Muggaccinos' "2005 Tour de Victorian Alps" to ride 296km over 3 days preceding Audax Alpine Classic on Sunday, 23 Jan - Australia Day long w'end

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 cycling event on the annual cycling calendar, namely the Audax Alpine Classic in the Mecca of endurance cycling country, the 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 the 200km route four arduous climbs – Towonga Gap 11km, Falls Creek 29km, Towonga Gap 8km (from the steeper side) and Mt. Buffalo 22km.

If you attempt the 200km route, these four marvellous climbs aggregate 3,700m of pedal pumping, quad draining, climbing and an equal number of sheer, heart-throbbing, descents.

Smackers au milieu de this map, at the veritable Bullseye, is the quaint, pristine township of Bright in the foothills of the Vic. Alps.

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 Bank Teller spends 3 days in Bright preceding Aust Day w'end cycling the marvellous climbs in the Victorian Alps and come Sunday, takes pics of beaut femme butts climbing the steepest section of Tawonga Gap on the return leg to Bright.
 

·                    Thurs, 20 Jan '05, Bank Teller will lead a 112km out 'n back ride SSW to Mt. Hotham, initially along a pleasant, flattish SEE 25km route to friendly Harrietville.  Alas there is 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.  As you approach the summit, you feel as though you are on top of the world, as all the adjoining mountains to your left and right are clearly visible, and they all appear smaller - 31km climbing.
 

·                     Friday 21 Jan -  70km out 'n back ride due West to Mt Buffalo, "The Horn" (1,330m) - 22km climbing.
 

·                    Sat 22 Jan -  130km out 'n back ride 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.                                                                 View from Bright twds Mt Buffalo            

The above three days' cycling -

(i)         ascend 4,467m (1,562m+1,030m+585m+1,280m) from Bright which is 300m above sea level;

(ii)        aggregate 312km (112+70+130);

(iii)       require 101km (31+22+48) of gut wrenching, pedal pushing, quad snapping climbing, where on sections of Tawonga Gap to Mt Beauty and early in the 30km climb to "the Giant" (Mt. Hotham), you might be fearful that your front crank is going to snap during one of those last gasp 'out-of the-saddle' throttles to the floor, whereupon you'd end-up spread-eagled on the bitumen.                                       
 

Come Sunday, you are welcome to help Scribe take more femme butt pics  strategically placed at the steepest section of the Tawonga Gap climb.

Kaza has booked campsites in the below listed Bright Caravan Park for herself, Samurai/Amanda, Frank aka Expat, Scribe.  Gene aka Koala Bear has digs at his brother's mansion at Mt. Beauty so he gets a good night's kip before his assault on the 130km route to Falls Creek.  So let's crash the joint.

Others Audax stalwarts attending are Siggy aka Smiling Assassin, Eric aka Papa Bear, Brenda aka Widget.

As the Bright motels are booked chockers, 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 - $27 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.

Collectively (Muggs and associated Audax stalwarts like Assassin, Papa Bear, Flash) will evidence +30 regular frequenters of The Road Warriors' Cafe and Pie in the Sky 'et al' making the pilgrimage to Bright between Wed 19 Jan and Friday 21 Jan '05 to -

*        climb the marvellous mounts in the Vic Alps; and

*        suck some Reds at night.

If you want to join the burgeoning band of Sydney-ites who flock to the Mecca of road cycling next January to mingle amongst the impassioned throng and suss out the latest bikes that fellow enthusiasts have mortgaged the family home to acquire, and sold-off the kids as slaves, contact Kaza 0425 266.540 or Bank Teller  9498.3684 or e-mail ScribePJ@tpg.com

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

Directions to Bright (provided by Pacific Pete):

Drive 700km SSW from Sydney to the Victorian border on an uninteresting freeway route in 7½ hrs.  Thence it is another 90/110 mins to Bright depending whether you take Route1. 2. or 3. below. 

    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 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 700km to the Vic. border and onto Wodonga.  However, voila the landscape and scenic beauty increase exponentially the more you drive Sth. into Vic.  Hard to believe.  But it does.

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