Last week our resident Wolfpack doctor, Stephen 'Taka' Chan completed the 2012 3 Peaks Challenge. He was kind enough to write an account of his experience.
3 Peaks Challenge:
The ultimate cycling sufferfest in Australia
Last weekend I survived one of the most challenging cycling sportifs in Australia, if not in the world. This 235km circuit encompasses the Victorian Alpine National Park, including climbs to a couple of the most picturesque Alpine resorts Victoria has to offer - Falls Creek and Mount Hotham.
The Victorian Alps has been the training ground of the new GreenEdge Pro Tour team and other Australian Pro riders this past summer.
Baden might have had the map turned upside down, but the group got around with ease. As tweeted the next day:
You know that Pro Tour riders don't tweet about their training rides lightly, so this must be special.
There is some planning required before this ride. In fact, I have prepared for it in the last 2 years, mostly over lattes and big breakfasts, telling myself that I needed to climb stronger and harder the next time I ride.
THE ROUTE
I worried about 235km. It's a massive distance. I have done many 200km rides, including the Audax Alpine Classic this year.. I'm familiar with Tawonga Gap, but had never been to Omeo and the back of Falls Creek.
Mt Hotham is a tamed beast. You have to know how to temper it or else you will get beaten hard. There is a false flat but semi-exposed section mid portion of the climb and steeper gradients before and after, so I knew I had to time my effort. I was too weary to remember every detail, but there is help on the climb! Someone is clever enough to name and sign posted the most difficult parts of Mt Hotham. Bicycle Network Victoria also puts timing check points so you will know where it exactly starts and finishes.
I am not sure anyone knows why “the Meg” (Strava Data) is called that, but this 300m long stretch of bitumen with an average gradient of 10% requires a mighty effort. In addition you have already been riding at 8% for some time. Once I saw the infamous road sign bearing the name of the section, I told myself “This is it!”; the left hairpin approached and Ka-BOOM! I was off the saddle and pain started in my legs. There were many riders alongside me, suffering just as much. I did not allow myself to lose face and stop! I had to push on! Once finished it is back to some 4-5% gradient - Ha!
Some unknown distance of kilometers after the false flat you will reach the finale of Mt Hotham and you may be mistaken for thinking this is the top because it starts with a small descent. Yes, this is just the start of Pain Lane aka CRB Hill (Strava Data). During 3 peaks, I felt less disappointed with prior knowledge, but it was NEVER going to be easy. You see, you are exposed, your legs are getting overworked after 1000m of vertical gain up to this point, and your mental state is as fragile as bare grey tree branches still bearing signs of devastating bushfire of a decade ago. CRB Hill also starts with a road sign "Engage low gear" - a devastating message. I tilted my head up but the wind blew strongly and abruptly on my face, telling me "don't look up, just pedal." I walked this section 2 years ago, but not this time!... Grind!
You will be able see all of the final 2km of Hotham (Strava Data) on a sunny clear day as it is above the tree line. It's kind of like Mount Ventoux without the rocks. Over the cliff on the left side, there is an unbelievable view of trees lying hundreds of meters below and I realized how close I was to heaven. The end of the climb is just behind the first right hand bend, where Bicycle Network Victoria put a photographer to capture your pain face and electronic timing of the climb finishes. The long beep that the device made was not present, reminding me of the noise that an ECG machine makes with a flat liner. Brutal… but at least that is the true signal of the end of Hotham.
Sure enough, I had to save enough energy to tackle the back of Falls Creek at the 195km mark (Strava Data). The road is newly laid with rough, hard quartz and there are about 4 to 5 major efforts of 10-13% (with a maximum of 19%), with some 0-2% roads in between. One area even shows a slight decline. I saw many things I never experienced on a climb - Tour de France style cheering by the locals, people fealling off their bikes with leg cramps, witnessing a fit rider walking up a climb, a few people fixing their tyre punctures and one idiot showing off by pushing up with a 39-21T. My 28T received a lot of grinding and velocity hit a single digit. Where is my compact crank when I need it?
