I have only relatively recently made my way to triathlon and I am not going to challenge the greats of our club in competition – especially in cycling!! Knowing that cycling was my real weak leg – I began to work hard up and down the Kinglake hills near home. That has led to a real love for riding in mountains and to my participating in this year's Audax Alpine Classic Extreme.   The event is a one day, 250km round trip from Bright in the Victorian alps, over both Mount Hotham and Falls Creek, to name just the two larger hills. The total elevation climbed is apparently some 4,500 metres!

The start at 4am was special - even more so when I realised that in my rush to the line I had forgotten the water bottles. Situation rectified the ride to Harrietville presaged the beginning of the real riding.

The climb to Mt Hotham – a climb of some 1300 metres occurred as the sun came up. A spectacular sight.  The climb itself – with some parts grading over 11% was slow but satisfying!

From there it was “downhill” to Omeo – a total distance of some 115km from Bright. The cool alpine air certainly made the riding easier however all in the field knew that the hard part was yet to occur.

The ride from Omeo to Falls is some 75km – not that far it seemed - but when I arrived at the 35km mark, I realised why many of the riders where worried. I looked at the turn off to Falls on the Bogong High Plains Rd. Later I understood that the initial couple of kilometres steeped to around 20% in places – and never under 10%. In fact the first 10 km of the road was a nightmare.

Finally I got to Raspberry Hill – not quite to Falls but higher than it - some 4 hours after Omeo! The hardest riding I had ever done!!

For me the best bit was to come – as a skier the ride over the high plains itself to Falls next to the ski runs was fun. Down to Mt Beauty there was a final test - Tawonga Gap – a 600 metre climb. And then to Bright by 6pm – some 14 hours after the start! I felt exhausted but great satisfaction.

I got into all this road cycle mountain climbing to improve my cycling in triathlons – but it has meant also seeing some great parts of Australia! 

Steve Booth