The temperature was 35C and stifling, which made it all the more challenging. I wasn't trying to do it quickly - In fact averaged 8.5 mph going up - It was a matter of survival to hang in there and make it to the top.
At the top there's a giant cross commemorating the fallen Australians from World War I, next to which I am sitting.
The view from the top looking South East - Melbourne's tall buildings can just be seen in the far right, 45 miles away!
Approaching from the North is the easier climb of the 2 possible ways, a long but steady climb that maxes at around 10%. There's some nasty hook turns with a horrific gradient on the inside. Overall the ascent is 450m from the bottom to the top. At the top the altitude is 1001m above sea level.
So this is much bigger than any hill I have tried to ride before, and the height above sea level is way more than we get in the South of England.
At the top I made a short video immediately after arriving. For some reason I have a northern accent when knackered!
And then for the descent - I just can't describe how good it was. It took me 1 hour to climb the mountain and 19 minutes to descend. It was like a roller coaster ride that lasted 19 minutes, way better than Thorpe Park or Alton Towers! As the descent isn't that steep and I was too tired to pedal most of it, I only hit a little over 40mph.
Congratulations! A magnificent achievement.
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