Otway Oddysey 2009

Posted on 22 Feb 2009 | 0 comments

The Otway Odessey – described as being renowned for its high degree of difficulty, being both technically challenging and taxing in terms of altitude gained…

2009 Otway Odyssey course

2009 Otway Odyssey course profile

picking up race numbers

preparing the bikes

early morning – ready to go (Sarah, Jude, Dimi, Jon and Marcus)

It wasn’t warm at 6.30 in the morning, waiting for the start in Apollo Bay at 7.15. Jude initially wanted to start with the women who were off half an hour before the rest, but decided against it when she realised there were only a handful of women to start in this elite group.

the start line of the elite women

Ted, Jon and Marcus waiting for our start

Jude, Jon, Marcus and Ted

We soon warmed up on Wild Dog Rd which takes you straigh up and over the first range of hills. Ted and Marcus soon left us behind and Dimitri was riding with Alex somewhere behind us. We never saw any of them until the finish line much later – but we’re getting ahead of ourselves now.

The climbs in the first 35km or so were brutal and Jon and Jude tried to ride as much as we could (very satisfactory to ride past a string of push-a-bike guys!). Jon helped pushing Jude’s bike up the hills that we did walk – thanks Jon!

There was only one bottle-neck on the course: a little creek crossing where everybody wondered why people stopped. After that we only stopped for some breathers after a few of the hike-a-bike hills, to re-fill water or to eat something more substantial than lollies.

Jude on one of the mini breaks to eat something

great scenery to ride through

Jude, a bit dusty

how did Jon stay so clean?

We really enjoyed the loop from the oval in Forrest between 67km and 87km’s, but all single track was fun. Jude had 2 stupid slow speed stacks and one pinch flat after she came off the track for a bit (near the end).

It was a great ride and we are both really happy we managed to finish it. Marcus was the fastest of our lot, Ted finished behind him and Jon and Jude finished an hour or so behind them. Dimitri managed to ride 87km’s (missing out on the last horrible uphills) and Sarah had fun on the 15km loop.

Official results:
Marcus 371 in class – 494 overall in 8:21:17
Ted 389 in class – 527 overall in 8:34:56
Jude 38 in class – 659 overall in 9:14:06
Jon 434 in class – 660 overall in 9:14:06

Dimi and Ted at the finish

Jude and Marcus at the finish

Jon and Jude at the finish – we made it!

Ted enjoying a well-deserved beer

Dimi, Jude and Marcus

Dimi, Jude and Jon

We bought some pizza, beer and G&T to entertain us the rest of the night whilst Dimitri was our Radler quiz master.

that’s what a day of riding does to Jude’s hair – what a mess

relaxing in our house on Great Ocean Road

Late breakfast the next morning and then we all went our separate ways again. Dimitri picked up ‘his boys’ for the drive home, we bumped into Kain at the café and Jon and I decided to walk to one of the many waterfalls in the Otways, visit the Cape Otway lighthouse and have a picnic on the beach next to 2 of the 12 apostles. We arrived back home at midnight.

Great people, great course, great weather = perfect weekend!