My (mental) preparation for the Three Peaks Challenge– Melbourne to Mt Buller (260km/5000m elevation, 161mi/16400ft elevation)

When you are planning on doing something longer and harder than you have done before, the extra weight of five kilos on top of your neck will be your key asset. (Your head)

Having decided three weeks out to ride the Three Peaks Challenge, one of the hardest one day challenges in Australia (235km/4000m elevation), I needed a long tough ride beforehand. I wanted to see how my legs feel towards the end of a long ride but more importantly I needed that kind of ride as mental preparation. Getting my head ready for whatever lies beyond the failure of my legs. There is a “going into the red” for going anaerobic, I call it “going mental” for going beyond your perceived body’s ability.

I heard on Thursday that a mate, Damian, is planning on riding the next day from Melbourne out to Mt Buller. 260km (161mi). 5000m (16400ft) of elevation. 40km (25mi)  of gravel in unknown condition.  35 degrees (95F) temps.

That was exactly what I was looking for! It had the length, the pain and the uncertainty to make it very challenging.

For those kinds of rides, key is to be able to motivate myself on the toughest parts. Naturally climbs and in this case the gravel section would be something that would drain my mental energy. So for the short time I had to prepare for this ride (12 hours), I learned all about elevation gain, gradient, length of climb that could give me the ability to measure my progress while climbing. Plus, the more numbers you have to play around with, the more you can make all kind of (un)necessary calculations to keep your head busy.

The gravel section seemed to become my lowest mental point. With a limited pool of mountain bike skills, I had a very tough time to navigate through a very rocky terrain, no matter if uphill or downhill. 

We just didn’t make any progress. That put me off. 

In those situations, I try to either sing to myself or compare my current misery with an even worse situation from the past.  Keeping perspective is key and not letting emotions take over.

After the gravel section, the toughest part was actually just starting. Mount Terrible*. A 10 odd km (6mi) climb all exposed to sun and heat.  It was north of 35 degrees (95F). We were already dehydrated from the lack of water supply in the last 120km. We were 11 hours into the ride. I dealt with very painful hot feet. So in short: A great time to pull the plug, especially considering that our next stop, Jamieson, has a nice coffee shop to cool down, relax, refill and eat properly. Why would you want to leave?

As this the most dangerous time to waste time stopping, I was in “adventure racing” mode. Quickly refill on water and food and get out of there in the quickest time possible. 

But when I strapped my helmet back on after all necessary refillings, I realized that Damian hasn’t even touched his food. 

“Are you alright?”

“No, my head is still spinning, my heart racing. I am severely dehydrated. No way, I am getting out of here until I feel better.”

Wow. I was flabbergasted. I knew we were both dehydrated but I didn’t see that coming. 

He must have been seriously dehydrated.

After an hour of recovery and rehydration in Jamieson, we decided the ride is over and we would ride to Mansfield. I left Jamieson still with the belief that I could get Damian safely to Mansfield and then push on. 

But as soon as we got on the bike, all the adrenalin and excitement vanished. Seeing my ride mate in such a terrible condition plus the length of the stop put me mentally into a different state of mind.

Should I really ride on alone into the night?

Although it was only right to join him to get him safely to Mansfield, disappointment and a huge sense of failure set in. I couldn’t believe it. I was so determined to reach the top of Mt Buller. Now I had to give up short of it.

With those feelings setting in, I lost my motivation for this ride.

However, Damian seemed to wake up from the dead. He rode off strong and visibly got his energy back. 

Although I had no desire to keep riding, I asked anyway if he wanted to change his mind to keep going up Mt Buller. I expected a “no” but to my big surprise he said, “let’s do it!”

What?!?

Thinking that the gravel section was the toughest mental part, this mental adjustment from deep disappointment to “hey let’s rock this” was huge. 

It took me a few minutes to readjust my motivation to ride for another 50km (31mi) with 800m (2600ft) of elevation. But man, this overbearing sense of disappointment evaporated and hell, I was ready to finish this sucker!

With us both being aligned in our goals again, we made the next 50km as fun and exciting as possible. We both just came from very different ends of disappointment and here we are facing a legitimate climb in the darkest of dark, 15 hours into our riding. And we are having fun doing it!

The cherry on the ice cream was some surprise visits! Blake knew we were about to climb Mt Buller and stopped on the climb, cheering us on. Andy and Nicole stopped on the way handing us pizza! How awesome is that?!? Things like this make a huge difference in such a ride!

