ACT Veterans Weekly Bleat, Monday 29th January, 2018

Hello Vets,

In this week’s Bleat;

• Want to get paid to cycle?
• Ellen’s Ride 2018
• From the desk of the handicapper
• Pyrenees trip Info Night
• Interstate Events
• Registration Renewal for 2018
• Racing this Week
• Race Reports

Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc

Ian Morton

Want to get paid to cycle?

A Tuggeranong man with a medical condition is resuming cycling after some years, and has been cleared by his treating physiotherapist to do this. He requires a companion to drive him and his bike from his home, ride around lake Tuggeranong with him and drive him home. Initially once per week building up to the possibility of two to three times weekly as his fitness improves and he is preparing for a bike tour.

Payment for your time is available for this under his NDIS plan. Please contact Rosemary Robinson on 0417898917 or projects@TADACT.org.au if you are interested.

Regards,
Rosemary Robinson

Red Nose (formally SidsnKids), ‘Ellen’s Ride 2018’

On Friday March 9, 2018 I am heading off on a solo charity bike ride from Canberra to Queensland to raise money for Red Nose (formally SidsnKids), “Ellen’s Ride 2018”, I will be riding through NSW country towns such as Crookwell, Cowra, Wellington, Gunnedah & Tenterfield to name a few. I am aiming to raise $5000.

This ride is in memory of our daughter, Ellen, who was born still in January 2010. If you would like to help me raise money for this wonderful charity and sponsor me please click on the following link. https://everydayhero.com.au/event/ellensride2018

Cheers,
Tony O’Connor

From the desk of the handicapper

This week’s Promotions;
– Steven Simms D to C

Rob Langridge

Pyrenees trip Info Night

Information Night: Cycling holiday in the French Pyrenees
Sunday 25 February 7.30pm
17 Von Guerard Crescent, Lyneham 2602

Numerous people have responded to the initial announcement of this cycling holiday. To assist you making a decision to attend we will host an information session at the above address on Sunday 25 February. Please reply to Peter Southgate at the e mail address shown below if you wish to attend. Non-cycling partners are welcome and if they wish they could pool resources, hire a car and activities can be suggested.

Its on again…..ACT Veterans cycling trip in the French Pyrenees. Has watching the Tour de France ever inspired you to want to tackle one of the famous mountains of the Pyrenees but you were put off by the cost, lack of companions or knowledge how to go about it? Here’s your chance to participate in carefully planned, graduated and guided bike rides with sag wagon support, with fellow riders from the Vets Cycling Club, all at a very low cost when compared to commercially available tours.

This 16-day holiday, between September 6-21, 2018 includes half-board (breakfast and dinner) shared accommodation at a dedicated cycling lodge and selected hotels, pick-up and drop-off at Toulouse or Tarascon sur Ariege. Three cycling rest days are included when we will visit local cultural and scenic tourist attractions. Club handicapper Rob Langridge who participated in the 2013 Vets trip organised by Peter Southgate had the following to say about the experience: “Peter loves the Pyrenees so much that he’s bought a house there! The rides were a mixture of challenging social rides to absolute climbing epics. The atmosphere at the lodge is welcoming and lots of fun. I have many wonderful memories of a great trip and would recommend it to anyone with a reasonable level of fitness and looking for a challenge.”

For further information and to receive a detailed outline of the itinerary contact Peter Southgate peter.southgate@hotmail.com or ph. 0417181052. .

Interstate Events

• 2018 Tolland Open Handicap Weekend
  3-4 March
  Saturday: 90km Handicap & Sunday: 72km Handicap.
  $17,000 in Cash & $3,000 in Prizes. Entry Fee: $52.
  Entries Close: Wednesday 21st February 2018.
  For All Enquiries Please Contact Club President – Barry O’Hagan 0431 919 803.

  Note: Any interested Vets members should check on licensing requirements for this event (you may need to be CA licensed).

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 30th January: Stromlo Criterium

Where: Stromlo Forest Park
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
E/F/G 5:50 28 min + 2 laps
A/C 6:25 A 40m+2, C 35m+2
B/D 7:20 B 40m+2, D 35m+2

Race Director:  Ben Davis Contact: Email: bdavis@internode.on.net    Ph  0416 014 629

Track Racing

Wednesday, 31st January: Track Racing

The Program for Wednesday is as follows:
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice;
6.00pm – 6.20pm: 10-lap graded scratch race;
6.20pm – 6.50pm: 2 Lap Match Race;
6.50pm – 7.10pm: Miss & Out;
7.10pm – 7.30pm: Italian pursuit

Sunday, 4th February: Tidbinbilla Handicap

Note: This race is still subject to road approvals.

