G’day Masters,
In this week’s Bleat

  • From the desk of the President
    * Online crit season briefings
    * Reduced October 2024 membership fee for rest of the season
    * Committee meeting
  • Next Race – first criterium of 2024/25 summer season
  • Narrabundah track practice session
  • CRMCCers at Master’s Nationals
  • Upcoming races requiring volunteers – race calendar can be found here

A poster on an Escape Collective report on the men’s world road race in Zurich –
“Love though Tadej has the panache and talent to make them feel like us Saturday morning hubbards.”

From the desk of the President

Can we believe that the crit season is upon us and that the first race commences on Tues 8 October 2024!

We are encouraged to see that so many have taken up the annual crit pass at $160 as the committee believes that provides tremendous value returned to our membership.

As part of the upcoming crit season, I am hosting 2x 30 mins online crit season briefings to all members. I have separately reached out to the Cartel, Cycle Co-Op, Quon, and Tiffen clans to conduct a focussed session with a rep from each of their teams.

At the 30min online crit season briefings, I will be covering issues such as safety, rider behaviour, fair play, rules, how to renew one’s financial membership, crit pass, rider registration, race registration cut-off of 12:50pm, roles – race directors, marshals, and riders, volunteering, Christmas wheel race, and crit champs. There will be an opportunity to ask questions. Please join me in one of these briefings.

CRMCC crit season briefing #!
Thursday, 3 October 2024 7:30 pm – 8:00 pm (AEST)
Meeting link: CRMCC crit season briefing | Microsoft Teams | Meet-up-Join		CRMCC crit season briefing #2
Sunday, 6 October 2024 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm (AEST)
Meeting link: CRMCC crit season briefing #2 | Microsoft Teams | Meet-up-Join

Reduced October 2024 membership fee for racing in the last four months of 2024.

We are waiting to hear from the national body AVCC as to what the price will be.

As the Club has set a club component fee of 17% on a 12 month membership, we will also set one for the reduced membership fee, so that there is an equitable contribution from all members.

Stay tuned on our website https://capitalregionmasterscyclingclub.org.au/membership/ as to how to join (as novel members) or returning members using the new Hello Club system, as the announcement will be made there.

Committee meeting

We held our third last meeting of the year last night in the current format of the committee and discussed a range of issues, including feedback we had received from the Uriarra Homestead Club Champs, and the last race in the series at SDTC.

I’d like to thank all of the committee members and volunteers who helped run the series, and those of you who participated. It still remains one of our most regularly attended races.

We are also committed to convening at least one race in NSW next year on some of our favoured and most popular parcours, and we are hoping to have a working draft of our 2025 race calendar out soon, so that we can expose this to our AusCycling club colleagues to avoid clashes.

We spent a good portion of the meeting devoted to reviewing the honorarium policy for volunteers at ‘open’ road races, as the committee noted that many of the roles require specialist knowledge to carry out complex tasks, to and from locations that require a lot of time, and that with the waning number of volunteers, we have had to offer incentives With the ‘closed circuit’ races such as at SFP or SDTC or Dairy Flat, some of these volunteer roles may be reduced in their scope and complexity. We will be publishing our honorarium policy soon on our website.

Conan

Upcoming Racing

Summer evening criterium series week 1 – Tuesday 8 October

Summer crits return on 8th October. The club is offering a season pass for $160, which will cover 24 SFP crit races concluding on Tuesday 1 April 2025, contingent upon your renewal as a fully paid financial member from 1 Jan 2025 (once we know the amount set by the national committee).
You will need to participate in 16 crits to break even. There are 11 SFP crits in the 2024 calendar year. The season crit pass covers the Christmas wheel race, and also the Club Criterium championships on Tuesday 18 February 2025.
NOTE – the registration cut-off this season will be at 12.50pm on the day of the crit.

Race director Jason Irwin, marshal Gareth Downey

GradesTimeRace Duration [sunset 1908]
E/F/G17:5020mins + 2 laps
A/C18:1520mins + 2 laps
B/D18:4020mins + 2 laps

Bell for the final lap.

Race registration cut-off is Tuesday 8th October at 12.50pm. Cost is $10.
You need to register by looking up the calendar entry in the RMS
https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar?5021174

Late registrations will be assessed by Race.committee@crmcc.org.au and if allowed, a late fee of $10 will be applied.
If you are unregistered and show up to the event, you must convince a committee member (not the Race Director) of your club member financial status for insurance purposes, before being allowed to participate.

