Hardest Ride Ever - Peaks Challenge 2024 Falls Creek
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- After weeks of intense training (literally just 4 weeks) I have completed my first Peaks Challenge. This grueling 235km 4000m one day Gran Fondo is one of the toughest in the world. Made the "hardest ride ever" this year due to extreme 40 degree heat! Follow my story from the proceeding days through to the end of the race. Will I hit my goal time of 10 hours?
🎙️ Learn about my journey to Falls Creek, and race preparation. See what is involved in reading for the day. Then come with me as I make fast friends, battle through rest stops, and try to endure the conditions.
🚴♂️235km 4300m elevation in the Victoria High Country. Falls Creek start, descent into Harretville, quick climb up Tawonga Gap, then a 30km climb to Mt. Hotham. A long hot slog through Omeo, then a 30km climb up the back of Falls Creek for a finale. / strava
🏷️ #Cycling #RoadCycling #ThisIsPeaks
🎵 Find all the tracks from all my videos in this handy playlist www.epidemicso...
➡️ / moderate.cc
➡️ / strava
Peaks virgin at age 74, 175 klm done before Lanterne rouge was gone. And the tap on the shoulder your next stop is the bus. Already thinking of next year at age 75, I want that jersey.
I saw your story David! I can only hope to be riding at 74, you are an inspiration! See you next year.
Thanks for capturing and sharing your ride. It was my first peaks as well and 3 hours behind you but the experience was similar. So difficult but so rewarding.
You’re welcome mate. Glad you made it! The dictionary definition of “Type 2” fun.
Awesome effort. Brought back memories of when I did it a few years ago. Didn't have the heat like you but something I ate the night before didn't agree with me so didn't get much sleep. I remember waiting in line at 6:30am wondering if this was a good idea. Goal was always just to finish. I recall hitting the WTF corner and seeing a number of people walking and I was done. Nothing I could do to keep riding. At least I was wearing MTB shoes so could walk easily. And it was such a good feeling as I was coming into Falls doing the maths in my head realising I was going to make the cut off. Rolled under the banner at 12 hours 55 minutes.
I can't quite understand people doing the challenge but it is people like you that I really admire. You see someone that can do it easily and is merely seeking to do it faster than the year before gives me the "so what" feeling. But those who have to dig deep just to finish? They are the ones who have really done a Herculean effort. Congratulations. But why not join us volunteers. We get a lot of the excitement of the ride and still live to tell the tale.
@@smitajky Thanks for the comment. You know I've never actually thought about volunteering so thanks for the suggestion. I do have to shout out to the volunteer as I was coming into Omeo that was yelling out to me to keep riding because if I had pulled into the stop, they wouldn't have let me keep going as the SAG wagon was so close. So the volunteers definitely are awesome on the day. Oh, and those running along beside you giving you gummy bears!
@@dragoncraft5781 I both ride and volunteer on the great vic each year. It gives me all the benefits of a rider but it ALSO gives me the family around me. This last year I came in cold and wet into Sale. Pitched the tent and huddled up trying to keep warm. Then the rest of my team came in and said that they had organised a house for us that evening. Somewhere warm and dry. Having a family I see each year is great. For this year I volunteered on the 3 peaks at dinner plain. I was on the team making sure that all those valet bags were given to riders promptly and I hauled rubbish bags. I did 10 km of running and 10 km of walking during the time that the riders were coming. I got to meet many of the riders. Ranging from those who were comfortable and keen to get going to those who were stressed and trying to save time to those who were really struggling and either needed to be encouraged to get going again OR supported if they felt that they had to give up. Those who have to abandon feel like losers. And I have to point out that I ride 20,000 km a year and wouldn't feel up to the challenge so just getting to lunch they are already in the top 0.1% of the population. And they are better than me but I don't feel like a loser.
I love being a volunteer. There are many challenges that the riders never see. But beating those is a huge sense of achievement.
