James Barlow writes about his recent experience in Oz:
What a ride!
Start time was 7am. When I arrived at the farm, my ride kit was waiting, yellow people’s ride jersey, cap, helmet number, seat post number and jersey number. All but the cap were compulsory, yes everyone had to wear the Jersey. Bike was assembled and numbers added, bike had a couple of test rides, then packed away again for Geelong.
We stayed on the Geelong esplanade, just over a kilometer from the start finish. I was up at 5:30am and left the hotel to walk down to the start for 6:30am (no front lights) in the dawn light. No arm or leg warmers needed, but I did ride a bit to get warm and check bike. Ten minutes to go, I found my place, the event is ten minutes to go, I found my place, the event is mass start with speed groups, I went in 35kph+. In the box waiting for the go, Cadel up front with his mates and Phil Liggett watching on from the VIP box, “Hi Phil, St Ives CC Cambridgeshire”, gets a thumbs up. Off we go slow roll, left, right, up a hill and down along the Geelong coast towards the southern end on closed Road section, so plenty from further back lighting matches to get up front. I held back just biding my time, moving through safely, slowly picking up the pace. As the groups thinned my pace increasing, I suddenly come across Cadel Evans, can’t miss this so I say hi and sit in with 4 others to ride with him. Pace was OK but nowhere near what I should be doing.
After about 10mins, I’m off 40kph into a head wind, immediately see a group ahead and wind them in quickly. Sure enough as I go past they jump on my wheel, speed averages around 37kph on mainly flat roads to Barwon, bit of a slog on the open areas, very fen like. Reach the coast and head to Torquay, still flat and still have my group of wheelsuckers, which had increased as I catch more who have burnt to many matches.
Into Torquay and on to Belles Beach (finale Point Break, Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves), the course starts to roll, think Chapel Hill several times! My group of suckers thins as they fade on the hills, still catching others up front. Then the first big(ish) climb inland from Belles Beach and on towards Moriac, fast rolling terrain and very, very straight, 80km done, then a right turn onto the Barrabool Rd and the start of the real test. It rolls, a lot..! 50kph 20kph 50kph 20 kph 50 kph 10kph then 65kph down into Barrabool into a roundabout, left turn then a 2km grind up Scenic drive with a 15%KICK at the top, then 60kph down into Victoria Park, no faster because of traffic, across single lane two way bridge, marshals close it when cyclists approach, then into another 10% climb, turn left into 25% Liege type hell.
That was the last test, passing others all the way till this point. Back in Geelong now and hindered by red lights every block. Finally get onto the esplanade and a nice 2km blast down to finish. 111km in 3hrs and a bit 20mins down on the first finisher and according to Strava 50th.
Wasn’t a race but this is Oz and it was smash fest and absolutely brilliant.
