Post date: Oct 29, 2013 10:28:4 AM
Hello Vets,
In this week’s Bleat;
· From the Desk of the Vice-President
· ACTVETS 2013 Survey Results and Committee Response
· Registration Renewal for 2014
· Masterclass session on Race Strategy and Tactics
· Changes to Events
· Upcoming Events
· Racing this Week
· Race Report
Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc
Ian Morton.
Over the last couple of months we have started to see a disturbing trend of riders who decide on the day to ride down a grade without first seeking permission. Based on past years this is also a large problem at the Tuesday night criterium races.
To deal with this problem the race committee has decided to enforce the rules more strictly and will begin disqualifying riders who ride down a grade. It should be noted that only the handicapper or a member of the race committee can change a riders grade and it will only be done so on the most exceptional circumstances.
The following reasons are not considered acceptable.
I got to the race late and missed my grade. Riders who ride down are by definition are stronger and do disrupt the race even if they are sitting on the back.
I am not feeling well. If you are sick you should not be racing.
I did not know my grade had changed. It is the responsibility of the rider to confirm their grade prior to the start and can be done so via RMS.
Riders are allowed to ride up a grade without prior approval, but this does bring you to the attention of the handicapper.
We have already seen a couple of instances where riders have gotten to the race late and not signed on prior or have missed the safety briefing.
Riders who arrive after the sign on sheets have been removed from the registration table may NOT start the race.
Riders who are not present for the entire safety briefing may NOT start the race.
These rules are in place to meet our insurance obligations and are not negotiable.
Again we have seen another weekend race in which we did not know if we had sufficient marshals to conduct the race until the day and at the last moment. This is something that we cannot afford to continue seeing week after week.
As such the race committee has made a number of determinations
We are developing a data base of members who have not met their minimum 3 race requirement over the last couple of years. These riders will be contacted and asked to explain their reasons.
We will no longer be calling for volunteers on the line. As of the next race should insufficient marshals not be identified by 6 pm the Friday before the race on the weekend will be CANCELLED!
We are also looking at other solutions generated from the recent survey such as increased fees for renewing of licences for riders who have not met their obligations in the previous year. These solutions will be brought to the members at the next AGM to be voted on.
As part of our responses I will be taking a more active role in the coordination of marshals for races. This means that I will stepping down from my handicapping duties and have passed the baton of cruelty judgement on to Robert Langridge and you can continue to make your pleas for mercy via the handicapper@actvets.cc email .
In mid-2013 the committee decided to respond to a number of quires and questions from the members about the race calendar and other matters around how the club ran. The committee decided that the best means of gathering this data from across the membership was to develop a survey of questions and distribute via an on line tool.
The tool would allow us to gather a larger proportion of information and protect the identity of respondents to ensure that they felt their opinions would not be held against themselves in any way. The survey collected 151 responses from a total membership at the time of over 400 and as such represents a significant representation of the views of members.
The committee has already started to incorporate a number of changes to the way that we undertake our calendar design, course design and general conduct of the clubs business. It was also felt that as the members took the time to respond the committee should also do the same to provide feedback on how the information will be used.
The information has been provided to each question individually and in those questions where ‘free text’ comment boxes were used to collect information this content has been provided as well.
In these cases no editing or correcting of spelling has been undertaken except where a name or other identifying element was included. We have not undertaken any corrections so that any perception of bias reflected by the committee is not seen in the responses of the membership.
We have also identified a number of questions which need to go back out to the membership for further information and detail.
The survey results can be found at: http://www.actvets.cc/files/racingfiles/ACTVETS%20Survey%20Responses%202013.pdf
Please take the time to read though it and provide some feedback on the questions.
2014 membership renewals are due by 31 December 2013. To renew, go to https://memberdesq.imgstg.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=main&OrgID=10244 or follow the prompts via our website www.actvets.cc . Click on the Login link and enter the username and password from last year. There is a Forgot Your Password link if you can’t remember your logon.
