Well, I’m back home now after the Audax ACE 250. It was an amazing event. I loved it! Here are some observations for those who might be contemplating similar rides (or are just curious).
Firstly, this would be the most demanding ride and satisfying ride I’ve done. My Garmin recorded about 5,800m climbing (adjusted) in close to 250ks. I’ve ridden big mountains before but not two in a day with all that distance between them.
In the end, my riding partner (brother-in-law) and I were pretty happy with our riding time of 10.45 and total time of 13 hours, and stoked with the overall experience. We had to slow down a lot for about 3 hours when Michael was ill, and take extended stops at the rest breaks. It was good then that we were riding together. I don’t like to think how miserable it would have been to have no mates nearby in a remote area in that situation. And then when I had a bit of a turn later, he had revved up and was able to encourage me along for a while.
Here are some observations from our experience:
· It's worth doing a lot of prep riding including both big climbs and distance. For those in Sydney, there are just no climbs around here that compare, so you’d need to travel or do repeats. For example, the back of Falls Ck is like Otford Wall (hardest climb on the southside) times 4.
· It was great to start at 4am and ride with the bunch to the bottom of Mt Hotham. After Hotham, the riders naturally spread out a lot, but you could still pick up company at most points along the way.
· Obvious point – leave some gas in the tank for the last parts of the ride. We got a big surge of adrenalin in the last 20ks and hammered them at about 40kmh. It was nice to be able to do that.
· I ate 3 Cadel
Evans bars, some scroggin, 4 salt tablets, a packet of energy jubes, about 4 bananas, a muffin, a ham, cheese and salad roll, several bits of cake, two apple turnovers, and various other fruit servings. I drank numerous bidons of water, tipped a fair bit on my head, and also drank about 3 or 4 bottles of powdered energy drink, various cups of coffee and cordial, and a 600ml bottle of Coke. Some of this was stuff I took with me but it was mostly from the brilliant rest stops. If you’re going unsupported, there’d be obvious logistical issues.
· Ride with at least one friend and stay with them. It helps a lot when you’re feeling low, which has to be a possibility on a big ride. Would also help in event of a mechanical. For example, we came by a guy who’d come from Adelaide just for the event, and snapped his derailleur hanger in the “middle of nowhere” between Omeo and Falls Creek. We helped turn his bike into a single speed (hint – take a chain breaker and quick link), but I’m not very confident he made it – I’d expect he ended up in a support vehicle. A very miserable outcome and a situation where it’d be nice to have company.
· Use easy gears. I rode a small gear of 34/28 which I put on for the ride. So nice to have that when you’ve already done 150k and the steepest 9k hill you’ve ever ridden suddenly pops up in front of you! Michael disdained an offer of a 27 and kept his normal 39/25 – he ended up walking parts of the back of Falls. I don’t think he’ll do that again!
· The Audax team and volunteers did a marvellous job. I’ve done mass participation rides in 4 states of Australia and overseas, and this definitely ranks with the best in terms of organisation and support.
· I was a bit surprised not to feel too bad afterwards. I bathed in the Ovens River with everyone else, did my stretches and put on compression tights. Next day I was just pleasantly tired and I’m now itching to get back on the bike.
2016 S-Works Tarmac, 2014 Wabi Lightning SE, 2012 Felt F75, 2011 Genesis Equilibrium 20, ancient Avanti Pista track bike