The Gran Fondo Report

The following is my account of the epic day that was the Great Divide Gran Fondo.

The day for me started at 2:25am after a really ordinary sleep that I’m sure most people can relate to when there’s a big event on the next day and you have an early start. Once I picked up the guys we headed to the starting point at Calliope to get ready for the 4am start. Once there the first flat for the day was found with Wentzel having a rear flat before the bike even came off the car.

At just after 4am we set out into the darkness for what was to be a very long day. The ride was to be ridden at around 26 khr so that we still had some energy at the end of the day. At first some found this pace a little hard to stick to while feeling good but in time the pace evened out. By the time we hit the Bilo range we were all pretty warmed up even though it was still a little fresh and we just cruised up the grind that lay in front of us. At the top we regrouped and set off to Bilo.

There are some great downhill sections across the Bilo range and we all had a ball. As we hit the last 10 k’s into Bilo we picked up a tailwind and set a good solid pace all the way into town. I couldn’t help but think this tailwind was not a good thing, as it turns out it was the last tailwind we experienced until the last 5 minutes heading into Rocky many hours later.   

On the way into Bilo the awesome support team cheered us on and took photos and it was a great feeling I must admit. In Bilo we hit the first coffee shop we found and an hour and a half later (just a little over plan....) we departed with a very full belly. One of the highlights of Biloela was the Shim that stopped for a chat. Blonde wig, fake boobs, very tight and small hot pants with accompanying bulge in the front which was the only thing to give old mate away........50 in the shade would be kind he was but he did make us laugh, imagine the surprise Glenn had when he encountered him in the toilet!!!

As we turned and headed towards Rocky we were introduced to the headwind that would be our riding partner for the rest of the ride. Nobody really cared it was what it was and we just knuckled down and set about churning out the k’s.

By the time we hit Jambin it was around 30 degrees I think and some of the guys were looking a little hot. After a few minutes in the shade we headed back onto the road once again.

 

15 k’s later BANG! The second flat had found us and it was a tyre blowout to make it worse. The Spare tyres were with the backup team but all attempts to reach them were unsuccessful. Turns out they were in the food court and couldn’t hear the phones ringing....once we reached them they were into full swing and in no time they found us and we were ready to roll once again.

The temp was around 34 degrees for the next stint along the flat and windy country that lies between Jambin and Dululu. This was where the first reduction in pace took place so as to make sure the whole group was in with a shot at finishing. I should mention this stretch is where I mentioned Dululu was just around the corner and spirits lifted, only to find the sign that said Dululu 13 k’s away just around the corner......popular I was.

As we reached Dululu we went across the Dee River I think it was, it looked so good I’m pretty sure if the pub wasn’t 400 metres away the whole group would have jumped in.

The support team had pre ordered for us as we were now over 2 hours behind the plan and lunch at Mt Morgan would have been far too late. Everyone ate very well, I must say the beer, coke, steak sandwich and bowl of chips I had was awesome J The Dululu pub is a great stop which so much character and history.

After the compulsory photo shots in front of the pub we set of to Mt Morgan which was about 30 k’s away. The road starts flat but the hills start about halfway there gradually building. Schalk and Wentzel were feeling the pinch by now and tackled the hills at their pace. By this point this was the biggest ride most of these guys had ever ridden in one day and with minimal preparation there was always going to be a point where the demons would appear. I rode with Wentzel into Mt Morgan where we were greeted by a magpie, on a hill of course before we reached the support crew at the Golden Nugget pub. This was our quickest stop with a quick coke and hello to families before heading off to what were the best climbs since the Bilo range.

 

 

Once again we regrouped at the top of the first bigger climbs and this is where Schalk was happy to plug away at his pace for the rest of the ride and Wentzel made the call to pull the pin down the road a little further after the downhill off the range; he was hurting.

Daryl Glenn and I headed off and rounded up Schalk just before the descent and proceeded to enjoy the ride down the range. Once off the range we headed for Rocky and our spirits were high as it was now in sight, well mine were! As we turned and headed straight towards Rocky the headwind was doing its bit to make the last part of our journey miserable, once again. The pace was a little quicker now and while we covered the distance pretty quickly it was hard work with all the aches and pains coming from everywhere, especially the backside area. As we turned left at the highway we finally picked up some tailwind and just cruised the last 5 minutes or so into Rocky where out finish was to be at the Information centre.

There was the support crew once again and we were welcomed like kings as we pulled up, what a great way to finish a massive day on the bike. Peeling off my shoes and feeling the lush green grass underfoot was something special. Schalk came along a little while later after taking a wrong turn and heading to Gracemere and getting a flat on the outskirts of Rocky...wouldn’t have been a ride if he didn’t get a flat. Wentzel ended up calling it a day with less than 15ks’s to go. While this doesn’t sound far he was well and truly spent and the headwind was very cruel.

 

I would like to mention our awesome support team made up of everyone’s families. They had a ball too I’m pretty sure and made the day more than just a ride. We couldn't have done it without you. The feed at Sizzlers was a great way to finish off the big day.

If you’re wondering, yes there will be a 2013 Gran Fondo, stay tuned J .