Members, we need 2 ATC’s for this weekend race at Tidbinbilla. If you can assist, please let Ben Davis (bdavis@internode.on.net) know.

Where: Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Tidbinbilla Rd. For road safety reasons, please DO NOT park on the corners of the intersection.
When: 9:00 am.
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
2 laps of 18km total 36km.
TNR – Flints – Geals – no tracking station

Race Director: Kim Malcolm Contact: Email: d.kimmalcolm@icloud.com    Ph  0418643623

Marshals: Ben Davis

Upcoming Marshal Roster

Basically anyone who raced in 2017 will be required to marshal at least 1 race throughout the 2018 season. Marshals are critical to the running of events through the helping of finish line duties, driving trail/lead cars, turn points and setting up/packing up. The marshal assignment schedule for the first 6 months of the year is below. It is also on the race calendar and you receive an email advising you of it several weeks in advance, so there should be no excuses to missing your allocated race. If you are unavailable for your allocated race you need to organize a swap with another rider and advise the race committee (race.committee@actvets.cc).

RACE REPORTS:

Stromlo – 23rd January

The evening started well at Stromlo with pleasantly warm weather and a good breeze from the northwest. While warm, it was not quite as hot as the expected 36 degrees, but the wind certainly made things more interesting for A and C grades, the first groups on the track. It had dropped a bit by the time B and D grade came out and was almost gone for the E, F and G grade races. By then, though, the skies were starting to look a little dark and threatening, but the storms held off until nicely after the conclusion of events, but I got an interesting light show while riding home.

A grade were off first with 21 riders and Stephen Isbel was off the front on the first lap, establishing a lead of around 15 seconds fairly quickly and in an impressive display of riding, he stayed away for the whole race. He was joined by Nicholas Stewart and Mark Harris after 15 minutes, but Mark dropped back to the pack after a further 10 minutes. Isbel and Stewart crossed the line in almost a dead heat, with Isbel claiming a well deserved win. Robin Mules managed to get off the front of the chasing pack in the closing stages and held on for third.

C grade with 9 riders was a much tamer affair, but they still managed to drop 4 of the riders after 15 minutes with the wind playing a significant role. The other 5 riders circulated well until the final lap where the gaps opened up. Michael Brice, freshly promoted from D grade claimed the win, validating the handicappers promotion. David Wilson was second, followed by Ian Preston in third.

B and D grade were next up with 19 riders in B grade and 24 in D grade. After the grades came together on D grades final lap the previous week, I was certainly keen to keep them apart this week, but it was not to be. B grade had a reasonable lead that was steadily increasing when I gave D grade 2 laps to go, but club president had gone off the front of B grade and the rest of them seem to have sat up at that critical moment With Dougal off the front, the yellow flag wasn’t a good option for B grade as it would have interfered with the racing, so I hoped they would stay clear, but D grade managed to catch them on their final lap, and fortunately managed to negotiate this for their sprint. The D graders generally stayed together for most of their race, with Steven Simms taking out the win ahead of Wayne Benham and Kirsty Cummin.

B grade was a little more aggressive, with a number of attacks. One of the wags in the pack suggested on the start line that Dougal would be off the front after 10 minutes, but he left it a little longer and was out there for about 5 minutes around the 17 minute mark. Nick Boylan had a go after 37 minutes, but as he was reeled back in at 40 minutes Dougal had another go. Dougal was caught on the final lap but managed to hold on for third. Mark Taylor unleashed his sprint and just hung on for the win, perhaps with a little bit of help from Simon Junakovic who managed second.

By the time E, F and G grade were on the track, the wind had died off but the skies were getting darker. As things got close to the finish, I curtailed things by about 5 minutes to avoid the need to finish under the lights. E grade had 6 riders and generally kept together other than losing one of them after 5 minutes. The gaps opened up on the last lap and Daniel Jenkins took out the win in front of Ian Morton and Des Brown.

F grade had just 4 riders and was joined by Bernie, the lone G grader at various times during the race. The four riders seemed to mix it around on the front and Brandie O’Connor won the sprint in front of Penelope Anderson and Leeanne Tennant. Bernie Crowe took out the Gr grade event.

Thanks to Simon Whitehead for the first aid, which fortunately wasn’t needed on the night, and for taking the numbers of the A and C graders in the chute. After finishing an impressive 5th in his first race in A grade, Tim Minehan also helped out on the line with the lower grades. And thanks to Alan Bontjer for opening up and helping with the set up in the absence of the regular key holder.