Besides the major descends, the road between Dinner Plain and Omeo is undulating and there are soem decent climbs before the back of Falls Creek. This makes up a total 4300m of climbing for the day.
My Trip
Friday
With the Wolfpack accompanying me only in spirit, I ventured away with Mrs T and the little ones on Friday. I didn't want a long traveling day on Saturday so we only made it as far as Mount Beauty, where we parked for the night at a local motel. It was still a good 4 hour drive from Melbourne.
Saturday
Before packing up the crew again and heading for Falls Creek, I went for a short ride around Mount Beauty as it is generally pretty flat and picturesque.
Friday departure proved to be a wise move, leaving less than an hour drive to Falls Creek. We spotted a few land slides and road repairs on the climb. Overnight parking was miles away at the designated spots. We brought ample food supply to the apartment hotel as local food store receives high demand during this particular weekend each year. Mrs T was on hand and fulfilled her part by making lots of good food for me. While the food was cooking I headed out to get my bike scrutinized by BV as they to confirm my front and rear lights are in working order prior to handing over the rider's pack at the information centre. Having received my number I quickly attached it to the bike back at the apartment. The timing device is incorporated within the rider number. Application requires a fair degree of skill to apply neatly and as you can see I'm no good at it at all.
Valet service - Another thing to be done on Saturday was valet bag packing. There are 3 spots for valet service - Harrietville, Dinner Plain and Anglers Rest. You can put a return bag in at Dinner Plain so all the excess gear can be returned to Falls Creek. A very handy service indeed and I fully utilized that. I put fruit cakes as well as some energy gels and Gatorade powder, although Powerade was provided at rest stops.
Sunday
I think the return service was a big bonus, since this year it was clear and cold at the start. We started off descending at 6 degrees celsius and I had arm & knee warmers, long finger gloves, shoe covers and a gilet on. This was just warm enough for the descent. I quickly took off most of the gear before the first climb at Tawonga gap but I still had to carry them on to Dinner Plain. There was only twilight when we started at 0645, I was lucky to have my newly purchased Exposure Joystick dishing out a lovely 325 lumens. The new light helped me descend some confidence and soon enough no lights were required.
The rest of the day was either a blur or I can only remember as much as I can for this post. I remember saying hello to Ben Barnett on his Baum and also chatted with Wade Wallace @cyclingtips at the lunch stop. I managed to hang on Wade’s back wheel before he skipped away with his O2 racing mates.
BV set closing times at each drink station, for safety reasons and with no excpetions after that time you will be asked to board the sag wagon. I ticked all the boxes as I passed each station, saying to myself, "Yes I beat that closing time by hours", and "this one too". At the last check point (the gate up 10km from Falls Creek village) it was 4:30pm (with closing time at 7:30pm) and I knew I had it all sealed up. I knew I could make the distance within the required time. I relaxed and slowly cruised up to the finish line.
An awesome feeling at the finish. I raised my arms and screamed as loud as I could as I crossed the finish line (along with some marshalls who roared along with me). My name was called out in amongst the background of cheering from family and friends of fellow riders. I stopped and people handed me energy drinks, before followin the picketed fence to a marquee where a podium is set up to present your 'Finisher' jersey and to have your photo taken. I managed to see my family, then downed a hot dog and a hot chocolate that were there waiting for me.
I finished the day in 10 hours and 31 minutes, some 2 hours behind the first man across the line, a pro rider named Nick Mitchell, who was invited by BV to set the pace. I am sure a challenge is now laid to see who would be the first person to beat Nick Mitchell at 3 peaks. I just know it won't be me.
I will do this ride again and would love finish with the Wolfpack next year. This has been the most fulfilling day on my bike and I highly recommend at least giving it a go. People came from every where in Australia to enter this and 93% finished this year. The challenge is really starting to gather popularity and the 'Finisher' jersey will be proudly shown off this weekend! (apologies, Taka sent me this post last week. I can confirm that he did in fact wear his 'Finisher' jersey on our ride last weekend)
Thanks Taka, great write-up. The pressure is really on for the rest of the Wolfpack to join you next year.
~VL