The only downside of being a rider volunteer on the great vic is that you have to be fit enough to ride all day, get off the bike and start heavy work. In my case hauling bins around the site. The upside is that everyone knows me. If I ever have a problem I know that I will be looked after. In return all my friends know that I will look after them. No matter what.
Being a volunteer at falls is more of a party atmosphere but more hours of work. Out on the road the teams are a lot smaller. But other than setting up, looking after the riders and clearing up there isn't much more that you CAN do.
All I can add is that if you want to be involved it is both a no cost option and you can continue to volunteer even if you are too old or infirm to do all the riding. One day they will have to carry me off in a pine box. In the meantime they can't get rid of me.
If you have ever thought about volunteering for an event give it a go. Pick the right type of event and the type of job that suits your character. For example whether you are a people person or one who prefers to work in the background. Whether you enjoy being in a small team where the buck stops with YOU or a large team where you are a small cog in a large wheel. The worst possible outcome is you find it isn't right for you. The best outcome is that you think "why didn't I do this years ago".
I think an event like this tests everyone no matter if they are trying for the course record or just trying to get to the end. What unites us is a passion for the sport and that is the primary reason why I will do it again.
Chapeau. Especially for keeping it real - showing the struggle and the walking too! Watching this as I've just booked a place for this March, it will be my third and hopefully my first under 10 hours. I'll need more than four weeks of training through. Thanks for the inspiration
Thank Gary. Peaks was crazy hard, especially in the heat. But such an amazing event. Stoked that you have signed up again, thanks for sharing. With the necessary preparation I am sure you can get there!
Congratulations on both finishing in a great time and for such an honest and open account of what the experience is for most people. Chapeau.
Thanks Marc. That is what Moderate is all about!
Ha ha, I promised you a pull on the false flat, I delivered and this was the last thing I did before my body failed inexplicably 😂 cramps from the last 10km of hotham on. Great job on the sub 10 in hellish conditions 💪. Legendary effort. It was nice to sit in your wheel for a bit and say hello. Congratulations again!
Thanks for reaching out! You absolutely did keep your promise. Thanks for the chat and the gee-up for The Meg.
Awesome effort. The back of Falls was such carnage! I was on track for a sub 9 finish until both legs completely exploded with cramps in every muscle at the same time. Lost at least 30 mins sitting in a ditch unable to even walk. Really thought I wouldn't finish. Thankfully a kind passer by gave me a salt tablet that totally saved the day. Scraped in for a 9:13. - The guy with the beard in front of you in the check-in line.
Cramping was gnarly. I watched a guy at Anglers hard cramp while dismounting and almost ate it. I flipped him a sodium tab. Thanks for messaging. It’s cool hearing from the people I interacted with in the video. Congrats on the 9.13 that’s a solid time!
Awesome first-hand account, man. Thanks for the great video, and congrats on your time! This old newbie might set his sights on 2026....
Thanks mate! Definitely an event worth capturing. Start now 2025 is calling you!
Fantastic video, sub 10 this year was absolute beast mode. Well done
Thanks for sharing and your brutal honesty. Top ride.
Did it 3 times, all pre covid. Never cracked the 10 (family commitments = poor training)
Similar lead in every time, 3 month prior 20'ish hours training per week, mix of Beach Road, trainer programme and adding hills and 10 hour rides in the month before.
The best result (10.18) was getting into the early gate and cracking the descent. Newspaper down the front of the jersey to stay warm, dump it at Tawonga before the climb. (Fattys go down fast).
Holding the wheel of every one who came past from then on. I also learnt how to add / remove layers on the bike. Year 1 I lost at least 20 minutes pulling over and adding / removing layers for descents / climbs.
You can never have to many gear inches, ever, like ever. Spinning 80 rpm on the meg on a 50/34 - 11-36 while passing folks standing up grinding their semis with 25’s was the (very brief) highlight.