You need to renew your membership prior to 31 December or prior to your first race in 2014. It is preferable to renew prior to the end of December if you intend to race in 2014. Membership costs are:
A full competitive membership for 2014 is $100
A full competitive membership for a sight impaired tandem cyclist for 2014 is $85
Non competitive membership for 2014 is $5
Upon renewal, your 2014 licence will be emailed to you direct from IMG. Please print out a copy and it is suggested that you laminate it or place it in plastic for future reference during the year ahead. You will need to show this licence if you enter events run by other Veteran Cycling Clubs or the AVCC.
Please ensure that your personal particulars are always kept up to date, in particular your emergency contact details. It is a member’s responsibility to keep these updated via the IMG website.
This Saturday (2nd Nov) is the next Masterclass session on Race Strategy and Tactics.
There are currently 13 places still available for this session. For full details and to register please visit the Race Tactics Masterclass session page of the website
Due to some clashes, we will have to make some changes to the following events;
SFP booked on the Tuesday so we will reschedule to Monday 11th.
Sat 18th Road Race - Graded at The Range Willunga
Mon 20th Time Trial - 5 yr age div – Woodchester to Langhorne Creek return
Wed 22nd Hill Climb – 6 kms - 5 yr age div – bike track Mt Barker Rd Glen Osmond
Thurs 23rd Criterium – Graded – Victoria Park Criterium track Adelaide city
Registration including an early-bird incentive will be on the www.savca.org.au website soon.
Where: Stromlo Forrest Park
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
G Grade@ 5:45 - 11min + 2 laps; A/B Grade@ 6:05 - 30min + 2 laps; C/D Grade@ 6:41 - 21min + 2 laps; E/F Grade@ 7:10 - 16min + 2 laps
Race Director: Steve Dean
Contact: Email: steve.dean2004@gmail.com Ph 0413749652
Crit Marshals and Helpers needed
Steve will need a couple of helpers on the night. If you are racing you can still get there early or stay after your race to help out.
Important Information: Late Arrivals
It is a condition of our Insurance that all riders receive a referee’s briefing before the commencement of racing to ensure that they are aware of racing conditions.
All riders need to ensure that they arrive in sufficient time to sign-on and be briefed before the commencement of racing.
Where: Queanbeyan Track
When: 6:00 pm
Details: 3 – 4 short events per session with a mixture of scratch, handicap, sprinting and team events;
Where: Gravel Pit, Intersection Shingle Hill Way and Federal Highway
When: 9:00am
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
Old Federal Highway - Shingle Hill Way - Tulip Farm x 2.
Race Director: Linda Stals
Contact: Email linda.stals@anu.edu.au Ph 0419 283 599 or 6292 3771
Help Needed on Sunday: Linda will need 3 turn marshals, lead and trail car drivers and a couple of finish line helpers. Anyone who can assist please let Linda know before the weekend.
Ah, the criterium track in spring. Once again the uncertainty of rain - where everyone heads to the circuit to stare at the sky and consult the weather radar. Luckily for those who raced, showers earlier in the day had cleared leaving a mostly dry track, and there were only a few drops just before the A/B combined race. But to make it harder, there wasn’t any wind to help split up the bunches.
Racing commenced at 5:45 for G grade with only three riders, all three staying together until the two lap board came out when Edward Joliffe rode away to take a convincing win, leaving Bruce Jones and James Meredith to sprint for the line with James taking second place just ahead of Bruce in third.
C & D grade then took to the track, with a number of attacks off the front and some long surges to string the bunch out before the big attacks on the final lap which came to naught – a sprint finish won by Wayne Pettett in C Grade and Brett Smith taking out D Grade.
E & F then headed out, with a number of riders being shed from the pack, before Gareth Miller took the win in E Grade and Sue Frost claimed the honours in F Grade.
Finally, A & B lined up for a fast effort in the fading light with a number of solo attacks. With a few laps to go it looked like a two-rider break would stay away until the end, but the fast-finishing bunch swallowed them up before the line and… you guessed it... yet another bunch sprint for the line. Scott Sparkman took A Grade with Maurice Bellert taking the win in B grade.
Thanks to all who raced. Stu was very happy to keep his medical kit packed, and I was happy to have the services of Brendan Byatt, Andrew Tully, Craig Kentwell and Henry Beaverstock (as always) to make everything run smoothly.
Thanks to Michael Fawke for Race Refereeing.