Damian and I truly enjoyed the last kilometres and it became a little bit celebratory finishing strong on top of the climb and completing what we planned to do after 18 hours.

A huge sense of accomplishment was setting in........ A veeeeeery addicting feeling.

When can I do it again? Ah…right, Three Peaks next weekend!


Our route: Melbourne - 1 in 20 - Warburton - Reefton Spur - Eildon-Warburton Rd - Jamieson - Mt Buller

Climbing up Reefton Spur

Our only water source between Warburton and Jamieson (120km)

I had to kiss the pavement when we finally got done with the gravel section

Getting dark. In the distance Mt. Buller, our final climb

The beginning of the 16km Mt Buller climb

It is darkest of dark! You dont see absolutely anything when the light is off.

* On the way down from Mt Terrible a lyrebird ran actually in between my wheels. That was luck to both me and the bird that we actually got out of it ok.

Tour of East Gippsland - Tough racing for GC win

Tour of East Gippsland would be my first state-level race after some 3 years. I had no idea how I would do. My thoughts about the race ranged from “I-will-absolutely-smash-it” to “I-hope-I-don’t-get-dropped” depending on training, mood and randomness of day. 

The tour consisted of 3 Stages in 2 days:  

Stage 1 (Sat morning): 8km TT

Stage 2 (Saturday afternoon): 72km Road Race

Stage 3 (Sunday morning): 54km Road Race

So there was no messing around between the stages. It was a full on weekend.

Stage 1: So all racers can smell blood (probably their own) and get some nice lactate boost in their legs, we started the tour with a 8km Time Trial, 4km uphill, turn around and then 4km uphill (ok, maybe it was more downhill but man, it felt like an uphill to me!) 

Result: I got fourth, 35 seconds behind the leader. And I can clearly state the reason for this slack: no TT bike (15 sec), no aero helmet (5 sec), no racing wheels (14.7 sec), no TT gloves (I am sure that counts for 300 milliseconds). (Please do not quote me on the accuracy of the times as I might have pulled them out of my BS box). But you get my point, I had a solid amount of excuses lined up.

Stage 2: To stir up the so-said lactate production from Stage 1 earlier that day, we were facing some lumpy 72km road course. If I say lumpy, I am not talking about some rollers you can push over but some never-ending minutes hills when hit right, you might end on the top by yourself (your choice if dropped or ahead of the group).

So off we went. The temperature and the terrain would produce the perfect “cyclist-BBQ”- first getting beaten up by the hills and then grilled to perfection so we will be fully smoked by the finish. 

The race became interesting when two racers got away on that aforementioned hill and I was not one of them. I chased them like hell and guess what! 

I caught on! 

But by literally one second when a corner came and they accelerated out of it. Well, I was already in acceleration mode and my engine light was blinking wildly indicating momentarily explosion. In short: I couldn’t keep up.   

Misery sunk in. Dammit! Scheisse!

I looked back. Three riders a few hundred meters behind me. I waited.

Four of us worked together and chased the other two up and down the hills in the heat. One of the lead girls got a flat so it was one girl in visible distance to get. The chase would take another 30km.

We had one more serious hill to climb before the finish and 10km to go. 

All of a sudden it hit me like a rock. 

I had a good shot in winning this stage! (It might have been my delirious, exhausted melting self-confidence talking and apparently it was not connected to my legs. Because my legs told me a different story. Something like “Shit, another climb! How the hell are we getting over that one?”)

Anyway, we went up the climb together and as soon as it flattened out I started pushing some big gears and got the German diesel going. 

I looked in the shadow to see if anyone joined me. 

No one.

Then I saw the follow vehicle of the leader. 

Passed follow vehicle.

Passed leader.

And then that time started where seconds feel like minutes and minutes like hours. I was deep in the pain cave. Heart rate maxed out. 

Would they catch me? 

The follow vehicle pulled up: “35 seconds gap”

Ok. That means I had a shot for General Classification (GC) if I keep that pace. 

Back into the pain cave.  The kilometres didn’t pass. It seemed forever.

Finally the turn to the slight uphill finish stretch.

I shifted in the small ring. Absolutely no legs left. 

And I made it! I couldn’t believe it!

Result: First place and got the GC jersey. 1:19min lead over second place. Fully exhausted but massively happy.

Stage 3: If there was something left in anyone’s legs, then that would be the perfect stage for them. 54km of more undulating terrain. I knew this would be a very different race for me than yesterday.