Tins of creamed rice in the lunch pack (other option was the provided curry bread roll 🤢) Tear tops means you can chug 600 calories in < 30 seconds. Put more mars bars and cans of coke in your valets than u think you can consume, then double it. If you don’t drink it, you can sell the coke can for 100 gazzilion dollars to the struggling dentist on the Pinarello (no offence to either … but I made $400)
Don’t get cocky on Hotham. You’ll think you’ve finished, you start pushing it and then Hotham V2 waves her little “oh hi” middle finger at you and drains your will to live. Trust your Garmin … when it says there’s more to come, there really is more to come.
Never stop moving, even if it means walking, just don’t be stationary. If you have to walk, fold your socks down over your ankles in your shoes so you don’t blister (year one lesson) or just ride SPD’s
Pack a foil blanket … I gave mine to some pour soul on back of Falls who looked like he was being given last rights ... by himself, I hope he made it.
Cry when you see the dam (mandatory) and don’t drop your chain 30 metres before the finish line (those photos never go away).
Best and worst day hours(s)of my life
Sorry Tony, I missed this comment. Such a great recount, and amazing advice littered throughout. I guess one positive of the heat this year wads after the initial descent there were no layer changes required.
Well done mate terrific video and great ride. I’m pumped and ready to go again next year. Bang Bang.
Thanks mate. Appreciate the motivation! I hope you found the toilet 😜
@@ModerateCyclist I had to stop at every one. Don’t eat junk food flat out the last two days before the ride. It doesn’t work out 😂😂😂😂
@@_LeeTurner nutrition plan of champions 😂
Yea the back of falls is utterly brutal on a hot day.
Great storytelling and well done on Sub10!
Loved that video Ben. Thankyou for sharing. Most of the focus is the terrain and distance but the weather players such a huge part. The Dinner plain to Omeo ride is a hot stretch of road. But how good is Omeo to WTF (although hard to enjoy when you are cramping).
And cresting the high point on the plains and riding hard to falls is such a great feeling. Well done
I was only saying this to someone today. The heat completely changed the calculation. It really is a beautiful course.
I had a friend do the 2024 race and he said it nearly killed him. The heat and mountains made it incredibly difficult
A little unprecedented from what I understand of the area. I was chatting to someone who was back up there the following weekend and it was mid-20s.
Love hearing Lee Turner rev everyone up ❤️
The man is everywhere. As I came out of the lunch stop he was pulling in and yelling more inspiration sound bites.
Thank you for a great detailed edit of your challenging ride under tough hot conditions. What you have done here is very considerate and it has inspired me. I had already signed up this morning to do my first Peaks next year before seeing this vid and gee now I looking forward to it. My goal time is 12hr 30mins.
Good for you man! Plenty of time to train. You will be ready for 12:15 by the time it rolls around.
Great video 😁. It was a brutal day and kudos to you for finishing in the time you wanted.
Thanks Sharon, really stoked on breaking 10!
Amazing effort. Thanks for sharing. Looked like very tough conditions
Awesome Riding, such a tough day in the bike, it brought flashbacks to my first ‘hot’ peaks many years ago, congrats on a strong finish time 👍
There is something enchanting about it. At first I was like “never again”, but reliving it through the video has inspired me to want to do it again; faster!
Well done, thanks for sharing. I passed you as you were talking and walking on the back of Falls. Also on an Ostro, orange kit.
That’s awesome! I see you. You were putting the work in. Great effort. How did you end up?
Great vid mate! Truly inspiring, congrats 💪👏
congrats on even finishing it! Absolutely insane (in the most positive way)
Haha, thanks Donnie.
awesome ride and achievement! Congrats to you!
Fantastic accomplishment. Great story telling and nice videography.
Thanks mate, glad the content resonates with the Zwifter too!
Great blog. Well done mate
wow, kudos to you!
Sub-10 is a fantastic effort! Great video. Well done!
Thanks mate, and thanks for your prep notes!
This is brutal, well done mate!!
Great video, loved the story telling and the videography.
Nice work on getting sub-10. Mega effort
Appreciate the feedback on the video mate, means a lot.
