The Baw Baw Classic 2010

When entering the Baw Baw Classic there are a lot of things going through your mind. Am I mad or just plain stupid for entering one of the toughest one day races in Australia. Just as well I am a tough nut knowing that I would not be finishing in a bunch or even completing half way with what would be left of the bunch. The flattest bit of road is 4kms into the race & lasts for 3kms only, the rest of the race is either going up or down with the final 6kms (horrors category) rising 718 metres at an average of 11.5% & a couple of pinches at 20.3% to an altitude of over 1540 metres at Mt Baw Baw from a start altitude of 143 metres in Warragul.

With a forecast of wind, rain & snow showers on the alps it was looking like a tough day in the saddle. Not more than five minutes into the race the first shower came down on the riders, thankfully it didn't last to long & not to cold at this stage. I managed to stay with the bunch until Mc Dougals Rd where I went off the back on one of the climbs. With head down & focusing on the bunch ahead I managed to get back on with the help of another rider before the end off Mc Dougals Rd. Lost contact again at the start of Sheffield's Rd in the head wind waving good bye to the bunch for the rest of the race with 60kms still to go. With the bunch ahead I settled down to finish the race in the best time I could by myself. On all the climbs & most down hills I passed riders, including several club riders, giving me the excitement to push hard to the finish.

Maybe I may have been going to hard as with about three corners to go to the bottom of Tanjil Bren hill, I lost the back wheel, going down hard which resulted in damage to the bike & skin missing from my hip, ouch! Its very reassuring when a van driver pulls up just after you pick yourself up & says's, man you where flying as I could not keep up with you in my van". Maybe I should have taken it a little bit easier in the wet conditions. On inspecting the damage, the rear derailleur & cable where my biggest problem. The cable had pulled out of the derailleur, leaving only three strands of the cable left to attach back onto the derailleur. The dropout bracket was also bent. After a quick adjustment I was unable to select my 25 sprocket so I was not looking forward to riding the mountain in a 39-23. With the bike & pride dented we headed off to pass the riders that passed me while I fixed my bike. I court & passed them before the major climb, Mt Baw Baw.

I started to climb the last 6kms with reservations as I was not sure how I would go in such a big gear for the climb. As we climbed it got colder & you had to be careful not to ride on any painted lines as the back wheel would slip & spin. I take great pride in riding all the way to the top without stopping, zigzagging or cramping. I felt tired but not wasted at the top. After finishing it started snowing (snow shower). It was a tough day, it wasn't until changing in the car park in the snow shower that I looked for the first time how much skin was missing, ouch but not to bad. This year was the best I have felt after finishing. It took 4:28 hrs to complete 103kms & climbed 2945 in altitude at 23kph average speed. I raced in M4+ starting with 38 riders, finishing 15 out of 26 finishers. Looking forward to racing it next year but with more training under my belt.