49 riders rocked up to the biggest Bright Boot Camp ever run to date. Weather conditions were superb enabling all riders the chance to ascend the three major climbs in the area; Mt Buffalo, Falls Creek and Mt Hotham.

For the first time we also had an Elite Bright Boot Camp where Brendan Rowbotham provided one on one coaching specifically to help to prepare our riders for the up and coming Tour of Bright.
 
All riders successfully completed the first climb; Mt Buffalo well within the allocated two hour time limit. Mt Buffalo is a 20.9 km, 4.8% gradient climb ascending 1,045 meters. Fastest time was one hour seven minutes. Many riders took part in the descending skills on the way down then regrouped for a hill climbing tips lecture at the bottom of the climb. Weather was excellent with Bright turning on a beautiful sunny day. Total ride distance was 63km with a total accent of 1165 vertical meters. Brendan took our elite riders out for a handicap race up Mt Buffalo. In the afternoon riders spent time listening to Marcus Speed from Perfect Palliates talk about flexability training then I provided insight into cycling training techniques used in our very successful cycling training programs. 

  
Big Smiles from John at the top of Mt Buffalo

Day two, the toughest day, had riders ascend Falls Creek with access to and from via Tawonga Gap. Falls Creek is a 30.50 km, 4.1% gradient climb ascending 1,260m.  Sunny conditions prevailed again to give riders a great climb and decent of Falls Creek. With the riders pacing themselves all day the challenge came at the final major climb of the day up Tawonga Gap. A 7.7 km, 6.2% gradient climb. Temperatures reached forty degrees on the climb making it the biggest challenge all camp. Brendan took our elite camp riders up Falls at race pace and on the way down worked on fine tuning their descending skills. Total ride distance was 130 km with a total accent of 2,400 vertical meters. In the evening we put on a BBQ and got to listen to some great ride stories of the day. 

Group two at the top of Fall's Creek



Day three’s climb of Mt Hotham while not the hardest day of the camp does present the hardest climb. Mt Hotham is a 30.35 km, 4.7 gradient climb, climbing 1,415 meters to a total altitude of 1,821 meters. While some people opted to tuned back at the control gates many riders proceeded up to the top and were rewarded with sunny conditions and clear 360 degrees views of the surrounding area.  Total ride distance was 121 km with a total accent of 1,735 vertical meters. This ride tracked stage three of the Tour of Bright and gave people riding that stage in four weeks the chance to test their legs against a formidable climb. Riders riding that stage were given a briefing on the tactical components of this stage. The Elite riders took on Mt Hotham at race pace with Brendan and focused on V02MAX and Strength endurance training. They were then motopaced back in to Bright. In the evening we had two lectures. The first was delivered by Matt Brindle on strength training then I provided specific training program examples targeted to help improve recreational riding, time trailing, hill climbing and sprinting. Then it was off to the Star Hotel for an evening dinner. 
  
Wes at the foot of Mt Hotham


A few of Group two's riders climbing "The Meg"


Harry Hanley at the top of Falls Creek


Myself up at the top of Falls after bringing in group two

Group two at the top of Falls Creek. Some of the many riders that made it to the top that day.

Day four, the last day of the camp, provides a coffee ride to Myrtleford or a quick jaunt around the 108km Tawonga Gap loop. This is stage one of the Tour of Bright and again provided insight into the stage’s tactics. For the other riders it was just another challenging day out on the bike. While still warm, weather became overcast and drizzly climbing Tawonga Gap, providing relief and contrast to the second day’s forty degree accent of the same climb. The Elite group were motopaced out to the bottom of Mt Buffalo and performed another killer assent of the climb then motopaced back.  

Not all hills. The last day's ride is mostly flat.

Total ride distance was 108 km with a total accent of 1,095 vertical meters.

A big thanks goes to the fantastic support crew made up of Danny Kah, Harry Hanley, Coach Andy Van Slobbe, Olof Szymczak, Jeremy Hill, Mick, Coach Brendan Rowbotham and Jodie Batchelor.