HINTS & TIPS

Is the Holden High Country Cycle Challenge a race?
No, it's a recreational ride through some of Australia's most scenic mountain countryside. 
However, if you feel the need to get a little competitive, we reckon they'll be lots of others feeling the same way.

What are the four ride options?
Option A - Holden High Country Cycle Challenge - Saturday 28 February & Sunday 1 March 2009 - 230km
Three exciting stages of cycling over two days with an overnight stopover on Mt Buller. This is the original ride with the closed-road descent of Mt Buller on Sunday morning, requiring accommodation on Mt Buller for Saturday night.

Descending
While many people consider climbing up a hill the hard part, we've heard that many of you are worried about the descent from Mt Buller on Sunday morning.

You needn't be! Here are a few tips that will make it safer and easier.

Look where you want to go. If you look further up the road while you're riding, you'll be more balanced on the bike. Plus, if you look at where you want to go, you'll more than likely up end there. Conversely, don't look at where you don't want to go …

Brake in a straight line. As you approach a corner, smoothly use both front and back brake while still in a straight line.
Try to slow down enough so that you can roll through the corner without braking. That's difficult, especially if you're a bit nervous, but at least try not to use the front brake during the bend.
That way the front wheel will roll more easily and help to roll you through the corner.

Where are your pedals? If you're rolling down the road, try to keep your pedals level, i.e. both the same height off the ground. If the road gets a little bumpy, you'll be able to put your weight evenly on both pedals and lift your bum up off your saddle more easily. That way, you won't feel all the shock from the bumps up through your spine so badly, your legs will act like shock absorbers.
When you're cornering, make sure the outside pedal is lower than the one on the inside of the corner. This will give you better clearance, so you won't hit the pedal on the road.
Try to feel more of your weight on the lower/outside pedal, this will keep you more balanced around the bend.

Finally, lean the bike.
Try to feel that you're leaning the bike a little into the corner, rather than turning the handlebars too much.
Be a bit careful at first with this though.
You don't want to lean your body into the corner too much. An old saying we use when mountain biking is "Lean the bike, not the body". (It's much easier to do this on the road than off-road.)

Driving to Mansfield
Mansfield is approximately 2 hours driving from most parts of Melbourne. The first stage of the HHCCC doesn't start until 9:00am so many of you Melbourne riders may consider driving up on Saturday morning.


Are there any prizes to win?
Yes, there certainly are!
If you're one of the first 500 to enter one of the HHCCC rides, you'll go into the draw to win an Avanti Carbonio 3.0 road bike, Specialized Carbon Pro shoes and 2D helmet. The total of this prize is $5000!

Plus there's the King of the Mountain and Queen of the Mountain prizes for the first male and first female to reach the finish line on Mt Buller on Saturday afternoon. They'll each receive a luxury weekend for two at the Mt Buller Chalet Hotel and a "polka-dot" jersey.

There are heaps of prizes given away on the Saturday evening of the weekend of the HHCCC too ... check the Prizes and Giveaways page for more details.

What's happening on Friday night?
Friday night in Mansfield is generally fairly busy at local restaurants, bars and hotels.
If you're getting to Mansfield early enough for dinner on Friday night, it is advisable that you book for dinner. Maybe try one of the eateries listed on the Friday night page.
If you've decided to stay on Mt Buller on the Friday night, you should definitely phone ahead and book. Most of the eateries on Buller are expecting to be busy on Saturday night; they're not expecting too many visitors on Friday.

How do I get my free Holden High Country Cycle Challenge jersey?
As long as you're one of the first 1000 entered into the Holden High Country Cycle Challenge you'll receive your jersey on the Cycle Challenge weekend.
For entrants in Option A - Holden High Country Cycle Challenge, Option B - TORQ Mt Buller Challenge or Option C - Scody 60K Challenge: you can pick up your jersey on Friday 27 February from 6pm to 9pm from the Mansfield Visitor Information Centre on Maroondah Highway, Mansfield, or on Saturday morning before the start at the Mansfield Racecourse.

