2012 Audax Alpine Classic
-
- Posts: 8
- Joined: Fri Jan 27, 2012 9:37 am
2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby MarkD_83 » Mon Feb 06, 2012 5:29 pm
-
- Posts: 104
- Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:45 pm
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby madmarsupial » Wed Feb 08, 2012 12:39 am
The Rider:
90kg clydesdale, expat Aussie living overseas. Primarily a rower, but now riding more and racing.
The Stats:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/146545796
Budget:
Aim was 12.5hrs riding with 2.5hrs of breaks (15 total). Did it in a shade over 13/3 (16 total).
The Gear:
Last year my lowest was 34/25. This year I was 36/28. New bike (steel, custom, sexy etc) for that overall feel-good factor.
Carrying 4 bottles (two in frame, two in seat mounted 'tri-style' rocket launcher) with 3 'wet' and 1 for dry storage. The third bottle makes a big difference.
Training:
About as hard as the terrain here will allow. All the local riders thought I was nuts when I went up and down the local 550m/7% hill here 6 times on a Sunday - and that only recreates the first quarter of this ride!
The Ride:
Starting at 4 put more of the day in the cool and gave me extra time to help complete. Comfortable up Hotham. Tired of course, but a lot easier than last year. Having the extra gears and also folks around you (last year I was probably lantern rouge all damn day) makes it much nicer. Hello to Lisa, the 48kg lady who rode most of the way up with me - and then left me in her wake!
Across to Omeo was fun. New bike was eating up the miles and quite literally out rolling folks. Riding in small groups made the pace OK. Chatted to some good folks. That is one of the best parts.
W T F hill was exactly that. That white flecked road surface and the middle of the day combined to make it Hot Hot Hot. At one point there were about 10 of us playing leap-frog with short rests in the shade (and breeze) on the far right of the road. The second steep section (after the dip) was where I had to stop and walk for a couple of hundred metres along with a few others. Saw that yellow steel Paconi folks have mentioned above and was also overtaken by the couple on the black tandem.
Once I hit Raspberry Hill I was a happy man. In my heart I knew I had it licked. When I rolled out with a smile and a "it's in the bag" type comment I got a few dirty looks and some cautionary words or two. The fact that I had to go past some poor guy flat on his back being treated by the paramedics (seriously overheated looking) probably made me look like a terrible tool (edit - used a w word here but the auto censor changed it to something that wasn't really getting my message across!). Across the top, over the dam, and into Falls Creek by 5pm.
After the fun of descending to Mt Beauty, the final climb up Tawonga wasn't the sufferfest I was expecting from all the talk. Sure, I rather not have done it by that stage of the day, but it was a consistent gradient and just needed me to grind it out. At the top I got a big cheer and lots of encouragement from many of the key organisers and volunteers. Thanks lads.
A fast descent and a powerful ride at into Bright and I was home just after 8.
Improvements:
- There were patches I could have gone quicker on.
- Didn't eat enough early on. Was in a bit of a bonk out the back of Falls.
- could shorten up the breaks (the bonk cost me a bit of time).
Overall I was happy with the ride. Finished, had fun chatting, enjoyed the view and so on. I was dead tired at the end of the day (cue vague eating, shower, bed), but pulled up fine with no injuries and only a slightly sore backside for a day - not bad considering the hours in the saddle.
Will come back.
- number21
- Posts: 235
- Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:25 pm
- Location: Sydney
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby number21 » Wed Feb 08, 2012 10:40 am
Consider it training for the 2013 ACE. You're in front already!hannos wrote: Next time I think I'll actually ride some hills before doing the 250...
-
- Posts: 727
- Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2009 8:33 pm
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby ausrandoman » Wed Feb 08, 2012 10:58 am
I enjoyed reading your whole post. It kept my interest all the way but the first sentence was the most important part of the whole story. Good onya!madmarsupial wrote:I managed to finish the 250 ride this year and had a lot of fun doing it.
-
- Posts: 104
- Joined: Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:45 pm
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby madmarsupial » Wed Feb 08, 2012 1:54 pm
ausrandoman wrote:I enjoyed reading your whole post. It kept my interest all the way but the first sentence was the most important part of the whole story. Good onya!madmarsupial wrote:I managed to finish the 250 ride this year and had a lot of fun doing it.
I had fun last year too, despite not finishing!
