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First Track Adventures |
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the nut bloke |
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Delaware North |
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Bunyip Foodworks |
“520kms
24 hours
10 riders
3 support crew
4 hours sleep
2 cases of sugar-free Red Bull…
…and an almighty case of wind.”
Once again a group of type 1 diabetics answered the call to challenge themselves on the 2006 Woody’s Murray to Moyne Cycle relay. 10 riders and 3 support crew made the trip to Swan Hill on a cool, but otherwise fine Friday evening. A mysterious illness plagued our non-diabetic rider and unfortunately we had to part company in Bendigo.
‘the year of the wind’
An ill omen greeted us as we woke on Saturday. If last year was the year of the heat, this year was most definitely the year of the wind. From the moment Mike, Greg and Acey departed, they were riding headlong into a screaming south-westerly wind that showed no sign of abating. However, even faced with this will-sapping adversity the Hypoactive team had no intention of giving up on our goal: Port Fairy, over 500kms due south.
The morning leg took us through Sea Lake, Birchip, Whycheproof and Teddywaddy West, over treeless plains and undulating countryside. It really was very pretty, if a little windy. Short rotations were the order of the day and in this regard our tireless support crew truly shone. Bikes were picked up and strapped on and riders were fed, tested and motivated. If you ever needed an incentive to get out on to the road and face the wind, then the wind coming from driver Matt was more than enough.
‘out of our hands’
By mid-afternoon though, it was obvious that we weren’t going to be able to make it to our dinner stop at Horsham in anything like a reasonable time. Drastic measures had to be taken. In spite of some furious riding from Dan and Paul, and a 2 hour effort from Monz that left her completely drained, the decision was out of hands. The marshals rode up on their motorbikes and told us we needed to pick our riders up and leapfrog a few kilometres down the rode or we’d fall behind the rear pace car and be out of the bounds of the ride.
And so, in our hour of need, Monz, Gavin and Greg stepped up to the plate. With the wind easing a little, the final leg before dinner in Horsham was one of the fastest of the day. So fast, in fact, that we were barely ready to drop off the next group. Showing more of the spirit that this team was becoming renowned for, Chelle, Cath, Mike and Andrew rode out of Horsham without dinner and put some serious kilometres beneath their wheels.
‘purely magical’
The night sessions were, as always, purely magical. Speeding through the Victorian countryside with no light other than a bike’s headlamp and no sound other than the air rushing past was one of the highlights of the trip for many of our riders.
The only thing that marked our progress into the night was the dwindling distance between us and our goal for the night: Hamilton. Place of rest, haven for sore bums and a shower. Well, a giant cow shed full of noisy Lions volunteers and snoring riders but let’s not be picky. After nearly 17 hours on the road it felt like a castle.
‘waving, cheering and clapping’
Sunday dawned cool but much calmer than yesterday. It boded well for the morning’s 80km final leg into Port Fairy. Monz, Dan, Paul, Andrew, Gavin and Greg led the charge, and were joined by the remaining riders as the morning wore on. After an incident last year in which a rider was injured, a strict blood sugar testing protocol was enforced. The testing was a great success, thanks in no small part to Laura. Her cries of ‘Have you tested?’ and meticulous recording of everyone’s sugar levels ensured the safety of all.
And so it was that the HypoActive team rolled into Port Fairy at 11am. Chelle and Cath had picked up a bunch of riders about 5 mins ahead of the rest of us but were kind enough to wait till we caught up with them. Riding into that town was an experience that brings a smile to my lips even now. The streets were lined with crowds of people waving, cheering and clapping- genuinely proud of every cyclist who rode past them.
‘they operated on her left foot first so that she’d
have her right foot free to drive the bus’
A lot was overcome by the team in completing its journey. For 3 of the riders, this was their first M2M. For all of us, the wind was incredible on the first day. We all battled exhaustion, pain and frustration. Driver Carolyn epitomised the team’s dedication. When told she had to have surgery on her feet in the weeks leading up to the ride, she made sure they operated on her left foot first so that she’d have her right foot free to drive the bus.
A lot was achieved by the team, too. Last year, our team alone raised $7,500 for Diabetes Camps Victoria which runs camps for children with diabetes aged between 8 and 17. This year, we hope to better that amount. Hypoactive is not a team of extraordinary people. We are a team of ordinary people, doing extraordinary things.
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