Great Ocean Road 200 2020

Part of pre-race prep: pump up tyres to 65psi then this happens. Not a disaster

Inappropriate use of a bicycle 1, awreck as a sign for the Deans Marsh Caf in the Lorne direction

Inappropriate use of a bicycle 2, awreck as a sign for the Deans Marsh Caf in the Bambra direction

Inappropriate use of a bicycle 3, wrecks as scrap metal near Moriac

At the start, courtesy Rick Harker

At the start, courtesy Rick Harker

This was about all I saw of the rest of the 200 riders for about 100k courtesy Rick Harker

Lorne breakfast stop, courtesy Rick Harker

Peter Donnan the legend courtesy Rick Harker

Great Ocean Road sign near Spout Creek courtesy Rick Harker

At the start, courtesy Rick Harker

A couple of the ladies come in, I had a bit of lunch with them at Lorne

Phil Giddings, Charles at the start, courtesy Rick Harker

Return leg roadworks

Outside of Lorne roadworks

A lone surfer out at "Sawmills" near Kennet River

Near Apollo Bay

Long Shadows approachin Anglesea at the end

Done

Hi,

On Wednesday I finished a 200k Audax ride.  This was the Great Ocean Road Midweek ride with options of 150 and 200k rides out of Anglesea organised by Charles Cooke. I chose the 200 as I am in serious training mode for a 1200k ride, but a few of the seasoned Audax riders I know chose the 150k route. But some of them had done a 300k ride out of Bendigo a few days before!

Rick Harker did the 150, and he kindly let me use his photos.  All the 200k riders were well ahead of me on the hills out of Anglesea leading to Moriac, except for one, he turned back citing bad weather.  Which there was!  A headwind for 40k out of Moriac, but with occasional relief from sheltering vegetation. Then we had the big hill out of Deans Marsh, lunch at Lorne and on ito more winds to Apollo Bay. I was relieved to turn around there for some tailwinds.  I was back in Anglesea by about 8:10 pm,  and greeted by Charles waiting patiently.

Thanks Charles and Audax for the organising! Next post follows here.

Regards

Steve Nurse

PS Happy Birthday Blog, 10 years old!  I will write a bit more about this later.