What better way to pull out, than to do it before your body is wrecked and to do it conveniently at a pub with a mate there with you (and a loving wife on her way in a car to pick you up)?
-
- Posts: 444
- Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 12:16 pm
- Location: Inner West, Sydney
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby Eleri » Wed Feb 08, 2012 6:43 pm
- hannos
- Posts: 4109
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2010 11:18 am
- Location: Sydney
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby hannos » Thu Feb 09, 2012 7:40 am
After cramping near the top of Hotham (poor hydration....) and struggling up back of falls, I vowed to never do this ride again.
Driving home the next day I was planning the training I should have done so I can perform better next year
I must be a sucker for punishment.
- feral grasshopper
- Posts: 307
- Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2010 1:13 pm
- Location: Adelaide SA
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby feral grasshopper » Thu Feb 09, 2012 8:22 am
No, just a cyclisthannos wrote:
I must be a sucker for punishment.
-
- Posts: 444
- Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 12:16 pm
- Location: Inner West, Sydney
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby Eleri » Thu Feb 09, 2012 6:57 pm
Training and hydration / nutrition. I reckon lots of people don't eat and drink enough.hannos wrote:Some great stories here Well done to all.
After cramping near the top of Hotham (poor hydration....) and struggling up back of falls, I vowed to never do this ride again.
Driving home the next day I was planning the training I should have done so I can perform better next year
I must be a sucker for punishment.
- feral grasshopper
- Posts: 307
- Joined: Sun Jul 18, 2010 1:13 pm
- Location: Adelaide SA
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby feral grasshopper » Thu Feb 09, 2012 7:13 pm
+1Eleri wrote:
Training and hydration / nutrition. I reckon lots of people don't eat and drink enough.
- MREJ
- Posts: 404
- Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2010 5:58 pm
2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby MREJ » Thu Feb 09, 2012 7:40 pm
Then when we got to Mt Beauty, we were feeling the heat a bit and pulled in to the servo to buy a cold drink. I thought, well, the pros use Coke for the final stages, so I gulped down 600m.
I got the wished-for kick and hammered along to Tawonga feeling like a hero. But there was another feeling. More basic and urgent. The mix of food and fizz was starting a riot in my stomach, which was producing short bursts of gas propulsion at both ends. Something wanted to get out of the bus, and quickly!
I fought back, trying to repress both urges, and started up Tawonga Gap feeling pretty crook and wondering how this would end. Gradually the concentration on the climb overtook previous concerns, and by the time we started rolling down the other side, I was ready to ride. It had me worried for a while though.
-
- Posts: 607
- Joined: Tue May 03, 2011 1:40 pm
- Location: Adelaide
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby Daccordi Rider » Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:16 am
Yep to this. Last year my traing was lacking and my food plan worse, result at least 20 mins spent sitting in the gutter half way up Buffalo sheeting sweat and dizzyness followed by an agonising 9km/hr ride to the top swearing I would never do this ride again if I could just finish it. Of course the next day I am re thinking training plan etc for the 2012 assault!It took me 3 weeks to fully recover from it.feral grasshopper wrote:+1Eleri wrote:
Training and hydration / nutrition. I reckon lots of people don't eat and drink enough.
My training plan is posted in the training section and I stuck to this pretty well. Involved a min 300km per week and 5000 vertical metres with everything bumped up in Jan as time allowed. My longest single ride prior was 160km.The week of the Classic I got to Bright Tuesday and rode a total of 300 km prior to the event, not good tapering but who can resist going for a long steep ride when in Bright?
So my wife (who is good at this stuff) wrote me out a food plan which I stuck to. Basically- (and keep in mind I am hypoglycemic so gels and Gatorade don't cut it)
Bright to Falls - 2 Bottles Heed (Hammer Nutrition) up Tawonga 2 dates, at top small protein bar.
Up Falls 3-4 dates and a protein bar at the top.
Falls to Bright - 1 water, 1 heed, 2 dates up Tawonga
Lunch - We had a house on the road into Bright so stop there.Slice of Frittata and 500ml of water
To Buffalo - 1 Heed, 1 Water, 2 dates and 2 Gels (at this stage gels are ok won't get the adverse reaction I get early in the ride because the body needs a bit of sugar now). Plus a water refill half way up Buffalo.
Top of Buffalo - Just refilled water and headed home.
