steve HG Who are those old blokes in red and yellow jerseys? Szalla's family commitments (last attempt 1997: 200ks 10 Roy Looks like it says Eastern Veterans there on their kit. hours). German colours obviously so it looks like they are The ride. 7am up the front to watch the action. 7.50 over returning from the Russian front who’ve taken up riding in Tawonga gap. 8.30 leaving feed station at Mt Beauty, back later life. Good on ‘em I say. Great gesture of to Bright and leaving there by 10am. Still going strongly. international reconciliation to see them making the long journey down under to participate alongside our boys from Half way (?) up Buffalo, 4+ hours in I'd had enough, a the Yackandandah RSL Cycling Auxiliary. And later: HG combination of heat, going too hard, the fact that I hadn't And now we’re getting reports of large numbers of riders done more than a 4 hour ride in close to a decade. Plus stopping at Bright and refusing to continue up Buffalo – trying to push 39-21 up a big hill. Back down to Bright and including at least half that “bicigaga” (an email group for I was stuffed. 110ks in 5h. riders from the Hawthorn Cycling Club and associated After considerable time and getting a little bored waiting Mascot Cycles bunch) and more than a few Eastern for others to finish. I decided it was time to have another Veterans. crack at the Beast. This time I took it real slow, rested at Sally Both I completed the 200 on Sunday, despite the every drop of water on the way up. Hydrated like mad + heat factor I think I recovered better than last year. I found electrolytes. Another rest 1.5ks from the top of the climb the hardest part was after the lunch stop from Bright to the so I could enjoy it. Finally made it and still alive. Part of start of Buffalo, it was hot with a head wind, drinking the me wanted to die though. "Kill me and bury me right hot water in my bottles didn't help, the pits really, I was here", I thought. starting to think that perhaps I too should have pulled out at Back down at Bright for a well earned rest. 180 ks in 10+ Bright. By the time I got to Eurobin Falls I was ready to hours. <9 hours riding time. I'd do it all again. Hopefully cry. I sat under the waterfall cooled down a bit and tried to next year for a more sedate 200. Sorry bout the rough stats get a grip. After a motorcycle marshall gave me a bottle of I accidentally hit the stop button at around the 4 hour mark. Ian Smith and mates It was already warm at 6.00 when partridges get everywhere fly repellant, Check sunglasses we rolled down for the 6.20 start. No debate about arm cl ear pair 1 dark pair just to look the part Chec k helmet, warmers this year. Matt, Steve and myself had already Absolutely Check gloves, For cold hands Check. pump, pretty much decided that 130km would be enough but Got one somewhere Check sun screen (oh yeah, a couple thought we would wait until back at Bright to make a final of gallons of that!), Not needed have Spanish blood . decision. About 5km from the top of Falls, Nigel Kimber Check five spare tubes Two will do Check and two tyres caught us and sailed passed. He started 20 mins behind us Stuff the tyres I'll be back before the suns starts its and was riding a 21 gear. Riding back up Tawonga I burning . Check (well with those shade temperatures how decided that I wasn't going further than Bright. It was HOT, many blow-outs do you think you are going to have!), spare I was drenched in sweat, my feet were burning, my water taxi vouchers Not applicable for real men . (just in case you was hot and I was working hard with my 27 cluster. wimp out), satellite telephone Ian has that with him Finished 130km in about 5hr 30min ride time. Fantastic Check, (with heat exhaustion you never know where you effort for those that completed the 200. might end up)! Steve Short Colin O’Brien sent Steve Short a strategy for 6. Up to the start at 6.20am and off you go. Got there completing the 200. Steve’s response to Colin is bold at 6.10am bloody hell look at this crowd just to see me an italics. Ian off .....whoops they are riders as well Steve ......... Hi Steve / Hi Colin .Sorry Ian. Set up a big train straight away, Train never Just read that the temp for Sunday in Wangaratta and eventuated I’m off the back weaving my way through the Albury/Wodonga (meaning probably Bright also) is going masses to catch up with Ian and Matt White . get into to be 39C. That will be a challenge. But, I have a strategy relaxed top speed, 15klm this will do me!! roll-over and all worked out that will make it a piece of cake. /As it you never know, with an average of, say, 32.5km My turned out on the Day. average was 22klm down hill per hour you will be back in 1. Up at 3.45am for a nice easy 20 to 25 km ride in the Bright by 10.20am (9.20am real time) before the sun has cool of the morning. / up at 5.00am staggered to bathroom any zing in it. Total distance, say 155 to 160km…not a and did a warm up on the porcelain bowl had short great day, but still okay to write up in the diary. Got back snooze before awaking with nod of the head against hand to Bright at about 1.00pm .feet are really sore feel like they basin. quickly got changed into riding gear.............. have roasted inside my shoes and my back is not 100% . stopped on way out of bathroom one sock inside out 7. Open up that first beer at 1.00pm (after 2 ½ hours of quickly rectified that ............. off to dining bullshit with the rest of the riders how bad you felt, room/restaurant area. 1 big bowl of muesli two pieces of Tawonga Gap hill was really steep, didn’t sleep well, fruit 3 pieces of toast 4 cups of coffee .........and a haven’t trained for 6 months, sore knee, yeah, yeah, partridge in a pear tree..........shit I'm still tired racing yeah). This sounds just as it was maybe a little more through ones head? Chewed the fat with some other idiot bullshit. On reflection Ian thought we could have made doing the ride (he never made it either)......... the 200klm "I could not have well not within the cut off 2. Back to the motel, wake up Rosemary (5.00am) with time? Beers no? try 16 cans of Guinness the drink of a hug and a kiss ( just banged about to wake my darling gods the first 4 disappeared in as many minutes.