Scody 3 Peaks Challenge - Anything But Easy

by Wade Wallace

Over the long weekend 1,500 cyclists took part in the SCODY 3 Peaks Challenge in the Victorian Alps. Due to forest fires on the road to Mt. Hotham the course needed to be changed at the last minute and many people, including myself, drew a sigh of relief thinking this year's course would be easier than the regular loop. It was anything but ...

My goal for the day was to ride the route in 10 hours with a bunch of my mates. This event isn’t a race and I don’t take it as such. What I love about the 3 Peaks is seeing hundreds of other cyclists that I normally wouldn’t encounter in the regular races or bunch rides I participate in.

I should know by now that no matter how you slice it, 230km and 4,000m of climbing should never be seen as easy. However, the new route, which incorporated many of the popular climbs in the Victorian Alps that I’ve seen in the Tour of Bright and other events, gave me the false impression that I know these. In my head it’s not as daunting as the “Queen Victoria” loop which takes you to remote places past Omeo which make you feel like you’re on another planet. There’s absolutely no other reason to go into that remote part of Australia for someone like me, unless I’m put to the challenge of course.

Previous editions of the 3 Peaks have not always been so kind with the weather, but on Sunday we were blessed with warm temperatures. These pleasant conditions actually got a slightly unbearable at times with my computer reading 38°C in Happy Valley early in the afternoon.

Just over 1,500 cyclists started off in waves at about 7am with the sun just getting ready to rise. Since the event begins at the top of Falls Creek, it’s almost a 45 minute descent straight off the gun with only the the dim lines on the road and flashing tail lights to follow. If common sense prevailed this shouldn’t have been much of a concern, but with hoards of ultra-competitive men trying to make up some early time with ambition outweighing ability, I decided to take my time. I hope nobody was injured …

The first climb of the day was Tawonga Gap, which I wouldn’t really consider a “peak”, but it’s enough to burn a few matches if you go too hard. I wanted to be fresh for Mt Buffalo which I knew would take about an hour, but what was really playing on my mind was the climb back up Falls Creek.

I felt good tapping a steady pace up Mount Buffalo and when I nearly got to the top I saw the front bunch come past us, already on their way down. They were absolutely hoofing it and it was then that my competitive juices started flowing. I wanted to be in that bunch. At the pace they looked to be going though, I knew that it wasn’t going to be …

We made our way down Mt Buffalo and after my ego was put into check I enjoyed sitting down for lunch at Porepunkah (thank you to the gentleman who gave me two sandwiches). By this time it was really starting to heat up and we still had more than 100km to go. It was in the section from Porepunkah to Ovens that it struck me that this was going to be a long day in the saddle. We would typically ride this road at the Tour of Bright at about 45km/hr and it goes by in a flash, but on this day it seemed to drag on forever. The turn-off into the Happy Valley was when my over-zealous eating habits started to backfire and caffeine levels were getting dangerously low. All I could dream about was having a nice cold can of Coke. I began to drift further back in our bunch and at this point I wondered if I was even going to finish.

Once we got into the shade at the beginning of the climb at Rosewhite and I started to get into a rhythm, the hazy thoughts began to fade and I miraculously came good again. I’ve always enjoyed this climb and the descent even more so. Apparently there was a feed station somewhere up the road and I couldn’t wait to pour some cold water down my back. I would have given anything for that Coke at this point, but the fruitcake was a nice treat.

The one part of the loop I seriously underestimated was the road through Happy Valley. I’ve ridden this bit of road dozens of times and consequently neglected to consider it in my mental course-breakdown. We continued on our way to Falls Creek and stopped at Mt Beauty just before our ascent to get that Coke I’ve been dreaming about for the past 80km. My caffeine levels were back in check and felt like a million bucks in the first 10km of the climb. As we ascended the temperatures began to fall and I felt like I could have ridden all day like this.

Then KABOOM. Nuclear meltdown. Things were starting to get hazy again and we still had over an hour of climbing left. Fortunately there were some running streams near the road with ice cold water. Myself and a bunch of others took turns cooling ourselves down and that seemed to do the trick. I was riding with three of my mates who wanted to waste no time getting to the top of Falls Creek so my time was limited. There was no way I was going to let them beat me.

