Who is going to the Alpine Classic?

[lone rider]

In for 200.

[Gerry.M]

Signed up for the 250 - having done the 200 a few times I thought I'd push it a bit further this time.

[joomz]

Having done the 250 and 320, I'm doing the raid again this year. Great value with overnight accommodation and food, very sociable with arvo chillout at Omeo, and it's nice doing back of falls with fresh-ish legs

[march83]

Signed up for the 250 - having done the 200 a few times I thought I'd push it a bit further this time.

I did Harrietville -> Bright -> ACE200 last year and FWIW that was pretty similar in difficulty to the 3 peaks/250. the only real difference is that it just didn't have the steeps like back of falls. If you're skinny and did the 200 ok then you should be sweet.

Having done the 250 and 320, I'm doing the raid again this year. Great value with overnight accommodation and food, very sociable with arvo chillout at Omeo, and it's nice doing back of falls with fresh-ish legs

Would love to do the raid one year.

[cyclotaur]

Having done the 250 and 320, I'm doing the raid again this year. Great value with overnight accommodation and food, very sociable with arvo chillout at Omeo, and it's nice doing back of falls with fresh-ish legs

Would love to do the raid one year.

Me too ! (Probably the only way I'd do that loop.... )

Currently trussed up like a Christmas turkey with back strapping, but still hopeful I'll recover quickly and make it through the 200 this time.

[Gerry.M]

Signed up for the 250 - having done the 200 a few times I thought I'd push it a bit further this time.

I did Harrietville -> Bright -> ACE200 last year and FWIW that was pretty similar in difficulty to the 3 peaks/250. the only real difference is that it just didn't have the steeps like back of falls. If you're skinny and did the 200 ok then you should be sweet.

Yes, there's that - plus I'm investing in compact cranks this time round

[lone rider]

Slightly off topic but I signed up for a membership at the same time as entering and have been looking through the ride calender. How exactly does it work? Do I get issued with card or something or contact the ride organisers to RSVP so to speak? Or is there a time of the year when memberships start up, I think I recall reading something but cant find it now.

[joomz]

Audax membership? It used to run from start nov-end oct,but I think membership is now valid for the period you select from the date you sign up now:
https://audaxaustralia.wildapricot.org/join-us/
You should get a cycling aus/audax membership card in the mail.

[biker jk]

Slightly off topic but I signed up for a membership at the same time as entering and have been looking through the ride calender. How exactly does it work? Do I get issued with card or something or contact the ride organisers to RSVP so to speak? Or is there a time of the year when memberships start up, I think I recall reading something but cant find it now.

If you look at the left hand side of the calendar home page under "Upcoming Rides" you can register for a ride by clicking on the plus sign.

[lone rider]

Yep Audax membership. Looks easy enough. Thanks.

[madmacca]

Slightly off topic but I signed up for a membership at the same time as entering and have been looking through the ride calender. How exactly does it work? Do I get issued with card or something or contact the ride organisers to RSVP so to speak? Or is there a time of the year when memberships start up, I think I recall reading something but cant find it now.

Membership cards come out via Cycling Australia - took about 4 weeks for me. But hopefully you were allocated a membership number when you signed up?? You should be able to enter rides just as long as you know your number.

Increasingly you can enter the rides electronically through a link on the ride calendar - the link generally becomes available 4-6 weeks before the ride. But some ride organisers are still old school, and you email the organiser to enter. Let them know you are a new member, and they will walk you through the process.

[princessbumblebee]

I'm doing 140!

[Leethal]

I did Harrietville -> Bright -> ACE200 last year and FWIW that was pretty similar in difficulty to the 3 peaks/250. the only real difference is that it just didn't have the steeps like back of falls. If you're skinny and did the 200 ok then you should be sweet.

Hmmm, I disagree with difficulty being similar. I've seen plenty of riders walking up the back/south end of Falls (myself included the first time), but not so many on the front/northern side as per the 200. It's not just steepness, but also the heat reflected off the exposed road at midday (no shade) plus the already tired legs from the gradual climb (usually with slight headwind) out of Omeo before actually turning onto W.T.F. corner at the back of Falls. I took it much easier up Hotham last year, saving the legs for Falls, and ended up finishing half an hour earlier overall then on my first attempt.

[madmacca]

Woot - got my rider number in the email today. Apparently they are sending out SMS's too.

[cyclotaur]

Me too....now I'm really worried !

[march83]

Crashed my MTB yesterday. Whoops. 2 weeks to get my elbow and knee working again... what an idiot

[warthog1]

No long rides this (or last) year yet, >100km, hopefully 1 or 2 this week.
Doing the ACE250 06:20 start.
I will probably be riding the mighty Ribble too which is 1.6 kg heavier than the Cervelo. Mind you there is more than that on my guts this year. I could be creeping by the end, but I will make it.
Hope my 11s 105 shifters and derailleurs arrive before the event. Ordered from Ribble this arvo.

[hamishm]

I'm curious why you or anyone would choose the later start, rather than giving yourself the full time allowance and also enjoying a Hotham sunrise?

[biker jk]

I'm curious why you or anyone would choose the later start, rather than giving yourself the full time allowance and also enjoying a Hotham sunrise?

Not an early riser?

[cyclotaur]

I'm curious why you or anyone would choose the later start, rather than giving yourself the full time allowance and also enjoying a Hotham sunrise?

Not an early riser?

Riding off scratch? Or can't be faffed with lights and hi-vis....

But I'd say 'not an early riser' is on the money - I'm entered for the 200 starting also at 6:20am. I'm pretty useless before about 10am most days so that will be interesting....

[warthog1]

Not an early riser. 15 years of shift work has screwed my sleep and why carry lights when you dont need to.
I have trouble getting to sleep early. I'd need to take restavit to get any sleep at all knowing I had to be up at 0315 or so.

[Leethal]

I'd only get 2-3hrs sleep with a 4am start, and don't care for the additional lights and hi-viz either.
Also, the 6am start will see most riders arrive late arvo, right on time for a tasty Bright craft beer!

[march83]

yeah, i look at the 4am start and wonder why anyone would want to ruin a nice day on the bike by spending the first few hours of it riding in the dark and getting up at 2am. Forget that...

[hamishm]

Fair enough. I'm a regular audaxer so I don't mind riding in the dark Still, sunrise on Hotham is pretty cool, try it some time.

[warthog1]

It'd have to be awesomely cool to compensate for the sleep deprived crankiness that is likely to creep in by the end of the day
I'm sure it is good if you can sleep early though.