Result - 8.05 ride time, sat on a steady 12-13km up Buffalo, I'd be lying if I said it didn't still hurt but nothing like last year, got back to Bright feeling tired but not shattered.
Post race have recovered very well to the extent of setting a PB up Norton Summit 1 week later.
So for me the difference between a good eating plan and none was huge, most especially I think in terms of recovery. We can probably all train more!
- jules21
- Posts: 10555
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:14 pm
- Location: deep in the pain cave
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby jules21 » Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:27 am
+ 1 on this.Daccordi Rider wrote:So for me the difference between a good eating plan and none was huge, most especially I think in terms of recovery. We can probably all train more!
i didn't have an eating plan this year and thought 'audax provide food'. i hunger flatted towards the top of hotham, as i didn't want to start eating my reserve energy bars so early on. i ate at Dinner Plain, but conventional wisdom would suggest i'd already done some damage by digging into reserves so early.
an eating plan can make a big difference and save you from chasing half a banana as it rolls down Say What hill after dropping it and feeling like burke and wills.
- hannos
- Posts: 4109
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2010 11:18 am
- Location: Sydney
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby hannos » Fri Feb 10, 2012 10:41 am
Eleri wrote:Training and hydration / nutrition. I reckon lots of people don't eat and drink enough.hannos wrote:Some great stories here Well done to all.
After cramping near the top of Hotham (poor hydration....) and struggling up back of falls, I vowed to never do this ride again.
Driving home the next day I was planning the training I should have done so I can perform better next year
I must be a sucker for punishment.
Not nutrition, just dehydration.
It was quite humid at 4am and I didn't drink enough on the way out to Hotham.
I fixed that pretty quickly though and didn't have any trouble for the rest of the ride.
- number21
- Posts: 235
- Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 11:25 pm
- Location: Sydney
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby number21 » Fri Feb 10, 2012 11:22 am
I can vouch for that. Dehydration hit me with 4kms left of climbing in the ACE. Hit quickly too, was feeling great then BAM I had nothing. Got off at the next water stop dizzy and had tingling sensations in my hands feet and face. Took me an hour to feel good enough to get back on the bike, somehow felt great again once going. Then came back basically as soon as I finished in Bright. I blame myself for not using enough of my electrolyte/carb powder. Was drinking and eating all day, but my sports drink tasted gross when warm so skipped it for fresh water for the majority of the last half. Lesson learnt!hannos wrote:Eleri wrote:Training and hydration / nutrition. I reckon lots of people don't eat and drink enough.hannos wrote:Some great stories here Well done to all.
After cramping near the top of Hotham (poor hydration....) and struggling up back of falls, I vowed to never do this ride again.
Driving home the next day I was planning the training I should have done so I can perform better next year
I must be a sucker for punishment.
Not nutrition, just dehydration.
It was quite humid at 4am and I didn't drink enough on the way out to Hotham.
I fixed that pretty quickly though and didn't have any trouble for the rest of the ride.
- hannos
- Posts: 4109
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2010 11:18 am
- Location: Sydney
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby hannos » Fri Feb 10, 2012 11:36 am
I had 1 bidon electrolytes, one of plain water and one of nutrition (Hammer).number21 wrote:I can vouch for that. Dehydration hit me with 4kms left of climbing in the ACE. Hit quickly too, was feeling great then BAM I had nothing. Got off at the next water stop dizzy and had tingling sensations in my hands feet and face. Took me an hour to feel good enough to get back on the bike, somehow felt great again once going. Then came back basically as soon as I finished in Bright. I blame myself for not using enough of my electrolyte/carb powder. Was drinking and eating all day, but my sports drink tasted gross when warm so skipped it for fresh water for the majority of the last half. Lesson learnt!hannos wrote:Eleri wrote:
Training and hydration / nutrition. I reckon lots of people don't eat and drink enough.
Not nutrition, just dehydration.
It was quite humid at 4am and I didn't drink enough on the way out to Hotham.
I fixed that pretty quickly though and didn't have any trouble for the rest of the ride.
I knew I was drinking enough when I felt the need for a nature break sometime after Dinner Plain.
- cavebear2
- Posts: 2202
- Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 12:46 am
- Location: Perth
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby cavebear2 » Fri Feb 10, 2012 2:56 pm
I have no idea how riders carrying only 2 bidons and starting at 6:19AM cope with hydration needs on this ride. I guess most of them just go into various deficits, (volume & electrolytes) especially between Bright and Dinner Plain.
