Scribe 'et al' are visiting Bright Vic. for 5 days for Audax Alpine Classic on Australia Day long w'end

Muggaccinos’ Sunday rides during Dec/Jan are programmed to roll out at sparrow fart/cock’s crow.  Not merely to beat the heat, but also to ensure adequate daylight to complete a few long training sessions in preparation for the prima cycling event on their annual calendar, the 200km Audax Alpine Classic in the Vic. Alps which evidences the crew flocking to the pristine town of Bright for the annual pilgrimage where the splendid terrain proffers entrants four arduous climbs – Towonga Gap 11km, Falls Creek 29km, Towonga Gap 8km (from the steeper side) and Mt. Buffalo 22km - aggregating to 3,700m of pedal pumping, quad draining, climbing and logically an equal number of sheer, heart-throbbing, descents.

 

Altitude profile of The Alpine Classic

During the rest of the year, to keep their quads in reasonable fettle for Fitz’s and Bright, Bumble Hill, near Yarramalong Valley Wyong, provides another popular ascent.  However, Jamberoo Pass, from the coast to Robertson, is respected as the toughest climb, albeit visited sparingly.  In fact, the only crew members to challenge it twice are those retards suffering memory loss.  Nearby Macquarie Pass traditionally cops a workout from the group prior to The Audax with Eric W. holding the record of five climbs in a day back up to the Famous Robertson Pie Shop in The Hamlet of Laird.  Who would know such trivia as the name of a hamlet?  Well, anyone who has trudged up that 12km Pass a bunch of times on a steamy Jan. day and plodded past that old rusting metal sign which promotes the tiny Hamlet of Laird - stuck in the ground just shy of the local landmark seemingly an eternity ago.

Audax Alpine Classic consists of 3 ride distances from Howitt Park, Bright with 4 starting times. 

Each starting time is likely to attract up to 300 riders.  It is not a race.  Riders need to average 15 km ph in order to finish within the qualifying time. 

Rides start at:

  • 6.20am - 200km: Bright, Tawonga Gap, Mt Beauty, Falls Creek, Bright, Mt Buffalo, Bright
  • 6.40am - 200km: Bright, Tawonga Gap, Mt Beauty, Falls Creek, Bright, Mt Buffalo, Bright
  • 7.00am - 130km: Bright, Tawonga Gap, Mt Beauty, Falls Creek, Bright
  • 7.20am - 100km: Bright, Smoko, Bright, Mt Buffalo, Bright"

www.audax.org.au/alpine  for updates.