Post date: Oct 15, 2012 7:47:36 PM
Hello Vets,
In this issue of The Bleat;
· Racing this Week
· Race Reports – First Crit of the season.
· ACT Vets Time Trial Series
· Track Racing – 2012-2013 Season
· In this week’s Member Profile we look at Robert Langridge.
Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc
Ian Morton.
RACING THIS WEEK:
Where: Stromlo Forrest Park
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description: G Grade@ 5:45 - 9min + 2 laps; E/F Grade@ 6:03 - 13min + 2 laps; A/B Grade@ 6:24 - 25min + 2 laps; C/D Grade@ 6:55 - 18min + 2 laps
Race Director: Lee Hopson
Contact: Email: lee_hopson@yahoo.com Ph (02) 6281 0119
Crit Marshals and Helpers needed
Due to the fact that vets crits are now so popular (some weeks getting over 120 entries) each week we will be asking for at least 4 marshals (helpers) to help the race referee - 1 at the sign-in desk, to check helmets and sign-in, 1 to help on the start line, to watch the track and finishing sprint, 2 for the finishing chute, to record finishing order for the different grades.
Marshalls are able to race on the night so you and a mate in a different grade, can share the job. If we do not get helpers races will not go ahead.
Please let Lee know if you can assist.
Where: Queanbeyan Track
When: 6:00 pm
Details: The 2012-13 Track Racing season will kick off this week (last week cancelled due to the weather) with a practice session at the Queanbeyan track. There will be no racing. All interested riders are invited - particularly new riders and track novices. It is a great opportunity to give track a try!
Details below….
Where: Dog Trap Rd – Long Rail Gully Rd intersection, Murrumbateman
When: 9:00 am
Note the later start time to accommodate travel time on Sunday morning
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description: Dog Trap Road 3.5 Laps
Race Director: Rob Diamond
Contact: Email: 7rob07@gmail.com (02) 6295 1295 or 0416 274 161
Help Needed on Saturday: Rob will need Marshals, lead and trail car drivers and helpers at the finish line to run the race. Please contact him before the weekend if you can assist.
Well we have run the first of this season’s 'Tuesday Night Heart Attacks' in conditions which while not perfect, did not put a dampener on the night.
G grade went off as usual with a small but ferocious spirit including a new face who put in a solid ride.
A and B were up next with bunch sizes which were comparable in size to some of our best last year. Although the heavens decided to open up for the first half of the race to cool down the riders it did not affect the determined spirit which makes great racing.
C and D grades were also up to the task both in terms of numbers and aggression. Good to see the 'Aura of Ally' back in the bunch.
E and F finished the night off in the fading light but did not let this put them off. The attacks came thick and fast and shattered both bunches up and strung them out. I can see a few people who need to go up a grade.
So a couple of things to remember from last night;
- You must be signed on 15min prior to the start of your race. Riders who join up on the line will not be considered in the final results.
- AVCC rules state that both hands must be on the bars throughout the sprint. This includes the 15 to 20 meters after the finish. One rider who was not aware of the rule was spoken to last night in regards to this.
Thanks to James Jordan for officiating.
Supplemental Report - Bontjer bounces back
Crit number one for the season was a great opening night with riders sporting new outfits and hardware, the obligatory six o'clock shower, a few attacks, even more DNFs, riders missing their start and few other pretenders on the sidelines riding vicariously through their rivals. Al Bontjer's victory in B grade even got the crowd going!
Al, like the rest of the field, looked like he'd just finished a rainy Paris-Roubaix. Covered with grit from head to toe but beaming from ear to ear, Al had just put his new bike through its paces, and given B grade a good thrashing. Al has faced a number of setbacks over the past year ranging from a compound fracture of his lower leg to a rat infestation in his roof to lending one of his Masters ACT cycling shirts to someone who subsequently crashed and tore it to shreds. Al's recovery has included some intense retail therapy at an industrial estate in Geelong where he placed an order for a custom-made titanium frame with his friends at Baum. Procurement and technical support from Greg Rooke ensured he had the most economical Di2 group set available, and, of course, bike builder legend Ian Downing put the machine together. Regarding his new Shimano C50 wheels, Al says "It's cheating, you hardly have to peddle to close gaps". Al sat in for the entire race, watching the developments at the front while scoffing down mud and duck poo at every opportunity. On the last lap, Al picked up the pace from collar bone corner then blasted from the bunch once it hit the main straight for a easy victory. Second was Tom Harley followed by Michael McGurgan.
Employing similar tactics were Jeremy Gillman-Wells in A grade and Ally Roche in D grade. Jeremy, decked out in lime green, was able to ease up do a little victory celebration while Paul Scherl and Mark Gillette battled it out for the minor placings.
Despite only having six races to her credit for the year, Ally must have been doing more than laps of the lake and sipping lattes in Civic recently. Side on you could have mistaken her for Cav on the Champs Elysees. With a frontal surface area about the size of an envelope and the scent of moth balls wafting off her club jersey, she scored an easy victory over Andrew Hislop and Braham Hart.
Thanks to Roving Reporter, Robert Langridge.
