Post date: Oct 04, 2013 8:6:34 AM
Hello Vets,
In these week’s Bleat;
· Spring prompts warning to beware of swooping magpies
· Another quick note from Nice
· Diamond Cycle Tours 2013 French Alps
· Changes to Events
· Upcoming Events
· Racing this Week
· Race Reports
Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc
Ian Morton.
The arrival of spring has sparked a warning about the return of a seasonal threat - swooping magpies.
People are being urged to be on the lookout for swooping magpies as the birds become protective of their nests during breeding season.
The birds can cause serious injuries by pecking people's heads, ears and eyes.
A seven-year-old boy has already been treated for a head wound after being swooped on at Gunnedah in north-western New South Wales yesterday.
Inspector Norm Spalding from the NSW Ambulance Service says anyone venturing outdoors needs to be on guard.
"It's increased at this time of the year," Inspector Spalding said of the risks.
"It's usually over by the end of September. Obviously attacks can be nasty.
"We've had cases where children have received extensive lacerations and wounds. The risk is always there."
Inspector Spalding says cyclists and children tended to be more at risk of attack.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-31/magpies-magpie-attack-spring-wildlife-birds/4926620
Further to Howard's "quick note from Nice" - two other "sometimes" members of the Club also participated in the Haute Route Alps which took us over a few of the "hills" between Geneva and Nice.
Stacie Hall was one of only 17 women in a field of 495 participants. Stacie is also backing up for another 7 days of racing in the Pyrenees next week.
Unfortunately David Garner also participated in the Alps event. He travelled all the way from his current home in Geneva to the race start on the shores of Lake Geneva. After 7 days, the battle for the lead in a very personal race within a race, was resolved in the final stage into Nice with a powerful break-away by David who eventually bettered me by 8 minutes after 32 hours of racing and many more hours of trash talking and psychological warfare. I assume David will eventually return to Canberra after his extended tax payer funded holiday in Geneva and resume racing with the club; at which time I'm hoping the handicapper immediately drops him into A grade :)
Greg Burghardt is also here in Barcelona doing final preparation for the Haute Route Pyrenees. Any of you who've had the pleasure of racing with Greg over recent months will realise he should have the legs to comfortably handle a week that looks like this -
• Stage 1: Sunday 1st September: Solsona – La Seu d’Urgell (85 km, 2400m M+)
• Stage 2: Monday 2nd September: La Seu d’Urgell – Pla de Beret (120 km, 3500m M+)
• Stage 3: Tuesday 3rd September: Vielha – Superbagnères (120 km, 3300m M+)
• Stage 4: Wed 4th September: Bagnères-de-Luchon – Argelès-Gazost (133 km, 4000m M+)
• Stage 5: Thursday 5th September: Individual Time Trial - Hautacam (16 km, 1100m M+)
• Stage 6: Friday 6th September: Argelès-Gazost - Pau (115 km, 2900m M+)
• Stage 7: Saturday 7th September: Pau/Arette – Anglet Basque Coast(161 km, 3100m M+)
So a little over 20,000 metres of climbing in the week but not very many kilometres - an ideal course for Greg, and a little less ideal for my extra kilograms!
John Coleman
This video from Rob and Tony's (Diamond Cycle Tours) 2013 French Alps tour is worth a look. Fantastic riding with a great bunch of people. Made by Jeremy Gillman-Wells.
Looking forward to the Annecy and Provence episodes Jeremy!
James Meredith was hard at work again with the camera at the Uriarra Homestead Race on Saturday. You can have a look at the pictures here
Due to some clashes, we will have to make some changes to the following events;
Stromlo Forest Park has been booked by the Mountain Bikers. The Iron Mike will go ahead as planned but the start and finish will be relocated outside SFP onto Uriarra Road.
Due to a clash in Road Approvals with the National Road Series (the ACT Govt approved us both to race on the same course at the same time), we are proposing to reschedule this event to Sunday 22nd Sep at 10:00. This will give everyone time to race and also get back to watch the NRS Crit along Federation Mall.
Note: This is still subject to revised road approval
Upcoming Events
The Vikings Trivia night is support of MS will be compared by John and Chantal Fleming. Tables of 8-10 are available or they can make arrangements to create tables.
For tickets or further details, contact Errol Neish Ph 0412 265 933 or 62311 633
Registrations at
www.everydayhero.com.au/event/wheelathon2013
This is the website with all of the info www.granfondoshoalhaven.com.au
The Australian Veterans National Championships will be held in Geelong this year. Registration and other details can be found on the AVCC web site at: http://www.ausvetcycling.com/
Canberra's biggest and best-known long-distance one-day cyclo-sportive participation event on sealed rural roads in hilly terrain in the southwest of ACT.
Full details and registration at www.fitzs.com.au .
Where: Intersection Dog Trap Rd and Long Rail Gully Rd, North of Murrumbateman.
When: 1:30pm
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
Dog Trap Rd – 3.5 Laps.
Race Director: Bob Miller
Contact: Email photo@bobmiller.com.au Ph 0411 271 656
Help Needed on Sunday: Bob will need 2 turn marshals, lead and trail cars and a couple of finish line helpers. Anyone who can assist please let Bob know before the weekend.
A perfect day for racing, clear skies, little to no wind and balmy temperatures. Indeed Nick Boylan was heard to exclaim "any rider now a-bed shall think themselves accursed they were not here". Nick's veiled allusion to Agincourt may have been bought on by the prospect of a very tough race (especially for ABC and D grades) - twice up Blue Range Hill from each direction, a trip to the end of the tar and twice up the false flat from the top of Uriarra Crossing. Not for the faint hearted.
Despite the challenging course 70 riders turned up to do battle - of which all but 9 finished. The first aid officer was not called into action (many thanks to Lee Hopson who volunteered at the last moment) so the main objectives of the race were achieved - no one crashed and no one was injured.
As could be expected on such a course many riders were shed early in the course of the race by their merciless comrades, however most grades managed to have enough riders at the finish for the ultimate winners to have to sprint for their wins - congratulations to Paul Scherll (A), David Mullins (B), Mark Langman (C), Jeff Irving (D), Angie Wren (E), Belinda Wren (F) and Robert Egan (G) for winning their respective grades.
Special mention should made of the efforts of Jeff Irving and Anne Broadbent who while ostensibly classified as D grade riders both recorded times faster than the winning time in C grade. It can't be long before the Handicapper wakes from his slumbers and seeks to put wrong to right!
Thanks to all the regular helpers - Graham Hendry, Henry Beaverstock and James Meredith - and those who volunteered for the day - James Cruden, Dave Hennessy, Rowan Murray, Rob Diamond and Mark Ridley. I've already mentioned you Lee (Hopson) but thanks again.
Thanks to Owain Tilley for refereeing.