Dale Kleeman

Narrabundah Track Racing – 24th January

Our Chief Commissare / Handicapper, Graeme O’Neill’s Wife has extended his stay in Adelaide…Thus, the Regime has ratified its hold on the Track Racing gig. Tim’s drone has control of Bundadome airspace, and the President has a new Felt track bike!

On Wednesday, the Court dismissed the bleats of its naysayers and doomsday preppers – thus and so…with its advisors and jesters huddled around its crystal ball, (with wireless internet connection) – @ 16.45 the Court declared the track dry and racing on!!

We had 11 riders on the night – greeted with 25°C at the Bundadome; winds from the north @ 4km, moving to calm. There was a slight delay to proceedings, this due to the equivocal weather (possible rain). Tim took the opportunity to get the drone up as riders continued warm up. (footage to follow).

A/B Grade 10 lap Scratch – after such a relaxed warm up; riders were keen to get going – the scratch was a quick start – Dougal Torrance, (see Felt track bike above), put it to good use leading out the Scratch bunch; but not taking off just yet…turns on the front continued with the pace lifting – Martin Graham took off again…, his methodology to get out of the saddle on the back straight each lap… this really splintered the bunch after such a quick start. The riders reeled Martin back in – and with 1.5 laps to go Martin’s lead was neutralized with the bunch coming home strongly.

B Grade 10 lap scratch – B grade riders (2 riders) rode in the above combined scratch for B grade podium spots. Bruce Griffin was happy with this and took silver prior to the race starting…also confirmed at the end of race.

1 Lap Time Trial – this event is where the rider is counted down, whilst holding the fence, for a fence start! The rider then sprints for 1 full lap. [The times are submitted to the Handicapper in absentina and are then compared for greatest improvements and then the algorithm is applied. No, really]. With no wind and humid conditions – times were fast. All times were within 26-30 seconds:

Michael Langdon (26.53), Hamish. Anderson (26.76), Ed Garnett (27.22), Dougal Torrance (28.34), Time Mineham (28.59), Craig Kentwell (28.80), John-Paul DeSousa (28.94), Martin Graham (29.14), David McCook (30.05), Bruce Griffin (30.48), Ross Scutts (31.59). Very good times; (extrapolated to 500m are competitive at the Masters state if not national levels).

The 2 Lap Handicap – this is a flat out sprint. Riders line up in handicap order on the velodrome fence for a 2 lap race. Riders are counted down to their handicap and away. Handicaps ranged from 17 back to 7 seconds. After one lap the whole bunch had come together – on the final turn riders had to go high on the track to attempt a run at the finish line – this is however the longest way around the track. A very close finish saw Craig Kentwell getting the win, followed by Dougal Torrance and Hamish Anderson…great race!

The Italian Pursuit – the teams we picked on a secret Court approved process. 5 riders were in each team starting at opposite sides of the track – sensing a close race; the teams sorted out their respective team orders. The Court Jester administered the start whistle – and we’re away!

Team 1 and 2 started evenly and the Advisers could not pick the leading team until mid race – this when Team 2’s Dougal Torrance made ground on Team 1 putting his Team 2 anchor under pressure – (riders put in 100% for their respective lap on the front of the bunch). With half a lap to go, the Advisers deemed Team 2 to be leading with anchor JP (Diesel) De Sousa in front – but…with a ¼ of a lap to go, Team 1’s anchor, Hamish Anderson (having a top night at the track), got out of the saddle and pushed for the line somehow making it …a dead heat! This has never happened before…the results have been submitted to the chief Commissare for processing.

Major place getters were as follows:
10-Lap Scratch Race: (A Grade): Michael Langdon, Hamish Anderson. Tim Mineham, (B Grade): Ross Scutts, Bruce Griffin.
2 Lap Handicap: Craig Kentwell, Dougal Torrance, Hamish Anderson
Italian Pursuit – Dead Heat!
Team 1 – Martin Graham, Tim Mineham, Ed Garnett, Hamish Anderson, Ross Scutts
Team 2 – Craig Kentwell, David McCook, John-Paul De Sousa, Dougal Torrance, Bruce Griffin

Season points update:
Michael Langdon 241; Hamish Anderson 189; Ross Scutts 176; JP De Sousa 156; Tony Beasley 135; Steve Hirsler 126; Paul Kennedy 111; Phil Coulton 104

Michael Langdon