Amy's Gran Fondo Returns

Last year my friends and I had a wonderful time in Lorne participating in the inaugural Amy's Gran Fondo organized by the Amy Gillet Foundation ,so we made sure we got our entries in early for this years event.I'd also decided to enter a Time Trial held by the Geelong Cycling Club which would be held at Paraparap just out of Geelong.So this meant I'd be taking 2 bikes and assorted wheels and paraphernalia which ended up being quite a load. 

The back of the Hilux partly loaded with bike related gear,except the Crocs although they are handy.

I'd stayed Friday night in Melbourne with my sister who lives in Coburg so I wouldn't have to drive to far on Saturday for the TT.I couldn't quite work out where the Geelong Cycling Clubrooms were so a quick text to the TT ing/ computer Guru, Shane Miller, and the next thing you know I have the address complete with a google map location.Just as well too as the GPS in my ute is a few years old now and it didn't recognize the location.The club rooms are pretty much out in the middle of nowhere and without the google map location I reckon I'd still be driving around looking for them.

The Time Trial was to be 2 laps of and 11km circuit and on arriving I found another familiar face in Stephen Lane  l have got to know Stephen recently, when he came up to race at this years Tour of Wangaratta where he came 3rd in A Grade, with some pretty tough competition.I got Stephen to jump in the passengers seat and take me for a guided tour around the course.

Everyone was very friendly and I really enjoyed the atmosphere before and after the race.I rode my fastest time trial to date averaging over 39kmh so was very contented with the effort.Possibly would have been quicker had I been paying more attention when doing the course recon,I missed one of the corners and locked up the rear wheel sliding sideways down the road,luckily keeping the bike upright.So I lost some time having to turn around again and get back onto the course.I ended up coming 8th in the open aero category.My legs were so sore after the race I thought it would be impossible to ride the Gran Fondo the next day.My quads just seized up and I could hardly move my legs,it wasn't a nice feeling. 

Full results of the Time Trial can be found here.

It took me about an hour to drive from Paraparap to Lorne and I arrived just in time to have a coffee with several of the Captain's Crew, before the compulsory safety briefing at 5pm. The safety briefing was informative and to the point, so it wasn't long before we'd collected our rider packs including ride numbers which also included the event timing transponder.
I was still trying to get my legs working,walking downhill was the killer and uphill wasn't so bad.Luckily it was uphill back to our accommodation.

Ride numbers attached.The top number is my age category.The timing transponder is built into the bottom sticker which is also my rider number.

Sunday arrived overcast but no rain was forecast in the morning with the possibility of showers later in the day.It's an incredible sight at the start of this event,if you can imagine around 4500 cyclists eagerly awaiting permission to be let loose on the Great Ocean road,the entire course is closed to traffic,and you have a recipe for a great ride.There was plenty of locals sitting on chairs in their driveways clapping and cheering as we flashed past.As this year I was starting quite a long way back in the field and wanting to better last years time, I made sure to position myself towards the front of our start bunch and set a solid pace right from the start.This event runs like clockwork and the waves of 200 riders starting every 90 secs went perfectly.We were soon on the road with a short section at the start neutralized before the event timing began.To ride the first 38 km on the Great Ocean Road with no traffic is worth the price of entry alone,Amy's Gran Fondo is the only opportunity to  be able to do this I'm aware of.Finding a group of about 8 guys who were travelling pretty well I jumped into their slipstream.We passed hundreds of riders and the feeling was great,even my legs weren't complaining.
After turning off the Great Ocean Road at Skenes Creek riders were face with a 10km climb to Skenes Creek north        

I felt really good on the climb and pushed a solid pace determined to better last years effort by a considerable margin.Cresting the KOM the road descends briefly and there a several rolling hills to contend with.There are also several fast descents and we had been warned about some of the corners closing out during the safety briefing.Riding the event last year was a big advantage and I was able to remember most of the course.This back section of rolling hills is probably where you can make the most difference to your overall time.I had one rider with me who was prepared to help push the pace so together we swapped off turns until finally others started to help with around 25km to go.Arriving at Deans Marsh I could feel my legs burning a little and with a little over 10km to go and most of it climbing the job wasn't quite done.I couldn't quite get the power output up this last climb compared with Skenes Creek but found that bit extra to finnish in the "Big Ring"(thanks Ash and Jake).

Anne Lyster won her age category.For somebody who has never raced a bike that's pretty impressive.

Shane Miller may even consider giving up TT's for Gran Fondos after winning his category.His Fiance Von Micich was in the winning women's team.

Steven Fairless who will be know to most readers of this blog won his category.

Another thoroughly enjoyable event and it's great to support such a wonderful organization in the Amy Gillet Foundation.Also great to catch up with several friends I don't see that often and to enjoy some competitive rivalry.Having the timing live online brings another element to the event as everybody huddled around iphones and laptops checking out the times and comparing. The Tour of Bright does this too and it's really appreciated by the competitors. 
And where can you ride on closed roads with no traffic? As was mentioned at the safety briefing even the Australian Nationals are not held on completely closed roads.

For or the record my times was roughly 11 minutes faster than last year which was another box ticked.

I'm sure many people are inconvenienced by the road closures that we. as cyclists, get to enjoy for the event.I made sure I greeted people with a friendly wave where possible and thanked corner marshalls and other volunteers who make these events possible.