Hello Vets,
In the Bleat this week;
• Event Traffic Controller Training
• From the Desk of the Handicapper
• Van Volunteers
• Racing this Week
Ian Morton
thebleat@actvets.cc
Event Traffic Controller Training
The ETC Training course for 5 June is now confirmed.
I’ll be sending out joining instructions shortly. If you’re not an ETC, sign up and get trained!.
Ian McVay
Race Committee
From the Desk of the Handicapper
Neutral turns
Saturday’s race will have eight neutral turns. We have neutral turns to ensure riders focus on the traffic controller and cars in front of and behind the bunch, rather than ignoring traffic to save themselves from being dropped. To ensure the bunch can quickly regather, the onus is on the lead riders to soft pedal out of the corner so that riders at the back can quickly catch back up. When D grade raced this course over the summer, the lead riders consistently charged out of the corners, resulting in much yelling and a delay of minutes until we could resume the race. Saturday’s course has uphills, downhills and flat sections, which are all good for attacking depending on your racing style. We have neutral turns to ensure the safe conduct of races, not as a staging point for tactically challenged riders to gain an advantage.
Vets out and about
Many Vets races in the Cootamundra Classic and Haycarters handicaps on the weekend, facing windy conditions on Saturday and a chilly start on Sunday. Not that I was there this year, but this is a fun race if you enjoy zooming along on relatively flat roads in the NSW country side. Best performer on Saturday was Nick Stewart who finished 23rd in a race dominated by scratch and block. On day two, Ben Morrison was 14th in another race where scratch and block took the spoils. In the top 10 was 16-year-old Cam Rogers, the nephew of Canberrra cycling royalty, who finished with the scratch riders and three minutes ahead of the next person who started in block! Also back in action was M6 rider Stephen Fairless of Shepparton who represented Australia at the Seoul Olympics, won the world grand fondo champs for his age a while back and even has his own movie documentary about his exploits!
Rob Langridge
Handicapper
Van Volunteers
As we transition into the new arrangements for the race van, we are looking to establish a pool of members who would be interested in taking on responsibility to prepare the van, drive it out to races and return it to Stromlo.
Members who drive the van to an event would still be able to participate in the race.
Members who are willing to be included in the roster should contact secretary@actvets.cc
Note that the van is a manual gear change.
ps Thanks to also those people who have already volunteered. We will be putting together a roster soon.
RACING THIS WEEK:
Saturday, 22nd May – Lookout Hill – Graded Scratch
Reminder: All riders must pre-register on the ACT Vets website (https://rms.actvets.cc/calendar) by 21/05/2021 6:00 PM prior to the race. There is no registration on the day.
Any requests for Grade changes should be sorted out with the Handicapper prior to registration.
Where: Observation lookout on Tidbinbilla Road about 2.5 km towards Tharwa from Point Hut / Tidbinbilla Rd intersection (or about 4.5 km from Tharwa village).
When: 1:30 pm.
Race Description:
Lookout Hill 3.5km toward Tharwa, U turn, 5km toward Point Hut, U turn to Lookout Hill. ABCD 4 laps, EFG 3 laps.
Race Director: Robert Langridge Contact: Email: rlangridge88@gmail.com Ph 0450 400 658
Marshals: Brendan Byatt ETC, Tim Minehan, Tony Weir ETC