Well done mate, impressive.
Awesome work mate. I just watched your Peaks journey and you did an awesome job capturing the whole day. Well done on a sub 10 finish. It was a brutal day.
Thanks mate. Such a great experience. I really enjoyed documenting it!
Loved your vid, very real and epic effort by yourself. Well done. 👍🏻
Thanks James.
Great video, well done, looked brutal.
So brutal dude. Great experience though. Thanks for watching.
watching here
Welcome, hope you enjoyed it.
Great video Ben!
Glad you enjoyed it! Hope to see some running content from you soon 😜
Congratulations on such a mighty effort
Thanks Fabian! Hope you enjoyed it.
Wow what a ride 😊 amazing effort dude.. subscribed great channel first time I’ve watched 😊 🚴🏻 Pete uk
Thanks Pete, welcome aboard!
Great re-cap on the event insight to your day out! Really great video 👏🏻
Heading back next year?
After such a great response to this video it almost feels rude not to…
Fantastic video diary. Easy to follow, good clips along the way, and how much quicker would you have been without the camera? 20mins?. Thanks for daring to take a camera up there so we could see it. I've just started riding like 3 weeks ago, it is nice to see this spirit in cycling.
Haha, I have been waiting for this question. I don’t think it slows me down too much now (probably did when I first started filming). Happy to share, these things are possible even for the moderate 😜. Cycling is a great life decision. Welcome aboard.
Great Video....thank you so much ....and well done !
Well done Awsome work I did get super excited with your friend that drove you up as the same bike as me such a rare colour. Just wondering what gearing and how much pre-preparation you did. I’m looking at putting this on my bucket list maybe next year or the year after awesome job.
Thanks mate. Haha, yeah it's a nice bike. I did another video where I looked at what I would do differently, and gearing was one of them. I also did a video about my prep, which was only 4-weeks... I don't recommend the short prep, a well specialised 12-week program would be perfect.
Great ride and made even more epic by talking and managing a camera throughout.
I worked on the first 5 3peaks and ran the bivet bag system; looks like they have sharpened the pencil on some things. Be curious to hear from a riders perspective how that was. Rode the course twice but a different beast with closed roads, number of riders and support stations. Well done mate.
Thanks mate, takes a bit of juggling, but can be a nice distraction from the struggle. Valet was seamless. I expected to lose time in waiting for bags, but it was literally seconds. Were the first ones not closed roads?
I can’t believe people don’t put tiny gears on. I’m considering doing it next year. Even if I get my weight right down I would want to do it with anything bigger than 50/34, 11/30. I may even consider a 32/48 on the front. You spend a lot more time going slow than going fast. Going fast on a decent has a lot more to do with aerodynamics and technique, not long grindy TT efforts.
Big ring was good down Tawonga, through Harretville and out of Dinner Plain. I think changing to 11-34 in the back would suffice.
Great video and awesome effort mate 💪👍😀
congrats on you're performance dude, and i bet it's a hard day out, but saying that's one of the hardest gran fondo's in the world is not really true. here in europe we have several gran fondo's with about 180km of riding and over 5000m's of elevation.
keep up the great work
Thanks mate. Those are not my words, but rather those which surround the event. Certainly not “the” hardest, but based on the distance, elevation, and temperatures up to 41 degrees it must be worthy company of the world’s hardest?
Or are you saying from a competition perspective?
David that's a pretty dick comment.
If you are doing this again next year, my advice is to ride down to Kiama a few times and do Keira, mac pass and another climb, if possible fountaindale saddleback mountain. Edwin Britts an elite rider from Sydney did this route and it really simulates the ride well. Particularly fountaindale and back of falls. It will also get you perfectly uncomfortable for the big day. I’m a local in Kiama and the climbs around here are fantastic for training. Always empty roads
🤔 can you send me a Strava route?
