Tour of Bright - Stage 3

Somehow, I managed to wake up and pack up and get on my bike again ! It's a miracle !

Stage 3 was supposed to finish at the top of Hotham, but due to my tiredness (and some strong winds (50k plus) ) they decided to stop the stage about 2/3 of the way up Hotham. This missed the final nasty piece with the CRB (it's a climb ... And when they give names to climbs in the middle of a climb - its bad !!) .... I sure wasn't too disappointed when they told us at the start, and I'm not sure anyone else was !!

It was a very tough run out to harrietville - lots of surging in the pack as people tried and failed to break away. After harrietville it's all up !!

I finished in 2 hours (second last - hey I beat someone , and all those who were too tied to start !) .... Falc was a lot quicker, finishing 10th and moving up to 11th overall - an amazing result !! Go Falc !

After an express ride on falc's back wheel back to bright, it was all over .. Time to head home.

I learned a lot this weekend ;

- I learned that this race is serious .... And I need to get serious, or don't try it again ! ( think I'd like to try it again !)
- I learned that the Falc is getting way too fast !
- I learned that Nappy Rash cream does a pretty good job of soothing skin irritations
- I learned that falc spends way too much time wondering if he'd be happier as a woman (if I was a woman, I'd be on the A grade podium ... Was a recurring theme all weekend)
- I learned that some stories should stay on tour (but I thought I'd post them here anyway !!)

The start line for stage 3 !

Falc ready and raring to go.... We learned that you need to start near the front to cover the breaks that try to go away as they release the field... See it really is like the tour de France !

We made it home in record pace ! It's amazing how great it all seems now its over !

And.... Our cabin owners invited us in to shower in their house, complete with cut up fruit and some cricket to watch as we waited. Amazing hospitality... Top of my list for any future Bright cycling trips!

Tour of Bright - Stages 1 & 2 !

Well.... what a day !  This Tour of Bright thing is really serious !  Seriously hard !!!

The day started with the best possible weather... sunny and cool, just perfect for cycling !

Stage 1, was a tough one for both of us, after a speedy run in the peleton, I was dropped 1k before the climb I was hoping to not get dropped at !  That was the 45k mark, leaving me 50k to ride on my own. By the time I finished the climb there was no one else in sight... oh well, it was a lovely day and I managed to finish the stage (last year heart issues meant I dropped out early.)   Think I was last to finish (but there were guys behind me, probably from another grade ??  Anyway, only 40 minutes or so to make up from here !

The Falc had a super day, staying with the peleton to the climb of Tawonga... cool !... Falc finished 17th - a super performance !

Stage 2 was the 16k time trial. Always incredibly tough, and after stage 1, super tough. I managed to beat a few people and match my time from last year (when I was fresh). Falc sliced 1:28 off his time from last year (I'm blaming the helmet, though the Zipps might be helping a litte) to move up to 16th overall. Nice !!

Tomorrow is a nice little run up Mt Hotham. I need some serious sleep (and some serious drugs!!).

The Falc at the start line .. ready for smack down !

Cool cloth race numbers, produced by Rapha (Yep the same dudes who did my Paris-Roubaix gear). Has our surname printed down the bottom left.... a very nice touch !

Yours truly, looking way too relaxed - obviously has no idea whats about to go down !!

Between stages... my bed was just too inviting... the Falc delivered Lime and Soda (with fresh lime)  then a Capuccino ... after a few hours lying around I almost felt I could walk again. Unfortunately, I wasn't so sure I could ride !

The Falc decided he needed something extra to go with his Zipps... the thought of seeing this in action was enough to get me out of bed and off to the Time Trial.

Yep... just like the Tour de France, we have a start house and a start ramp. I actually felt pretty good considering !  And the start guy didnt mention my hairy legs (I'm still traumatised from last year !)

Here's the Falc finishing... oh no... its some other guy with the same helmet !

Oh... yeah... here's the real pic !... I had to use a super fast shutter time to avoid it just being one big blur !!

After one tough day, we went to our usual table at the pub and got our usual curries (Oh yeah... and the Falc ordered a steak as well.... think he earned it !!)

The boys are back in town !!

Well.... here we are again.. Bright !  And not just any trip to Bright... this is the Tour of Bright (Not to be confused with the Tour de France, well, ok... confuse it if you want !)

Only a short 7 hour drive from Sydney.. only enough time to just get started on the sprocket talk and no where near enough time to do any justice to Rule 1 !

Tomorrow we have a 95k road race in the morning... and then a 16k time trial in the afternoon. Sunday is a nice relaxing 55k race to the top of Mt Hotham (only the hardest climb in Australia - according to Phil Anderson - who kinda knows stuff !).. and of course, we then have to ride the 55k back to town.

Ok ... enough worrying about tomorrow... where are the pics from today (really... it was a lot of driving ...a quick run around the time trial course, and of course dinner at the pub !)

The competitive spirit started early... t-shirt wars !

The Falc arrived ready to race... with the cleanest bike ever seen. Even GT would be envious !

The organisers think were going to use some carbs... this was in my goody bag from registration... the Falc got the same... crazy fun !! (Do I still have to ride, or can I just stay in bed and eat ??)