The day began at 3 am QLD time with a 3:25 getaway, the plan was to travel to the town at the bottom of the climb in the dark and start just as the sun was coming up. The trip there was about 25 k’s and a slight climb the whole way, I was well and truly warmed up by the time I hit the first incline that signalled the start. From the first 20 metres into it I was in the smallest gear and out of the saddle, I was about 5 minutes into the ride and my heart rate was 170 something and I was thinking this isn’t looking good. I pushed on and it was hard going considering I had the same gearing on for flat roads - if anyone plans on doing this sort of ride make sure you select the appropriate gearing beforehand. On the way up my Garmin was beeping and carrying on because my speed was so low the auto pause was coming on! I managed to turn it off and in the process the timer as well! It wasn’t till later when it was about to auto shutdown I realised; a few F words were forthcoming....
I finally got to the first hard section I had read about, ‘The Meg’. It is steep no doubt but it only lasted about 400 meters or something like that. I was standing and then sitting grinding the gear enough to just stay upright. When I made it up that I made some manly noises and told the mountain in no uncertain terms I was on the way up!
Around the middle of the ride there is a 9 k false flat that does give some relief but it also gives you a glimpse of the summit for the first time, not a good feeling when you think you are going ok only to see what you have left to get to the top L
I made it to a ticket booth that was unmanned, well so I thought! Next thing I hear is the familiar snapping of wings and old mate magpie was giving me a hiding! He was pretty pissed too (he smashed me on the way down too even though I thought I could outrun him). From there the climbing got harder and I thought to myself this must be the CRB Climb (they are signed but I thought I just missed it) and ground it out to the top of that section and I was pumped knowing I only had 1 more major climb to go. I push on revitalised with that knowledge. Sometime later I emerge from the tree’s to see the summit in sight, as I near the treeless wasteland I had a very steep decent and hit over 70 k’s going down it, I could see I had a steep climb coming but I wasn’t concerned as I was nearing the end! As I rocket past the sign it reads CRB Climb, engage low gear.....I can’t tell you what that felt like but it wasn’t a good feeling. As I look up the hill I see the climb ahead as it meandered its way skywards. This was walking pace stuff I kid you not. I just pushed on and ground it out until the road flattened out somewhat once again. I was happy with the knowledge I had finally conquered CRB and I only had the Diamontina Climb to go at the very end of the ride, and it was only 400 meters whereas the CRB was 1.1 k’s in distance! The wind is cold up there and the crosswinds were there but I didn’t really feel them, I was close now.
Another steep decent not long after CRB and another rude shock on the other side, the Diamontina. Too easy I thought it was just 400 meters or so, this was hard going and I was just doing enough to keep moving forward ( bear in mind I had been climbing for just over 2 hours by now). As I round the corner where I thought the finish would be there was another section to go, ok I thought that is it for sure. I eventually get there and you guessed it, another one was there. I had got the 2 distances mixed up and I was on the 1.1 k climb!!! once again the feeling of fear, dread, WTF, anger, the look of joy on all your faces and despair all jumped on my shoulder and said ‘matey you’re fucked!’
I just dropped the head once again and ground it out again and again until the summit was reached, what a feeling that was.
I go into the village to refill the water bottle only to find it’s a ghost town! Nobody is there at all. I had a little water left so I thought I only had to go back down so off I went. The trip down was scary at times but what an experience, it was just like the tour only bumpier roads! The roads are pretty good on the mountain really but at that speed any bump feels big. I make it back down to the little town at the bottom and there is some old mate just heading up, good luck I say to him. I can’t see anywhere obvious to fill up so i keep going knowing the 25 k’s to Bright is all slightly downhill. As I ride along the side of a running stream I think just stop and fill up with that, I planned to but it got away from me. After that I was seriously contemplating filling up with the water from a still puddle on the side of the road but by then I was only 5 k’s from the end.
An Epic cycling experience for sure.
The 3 peaks challenge is something I would like to do one day with some mates but make no mistake, it would require a lot of training to have a chance at finishing. I have heard of guy’s training for 6 months for that one ride, I can see why.
I finally got to the first hard section I had read about, ‘The Meg’. It is steep no doubt but it only lasted about 400 meters or something like that. I was standing and then sitting grinding the gear enough to just stay upright. When I made it up that I made some manly noises and told the mountain in no uncertain terms I was on the way up!
Around the middle of the ride there is a 9 k false flat that does give some relief but it also gives you a glimpse of the summit for the first time, not a good feeling when you think you are going ok only to see what you have left to get to the top L
I made it to a ticket booth that was unmanned, well so I thought! Next thing I hear is the familiar snapping of wings and old mate magpie was giving me a hiding! He was pretty pissed too (he smashed me on the way down too even though I thought I could outrun him). From there the climbing got harder and I thought to myself this must be the CRB Climb (they are signed but I thought I just missed it) and ground it out to the top of that section and I was pumped knowing I only had 1 more major climb to go. I push on revitalised with that knowledge. Sometime later I emerge from the tree’s to see the summit in sight, as I near the treeless wasteland I had a very steep decent and hit over 70 k’s going down it, I could see I had a steep climb coming but I wasn’t concerned as I was nearing the end! As I rocket past the sign it reads CRB Climb, engage low gear.....I can’t tell you what that felt like but it wasn’t a good feeling. As I look up the hill I see the climb ahead as it meandered its way skywards. This was walking pace stuff I kid you not. I just pushed on and ground it out until the road flattened out somewhat once again. I was happy with the knowledge I had finally conquered CRB and I only had the Diamontina Climb to go at the very end of the ride, and it was only 400 meters whereas the CRB was 1.1 k’s in distance! The wind is cold up there and the crosswinds were there but I didn’t really feel them, I was close now.
Another steep decent not long after CRB and another rude shock on the other side, the Diamontina. Too easy I thought it was just 400 meters or so, this was hard going and I was just doing enough to keep moving forward ( bear in mind I had been climbing for just over 2 hours by now). As I round the corner where I thought the finish would be there was another section to go, ok I thought that is it for sure. I eventually get there and you guessed it, another one was there. I had got the 2 distances mixed up and I was on the 1.1 k climb!!! once again the feeling of fear, dread, WTF, anger, the look of joy on all your faces and despair all jumped on my shoulder and said ‘matey you’re fucked!’
I just dropped the head once again and ground it out again and again until the summit was reached, what a feeling that was.
I go into the village to refill the water bottle only to find it’s a ghost town! Nobody is there at all. I had a little water left so I thought I only had to go back down so off I went. The trip down was scary at times but what an experience, it was just like the tour only bumpier roads! The roads are pretty good on the mountain really but at that speed any bump feels big. I make it back down to the little town at the bottom and there is some old mate just heading up, good luck I say to him. I can’t see anywhere obvious to fill up so i keep going knowing the 25 k’s to Bright is all slightly downhill. As I ride along the side of a running stream I think just stop and fill up with that, I planned to but it got away from me. After that I was seriously contemplating filling up with the water from a still puddle on the side of the road but by then I was only 5 k’s from the end.
An Epic cycling experience for sure.
The 3 peaks challenge is something I would like to do one day with some mates but make no mistake, it would require a lot of training to have a chance at finishing. I have heard of guy’s training for 6 months for that one ride, I can see why.
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