Post date: Jun 17, 2013 9:46:2 PM
Hello Vets,
In the Bleat this week;
· Foreign Correspondent – from the Irish Desk
· Inexplicably Lost and Miraculously Found
· Racing this Week
· Race Reports
Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc
Ian Morton.
G' day to all fellow vets out there. First of all I would like to introduce myself. Terry Merrigan writing this little piece here which I have wanted to do for a while.
I took up cycling back in October and joined the club in November . I just wish to pass on a few stories and a few antidotes about my new found love of bike racing.
I use the word racing as that is where I have found the most satisfaction. Mind you, I have yet to enjoy the actual race itself. It is more the euphoria I get when I finish and the realisation that I have given it all. It is the first sport that I have played that physical strength and stamina to name just a few, are the predominant factors in this sport . Being a golfer for many years now, I like to take it easy. But because of this cycle racing, I am about to give the golf a rest for a while.
My first race was at the criterion, which was a fine introduction. I had spoken to Phil Coulton over the phone and he said just to come along on the Tuesday night and introduce myself and for the $5 on the night I could race. I turned up with my bike of solid steel, toeclips and all, ready to take on all challengers. Me being only 50 years young ,I felt good about my chances. As I approached the starting bench, I heard a lady giving out about two riders who she had put in the wrong grade, and were presently kicking ass out on the course. So, when I introduced myself she (Barbara) promptly put me into D grade.
As I lined up for the start, I remember I was so nervous and yet confident as I felt younger than everyone else. Oh boy, was that a mistake. I lasted two laps with the bunch and had to race the last 30 mins or so by myself. And I have to say, that's where I got hooked. I came Paddy Last, as we say in Ireland, and yet I was on a high and could not wait for the next race.
That followed not long after, except in G grade. A new bike under me, and even proper shoes with cleats( must add that I was nearly a professional at falling over already), I was ready to beat this ,if I may say, older looking bunch, which also included a few ladies.
I would have won too , if it had been been for that Bruce chap. How dare he pass me with a few meters to go. I was sure I had dropped him on the last lap. When I got home, my wife Adriana asked how did I go this time as I was in the right grade, and I told her I did well, finishing second. When I told her a 74 years young gentleman beat me, she laughed. I' ll show her.
Next I lined up in F grade. Looking at the bunch at the start, again, I felt I had their measure. And I even felt faster when I noticed the rider in front of me was going to race with one leg. Oh boy! Again. Jing as we all know her, left me in her wake about five laps to go. I could not believe it. As I watched her cycle just in front of me, my brain was saying I should be faster and when she pulled away from me, I was in awe of her. Hooked indeed. When I got home ,Adriana asked me did I beat Bruce?. I told her I raced in a higher group and a one legged rider beat me. She laughed again. I won’t say what she did when I told her it was a female.
Anyhow, six months down the track and I am still loving it. Gunning was a fantastic weekend. Did not intent to spend the night out there, but made some friends on the first day and decided to stay over. Adriana even drove out from Theodore to stay the night. Fantastic time had and really looking forward to next year already.
Thanks to all the helpers who help out each week ,as it could not happen without you. Got a new kick in my step and its down to cycling. Just have to add that when I finished a race last week ,I mentioned to a fellow rider that I knew her butt better than her face. Well thank God she knew what I meant. Good on you Ally.
Happy and safe cycling to all.
P.S. A special thanks to all tandems and faster riders who I get to drag off and makes me seem quicker than I really am.
Cheers.
Terry
Inexplicably Lost and Miraculously Found
Des Brown is delighted to be reunited on the weekend with his Bryton HRM monitor that was lost at Gunning. He is more than happy to show his gratitude, in a (modest) tangible form, to whoever the good Samaritan was who found it and handed it over to Henry.
ps On the subject of lost and found, Henry still has a couple of jackets in the van that haven’t been claimed.
RACING THIS WEEK:
Where: Gravel Pit, Intersection Shingle Hill Way and Old Federal Highway.
When: Starting 1:30 pm
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
Old Federal Highway - Shingle Hill Way - Lake George x 2
Race Director: Rohan Verco
Contact: Email rohan.verco@gmail.com Ph 0419730555
Help Needed on Sunday: Rohan will need 3 turn marshals, Lead and Trail car drivers and a couple of finish line helpers. Anyone who is prepared to assist, please contact him before the weekend.
Saturday was a great day for cycling at Murrumbateman – light winds and the sun shining. We had 65 riders start including 2 tandems, therefore 63 bicycles competing for this week’s secret handicap. The mass rolling start in grade order followed the lead car acting as a pace car for a few hundred metre to get all competitors into a rolling start. There were 2 DNFs with Matt Kinch the unlucky recipient of 2 punctures in the first 6km. He then helped record riders numbers in the finishing chute – thanks Matt.
By the first pass of the start/finish a number of bunches had already formed. A grade set the pace and worked well together. After the first lap the riders had been strung out through a quarter of the course with a number of individual riders now battling their way to the finish. Rae Wells decided that 1 lap was enough as she had to prepare for a dinner party that night and was our 2nd DNF. After 1 hour and 9 minutes 18 seconds the sprint for the finish line was contested by a pack of 4 with Steve Crispin (10th overall) and Christophe Barbaret (3rd overall) winning line honours closely followed by Tom Hartley (4th overall) and Rohan Verco (5th overall).
The winners on handicap time came in the next group which was close behind the first 4 across the line which included Michael Hanslip (overall first on the day), Mark Gillett (6th overall), the tandem of Ashley Carruthers and Don Mankewich (7th overall), Michael McGurgan (8th overall) and Patrick McNamara (2nd overall). A notable mention goes to Liz Lowe from D grade on finishing 9th overall after adjusted times. Congratulations for all who competed. Our last rider came across the line 1 hour 55 minutes after the start.
We had 3 new riders on Saturday and welcome to Merryl King, Edda Douglas and Trent Wiseman who all performed well.
Thank you to Ian Morton for putting out and retrieving the course rider signs on the day. Thank you to our escort vehicle drivers in Rob Langridge and Rinehard Mauch. Thanks also to our Marshalls in Doug Gould and Trish Phillips at the turns, it was Trish’s first time so a special thank you and well done. Also thank you to James Meredith and Henry Beaverstock at the finish line.
Thanks to Kim Malcolm for race refereeing.