Semaine Fédérale Questions
Qu. What is Semaine Fédérale?
Ans. 7 days of rides and entertainment from a central base. Semaine Fédérale is a week long series of rides organised from a central location catering for cyclists of all abilities, whose aim is to give participants the opportunity to share their passion in a festival atmosphere that celebrates cycle touring. The concept of Semaine Fédérale is borrowed from the Fédération Française de Cyclotourisme (FFCT) who have been organising this event in France for over 70 years.
The FFCT have agreed to partner Audax Australia in organising this event for the first time in Australia but also the first time outside of France. Following a hub and spoke the rides will start from Bright and visit many attractions in the scenic country of the Alpine district. Rides of various lengths will offer an opportunity to discover the region at a level suited to the ability of all participants. The Murray to the Mountains Rail Trail provides a safe option for those with children, and the high mountains a challenge to the adventurous.
Whether you are kicking back and relaxing or preparing for the Audax Alpine Classic, Semaine Fédérale has something for you. So come along and find out for yourself what it’s all about!
Weather
Qu. What's the weather like?
Ans. Bright weather is typically 25-35 degrees Celsius and humid during January. Click here to see the latest forecast for the North East district.
Click here to see the current weather.
Qu. What special precautions should I take with my children in case of hot weather?
Ans. Children sweat less and get less evaporative cooling than adults. In warm and hot weather they have greater difficulty getting rid of heat; they look flushed, and feel hotter and more stressed than adults. Overweight children are particularly disadvantaged exercising in warm weather.
Children seem to be effective at “listening to their bodies” and regulating their physical activity. For this reason, children should always be allowed to exercise at their preferred intensity. They should never be urged to exercise harder or compelled to play strenuous sport in warm weather. If children appear distressed or complain of feeling unwell, they should stop exercising.
In warm weather wet sponging will make children feel more comfortable. Drinks should be provided for children playing sport. [From the article “Children and Heat Stress” Taken from Sports Medicine Australia website].
Getting There
Qu. How do I get to Bright?
Ans. Bright is 2.5 hour drive from Melbourne, and 8 hours from Sydney. Both Melbourne and Sydney have large airports with frequent regional and international flights. Bright is also well served by public transport with good rail and bus links. See Getting There section for further details.
Accommodation
Qu. How do I find accommodation?
Ans. The Bright Tourist Information Centre provides a comprehensive accommodation booking service. Additionally, several online booking services are available. See Accommodation section for more details.
Enrolment
Qu. I want to do the Audax Alpine Classic how do I enroll for this event?
Ans. The Audax Alpine Classic and the ACE250 are separate events. If you would like to take part you will need to go to the Audax Australia website Register early to avoid disappointment as places are limited.
Bike Hire
Qu. Where can I hire a bike?
Ans. Travelling with a bike can be a pain. Close to Bright there are several places you can hire bikes. Generally these mountain bikes or hybrids. Some also provide racks.
Myrtleford Cycle Center has a good reputation for being helpful and friendly. They have a range of hybrids and mountain bikes at a reasonable rate. They offer a discount rate for weekly hire and for Semaine Fédérale participants. Check the website for details.They are close to Bright, and can arrange delivery of the bike if necessary.
Myrtleford Cycle Center
52 Clyde St, Myrtleford Victoria 3737
Tel. 03 5752 1511
www.myrtlefordcycle.com
Dean Woods Cycles in Wangaratta is about 70km from Bright via the Murray to Mountains Rail Trail. They are able to provide hyrid bikes with racks. Panniers and rack top bags are also available for hire if needed. A 5% discount is available if you mention Semaine Federale.
Dean Woods Cycles
6-8 Handley Street (PO Box 654) Wangaratta Victoria 3677 Australia.
FREECALL 1800 353 123
www.deanwoods.com.au
Cycle Path in Bright also hires bikes. They have a limited number of road bikes, and plenty of mountain bikes.
Cycle Path
74 Gavan St, Bright 3741
Tel. 03 5750 1442
www.cyclepath.com.au
If you want a touring specific bike try giving St Kilda Cycles in Melbourne a call. They are a very friendly bunch and always willing to help out. If you tell them that you are hiring the bike for Semaine Fédérale they should give you a discount.
St Kilda Cycles
150 Barkly St, St Kilda 3182
Tel. 03 9534 3074
www.stkildacycles.com.au
Alpine Raid Questions
Enrolment
Qu. How do I enroll for the Alpine Raid?
Ans. There are two options available for the Alpine Raid depending on whether or not you are doing Semaine Federale.
Option A: For those doing Semaine Fédérale you have the option of extending your holiday by doing the Alpine Raid. This option is available when you buy your Semaine Federale ticket. Select the Alpine Raid before proceeding to the checkout and your option will be added.
Option B: For those not doing Semaine Fédérale (why not?) select the buy now option on the Alpine Raid page and you will be direct to the shopping area of the web site. You can now purchase your Alpine Raid entry with out enrolling for Semaine Fédérale.
Qu. Is the Alpine Raid part of the ACE250?
Ans. No the ACE250 is a separate event run over a single day.
Qu. Do I need to book accommodation?
Ans. Yes, a list of suitable accommodation is available on the website. Click here for details.
Qu. What time does the event start?
Ans. The ride starts between 6:30 and 8:30am. Riders are free to chose their own start time, taking into account ability and the conditions on the day. Remember to leave extra time if you want to take long stops during the day.
Qu. Is this event supported?
Ans. Full support is provided on the return leg from Omeo to Bright via Falls Creek on Sunday, and limited support on the outward leg on Saturday.
Also included in the Raid:
Breakfast in Bright & Omeo
Baggage drop in Omeo and return to Bright
Excess baggage storage in Bright
Maps
Normal “Alpine Classic” food, water & medical support on Sunday
Qu. How long will it take to get to Omeo?
Ans. The road from Bright to Omeo has several long ascents and riders should allow themselves sufficient time to complete the course comfortably. After all this is supposed to be an enjoyable experience.
Exact times will obviously depend on your level of fitness and the number of breaks taken. Riders should be comfortable with long alpine ascents, and should take the opportunity to test their fitness before taking part in the event.
The climb to Mt Hotham is a long and in places very steep, click here Check out route details at Cycling Profiles. Elite riders may well be able to make the ascent in less than 2 hours, but on a loaded touring bike this could increase to 4 if not 5 hours. Remember that Hotham is less than half way to Omeo, and depending on the weather it could be the easier half.