@@ModerateCyclist if you don’t feel like this exact one, aim for kangaroo valley and berry. There is 8 of the similar climbs there all within 20kms of each other. Train home on the hour from bomaderry, berry, Kiama, Albion park, Wollongong
Why do I want to do 7 Peaks? Because it's the ultimate challenge. Will I ever do it? Probably not. I'm a mediocre cyclist with a sixteen year old Chinese road bike. I commute to work by bike and that's it.
I hear ya. It was brutal, I'm still recovering!
Back to regular training today! Your next goal starts now.
Amazing effort! Well done! Must be very satisfying after putting in the hard yards before the event? Subscribed 👍🏻
Yeah man! The preparation worked. But in the immortal words of Lee “Hollywood” Turner: Nothing can prepare you for the back of Falls Creek with 200km in your legs!
Great effort. 👍
Made your goals. Made some new friends. Shared it with us.
Thanks.
When you put it that way it sounds like a pretty productive day.
Awesome job mate! Love the video. Was my first time doing it this year also. I'm a fair bit heavier than you though. But managed to get it done just under 13 hours luckily!
Good on ya mate! Massive kudos to anyone who finished. I bet I would have watt envy from your ride 😀.
@ModerateCyclist haha I think I'd rather lower watts and weight. Those climbs were brutal. I lost 15kg before the event. I was 110kg at the event. I want to try drop another 15 to 20kg by next year's event. See if I can drop an hour or two 🤞 would love a sub 10h jersey! Such a brutal day out but how good was that feeling crossing the line! 👌
@luke_offroad_crusades that’s inspirational mate. I hope you do it!
@ModerateCyclist thank you mate! Have subscribed, looking forward to more cycling content! Have a great weekend mate 👍
Awesome effort for only 4 weeks training. Which of the climbs is the hardest?
Undoubtable the last one (Back of Falls). On it's own it would be manageable, but with 200km in the legs the unrelenting 9% ramps proved too much.
Thoughts on the record holder getting outside help to break the record
This is a tough one, I don't know the full picture. But from what I can see. Mark's performance is undeniably amazing. Had he rode in complete isolation I still think he would have crushed it. That said, I think it comes down to the "race" organisers and their interpretation of the "rules" as to whether they wish to award him the record. If they are satisfied, I am satisfied. That said, I think the comments from The Nero Show (@ChrisMillerCycling) raise a good point about the spirit of a Gran Fondo and the risk of an unhealthy precedent being set.
The neighbour was a Chinese lady who is 21 and is in a club . They have a purple Canyon aero setup .
Some acknowledgement of Bicycle Network, the volunteers, police, and local community groups who make the event possible would have been nice. Well done, anyway.
Hey Ray, you are right these groups do such an amazing job. I thought the rider briefing did such a great job of expressing gratitude. It really does make you appreciate what goes into events like these.
Black jersey on a hot day?
Yeah maybe the wrong colour choice. But I was happy with the long sleeves. Sun protection for the win!
Nice video 😊
. If you ever decide so go back and better your time, consider cuting your stops right down. Your climbing hothem and tawanga and my pace this year Hower my stops were under 6mins total for sub 9 😏
Good call out. I was on the 10h schedule which allows for 3 stops, but with the heat I need 5 for water. I think the 9h schedule suggests only 2 stops.
@@ModerateCyclist I carried all my fuel carb mix and precision gels, I notices you use them the 90s R brilliant 😍
No need to much around with packs, 2020 learned easy time to waste.
Quick stop half way up hotham add carb mix , stop in Omeo just water, Trapyard Gap quick coke. Also feel blessed with Perths hottest summer ever, feel the heat acclimation made a massive difference. Back of falls still hard but no mater who you were 😬
Yeah 90s are a life saver. I was carrying 2 at a time, but could easily carry 3-4. Upgrade to 750ml bottles, with 60g in each. Then re-up at Dinner plain.
I Always enjoy a good war story , not all about the heat , 2020 , my link below
Great video and incredible scenery! How did you wear a dark long sleeve jersey with a base layer in 41°C heat 🥵🥵
I think the jersey was a big success. It was lightweight so maybe not as hot as it looks. I had the option to change into short sleeve with my valet bag at dinner plain. But the value of sun protection doesn’t get enough credit.
