Samantha’s MS Red Ride with the Jayco Herald Sun Tour 2011”
Let me start by saying this was an amazing experience and the entire team said they hoped to be back again next year. For me personally there was a great sense of achievement both on the road and off. You learn a lot about yourself on rides like this and as for your fitness it is a challenge you push yourself to conquer. Winning and dining with the professional cyclist, being looked after like one of the stars really adds to the enjoyment of the whole experience, all meals are sorted, you don’t need to carry anything when riding, bags are looked after and massages await at the end of each day. It was no Sunday beach road ride, averaging 30 km/hour on roads with hills like Arthurs Seat and making sure we arrived at the finish before the professionals makes for fast and furious pedalling.
Arriving at the hotel was a buzz, an atmosphere of excitement and competition. A massive V Australia bus parked out front. I walked in to find professional cyclist running up and down the hall with bikes, yelling to each other in German, Japanese, French and English. I made my way to the front desk to collect my room key only to find my room mate had already checked me in, this made me question what on earth I’d signed up for, 4 nights in a room with a stranger and cycling around Victoria with a bunch of people I had never met. The nerves kicked in. At the lifts were the Budget Forklifts team mechanics, we crammed into a lift with 6 people 6 bikes and a heap of heavy bags, every time the lifts doors opened to let more people in there were fits of giggles from the other hotel guests who would say ‘pass’ and let the doors shut without them attempting to get in.
I arrived at my room to find a cold and shivering girl, who introduced herself as ‘Fiona from Cairns,’ Melbourne looked like putting on its finest 4 seasons in one day for her. As we eyed off each others bikes we realised that what was in the hall would put us to shame and make our bikes look like the type you buy a kid for Christmas with tassels and bells on. Fiona, like any good cyclist, wanted a coffee, so off we wandered to Brunetti’s known in Melbourne for its delicious treats. Over coffee I started to get to know the amazing nurse from the flying doctors, Fiona; who I could tell I was going to learn lots from, it was the start of a great friendship. We headed back to the hotel to the initial briefing where we met the MS Red Riders, Greg and Genevieve talked to us about what to expect off the road, and; Bade Stapleton ran through the importance of sticking to the plans to ensure we all cycled together safety on the road. Everyone was in good spirits and as the questions began it was evident we were all a little anxious, though were all there for the same reason, to raise money for MS Australia and enjoy the experience of completing the Jayco Herald Sun Tour 2011. At dinner we began putting modest servings of pasta, meat and salad, then as we watched the Team Jayco AIS boys pilling up the serving of pasta, we realised carbohydrates were going to become a friend of ours, so went back for a larger than usual serving of seconds!
Stage 1: Whittlesea to Ballarat.
Our first early start, we were on a bus with our bikes heading off to Whittlesea from where we’d start our first cycling journey to Ballarat. Learning names, where everyone was from, figuring out which cyclist would be stronger, there was lots of chatter. It was a significant day for me being 10 years since my Mother passed away after a long battle with cancer. Thinking about it I began to appreciate that cancer is at least something people tend to know about or understand, it seemed that Multiple Sclerosis (MS) was a disease that wasn’t really known of or understood despite being a disease of the central nervous system which affects more young adult Australians than any other neurological condition.Helmets, gloves, leg and arm warmers ready to go, our leader Bade Stapleton counted down 3,2,1 and I was off on my first 175km bike ride. Cycling on the open road past grape vines and open planes, the peloton rolled by as fields of dreams began to be realised. Daylesford and Trentham East delivered us our first major hill climbs on which I discovered my legs weren’t as strong as the men’s, so the hand of God (also known as the hand Chris Halley) found what was to be a permanent fixture on my bottom as I needed a nudge to become the 3rdQueen of the Mountain after the other two girls. It was evident I was the weakest link in the group, but someone’s got to come last, might as well be me! “Hole left” and “hole middle” were the calls of the day as we battled the bumpy road under the thin road tyres. Winding the pedals we were winding down forgetting the work left back in the office, hitting the open road, the hard work of pedalling was somehow relaxing. Rolling into Ballarat there was the loudest noise of cow bells and cheers, as we came around the last bend we were overwhelmed as we were greeted by clapping and whistling from the local school kids and their family’s, rolling over that finish line we felt like stars, on my part there were a few tears of joy and pride, what a sense achievement. Dinner was pasta, protein, pasta, rice, pasta, bread, did I mention pasta!???!!