We made it to the gatehouse which is the marker to about 4km remaining. I knew I had the legs to have one last go, so I put the pressure on and pushed myself to the limit in this last section to the finish. It was looking like I was possibly going to go under 9 hours, so I set myself that little goal to keep that pace. My 17-year-old mate Adam held my wheel and then, without any problems whatsoever, he pushed me deep into the red. I had to hold him back by saying, “alright, let’s back off the pace Adam. Even though it doesn’t look like it, there’s 10km to go. Listen to me young one …” The village slowly approached and eventually so did the finish line. I “let” Adam come in ahead of me to boost his morale for the coming years ahead.

In the end I found this year’s 3 Peaks more difficult than every other. Even though many people’s times were much faster than previous editions, I found that ending on a climb made me finish much harder than I would have otherwise (the previous course finished on a plateau). I was absolutely wrecked that evening and couldn’t even make my way down for the post-ride celebrations at The Man pub afterwards. However, by the sounds of it most of you had a pretty good time and had no trouble backing it up.

Congratulations to everyone who finished this year’s SCODY 3 Peaks Challenge. I had the pleasure of riding with many new faces and it was great to meet each and every one of you. See you next year.

Note: I spoke with a mate of mine who finished in the lead group with a time of 7:46. The bunch of ~20 up at the front only stopped for a total of 7 minutes for the entire ride. It couldn’t have been easy, but if you want a good time, it’s all those stops that add up!

Full list of rider times and results can be found here.

Fast facts:

- Total cyclists: 1,575
- 17% of 2013 riders did not finish, mainly due to exhaustion or mechanical problems
- Previous event participation numbers: 2010: 1,442, 2011: 1,137, 2012: 1,036
- 47% Victorian cyclists, 52% interstate cyclists
- International cyclists came from Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore

: It hurt getting up on Monday, but a spin around the Bogong High Plains felt sensational.

: About 8km away from the top of Falls Creek. Almost home and still smiling…

: Happy Valley where temperatures reached 38C

: Mt Buffalo

: At the bottom of Mt Buffalo and US Postal driving the pace!

: 6:30am waiting at the start

Tags: 3 Peaks Chalenge

jules

i feel your pain. the heat plays havoc with you on these long rides. i was humming along for a decent time at this year’s Alpine Classic, when i exploded half way up my last ascent of Buffalo. it felt like the energy was suddenly sucked out of my body and i was crawling up the hill at a snail’s pace. i had drank and eaten heaps - too much? i suspect preparing with crits and commutes doesn’t cut it for these events.
- Steel
  
  My body just tells me to go slower when I get too hot and there ain’t a damn thing I can do about it (aside from doing more training and all that boring stuff).
  
  Pushing through pain is much easier than pushing through heat. That’s probably not a bad thing though given the consequences of over heating.
  
  You’re being modest though jules, you smashed out some good times on the Buffalo repeats. You will flatten Mt Buller this w/e.
  - jules
    
    the only way i’ll flatten mt buller is falling off and triggering an earthquake!
    - matt
      
      I rode up Buffalo the next morning,only halfway,and I was quite impressed by the little amount of rubbish left,only 2 gels.There should be some provision in the entrance for a collector.
  - lefthandside
    
    I’d be very grateful if Jules could flatten Mt Buller before the weekend…
http://twitter.com/katfeldmaier Kathryn Feldmaier

Great write up and pics, that sounds like one tough ride, I don’t think I will ever be able to do it, hopefully one day……

And a very kind gesture by you to ‘let’ Adam beat you at the finish!
Mark

Once again I missed it. Once again I say… “next year”… Congrats. Looks awesome.
esjay

My mate Tristen was in the front bunch - they motored, unrelenting.
Sounds like a heavy sprinkling of that bunches work was done by Dan Bonello and Tristan Bauer… Top 10 contained quite a few of this years SUVelo NRS squad.
ben

I died a thousand whimpering deaths along ‘happy’ valley, i don’t cope well in the heat and my body temperature just got out of control. After a good rest and drowning at the running creek rest stop I felt somewhat better, until i looked down at the temperature on my garmin (which had been sitting in the sun)…50.5.

Oh yer and the final 15kms was a very slow hot hell, the suggestion that it had been raining on the top was just rude I thought.