- jules21
- Posts: 10555
- Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:14 pm
- Location: deep in the pain cave
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby jules21 » Fri Feb 10, 2012 3:30 pm
it was still quite cool heading up hotham in (or trailing..) the 6.19 bunch. i didn't have a problem with fluid supply, refilling in DP. i find that downing a few glasses of water before starting the ride allows me to 'bank' fluids. it was on the back of falls that i started sweating like an open tap, but there was plenty of water supply stations put on by audax. i could have done that leg with a single bidon, i reckon.cavebear2 wrote:I have no idea how riders carrying only 2 bidons and starting at 6:19AM cope with hydration needs on this ride. I guess most of them just go into various deficits, (volume & electrolytes) especially between Bright and Dinner Plain.
- snark
- Posts: 581
- Joined: Wed Oct 01, 2008 2:35 am
- Location: Geelong, Vic
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby snark » Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:53 pm
How far apart are the hydration stops?cavebear2 wrote:I have no idea how riders carrying only 2 bidons and starting at 6:19AM cope with hydration needs on this ride.
Cheers,
Simon.
- cavebear2
- Posts: 2202
- Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 12:46 am
- Location: Perth
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby cavebear2 » Fri Feb 10, 2012 5:54 pm
Do you know what your total liquid consumption was on the ride? What time did you finish? I drank 14L and finished at 17:45 (Still quite hot on the Tawonga climb). I can't bank fluids like that in the AM it just makes me go....jules21 wrote:it was still quite cool heading up hotham in (or trailing..) the 6.19 bunch. i didn't have a problem with fluid supply, refilling in DP. i find that downing a few glasses of water before starting the ride allows me to 'bank' fluids. it was on the back of falls that i started sweating like an open tap, but there was plenty of water supply stations put on by audax. i could have done that leg with a single bidon, i reckon.
- cavebear2
- Posts: 2202
- Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 12:46 am
- Location: Perth
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby cavebear2 » Fri Feb 10, 2012 6:03 pm
Between Bright and Dinner plain there are no official hydration stops although you could stop and get water at Harrietville. (25km point before the Mt Hotham climb) That is a distance of 67km with about 1,750m of climbing.snark wrote:How far apart are the hydration stops?
Cheers,
Simon.
I guess I must climb more energetically than other riders or something as I seem to drink about twice as much.
-
- Posts: 444
- Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 12:16 pm
- Location: Inner West, Sydney
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby Eleri » Fri Feb 10, 2012 7:10 pm
I had a huge breakfast of porridge and stewed apples, coffee, lots of water. Took 2* 750ml bidons filled with electrolyte and 4 doses of electrolyte all of which I drank. Once I finished the 2nd bidon of electolyte I switched that one to water. I probably drank 10-12 bidons of fluid, plus a gatorade, plus a lemonade and 2 milos. I ate all the food they gave me including about 3 or 4 bananas, salad sandwich, couple of cakes and 2 ricecreams. I ate 2 dried fruit bars and one gel half way up Say What hill. Icavebear2 wrote:Do you know what your total liquid consumption was on the ride? What time did you finish? I drank 14L and finished at 17:45 (Still quite hot on the Tawonga climb). I can't bank fluids like that in the AM it just makes me go....jules21 wrote:it was still quite cool heading up hotham in (or trailing..) the 6.19 bunch. i didn't have a problem with fluid supply, refilling in DP. i find that downing a few glasses of water before starting the ride allows me to 'bank' fluids. it was on the back of falls that i started sweating like an open tap, but there was plenty of water supply stations put on by audax. i could have done that leg with a single bidon, i reckon.
- JV911
- Posts: 5458
- Joined: Mon Sep 01, 2008 1:22 pm
- Location: Sydney, Australia
-
- Posts: 1299
- Joined: Mon Mar 21, 2011 7:28 pm
- Location: Pikey, based on Southern Gold Coast
Re: 2012 Audax Alpine Classic
Postby Ken Ho » Wed Feb 15, 2012 1:48 pm
I think too many people take the Velominati way more seriously than intended, and disdain the use of Camelbaks, when they can be the difference between safe riding and dangerous hyperthermia. I see no logical reason to not use one.
Unless you are referring to your legs as "guns", then you are breaking Rule #1 anyway, so may as well break a few more.
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+10:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.