Stage 2: Ballarat to Geelong
“2 minutes” yelled Bade, on the dot 2 minutes later “Rolling, rolling, rolling” we were off. Exhausted from the first day I struggled up the first hills, dropping off the back of the peloton, though this wasn’t a problem, because this was my first experience of being time trailed back onto the pack with the car in front blocking the wind and two of my new friends yelling encouragement and guiding me as to how to make it back onto the peloton. “Kangaroo” was the new call of the ride as we came across a few roo’s who decided to bounce along side us racing down the road. Chris helped me up the hills, giving me hints and teaching me how to climb and how to judge when to change gears. At one stage I heard “moooo” as we cycled up a hill, I thought it was the boys were being rude as I struggled to get myself up the hill, but as we came over the summit to my left was a paddock filled with cows and calves, on the right sheep running about seemingly confused by our peloton.
After 2 stages we were all hurting, rushing to the masseuse, swimming and sitting by the pool having a few well deserved drinks. What really made me feel like a star was a couple of the international cyclist going out of their way to find me at dinner just to say “congratulations we heard you made the entire ride yesterday and cycled today, that’s awesome, you’re doing really well.” I should have offered my autograph ;).
Stage 3: Geelong to Drysdale
As we had learnt, energy through food is important, yoghurt, muesli, fresh fruit, bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, tea, coffee and juice for breakfast, not many passed anything up. I found myself the ultimate tea drinker following my morning cup of tea up with a cup of coffee and adding sugar to it. “What have I become?” I asked, “a cycling machine,” said the Irishman.
“1 minute” yells Bade. After rolling about one meter “mechanical” yells Bade, roars of laughter from the entire peloton. Everyone was a little quieter on day three, only really talking to provide words of encouragement and help like “you can do it,” “great work,” “pedal, pedal, pedal” and “drop the big gear now” as we pushed up the hills. Fiona was smiling thanks to the sunshine, though I believe the girl from Cains had thermals on still! Coming through the great ocean road it was all worth it, the beach views were breathtaking, literally, or maybe that was the 170km’s, either way it was gorgeous! The rolling hills were so peaceful, the fresh air and the sun rejuvenating.
My excitement of the evening was finishing dinner and looking out the window only to see some of the cycling teams at the eating ice cream from the shop down the road, if they get to eat ice cream then so do I! I ordered an oversized scoop and it was delicious, my new friends helped me justify the temptation explaining that the carbs, sugar and milk actually help hydration and recovery in cycling... I’m not sure if it’s true, but it made the guilt of a mid weak ice cream disappear!
Stage 4: Sorrento to Arthurs Seat
Everyone was missing home and spirits were high after all our achievements. We rolled on together, there was lots of chatter heading to the end of our journey, but there was one big scary hill climb we were all a little nervous about right at the end of our ride, Arthurs Seat. Chris, Furphy, Tony, lil Anthony, Mark, Scott, Big Ben, Fiona, Nick, Andrew, Bernie, young Liam, Alex, Mark, Irishman, Mick, Kieran and the support crew were all coming up to me having little pep talks, “you’ve come a long way, you’re tough now you’ll make the climb,” “do it in your own time, we’ll wait for you,” “don’t worry we’ll sit right with you and talk you through how to tackle this…” Then there was the last word from my dear friend Bade, “I’m not giving you the helpful push up Arthurs Seat, I’ll ride with you, I’ll talk you through the gears and what’s around each corner, but you can do this on your own.” At that stage all my tough cycling attitude was lost as we came through the gates that said Arthurs Seat and looked up. The climb began, so did the pain, the lies of ‘this is the worst bit, once your around this corner it’s easy’ which I think I heard 5 times, on one of the ‘hair pin’ turns I heard a familiar voice of my partner (Rhett Hoyne) “Go Sam,” the tears began (such a woman), then on the last turn there was a screaming crowd and big smiles as I looked up to find my MS Red Ride team all waiting at the 500 meter mark for me just so we could all cross the finish line together, they were so proud that I’d made it and so was I. It was decided to let the girls roll across the finish line first, I couldn’t help laugh as I heard a child say “wow there’s girls riding.” Crossing the finish line I heard one of riders kids yell “there’s Daddy” there were smiles all round.
There are some great people in this world who want to push you up and encourage you to the top, even if it takes away or means they miss out on something. I’d rather climb hills with them, than those who hold you back and pull you down. Somewhere between the bottom and the top is the answer to why we climb. Great people, who were willing to share their knowledge, provide support while learning about ourselves, developed as individuals and a team were the reasons I climbed. An amazing achievement, a fantastic bunch of people, a priceless experience.