From offense to defence. I had to take on the role as a herd dog. Whoever tried to run away, I had to chase. If not, I am a happy camper in the herd.

Although two got away, my GC was not threatened so I rolled in with the peloton.

Result: Bunch finish. But GC lead!

Result 2: Since this was the first VRS race of the season, I got the jersey as well.

Happy ending. Getting ready for Three Peaks Challenge in two weeks.

Ready to roll.

Solo finish Stage 2.

After the second Stage. I was cooked.

I was in the chase with these girls. They are strong as hell! It was a lot of fun racing with you, Nicky and Anna!

 

GC leader after Stage 2.

Podium picture after the Tour. Great job, Nicky and Veronica!

Great surprise to me, I received the Victorian Road Race Series leaders jersey as well.

Cycling in Australia – Animals that either kill you or make you stronger

Australia is full of exotic animals, especially when you are from Germany where the fauna’s fascination stops short of encountering a deer or a daddy longlegs (German:Weberknecht). 

Having lived nearly a year in Australia, I had the (mis)fortune to meet some of its inhabitants. Let me introduce you to a few of them. It is always good to know by what one gets killed:

Kangaroo 

Every time I see a kangaroo hopping at the side of the road I get into staring, photo-taking tourist mode….

”Look, look there is a kangaroo. 

Do you see it? 

Did you see it? 

Oh my god, it is hopping next to us. Awesome (Monikanouncian is: Ooooohsome). “

What I keep forgetting is that my fellow riders, usually Australians, have already seen one or two or thousands in their lives. Tough to get much excitement out of them. 

Kangaroos behave like mega-bunnies. They cant make up their mind where they jump and all of a sudden they land in front of you. Can you guess where I am going with this?

Just like a mega bunny

Snakes 

The most deadly snakes call Australia their home. So if I see a snake, I would not be exactly indifferent about its presence. 

Well, surely enough, I was riding with a few mates (yeah yeah turning into an Aussie already) through the lovely Australian gravel country side when my riding buddies in front of me circumvented a seeming stick on the road. 

I was a confused. 

Why don’t they just hop that sucker? Even I could do that (and if you have ever ridden mountain bikes with me, you know what I am talking about)! 

They were calling something in slurry Oz. Unconcerned and ignorant of the situation I was rocking up to this stick ready to bunny hop. 

Lightning struck. I knew now exactly what was going on. Snake! 

If the same situation happened in Germany, everyone would get of their bike, take their phones out and determine what snake it is. Australians are a little bit more laid back. “Ah, just a brown snake” I was told. After some thorough research on most venomous snakes, I learned that it is ranked as number 2. 

Huntsman 

I know this might be a stretch as “need to know” cycling knowledge but if you don’t know about this animal and see it the first time you wish you had already written your will. 

I had the misfortune to encounter it at 2am on my way to the bathroom. I peed my pants. The bathroom was not required anymore. Compared to the huntsman, a daddy longlegs seems a joke made by nature. 

Flies  

You must be now thinking…Monika…seriously? 

Well, let me tell you, the Australian flies are different. Seriously! 

I made the first real encounter while out-of-shaply grinding up a monstrosity of mountain, one fly after the other felt like joining me and climbed in my ears, nostrils and eyes. Waving in front of my face encouraged the flies to do it again, just a bit more annoying. Well, after an eternity of annoyance and wild waving, I made the mistake of stopping. 

Pooofff, an entire fly colony with its neighbors made picnic on me. After that, I was literally flying to the top of the mountain. 

Magpies  

Well, comparing flies with Magpies, I am not sure what is more challenging – the constant tickle in your eyes, ears and nose or the occasional smack to the head? 

Welcome to Magpie land. 

If it doesn’t kill you on the ground, don’t worry, Australia got the air covered as well. During Magpie season, October and November, these birds attack you from the back and smack you in the head if they think you deserve the full treatment. 

The bird’s exceptional business idea resulted even in an app where you can locate the most active Magpies. 

If you are a fan of fartlek training, the Magpie is your secret training partner.

Koalas 

So I have been living in Australia now for almost a year and still haven’t seen a koala. I start to think that this is a myth to have a cute little fluff ball in Australia’s killer animal kingdom. On top of it, it is high all the time – someone must have been stoned while inventing this creature.

Discovering Australia’s fauna is a work in progress and I am sure I forgot some crucial animals. And I have this odd feeling, that I will discover them rather sooner than later.

Although I am not quite sure about this deadly animal business, there is one thing I am sure about: there is not much left that could unsettle the Australian human species.