Ow! Bupa Challenge 2012 - Tick!

Juz, Reidy and myself headed off at 5am, whilst the finishing touches were being made to the start line infrastructure, (at least we didn’t have to hear “Feel the Rush”, again)! As we headed along Lower NE road there were a surprisingly large number of riders heading towards Norwood. It was still dark when we got to the bottom of Anstey’s Hill. Dawn had broken through by the time I made the ascent, which marked my first time up Anstey’s. Kersbrook didn’t seem to pose too many problems either and I was feeling pretty good that I was close to Gumeracha and hadn’t spent all my energy on the first two sizeable hills.

Unfortunately at the 55km mark, my legs disagreed and the cramps started. Despite stopping at every refreshment stop and even trying the patented Peter Hill method of salty chips and a FUIC at Williamstown they continued. Ultimately the solution was to stop and rest and every hill greater than 4% saw that happen. The upside to this is that I saw most of the participants go past and managed to say g’day to Tim B, Gillian, Clive, George from GW, Andrew (Laterne Rouge), Peter Hill, Gus, CLP, Virginia, Jules Begg and I’m sure there were a few others!

It was clear by 11am that the goal of getting to the end before the pros wasn’t going to happen so just finishing at whatever time became the goal. Not doing Menglers was always an option, but it did present a great opportunity to get some further rest and get to the watch the pros in relative slow motion which was a first for me. It’s almost good to see that they hurt too! Restarting 1.5km up the hill posed its own problems, but after some minor mechanical issues the top was reached just as the KOM sign was being rolled away. By this time it was clear that what had been a stream of red jerseys ahead and behind had all but disappeared and I descended from Menglers on my own.

The little climb into Angaston just about stopped me. It was then that the SAG wagon stopped and asked how I was doing. I asked the question “Am I at the back”? The response was “No. There is ONE rider behind you.” I carried on and never enjoyed a downhill run quite as much as the downhill run into Tanunda.

They even had a roll left for me at the oval!

I was happy :-)

Tags: Bupa, TDU, challenge, cramp

8 members like this

Comment by Barry Norsworthy on January 21, 2012 at 18:17: Wattsy, you are a LEGEND !!! TRUE guts and determination !!!, and a good bloke and good company on a ride. What else does anyone need :-)

Comment by Gillian on January 21, 2012 at 19:21: Bravo Wattsy. That was a gutsy effort. Richard saw your finishing tweet as we were being driven home and we were astounded that you completed the whole thing including Menglers when 99.99% would have at least taken the escape route or, more than likely, thrown in the towel.

Can I have your autograph? :-)

Comment by Andrew on January 21, 2012 at 20:23: Thanks for the kind words folks. It does have to be said that I didn't do nearly enough training to do such a ride and if I had provided with (or figured out myself) a figure (in meters) of the amount of climbing that had to be done I probably would have made a more concerted effort to get some practice in, lose some weight etc etc. It beat my previous best single days's climbing effort by a couple of hundred meters. Lesson learnt for next time.

Comment by Clive Palfrey on January 21, 2012 at 20:52: Congratulations Wattsy. Personally I found this years ride harder than last year, now we have to keep climbing hills and be stronger for next year. +1 on the magnesium tablets, available at the Vitamin Discount warehouse next door to City Cross entry on King William St

Comment by colin ware-lane on January 21, 2012 at 21:28: well done wattsy true guttsy ride keep them legs spinning and the cramp will sort itself out.

Comment by Peter Hill on January 22, 2012 at 7:06: Great tale of endurance wattsy.

To persist riding and to choose to go up Menglers with all the cramps is doing it tough! It could have been a miserable day but good to hear that you were able to keep a good frame of mind. Good to see you on the ride, see you down south soon.

Comment by Rob (Chewbacca) on January 22, 2012 at 7:41: We were the last ones to leave the oval.....such was the good times we had....glad you all finished and arrived safe and well :)

Comment by Michelle Crick on January 22, 2012 at 19:22: Wow amazing effort lesser men would have given up. I hardly stopped and when I did I was in and out so shame I missed you.

Comment by heather on January 22, 2012 at 22:39: Wattsy, you kept going and finished the challenge. More than some cyclists, including me who did not even enter.

Ow! Bupa Challenge 2012 - Tick!

You need to be a member of Adelaide Cyclists to add comments!

Support our Sponsors