Some of our riding group have been trying to organise a Launceston to Hobart bike ride for a couple of years but for one reason or another it has fallen through. Some renewed interest in some long rides again and a new date was set – Saturday 2nd of May. I was keen to participate given my love of longer rides. Sharon agreed to be our support vehicle and transport extra water, food and spares plus be the emergency sag wagon if required. We decided to make a weekend of it an stay in Hobart overnight.

The ride started reasonably early at 6AM as the days are quite short now and we wanted to get to Hobart before 5PM approximately 240KM away. The route taken was up over Poatina, Bothwell, New Norfolk and then into Hobart. We had a range of rider ability so riding in a group protecting the weaker riders was the go. There is no hiding up over Poatina though and it’s everybody for themselves up the hill. A few extra riders road with us to the Poatina Village and one came all the way to the top before our group of 6 headed South. Sharon was waiting for us at the top of the hill and we took about 3Hrs from Launceston for the slowest riders. Some fog along the way out Longford Cressy way kept our arm warmers on.

After a refuel on fruit buns (thanks Sharon) and refilling water bottles the core group of 6 were on there way under threatening skies. One of the group had bonked badly after the climb and everybody thought he would be in the sag wagon at the next stop. We got the the Cramps Bay turn off before the heavens opened and it was a little unpleasant for about 20 minutes. Wet roads and a bit cool but we soon came out of it and it cleared to great weather. A slight tailwind also helped the cause. We hit the Lake Highway turn off to an unexpected sight of several hundred sheep being driven along the road. Luckily we came through when we did or it could have been interesting.

The run through to Bothwell was great with clear skies and a good pace. Our bonked rider had started to pep up a bit after we stuffed him full of our food. He was on some stupid low carb diet it turns out – just what you want on a day you are going to burn 6000+ calories! Lunch at Bothwell at 12:30 was just behind predicted pace and we stressed out the small cafe as everybody turned up at once, the food was good though. We left Bothwell at 1PM as the sun came out and it got quite hot all of a sudden with 140KM already in the bag. The run from Bothwell to to New Norfolk was just fantastic riding. Rolling hills, generally down hill grade and great views. Around Gretna some where we got wet again and the temperature dropped by 3 degrees at the top of one hill. It was cool and wet for a while but nobody had there rain jackets on.

About 200KM gone and New Norfolk was our last stop with Sharon before the run into Hobart and I put my rain jacket on here and it was a good move as once we road along the river to Granton at a good pace it started to rain again only this time it got harder and didn’t stop. We peeled off at Granton and headed for the the bike way that follows the train line and bypasses all the hills and traffic to come out at the Domain and then a short ride to our accommodation on Macquarie St. The ride took 10.5Hrs, of that 9.25hrs was riding time and I covered 258Km and 2,800M of elevation – not a bad day in the saddle. All wet and soggy the first ‘Fat Yak’ slipped down nicely but we left a few wet patches in the bar area. All the families got together for a great evening meal at Barcelona in Salamanca after we all showered and dried out. A few very tired bodies hobbled off to bed.

Sharon had on her bucket list to ride Mt Wellington so I had agreed to go with her on Sunday and ride up with her. I was support on Sunday but all I could do was pace her and offer encouragement. We started from the Cascade Brewery and did the classic 18KM climb to the top. I kept the pace low to start with but once we hit the Springs Sharon wanted to dictate the pace so I was not going to slow or so she was not chasing me and I tucked in behind or beside and followed along. The day was fantastic and clear with a bit of breeze at times and great views. The first 15KM went ok but it is a steep climb with lots of sections of 8.5-9.5% grade zapping your energy levels as there is no rest on this climb.

Sharons back gave out with 3KM left to go and she was really hurting but there was no way she was going to stop to rest and she just gritted her teeth and pushed on. There was plenty of hurt and those last 3KM did not let up at all being as steep as the rest of it. I started counting in hundreds of meters to go but I don’t think it was helping. We crested the last corner with Sharon up off the saddle powering up the last few 100M, she made it! That was the biggest climb in the shortest distance she has done, 18.5KM and 1,150M straight up. I was proud of her effort and she was beaming having achieved it. Good training for Amy’s ride later in the year. She was a bit wrecked though and kneeling down for the photo was ‘uncomfortable’.

A few photo’s and some extra kit on for the cold descent and were on our way after about 30 minutes in the sun and a cool breeze. The descent is another story though, rough and fast and completely un-enjoyable, I would rather ride up it again to be honest. We stopped a few times on the way down to take a couple of photos and break it up a bit. Back at the brewery and our hands were sore from hanging on through the bone jarring decent. So a big weekend of riding for us both in the end.

I have a lot of GoPro footage that I will go through and post later once I get a chance to assemble it all.

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