High Country Cycle Challenge

On Friday 18th March I loaded up the Bicycling Australia Toyota Rav4 to the gunwales and hit the highway bound for Mansfield Victoria. Destination was the 6th annual SCODY High Country Cycle Challenge. Bicycling Australia has been sponsoring this event since its inception and I was keen to take my bike for about the third or fourth time to revisit some of the best cycling Victoria has to offer.

The SCODY High Country Cycle Challenge has evolved over the years, each year being refined by event director Bruce Halket to enhance the experience of the hundreds of cyclists who visit from all over Australia.

One thing that can't be planned but seems to happen with freakish regularity, is outstanding weather. The weekend was fine, sunny and mild, with hardly a breath of wind. In other words - perfect cycling weather.

Saturday is the main cycling day and most riders arrive on Friday evening to pick up their registration packs and carbo load in preparation. Most riders took the toughest of several options on offer, which is 165km route from Mansfield to the top of Mt Buller, then descending back towards Mansfield but turning left just out of town for a torturous detour to Jamieson and back.

For riders not up to this challenge, the next option is a 100km out and back to the top of Mt Buller.

Because I was exhibiting at the expo in the main street of Mansfield, I had a ready-made excuse to wimp out with the third option, which was 65km out and back to the gate at the base of the Mt Buller climb proper. Mind you, there is still about 300m of elevation gain between Mansfield and the turnaround point.

We left in large groups at 8.30am only to discover that some local mongrel had spread tacks on the road not far from the start line! Unfortunately this caused a lot of early punctures but it was great to see that every rider who had to stop was surrounded by a group of mates giving them a hand to replace their tubes.

The scenery changes from wide-open plains to forested gully as we approached Mt Buller and the river was bubbling away after a wet summer season. It’s good country for the soul!

For an old roadie like me, there's nothing like the fun of riding amongst large groups and occasionally jumping from one group up to the next. Yes I know it’s not a race but we can all have our fantasies…

Because the shortest ride option was mainly opted for by women, children and the elderly, I was the first back to Mansfield by quite a margin – not that I was looking behind of course because after all, it wasn't a race, was it? I have to admit to thoroughly enjoying the ride and that familiar feeling of endorphins after a solid two-hour ride.

Then it was time to set up our Bicycling Australia marquee and meet and greet all sorts of cyclists new and old, many who are long time subscribers.

That evening driving back to the hotel at dusk, a huge grey kangaroo hopped out in front of me. This is nothing unusual in itself in the Australian bush, but this was on the main street of downtown Mansfield just about 100m from the central roundabout! He hopped into a side street and went on his way.

A new addition for this year was criterium racing on a 'hot dog' circuit up and down the main street of Mansfield. There were four men’s grades and two women’s with plenty of breakaways and fast action.

The next day was the Tour de Flavour, which included displays from chefs and special meals on offer from many of Mansfield's best know restaurants.

Rider numbers were a little thinner on Sunday—perhaps a bit too much celebration after Saturday's big ride. Maybe the 8.30am start just a little too early for some tired and emotional cyclists. But those that did ride once again enjoyed perfect weather and plenty of country hospitality at a local primary school along the way, who cooked up a storm for the riders.

By three o'clock on Sunday I was packed up and hitting the road back to Wollongong. The perfect weather of Mansfield turned into ever increasing rainfall with flood water from the waterfall at Macquarie Pass spilling over the road. A few hours after my return, not only was Macquarie Pass closed but Wollongong was experiencing its biggest floods in 20 years, quite a contrast to a memorable weekend in the high country.