plites

I like the idea of rides which take you from A to B, rather than doing loops. They are much harder to put together and especially to support. Out and back routes, like the Great Southern Randonnee are a nice compromise. But the challenge of a one way trip appeals to me. Bombing out of big rides urks me. As the first Sydney ride was my first attempt at 1200 km in 90 hrs, I have always thought that if it came up again I would like to put that one to rest properly.

So, way back – April 1999 I think, Peter Moore proposed a 1200 km randonnee from Sydney to Melbourne. I was a tough route, fully unsupported, and I found it extremely difficult, eventually pulling out at Albury with Shermer’s neck. The route became the basis for the Raid Aurora and the associated Bogong and Waratah raids which are subsets of the Aurora.

Now a decade later Chris Rogers is running the SM1200. The route is still tough, possibly tougher that the first one. I gunna do it! I’ve been training. I’ve entered. I’m scared!