You must wear your CRMCC assigned number to race. No number on the day, no race.

Narrabundah Track Practice Session

THURSDAY 10 OCTOBER 5.30 PM – 7.00 PM

ALL WELCOME – DON’T MISS IT !!

Daylight saving will soon be with us, and that means MASTERS TRACK RACING!!!!!

The track racing season will kick off with a Practice Session starting at 5.30pm on Thursday 10 October. There will be no racing. All interested riders are invited – particularly new riders and track novices. The practice session is free and a great opportunity to give track a try!

Please note that Narrabundah Track is a high-banked, oval track suitable only for conventional fixed gear track bikes with a high bottom bracket. We are unable to accommodate road bikes on this track.

Note:

  • Narrabundah track is located off Goyder Street in Narrabundah.
  • We welcome riders to try a high-banked track for the first time.
  • New riders can get practical advice on gearing, bunch riding & track etiquette.
  • Interested riders can try out a track bike (see note following).
  • Experienced riders can tune up the machinery & motor.
  • All riders can express their preference for events & races.
  • The practice session will be around 1hr 30 mins starting at 5.30pm.
  • There is no formal structure to the practice. We can assist with introductory training, if requested.
  • You can do your own thing, if you prefer.

A few basics on track etiquette for the practice session:

  • Use the designated track positions for cruising, tempo or fast pacing. (The faster you ride the higher you should be positioned on track. Overtake outside other riders).
  • Hold your line – don’t make changes of speed or position unless you are clear of other riders.
  • Be very careful if you are crossing or moving on / off the track. (It is your responsibility not to impede other riders in this situation).
  • Start from the fence and be aware of riders approaching.
  • It is best to wear clear or light tinted goggles. (the shaded portions of track have very low visibility with regular sunnies).
  • All riders will need to be cautious, as there will be novice riders at the practice session.

Spare Track Bikes

We have spare track bikes if you are a novice and wish to try track racing. Note that you will need to bring your own pedals. You may need to pump up tyres (we will have a pump available) and adjust saddle / bar position. You will need to check over the bike for safety purposes. Although we will assist as far as practical, equipment safety and providing tools for fitting / adjustments is your responsibility.

Regular track racing will start on Thursday 17 October.

Please register your attendance here https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar?5021918, where each race will cost $10, or purchase the season track pass at $80. We have decided to substantially reduce the cost of this year’s season’s pass to return value to members, and to incentivise participation.

Last year was a great season with a dedicated track group and 26 riders participating over the season. However, why should they have all the fun. If you have thought about it, come and give it a try. We would like at least 5 – 10 more regulars this season.

Graeme O’Neill

CRMCCers at Masters Road National Championships

Congratulations to the club members who competed at the 2024 Masters Road National Championships in Loxton, South Australia in mid-September.

Women’s Individual Time Trial
W2 – Kim Pedersen – gold
W5 – Peta Brill – gold
W5 – Alison Hale – silver

Men’s Individual Time Trial
M4 – Anthony Murfett – 3rd
M4 – Rainer Wilton – 7th
M9 – Bruce McMillan – 3rd

Women’s Road Race
W2 – Kim Pedersen – gold
W5 – Peta Brill – gold
W5 – Alison Hale – 5th

Men’s Road Race
M4 – Anthony Murfett – 4th
M4 – Rainer Wilton – 5th
M5 – Marc Vroomans – 10th
M6 – Christophe Barbert – 5th
M7 – Chris Short – 7th
M9 – Bruce McMillan – 1st
M10 – Alex Sommariva – 3rd

Women’s Criteriums
W2 – Kim Pedersen – 2nd
W5 – Peta Brill – 2nd
W5 – Alison Hale – 4th

Men’s Criteriums
M4 – Anthony Murfett – 4th
M5 – Marc Vroomans – 10th
M6 – Christophe Barberet – 5th
M9 – Bruce McMillan – 2nd

Upcoming races needing volunteers

3 November 2024 – Tharwa – Mt Tennant Terror graded scratch:
Race director and an ETC.

12 November 2024 – SFP criterium
Race director

19 November 2024 – SFP criterium
Race director

26 November 2024 – SFP criterium
Race director

3 December 2024 – SFP criterium
Race director

8 December 2024 – Sutton Road Training Centre – graded scratch.
Van driver.

Please contact race.committee@crmcc.org.au if you can fill any of these roles for the club.

Thank you to those members who have offered their services to fill roles so our races are run.