In Bright

The little town of 2,500 people is buzzing. Over 30,000 visitors have descended on the town for the long weekend. A large proportion of them will be participating in the Audax Alpine Classic. The Audax (as it's commonly known) is a gruelling bike ride (push bike) any way you take it.

The short distance is Bright-Tawonga Gap-Mt Beauty-Tawonga Gap-Bright. 64km. You may be tempted to ask why isn't it just called "Bright-Mt Beauty-Bright"? When you have cycled up Tawonga Gap, you'll know why.

The other short distance is Bright-Mt Buffalo-Bright. 70km. From Mt Buffalo you will be able look back on Tawonga Gap and laugh.

Then there is Bright-Tawonga Gap-Falls Creek-Tawonga Gap-Bright. 130km. The only time you'll be laughing here is when you finish in Bright and realise, that the rider behind you is doing the 200km.

Then Bright-Tawonga Gap-Mt Beauty-Tawonga Gap-Bright-Mt Buffalo-Bright. 140km. See laughing instructions for the 70km ride.

Then there is the real McCoy, the original Audax, Bright-Falls Creek-Bright-Mt Buffalo-Bright. 200km. Over moutains. Laugh only when you finish.

And finally, the new special for this year, the ACE250. Bright-Mt Hotham-Omeo-Falls Creek-Bright. 250km. Over mountains. It's no laughing matter. It even has qualifying rides in order to enter.

So what are we doing here? Well, of course, Peter the bike riding endurance junkie, is doing the realy McCoy Audax 200km over mountains. His friends have more sanity, and they are only doing the 140km. Nice. Sabina ... well she's just ridden the 1km into town for an ice cream, and quite frankly I've been dragging her bike for the last 200m while she's been skipping along beside me.

We sit down at a cafe with our ice creams, and enjoy the hot day. 30+ deg C. The place is crawling with lycra lizards, dogs, children and bikini beauties. Bikes, bikes and more bikes are everywhere. And they are expensive machines too. Most of them standing in bike racks, or leaning against light posts. Unlocked. The waitress comments that they are running out of food.

Well, we're not! The cycling boys (men, perhaps) are so hung up on getting their carbs before the big day, that we've got more pasta, and more meat sauce of various kinds, than you can poke a stick at!

After dinner the boys double check their bikes, and pack their bags. Questions like "one spare tube or two?", "magnesium drink or protein drink?", "gel or pre-mixed drink?" are dominating the conversation. Everyone hits the sack early. I find a good book on the shelf. It swallows me whole. I finally manage to free myself from it just after midnight.