Despite getting lost 3 times on the way to the Kinglake ride , I managed to get to the start on time. As I started to get ready I just hoped I had enough clothes for the conditions. It was supposed to be around 15C but at the start of the ride it was still only 6C with a light drizzle falling. I had on long thermal pants, long sleeve base layer under the “official” ride jersey. I also threw on some arm warmers and opted for the long fingered gloves. I figured that once I started riding I would be warm enough but the chance of more rain had be a bit worried!.Unfortunately the ride started late so after standing around at the starting line for 30 mins my joints were getting stiffer and stiffer. Finally the starter’s hooter sounded and we began to shuffle forward. I soon got into a leisurely pace as we headed down a busy hwy out of town before heading into the rolling hills towards Kinglake.
Just as I began to warm up It started to rain steadily, I had to take off my sun glasses ( not that they were protecting me from the sun anyway) because I couldn’t see anything. The pace slowed down and the riders tended to bunch up and spread too wide for my liking. I felt uncomfortable sitting behind some of the groups weaving around in the wet conditions so I went around them and found a clear patch of road where I felt safer riding in the rain. At about the 40 km mark the rain eased, I was soaked through and feeling the cold, my nose was stinging. I pulled over for a quick stretch before i got to the hill climb, I refuled with a banana and a piece of fruit cake from my back pocket. Then it was on the road again in the rain to tackle the 7 km long hill, which was by far the longest I have ever attempted. To my surprise I was climbing comfortably and in a steady rhythm, I was passing far more riders than were passing me. I stayed in the large chain ring on the front and felt surprisingly strong. (I put it all down to the torturous spin classes these past couple of weeks.) As we neared the summit we were in a mist of cloud and drizzle,I looked around at the fire scared trees which served as stark reminder of the black Saturday fires that devastated the Kinglake area 2 years prior.
At the top of the hill we hit an intersection, the 70km ride option went left the 120km ride went right, with the cold rain still falling the majority of the 120km riders seemed to be going left and heading back to the start/finish. I was here for the challenge and I figured that I couldn’t get any wetter so I turned right and kept going. Well I was wrong, the rain fell even heavier and the change of direction brought a change in wind on the exposed part of the course. It began to hail. Pea sized hail pelted my helmet and stung my face and ran down my back, on a steep ascent warning signs advising to go slow on the winding road down from the top of the hill. I didn’t need to be told twice, with my numb fingers gripping the brake levers I nursed the bike down from the hill onto the flats.
Once on the plateau the rain eased and the wind was now at our backs, with a straight even stretch of road and the feeling returning to my fingers, I upped the pace a bit more. There were less riders now so I was able to keep a safe distance from the riders in front there was no sense in drafting in these conditions. We were all enjoying the tailwind and a brief respite from the rain.
At the 88km mark I pulled over at the rest stop, the hail started again, a quick bite to eat and a top-up of the water bottles and I was off again. Coming out of the rest stop the course changed direction, the 45kmph+ wind coming at us from the left as we took on a short climb, it was a challenge to keep upright as the gusting wind conspired to push us over . My legs were getting heavy and the cold was taking its toll on my joints, I began to regret stopping at the last rest stop.
20km to go and one last steep hill to climb, I reached for a power-gel (I not so keen on them but all the cyclist are doing them now days!) and squeezed it into my mouth. I’m sure the effect was mostly placebo but I did seem to get a boost and made it to the top of the hill ( in the small chain ring this time!), there was even 15 minutes of sunshine before the heaviest of the hail storm hit. The hail was bouncing of my helmet and pinging against the frame of the bike, I just tried to hang on and kept going. He hail only lasted for a few minutes and was replaced by light rain. The rain finally stopped for the last 5km or so I just cruised on into town and across the finish line, all I could think off was a hot shower and sitting in front of an open fire place. I finished the ride in under 4hrs and 30 mins. I was very pleased with myself! I got home and my support crew had welcomed me home with warm hugs, a roaring fire , a cosy blanket and some hot soup, and that made it all worthwhile!
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