Sunday dawned and against my Wifes orders I turned out for the Mt Wellington Challenge. The hacking cough I’d been battling for the past week was in full effect and breathing was proving difficult.. but having made a 6pack wager with Danger-Tim as to who would be quickest to the top, pride was on the line. A field of 115 riders turned out at the Longly Pub for the start of the Challenge (interestingly the Dutchman was no-where to be seen) ..BnC multi-sport nut, Bucks, was there reppin’ the colours. He wasn’t feeling too confident as his carbon road bike was still sporting a big hole in it from his last spill.. The Challenge was run in a time-trial format.. I was 4th of the mark and Bucks started at about 10th. The climb from the start to Ferntree was ok and the 63 gear inches I’d chosen to ride felt fine.. From the Pinnacle Road turn off at Ferntree to the Springs was also not a problem and I was making good time.. I felt good despite my chest cold and riding a fixie wasn’t posing any problems at all.. actually the first 15kms could even be described as easy.. but that soon changed.. I rode through the Springs where a small crowd lined the road (for a second I imagined myself being in the Tour De France cresting an Alpine pass..) and then up towards the summit.. and then the pain began. Mt Wellington was recently named in one Australian cycling mag as being one of the 3 toughest hill climbs in the country and as I pedalled my fixie upwards I was discovering why.. The gradiant was nasty and it was difficult to push each pedal stroke down. I was in a bad place. My cold was giving me dramas and I knew if I stopped for a break I wouldn’t be able to restart the fixie on that steep incline. One guy rode past and asked if my bike was a single speed or fixed.. I went to reply but spewed all down the front of my bike.. oh shit. It was hard. Dan and Blingman caught me on the long straight up to Big Bend.. Not wanting to be whupped badly by Blingman I picked up the pace and put my foot down.. I rounded the bend and spotted the summit which was only 2kms away. Knowing a beer was waiting at the end I kicked again and threw everything at the last assault and crossed the line in 1:20. Bucks was there waiting for me, he had ridden the Mountain in an impressive 1:11. I’ll be back for more next year but I’ll retire the Surly Emo and take my lighter Avanti Pista up.
That is a very impressive effort on the fixie, mate. Good work!
ben, you are a mad-man! and i love it!
whats the tim story? was he too busy trying to win his bet with dingo?
Nice work mate! Spewing on the climb, that’s pro-level stuff!
Bloody Tim, what a big girl’s blouse! Haha.
Sellout Smit!
Well done that man. What an excellent time. Sad I didn’t make it, but I had to work. And can’t climb for shit.