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Australia Day long w'end  Muggaccinos' "2008 Tour de Victorian Alps" to ride an ave of 80km a day on each of the 5 days preceding Audax Alpine Classic on Sunday, 27 Jan '08.   
Drive down from Sydney early Tues 22 January '08 and drive back on Monday 28th - 6 nights

Thus far 7 Muggs' cyclists are attending Bright in late Jan, albeit Scribe and Siggy, who have completed several ACC's between 'em are riding a leisurely 70km ride twds Beechworth on the Sunday, and riding hard on the days leading up to the Sunday with Jean aka DishPig, Laurence aka Tyro, Guy aka Lawyer, Arno aka The Kaiser, Siggy aka Smiling Assassin, Brenda aka Welsh Widget, Terry aka Navigator and Hugh aka Wellington.  So plenty of amigos to ride with in the lead-up to Sunday.

Pics from 2008 Tour de Victorian Alps

Hardcopy this Bullsheet and these street directions from Sydney Harbour Bridge to Bright - 700.63km - 8½ hrs driving time

Muggaccinos’ Sunday rides during Dec/Jan roll out at sparrow fart/cock’s crow to beat the heat and ensure adequate daylight to complete requisite long training rides in preparation for the prima endurance event on the annual cycling calendar in the Mecca of road cycling country, Vic. Alps.

The Alpine Classic evidences endurance cyclists from across Aust flock to the pristine town of Bright in the foothills of the Vic Alps twds the end of Jan for the annual pilgrimage where the splendid mountainous terrain proffers entrants in 3 ride distances from Howitt Park, Bright with 4 starting times. 

The pre-eminent 200km event contains 4 tough ascents:
*        NEE up Towonga Gap 11km,
*        NNE up Falls Creek 29km,
*        SWW up Towonga Gap 8km (from the steeper side); and
*        W up Mt. Buffalo 22km.

These four marvellous climbs aggregate 3,700m of pedal pumping, quad draining, elevation.  
There are 4 other Audax event distances from 140km down to 70km.

Bank Teller has attempted the "200km Audax" thrice with two finishes (best 10hrs 50m in '97) and a DNF after he blew-up, not 'cause he'd gone out too hard, but 'cause he'd under-prepared.  These days he spends 5 days in Bright preceding the event cycling all the nearby marvellous climbs in the Victorian Alps, and rides a 60km clockwise loop twds Beechworth on the Sunday: 

     Tues 22     Depart ya Sydney digs by 6:30am to beat traffic and arrive in time to commence
4pm ride up Tawonga Gap and back - 33km ride - 12km climbing

Wed 23     112km out 'n back ride SSW to Mt. Hotham initially along a pleasant, flattish SEE 25km route to friendly Harrietville, whereupon an immediate hard left up a steepish 31km memorable climb across the spectacular Razorback Ridge to Mt Hotham (Hotham Heights) known as "The Giant" - (1,862m above sea level) in the heart of the Bogong National Park.  After 4.95km of steady climbing you meet The MEG.  Don't let the name frighten you as it is merely a very steep 60m switchback.  From 10.05km to 19.25km climbing is easy.  After 20.85km you reach Mt St. Bernard and at 23.35km Renee's Lookout where you then ride across the ridge feeling as though you are on top of the world, because all the adjoining mountains to your left and right are clearly visible, and they all appear smaller - 31km climbing.  Click on and scroll down to Mt. Hotham elevation profile.
 

Thurs 24   35km out 'n back ride = 70km due West to Mt Buffalo "The Horn" (1,330m) - 22km climbing.

Fri 25        65km out 'n back ride = 130km heading SW to Falls Creek (1,580m) via Mt Beauty and Tawonga Gap (885m) with views across Rocky Valley reservoir and back down the length of the Ovens Valley -  48km climbing.                                                                        

Sat 26      112km out 'n back ride SSW to Mt. Hotham - 2nd time in 4 days - see details above for Wed 24th - 31km climbing.

Sun 27      Watch the staggered Starts to 8:30am from Bright town centre, have a coffee and then about 9:30am ride with Siggy 60km clockwise loop twds Beechworth Bakery.  Return in time to watch the finishes of the 4 different event distances.                   

The above initial 5 days' cycling -                                                        View from Bright twds Mt Buffalo

(i)         elevate 7,189m (585m+1,562m+1,030m+585m+1,280m+585m+1,562m) from Bright which is 300m above sea level;

(ii)        aggregate 457km (33+112+70+130+112);

(iii)       require 109km (12+31+22+48+31) of gut wrenching, pedal pushing, quad snapping climbing on sections such as Tawonga Gap to Mt Beauty and early in the 31km climb to "The Giant" (Mt. Hotham).

Bank Teller has again booked with Barbara at below listed Bright Caravan Park a large camp site "up the back" of the camp ground which can accommodate 10 people even if they are all in single tents.  The booking costs $33 per night for the site which includes 2 people, and $10 per head extra.  In order to defray the fixed $33 per night, Bank Teller is charging $14 per night per head, where he will cover any shortfall.  Jean and Scribe arrive Tues.  Hugh and Arno arrive Wed.  Terry aka Navigator arrives Thurs.  Guy and Siggy are hob-nobbing it in motels.

As the Bright motels are usually booked chockers by late November, below are 3 camp grounds in Bright with prices for pitching your trusty tent:

• Bright Caravan Park (03) 5755.1141 - centre of town / turn Left at BP garage 100m before bridge - $33 per night for 2 persons on unpowered site with $10 extra for each extra person within that designated camp site

• Bright Accommodation Park (03) 5750.1001 formerly Green Hills Caravan Park - 3½km East of town centre - $10 per head per night on unpowered site.

• Bright Riverside Holiday Park (03) 5755.1118  4-10 Toorak Ave Bright.  300m from town.  $32 per night for 2 people.

If you are making the annual pilgrimage to Bright to -

*        climb all the marvellous mountains in the Vic Alps between Tues and Sat as listed above, and/or to compete on Sunday; and

*        suck some Reds at night,

e-mail ScribePJ@bigpond.com or 'phone him (02) 9114.6689. 

Directions to Bright:

Drive 680km SSW from Sydney thru Liverpool along Hume Highway to Albury on the Victorian border on an uninteresting freeway route in 7¼ hrs.  Thence it is another 90/110 mins to Bright depending whether you take Route1. 2. or 3. below. 

Recommend you pull in at the Holbrook Bakery (300m Sth of the big black submarine) which is the first major town Nth of Albury.

    Route 1.    Simplest albeit longest route is:

    Follow Hume Hwy to Wangaratta, then Left onto Ovens Hwy leads to Myrtleford, then Bright.

    Route 2.    Or 107km (about 30km less) and more scenic:

    Route 3.    Or about 10km more than 2. above and equally scenic as 2. above:

What does the above map show you?  Not a lot. It is as boring as batshit driving 680km to the Vic. border and onto Wodonga.  However, voila the landscape and scenic beauty increase exponentially the more you drive Sth. into Vic. 

Au milieu de this map is the quaint, pristine township of Bright in the foothills of the Vic. Alps.  Falls Creek is SE.  "The Giant" Mt Hotham is Sth.  Mt Buffalo is due West.

Scribe (02) 9114.6689  0412 045.224  last updated 14 Jan '08