The communities out on the street cheering makes it best event I’ve participated in. A huge thanks to the lady in Mt Beauty who squirted a bottle of water on me as i rode past, that was amazing. And to the lady giving out water just before the falls gatehouse you’re a star, thanks!
- V
  
  Agreed! The general public were very supportive and traffic quite well behaved, and there was a lot of traffic compared to the normal route. The woman and family at the fall gatehouse were saviours for many! Why does Bicycle Victoria not have a support stop on a 30km climb after 200kms in 35+ heat?? Crazy.. they still have so much to learn from Audax’s superb organising of the Alpine Classic.
http://twitter.com/alexroseinnes alexroseinnes

Wade, an idea for a future post - thermo-regulation. How best to cope with extreme heat during races.
- Timo
  
  http://www.cyclingtips.com.au/2011/12/keeping-you-cool-on-the-bike-%E2%80%93-a-role-for-nutrition/
  - http://twitter.com/alexroseinnes alexroseinnes
    
    thanks Timo
pauldr

You faster riders had the luxury of only 38deg heat. By the time the more ordinary riders like me came through it was much hotter. My Garmin was over 40deg for 2 hours and over 30deg for more than 4 hours!! Top temp of 50deg…
- Bob
  
  Agree, I finished in just under 11 hours and my Garmin was saying 44 degrees through Happy Valley.
Timo

Not to belittle anyone’s achievement but it was a significantly easier course. As an example, 331(or 27% of the people who finished) did it in less than 10 hours. In 2012 only 90(10%) managed that.
- olliewm
  
  For the record, I was #331 with a time of 9h 59m 49s. A perfectly executed sub 10 hour ride #justsayin
- http://twitter.com/bendrush Ben Rush
  
  Its pointless to even draw comparisons to be fair. Most people I spoke to before the event said the profile of the course was easier (though they said - “on paper”) but after the event most people said 2013 had been tougher than prior years due to the heat. Some people can deal with those temperatures better than others!
  - http://twitter.com/dr_taka Stephen Chan
    
    I did both 2012 and 2013 and even I finish an hour earlier. I don’t find this one course easier at all. I am faster this year judging my Tawonga gap time with the same effort. But I feel like rubbish on front of Falls Creek compare back of Falls Creek last year. I stuggled back at 9:46 for reference, missing the “Hollywood” bunch due to mechanical :(
    - Neil
      
      I agree. As a hack cyclist in his late 40’s who took up cycling 18 months ago, I found the 2013 edition more taxing than 2012. Yes, the 2013 course was easier on paper, and my time was faster than in 2012, but the heat and summit finish sure made up for the 5kms less distance and few hundred metres less climbing than in 2012. In 2012, I saw people pushing their bikes up BoF, whereas this year on FoF I saw people just sitting under a tree with their shirts off trying to cool down.
- Matt de Neef
  
  I have to agree with Ben and Stephen here. Sure, the course might have looked easier on paper but there was nothing easy at all about the Ovens to Mt. Beauty section in the heat, nor that final climb up Falls Creek. I know this year’s 3 Peaks is fresh in my mind, but I’m tempted to say it was harder than last year’s. Out of interest, did you do the ride?
- Ssanchez
  
  Not to belittle anyone’s achievement but the bloke who finished 2nd was riding a 12kg 8sp steel bike with down tube shifters. They call him the Tractor
http://www.happyfamilies.com.au/ Justin Coulson

CT, there’s an interesting psychological finding that ‘ending’s matter’.

Researchers found that colonoscopy patients (with only a local anaesthetic) indicated it was a significantly less pleasant experience if the surgeon did his work and then simply removed his equipment immediately when compared with patients whose surgeon left the equipment in there without moving it for 60 seconds before taking it out.

The phenomenon is replicated in our social relationships (an interaction that ends with an argument is perceived as far worse than an interaction that has an argument at the beginning or in the middle) as well as other contexts… and I suspect that it has influenced your recollection of the event at least in some small way. It finished on a nasty climb and you were already pretty beat up after 230+kms of riding.
http://www.happyfamilies.com.au/ Justin Coulson

CT, there’s an interesting psychological finding that ‘ending’s matter’.

Researchers found that colonoscopy patients (with only a local anaesthetic) indicated it was a significantly less pleasant experience if the surgeon did his work and then simply removed his equipment immediately when compared with patients whose surgeon left the equipment in there without moving it for 60 seconds before taking it out.