Details of this years’ Time Trail series;
Courses
Short Course
Lookout Hill, Tharwa, Pt Hut Turn and Top of Hill (Standard Course)
Hilly Course
Stromlo, left towards sister and turn around at last sister, return and once around the Critirium track
Long Course
Uriarra Homestead, top of crossing, Uriarra Homestead, short turn, Uriarra Homestead, repeat.
Rules
All time trials are run as individual events, as well as part of an overall series. To be considered eligible for the series title all races must be completed.
Riders who have a mechanical on a course will be considered to have raced, but will not earn any points.
Any bike, road or time trial, can be used for the course, but must be the same bike and wheel set for each course. (Photograph will be taken at the start of each race for confirmation). Penalty for using different bike or wheel set is 60 points.
Although it is expected that each rider will honour the series and try as hard as they can for each race the Series Director can decided that a rider has ‘sandbagged’. This is where a rider has deliberately gone slowly on their first effort on a course to maximise points. Riders will be disqualified should this decision be made.
Points
Points are earned by beating the previous time run on each course.
Each second is worth one point.
i.e. John Smith first attempt on Short course in 34 min 15 seconds.
The second attempt is 33 min 10 seconds.
Difference in time is 1 min 5 seconds which equals 65 points.
Additional 5 points will be issued for each course raced for the fastest rider in each Grade..
QUEANBEYAN TRACK PRACTICE SESSION
THURSDAY 18 OCTOBER 6.00 PM
ALL WELCOME - DONT MISS IT!!
The 2012-13 Track Racing season will kick off with a practice session on Thursday 18 October at the Queanbeyan track. There will be no racing. All interested riders are invited - particularly new riders and track novices. It is a great opportunity to give track a try!
Note:
· Queanbeyan track is located in the park in Central Queanbeyan (behind the police station);
· Track & road bikes acceptable;
· New riders can get practical advice on gearing, bunch riding & track etiquette;
· Interested riders can try out a track bike;
· Experienced riders can tune up the machinery & motor;
· All riders can express their preference for events & races;
· The practice session will be around 1hr 30 mins;
· There is no formal structure to the practice. You can do your own thing.
· We hope all riders will later adjourn to a selected Cafe to discuss the coming track season.
A few basics on track etiquette for the practice session:
· If you are cruising around the track, ride high (next to the rail);
· Tempo riders use the centre of the track;
· Use the inner track if you are circulating fast or sprinting;
· Hold your line - don't make any sudden changes of speed or position;
· Be very careful if you are crossing or moving on / off the track;
· Start from the fence and be aware of riders approaching;
· Be careful braking on road bikes. Remember the track bike on your arse has no brakes!
Regular track racing will start on Thursday 18 October.
REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE
The organising committee for the 2012-13 Track Racing season would like to keep two spare track bikes on tap for roadies and novice track riders to try. If you have an old (preferably steel framed) track bike gathering dust in the garage, the committee would greatly appreciate the loan of your machine for the track season.
If you can help, please contact Patricia Rooke at;
Ph 0403 802 044
In our next member profile we look at we look at Robert Langridge;
How long have you been a member of ACT Vets?
Since 1999.
What is your favourite course in the ACT Vets racing calendar and why?
I love Dairy Flat for its stop-start format.
What Grade did you start in with the Vets?
Started in D grade.
What do you like about racing with the Vets?
Endless calendar of races, group rides, and the post-race tea with discussion about how we could have won.
How long have you been cycling?
On and off since I was a six. All the other kids in the neighbourhood were as skinny as rakes and would run everywhere. I was a bit chubby and preferred my bike to get around. I did a few triathlons in the 80s--even did one where the bike leg was last and no-one wore helmets.
What got you interested in cycling?
Was trying to get back into running then sprained my ankle during a race. Went in the Fitz's Tharwa Challenge and then started in the Wednesday night criteriums.
What was your most memorable ride?
Winning C grade at Kingston on a Wednesday night. I made a solo breakaway and Chris Short and Peter McLennan blocked for the rest of the race. I thought this was the start of great things but it's been all downhill since.
What is/was your favourite bike?
I like the Cannondale, De Rosa, Guerciotti, Kona, Salsa, Raleigh, Speedwell, Malvern Star and the Hillbrick.
Where do you work?
At Russell. It's commuter friendly and Defence has its own bike champs!
How do you find the time to train?
By making riding to work and making riding a higher priority than landscaping the garden.
Do you have a special training regime?
Black Mountain repeats and intervals at Dairy Flat can contribute to better race fitness (but had no effect this year).
What does your family think of your cycling?
They have watched about 5 of my 300 races.
An interesting fact about yourself;
My first fulltime job was as a yo-yo demonstrator and contest organiser for Coca-Cola. I did yo-yo tours of Melbourne, Horsham, Mt Gambier, Adelaide, Sendai (Japan), Johannesburg, East London and Queenstown (South Africa) in the early 80s but had to retire to focus on graduating from Canberra CAE. My most embarrassing cycling moment was when I crashed during the funeral processionfor Richard Gregson's funeral. I ran into the gutter and landed on the grass on Northbourne Ave next to MacArthur House. I got a good view of the motorcade from ground level.