Ride To The Top - 2004

“Leaving Sydney”

We gathered on an overcast Saturday morning in the carpark of the Parramatta Baptist Church. (Ric, their pastor, completed the RTTT in 2000.) After the 'blessing of the fleet', it was off down the Cumberland Highway and the old Hume Highway to morning tea at Camden. We were all very cautious in the damp conditions, and even Joe (our oldest rider at 73 years old) needed all his track riding skills to stay off the tarmac.

Leaving Camden saw our only 'fall' of the ride. Our novice rider had just fitted clip-in pedals and forgot to unclip, when we stopped at the traffic lights. (No harm done, but it did get a laugh and a lot of 'I did that, when I first used SPD pedals.'). An uneventful climb over the Razorback, and a lunch of meat and salad rolls under a shop awning in Bargo.

“Southern Highlands”

Then the rain poured down for the afternoon ride to Bowral. (It was easier to find this year, as we didn't have to rely on Terry's navigation.) Unfortunately, Bowral pool was closed, so we had to shower under the rain and a garden hose. Lasagna dinner courtesy of Phil (but more likely Alison) was followed by the hardship stories from the original participants, Dave, Colin, Phil, Rob, Mark and Dwight.

The following day through the southern highlands were more of the same, except David's bike developed a loose bell, which gave us cravings for Mr Whippy, by the time we reached Goulburn pool. The evening was divided between a church service, an attempt by twelve middle-age men to cook Indian food in a Sunday school kitchen and Kevin analysing everyone's bike set-up, and how it could be improved.

“Nation's Capital”

The church attendees did their job, and we had perfect weather from Goulburn to Canberra. Morning tea saw us fuelled up for a fast run into Bungendore and onto Queanbeyan. Scott and Mark feigned tiredness and asked to go off ahead, as in 'You'll probably catch us before Captain's Flat.' Once out of sight, they poured on the speed, which saw Mark take the honours of being the first to reach Canberra. This was fitting, as he had to leave RTTT that afternoon for overseas business commitments.

Upon arrival at Canberra, we were greeted by a journalist from Canberra Times, who Guide Dogs organised for an article that appeared on Wednesday, 10/03/2004. The usual afternoon swim in Manuka pool and coffee/cakes at the snooty cafe. The highlight of RTTT-2004 was a BBQ hosted by Herve, a work colleague of a couple of the riders. As well as the four-and-a-half star banquet (he promised it wouldn't be five-star), Herve provided an insight into cycling in France and the importance of Tour de France to his home town of Bordeaux.

“Snowy Mountains”

Two more days of battling headwinds, keeping an eye out for trucks/utes/buses, short painful hills, long painful hills (the salad rolls and homemade slices kept us going). It was bit tricky leaving Canberra, as they really do have a peak hour, but once on the highway, the nerves steadied. Bruce and Ron in the support vehicles were adequately sign-posted and could provide warnings to large and fast vehicles approaching.

Midway between Canberra and Cooma sees a long downhill stretch, where we can 'have a go', and speeds of 80/82/84 kph were the claims at morning tea. Joe tried yesterday's trick (of going alone out infront), but he had to stop at Cooma's outskirts, as he didn't know the address of the Pacific Lodge. The others practiced teamwork and the stronger riders were a much needed help as 'windshields'. Afternoon tea at Sharp's Cafe is highly recommended to any Cooma visitor.

Wednesday is the short day of only 80km, instead of the usual 110-120km. Morning tea at Berridale saw a mild panic, as Colin noticed paint cracks appearing on his bike. Luckily he could swap to Mark's bike, and continue over the rolling hills to Jindabyne, the killer hill at the start of the Barry Way, and onto Carinya Lodge. (A busy afternoon was spent contacting local engineering firms for adhesives and tools, suitable for repairing carbon fibre bike frames. It also helps that Colin has been a bike mechanic for over 30 years!)

Afternoon was spent shopping for souvenirs, buying up every copy of Canberra Times in Jindabyne and visit to Kathy and Mel (and sons Adam and Daniel), who hosted the RTTT riders, during past visits. A night of nervousness and last-minute bike checks, including stripping off the extra weight of lights, toolkits, racks, etc.

“Top of Australia”

Starting at the big tree near Jindabyne airport, it was the scenic 8km trip around the lake, a quick drop over the river and a long climb from the tollgates. For 14km, it was all uphill all the way, until Rennix Gap. Two quick (69.8km/h reached) descents either side of Sponners Hotel meant we had to make up the altitude again (twice) over the final 22km, through Smiggins Holes and Perisher. A breathtaking (literally) climb to the car park above Charlotte Pass, team photographs and to congratulate Colin for ten consecutive RTTT’s.

I can't remember much of the ride up the mountain, as I went at my own pace and didn't see another rider until the finish. The slower riders get a 30 minute 'headstart' over the faster riders. Roger's bike/tractor justified an early start, from which he blitzed the field and even beat the support vehicles to the top. On the other hand, David got caught up in the serenity of Jindabyne airport at 7am, that he was still calmly getting ready, when the faster riders arrived for departure!

“The weather started getting rough ..”

Although twelve riders made it to the Charlotte Pass (which is the highest point reachable on a road bike), only seven chose the optional fast downhill ride back to Jindabyne. (Some felt that 625km was enough for either man or machine, and the extra 40km would be pushing their luck.) Those that did brave the ride were greeted with a mixture of frustrating delays (and sticky tarmac) through roadworks, a fast 80km+ ride through Sawpit Creek and those sharp downhills around Sponners were now steep uphills on the way back.

Most wanted to do the final walk on Friday, but the weather closed in. Five (Dwight, Roger, Duncan, Roland and Rob) ended up being the only riders to reach the summit Mount Kosciuszko in 2004. The rest took the chairlift from Thredbo, and watched the kamikaze teenagers ride the high suspension mountain bikes down the ski-slopes, for the schools’ championships. (Give me a road bike and uphill any day. They are crazy!)

“Homeward Bound”

RTTT-2004 concluded with an afternoon swim and waterslide at the Thredbo Leisure Centre, which included seeing Olympic qualifiers go through their training sessions. That night, there was a quiet celebration (we were too tired to be rowdy) and a reflection on the achievement, both personally and as a group. The quiet man of the ride, Chris, came in very handy on the way home, to fix the trailer lights in Cooma.

Once back in Sydney, it was a beeline to the comfortable lounge, and burden our loved ones with a week's worth of cycling gear and stories.