ACT Veterans Weekly Bleat, Monday 21st May, 2018

Hello Vets,

In this week’s Bleat;

• 2019 Race Program
• Event Traffic Controller courses for 2018
• Hand Warmers
• Racing this Week
• Race Report

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

Ian Morton

2019 Race Program

The race committee is now working on the race program for 2019. At this stage, it will be based on the race program we have used for this year. We need to finalise the race program soon so we can seek the required approvals and ensure that all approvals are in place for the start of next year.

If you would like to provide input to the 2019 race program, please send an email to race.committee@actvets.cc or talk to a member of the race committee.

Ian McVay
Race Committee

Event Traffic Controller courses for 2018

We only had a couple of members attend the last training course, which was very disappointing. Having enough controllers available in the club is critical to our ability to run races in the ACT and it is likely we will need to have ETCs for NSW races in the future. ETCs are eligible for reimbursement of $100 for marshalling at ACT road races.

The next course for Event Traffic Controllers is on 8 September. Details are available on Cycling ACT’s web site http://www.act.cycling.org.au/Road/News/2018-cycling-event-traffic-controllers-course-dates-confirmed

Members previously accredited as ATCs will need to do the updated training course to get ETC accreditation. Having enough controllers available in the club is critical to our ability to run races in the ACT and it is likely we will need to have ETCs for NSW races in the future. Please register for a place on one of the courses ASAP as numbers are limited.

Ian McVay
Race Committee

Hand Warmers

I started ‘road biking’ last May and as I still work rode to work over winter (approx. 25km return) to get some km under my legs. Some 3 years previous I used to ride a mountain bike partially to work (park and ride). Of course during winter it gets a little chilly and partially I gave up riding the mountain bike to work (in fact at all) after slipping on some ice and cracking a rib and partially because of my freezing extremities.

To counter the freezing extremities, for my hands/fingers, I thought I found a solution with heated gloves but it was only a partial solution. In a search for a more comprehensive solution on the interwebnet I came across handle bar gloves (picture attached) and for approx. $25 I thought why not. Whilst they are not a fashion statement they work; and yep I was surprised too. I rode to work this morning and with normal gloves had comfortable fingers and hands (this was my second ride with tehm). According to my Garmin it got down to minus 5 this morning next to the river below Scrivener Dam.

I purchased mine from eBay https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/RockBros-Winter-Cycling-Gloves-Road-Bike-Handlebar-Mittens-Hand-Warmers-Covers/ but there may be other places out there and perhaps in Australia (I couldn’t find any). Just sharing because this may be a solution for you and may keep you on the bike over winter and enjoying life and biking.

Cheers
John Flannery

RACING THIS WEEK:

Saturday, 26th May: No scheduled race due to long weekend

Upcoming Marshal Roster

Please check the following table of allocated officials to end of June. If you are unavailable on your allocated date, please arrange to organise a swap with another rider and advise the race committee (race.committee@actvets.cc).

* denotes ETC required for ACT races.

Thank you to those who volunteered to help (noted below in black) at the races from July to September.

The remaining nominations in blue have been selected based on results from the previous summer race season and the period since people last helped at a race. More experienced riders have been selected to help direct races. Please advise your availability or unavailable to the race committee (race.committee@actvets.cc) as soon as possible.

* denotes ETC required for ACT races.

Ian McVay
Race Committee

RACE REPORTS:

Dog Trap Rd – Secret Handicap – Cole Family Trophy – 19th May

Saturday was a great day for a race, there were 39 riders that were at the start line ready for a 1:30pm start when one of riders discovered his tyre was going down and in the spirit of the way the club operates the race was postponed until the flat tyre was changed with some expert assistance from Peter Taylor and Barry Cole. This rider (Steve Crispin) went on to post the quickest time for the race of 1.06.10, well done Steve. There were some very good form shown by a good number of riders with 6 different grades represented within the 1st 10 riders with Alex Sommariva (E) having a great win, Tim Brown (C) second and Brian Peak (D) third.

Kirsti McVay was the first woman across the line with a great ride with Jan Koehler having a strong ride to come second. This race has been sponsored by Barry Cole and his family for some time and Barry was at the race to present the trophies.

I would like to thank Daniel Grillo, Peter Klein, Donald Desmet, Rainer Wilton, Graham Hendrie and Tom Roberts for doing their part to make this race a very successful race.

The Men

Alex Sommariva (1st), Tim Brown (2nd), Brian Peak (3rd) with Barry Cole

The Women

Kirsti McVay (1st), Jan Koehler (2nd) with Barry Cole

Mark Taylor