For entrants of Option D - CycleCover Buller and Back in a Day: you can pick up your jersey on Sunday 1 March at Mansfield Racecourse from 7am, before your ride begins.

Please try to wear your new jersey - it's your ticket to ride the Holden High Country Cycle Challenge, unless you are riding in a Corporate Cup team with your own jersey.

How will I know where to ride?
All of the Holden High Country Cycle Challenge will be signposted and marshalled on all corners.
There will be a Holden lead car out in front of the first riders, and the Sag Wagon bringing up the rear.
If you've entered Option A - the Holden High Country Cycle Challenge there will be Motorbike Marshalls joining you on the road between Jamieson and Mansfield to help keep things safe.

What should I do with my car on Saturday night?
We suggest you park your car where you stay in Mansfield on Friday night, if possible. If you arrive for the Challenge in Mansfield on Saturday or Sunday morning, park out at the Mansfield Racecourse, which is where the Cycle Challenge will start. There will be security guard patrols of this car park for the duration of the Cycle Challenge.

How do I get my belongings up to Mt Buller?
We suggest you pack what you need for Saturday night and Sunday in a small bag or day pack. Your Cycle Challenge entry includes transport of one bag up to Mt Buller, where you can collect it once you finish Stage 2. On Sunday morning before you start Stage 3, hand your bag back into the same Luggage Point at Mt Buller and your bag will be waiting for you when you finish in Mansfield.

What should I do for food?
Food is mainly your responsibility, apart from breakfast (or lunch) on Sunday morning. If you're riding on Saturday, grab a bite to eat from any of the many eateries in Mansfield after Stage 1.
After Stage 2, on Saturday evening up on Mt Buller, there are many restaurants, cafes and hotels open where you can re-fuel for Stage 3. We strongly recommend you book for dinner!
Breakfast on Sunday morning is provided as part of the Option A - Holden High Country Cycle Challenge and Option B - TORQ Mt Buller Challenge entry. Even if breakfast is included with your accommodation, you're welcome to keep your Holden Brekky Bag for snacks on Sunday.
Entrants of Option C - the CycleCover Buller and Back in a Day will receive a Holden Lunch Bag when they arrive at Mt Buller on Sunday.
If you're riding Option C - the Scody 60K Challenge, grab yourself morning tea on your way through Mansfield during the ride, or get something in Mansfield or at the Racecourse after you've finished.

Will there be cars on the road with the cyclists?
Victoria Police and VicRoads have decided that most roads will remain open to vehicular traffic during the Holden High Country Cycle Challenge. The organisers of the Cycle Challenge, Bikevents Australia, ask that all cyclists respect the directions of the Police and share the road sensibly and safely with motorists. We also ask motorists to please be patient and courteous while the cyclists are out on the roads.

Can my family/support team follow the ride in our car?
We can't actually stop you. But all the other riders and the organisers would prefer you didn't. There is no room for private support vehicles during any of the Ride Options of the Holden High Country Cycle Challenge.
Additional vehicles on the course increase the risk to all road users.

Will the road be open to Mt Buller?
The Mt Buller Road will remain open to vehicular traffic during the climb up to the Village. The road will be very busy with cyclists. Any vehicle wanting to go up to Mt Buller on Saturday afternoon or late on Sunday morning will be asked to proceed very slowly to minimise the risk to cyclists.
The Mt Buller Tourist Road from the resort entry gate will be closed to vehicular traffic from 6:30am to 9:30am on the morning of Sunday 2 March. This is to allow entrants of Option A and Option B a safe and car-free descent of Mt Buller.

How can my family and/or friends get up to Mt Buller to meet me for Saturday night?
Stage Two on Saturday afternoon leaves Mansfield at 12.30pm on Saturday 1 March.
If you have a group who'd like to drive up to Mt Buller to meet you, it would be easier for them if they left Mansfield before 12.30pm - before the bikes get out onto the road.
If they leave Mansfield after 12.30pm, they will likely have a slow drive up to Mt Buller with so many cyclists on the road too. Please make sure they know to be courteous and patient.