Epic Camp Oz 05

We all knew today would be a tough ride but no one knew just how tough. I started the estimated 180km ride with KP because I knew he would start out easy. He is very powerful on the flats but his bulk makes it harder for him on the climbs. He's a smart cookie though. It was a beautiful morning to start with and we rode VERY easy. Sometimes I thought it was too easy but I had committed to taking guidance from the more experienced KP and knew we would have it tougher later. There were some very steep little climbs which came as a bit of a surprise but we were taking them all in our stride. I would ride ahead of KP on the climbs and he would come bombing past me on the downhills. I had no choice but to go a little harder on the steeper climbs because my cadence was getting uncomfortably low.

We rode down the coast then turned inland just before Bega. That's when we could feel the heat of the day really building along with the wind. 30km from the turn we had lunch and everyone was complaining about the climbing and the heat. We all knew though that we had Brown Mountain just ahead. A couple of people had warned me but I didn't think it was going to be as hellish as it was. Before we even got to Brown Mountain though we had to negotiate a really strong head wind which was hot like a hair dryer. We were going downhill at 18km/h. Then at about the 120km mark we got to the sign which indicated a steep climb for the next 10km which was the start of the toughest 58 minutes and 51 seconds I have ever experienced on the bike.

It was STEEP. My cadence got down to the 20s and my HR skyrocketed as I was doing my best to stay upright while weaving across the road with a frickin hot gale in my face. There was bugger all shade because it was 1pm. My throat was parched but I couldn't take a drink because I would fall over if I took a hand off the handle bars and if I stopped I would not have been able to clip in again. I was desperately looking up the road for signs that it would level out just a bit to give me some relief but all I could see was steep hairpin turns (switch backs). I felt trapped. Perspiration was cascading down my sunglasses which was a new experience for me. On the rare occasions when my cadence got into the 40s I could take a drink of very hot sports drink which didn't seem to help. In a flash of inspiration I decided to pour some water over my head but the heat of the water startled me and then I had to deal with the sweat and sun cream in my eyes with no way to wipe them (apparently you should not put sun cream above your eyes). The metres (never mind kms) ticked over soooo slowly I considered calling it quits. I wondered how the others were coping. Was anyone getting in the van? How was KP going? I had passed a couple of riders and then I passed a sign for a lookout 2km ahead which included the images of toilets so I figured there must be some water taps. I passed a late model car which had overheated and Bjorn Anderson who had punctured but was getting help from another rider. He later passed me saying "I don't feel too good." He has just come from a winter in Sweden and an extended break from training.

I eventually made it to the lookout (which I figured was 2km from the top) where Bjorn and another guy were resting only to find that the water tap didn't work. Then like a blessing from above, one of the support vans turned up. Talk about a life saver. Ice, cold water, Coke, fresh sports drink. I could have hugged them. I freshened up as much as I could then took off with some renewed energy. I crested the hill with a punch of the air and said good bye to that little nightmare but not with those exact words.

At the top I was greeted with more heat and wind but settled in for the next 25km on my own. I could see a couple of riders about 90 seconds up the road but I couldn't get to them. A group of five or six (including KP) picked me up as we stopped at a small shop/cafe with about 36km to go. So, more chocolate milk and we reluctantly headed back out for the last leg to Cooma. As it turned out it was fast with a side wind which had a bit of tail about it. I tucked in and hung on for dear life as the stronger guys were pulling as along and close to 50km/h at times. My HR was getting a little high for a camp like this so I knew I couldn't last all the way but then KP punctured with 12km to go. I figured I'd only be dropped so I took off alone to cruise in to town counting down the kms including the decimals.

Of course our accommodation was at the top of another nasty little climb at the far end of town. I ditched the idea of a run and just showered, ate and got massaged while comparing notes. Everyone was trying to verbalise their respective experiences but everyone made it which was pretty impressive. Bjorn was suffering from heat exhaustion but seemed to be feeling better a few hours later. The temperature on the road reached mid 40s according to several of the readings taken by the riders. What a day.

Swim: N/A
Ride: 180km, 8:03, avg speed 22.4! Ascending 2915m
Run: N/A

PS: My 'interval' up Brown Mountain was 58:51 Avg HR 139 max 155 which is very high for me.