@@ModerateCyclistYes, I was wondering about the colour. But you are right about sun protection. I wear a cap under my helmet and cotton sleeves for that reason.
Great vid, and great backing tracks.
Loved the "Not sponsored by" :-)
Yeah white would have probably been better, definitely agree on that one. I used to wear a cap, mostly for sweat, but I tried myself away from it because it is much cooler without it. Appreciate you noticing the music (I spend a surprising amount of time on this part of videos) and my non-sponsored joke 😜.
Congratulations was hot we got a late summer . I live local albury so do the alp rides in the region .
Have not done the peaks tho you need a day prior even if live 1.5hrs away and hotel with all the pre rego rigmerole
Yeah the logistics are fairly full on. It was a last minute decision to stay on the mountain, and am so happy we did!
@@ModerateCyclist
mt buffalo my fav - come enjoy when not so hot
has a lot more shade
constant ramp up great training
Yackandandah mtb trails are also a gem
There is so much to do down there. The descent side of Falls looks like a great climb too.
we did
For the 10 hour group, would you not able to follow the 10 hour leader and stay with the bunch? I see you are riding solo the entire ride?
Yes that is the theory. I was pushing a little harder to see how close to 9h I could get. It meant I was bridging a lot. Another learning for me was to start in a more aspirational group so there are more wheels for you to sit in.
Agree, I got stuck in no man's land after Dinner plain and spent much of that leg solo working into the wind 😭
I kept saying to guys “let’s bridge” and them looking at me like I was nuts 🤪
At least you cracked 10 hours, I missed and am going to have to front up next year!
You will get it next year for sure.
What gearing setup did you have that you had to walk at all?
I think this was my main failing. I was riding 52/36 and 11-30. I could have used a 34 on the back to spin the legs more on Falls.
Got the same setup and there's no way i'd attempt this with that gearing. @@ModerateCyclist
It was good up Hotham. Higher than felt natural, but allowed me to settle into a good rhythm. But Hotham despite being longer is more variable, 4-5% ramps left you recover from the 10%+ ramps. BOF stays at around 8-9% with only meters of recovery along the way.
Anything over 10% and i'm dying quickly. @@ModerateCyclist
A neighbour did this in 8 and a half hours .
Wow that’s a solid effort. Must be quite the cyclist!
11:00 The MC might have had one too many coffees enemas. What a 🤡
Haha 😜! Lee “Hollywood” Turner. An acquired taste, that rapidly grows on you.
You don't have to be mentally ill to be a cyclist,, but it helps 😅
Errr. Your drop bags need twice as much, atleast twice as many carbs. 6:01
You think? I ran 5 x 90g pouches throughout the day. Plus a couple of clif bars, 2 x 30g bottles, half a chicken wrap, and 2 cokes. I’m not sure I could have handled much more. What do you think?
@ModerateCyclist in the video you said "have I done that right, I don't know?" Haven't done peaks, but done longer time events and trained with a peaks group. I always have a full nutrition plan (when and what) with extra in the drop bags. I go for 120g/hr+. Plus precision hydration sodium tablets, plus crampfix. For me, dialled nutrition is the key to thriving in these long endurance events. For me, cramps are due to salt loss. Hope you did have a proper plan, and were just joking about. Congrats on sub 10 👍🏻
@ashnm001 ok, I understand now. I did have a plan (some detailed above), plus also sodium tablets for my planned 5l of water. My confusion was around the bag and stops and what should be in which bag. It was my first event of this nature.
All that said, I have been thinking about if I had enough. I use the “EatMyRide” app which is great. Lots of people are targeting 120g/h. Seems high. I think I am more like 60-90.
@ModerateCyclist you do need to practise your nutrition on training rides, but 150g/hr is high now. I would be struggling hard on 60g/hr... I just use an Excel spreadsheet.