The phenomenon is replicated in our social relationships (an interaction that ends with an argument is perceived as far worse than an interaction that has an argument at the beginning or in the middle) as well as other contexts… and I suspect that it has influenced your recollection of the event at least in some small way. It finished on a nasty climb and you were already pretty beat up after 230+kms of riding.
- Dean
  
  Lucky i had just about finished my lunch by the end of the article when we got onto colonoscopys and how long tools are left in there otherwise i think i would have been well and trully put off eating!
- don’t normally mix the two…
  
  must remember to leave the colonoscope in for a short while after then end of a long ride then - especially if the ride ends with a climb…
Marcel

more education required - this was sent in from a friend, she collected all this RUBBISH in 20kms on left hand side of Bogong High Plains road between Mt Beauty and Falls Creek. Imagine what else was left!
Marcel

oops - forgot the link

http://flic.kr/ps/nCXfs
Marcel

RUBBISH left behind. This was sent in from a friend, she collected all this in 20km from Mt Beauty to falls. Imagine was left everywhere else!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/msbear/8549741863
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  That’s horrible.
  - Edg
    
    Agree it wasn’t a pretty sight, we discussed this on the drive home Monday, how there seemed so much rubbish (gel wrappers) on the road. However to be fair, given there were some 1500 odd cyclists on the day, consider that if each of us lost something out of our jerseys for whatever reason then that’s a lot of rubbish on the ground? Add the stress of the day, heat etc and there’s bound to be quite a few ‘fumbles’ with jersey pockets and stuff getting discarded unnoticed. Or they were just a bunch of pigs… take your pick. I’d be giving folks the benefit of the doubt up front, I’d be surprised if there were too many just chucking stuff onto the tarmac surely, not in this day and age?
    - anonymous
      
      I would give the benefit of the doubt if it was 50:50 gels to bars rubbish ratio. But there are THREE times as many gel wrappers as bars (people don’t like sticky gel wrappers in their pockets).
      
      There is no way that the gel to bar ratio of what people eat is > 50:50. There’s just some seriously shit humans out there
      - V
        
        I did see a european looking rider throw something to the side of the road.. If I had seen it more clearly / wasn’t in a fast paceline and going heat delirious at the time, I would have berated him. It certainly didn’t look like a banana peel … or by accident.
    - BP
      
      I just cannot think of one, single, valid reason that would justify this. Fumbles my a$$! I’ve seen riders doing this deliberately on other organised rides.
      
      For the record I’m a cyclist, not some anti-cycling campaigner. We have enough troubles getting the respect we deserve when engaging in the pastime/sport we love so much, without
      careless parasites winding the clock back.
      
      How any of you could desecrate such a beautiful area as this is beyond me, but I’ll be
      contacting the organisers and EPA and seeing what we can do to prevent this in future.
      
      The solution to me would be simple:
      1. The organisers need to press the fact that it is NOT OK to litter. Never. Ever. Repeat it, make it a mantra.
      2. All registered riders have numbers and the organisers should be encouraging a “name and shame”, the mere existence of which should have asignificant preventative effect. Anyone found to transgress should be encouraged in a public forum (results/website etc) to pay a donation to a charity nominated by the organisers.
      
      If I ever see a cyclist chucking crap, I will challenge them, calm and polite, but firm. The rest of you should be doing the same.
  - Marcel
    
    I think part of the problem is that everyone sees the pros do it and think that it is acceptable. My understanding (and I am usually wrong) is that there is a clean up crew that follow the behind the pro peloton?
- Hubbard
  
  Disgusting!
  
  Maybe CT can do an article on what happens to these plastic packets once thrown overboard? Clearly the litter bug message has somehow not been understood by a notable portion of the cycling community….
  - lefthandside
    
    You might be interested in this:
    http://inrng.com/2013/02/trash-talk-racing-waste/
- devro
  
  I understand that Cycling Network Victoria didn’t have a sweep organised afterwards either? 1500 cyclists and no responsibility taken?
- http://www.facebook.com/rohan.christmas Rohan Christmas
  
  Your friend really deserves a pat on the back for doing that.
  Those that threw away their rubbish deserve to be named and shamed.
Aaron

I hung on the the “Hollywood” bunch for 200km before I popped, at no stage did CT show any signs of suffering. Easily holding conversations the whole 200km I saw. I finished in 9.56 hardest day I’ve had in the saddle, the heat was brutal.
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  You wouldn’t have heard me talking much just before Rosewhite Aaron! Bad patch for me…
dogo

Wade how does this ride compare to the otway odessy??? Given both were in the heat.
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  The thing about the Otway Odyssey was that when I got lazy, I went over the handlebars! They were both excruciating but for different reasons.
eatmorelard

For the record, 4 of us did the traditional 3 Peaks loop (albeit from Bright) on the same day - we were never planning on riding the official event.

The Back of Falls was a brutal 38 - 40C through Pain Lane and it was a sign of devastation on Falls as we (smugly) descended - bodies everywhere, bikes being pushed. As a bonus for us, Tawonga was in the shade by 5pm!

Total count was 11 bidons, 2 Powerades and a bottle of Coke!
http://twitter.com/BPriestie Brad Priest

Great work Adam. Future superstar! Looks like he’s just ‘taking it in his stride’ in the pics.
BJP

Wade, I was one of the lucky riders (5th wheel) that you kindly dragged to the turn off to happy valley, so thank you. I know we were all pleased with your efforts on that stretch of black top. Managed to finish just over 10hrs with a ride time just over 9hrs. Will economise my stops next year. Nearly cried when saw finish banner. Will be back next year for older ‘true’ ride and may forgo the post trip to the Man Hotel to avoid them closing the kitchen at 7.45pm for an hour of consolidation.
BJP

Wade, I was one of the lucky riders (5th wheel) that you kindly dragged to the turn off to happy valley, so thank you. I know we were all pleased with your efforts on that stretch of black top. Managed to finish just over 10hrs with a ride time just over 9hrs. Will economise my stops next year. Nearly cried when saw finish banner. Will be back next year for older ‘true’ ride and may forgo the post trip to the Man Hotel to avoid them closing the kitchen at 7.45pm for an hour of consolidation.
Robs Con

Sounds like a huge and challenging ride and puts my cycling (max 40km to shame!). Such beautiful scenery, ending that kind of distance on an uphill must have been more than tough!
Anth73

Comparing this year’s 3 Peaks with last year’s Audax ACE250 which was run in similar conditions, I found 3 Peaks just as grueling due to the heat and the long climb up Falls to the finish.

A group of us rode with Kev Russell most of the day and he felt the ride was tougher than previous years due to the conditions.

We also enjoyed a 98km Saturday warm up ride to the Blue Duck Inn return and the back of Falls was an awesome descent and a leg smashing climb.
WombatJones

Well that’s something I don’t have to worry about whilst attempting 3p next year. Heat is no problem so long as water available. Last month we did 175km (1000m climbing) and temps got to 44deg. Average for the ride was mid 30’s.
Blaasveld Biker

Having completed 3.8 editions of 3 Peaks( I bailed at Anglers the first year with my rain jacket remaining safe and warm in my accomodation…a lesson in vanity and to not underestimate nature) for me the so called easier route combined with the heat was just a different kind of hard………
I finished the climb to Falls with a burning in my feet that made me want to rip them off which combined with a sickness in the pit of my stomach that left me on the verge of vomitting across the road. The heat in the valley’s from Porepunkah to Mt Beauty absolutely nailed me to the post and I remember that potent moment heading towards Ovens when I was faced with the choice of trying to stick with a bunch that was just a little too fast and blowing up or three hours burning alone in the mid afternoon sun. Choosing the later I joined the riders scatterd across lonely valleys with only survival on their mind, to delerious to organise ….every man for himself and God against all. Desparate eyes scouring the road ahead for rest stops to sate the cries of parched bidons. The roadside streams on the climb to Falls that mocked and laughed at my ungainly ascent. I was moved tears watching the last riders come in to the finish in their race against the Lantern Rouge….where 12.9hrs is as impressive as 7.5hrs, and the breakfast conversation the following morning where you find your presence on the road asssisted the journey of another and their presence yours.
- Matt de Neef
  
  This is such a great comment. :)
NY’er

Great write up Wade. We’re a funny bunch aren’t we… so many focused on times and whether it was harder than last year or not. Unless your name is Richie Porte, who cares? I enjoyed reading about your personal account and sounds like you had a great time with your mates. Love it.
jules

hey CT, is the photo at the top of this article taken from a chopper? is it Tawonga Gap?
it looks too steep an angle to be taken from the hillside.
- http://www.cyclingTipsBlog.com cyclingTips
  
  Yeah, it was taken from a helicopter looking down on Tawonga Gap
Bill ‘The Lone Rider’

Great write up Wade.

Congratulations to all who participated.

As for myself, I cannot remeber most of the ride due to having gastro most of last week. Somehow I managed to complete it in a respectable time of 12 hours and 55 minutes, just a few minutes ahead of the Lanterne Rouge.
Bill ‘The Lone Rider’

Great write up Wade.

Congratulations to all who participated.

As for myself, I cannot remeber most of the ride due to having gastro most of last week. Somehow I managed to complete it in a respectable time of 12 hours and 55 minutes, just a few minutes ahead of the Lanterne Rouge.
Mick

Sounds brutal. Started training for next year. Can’t wait!