Capital Region Masters – Weekly Bleat, 7 October 2024

G’day Masters,
In this week’s Bleat

• From the desk of the President
  * Crit season briefing
  * Reduced October 2024 membership fee for rest of the season
• Next Race – first criterium of 2024/25 summer season
• Narrabundah track practice session
• CRMCCers at WEMBO 24 hour mountain bike world championships
• Upcoming races requiring volunteers – race calendar can be found here
  

From the desk of the President

Criterium Season briefing

Last Thursday I ran a criterium season web briefing, and was planning to hold one this past Sunday, but unfortunately I got the timing wrong due to daylight savings, so my sincerest apologies if anyone tried to attend on Sun.

Here is a link to the slides that I presented on Thursday.

I have summarised the key takeaway points below:

• At the beginning of any criterium season, we all suffer from ‘over-exuberance’ as we attempt to find form, and settle in to the rhythm of crit racing.
• History and data tell us, that there is a greater likelihood of a criterium accident occurring in the first four weeks of the season. Where we can anticipate accidents, we must make efforts to avoid accidents, and minimise harm.
• Please do not be that rider that causes a season-ending injury to yourself, or to another rider. Let’s make every effort to put safety first above pulling a dodgy move.
• Criterium accidents often result from touching wheels, and/or diving into corners, and taking out riders on either side of the offending rider.
• To mitigate the chance of an accident happening, please ensure to follow the line of another rider’s wheels, and don’t undercut someone on the inside of a corner.
• If sprinting, please hold your line in a predictable manner, particularly through collarbone corner. Watch out for pedal strike on this corner.
• If you are on the front and leading out, be sure that when you swing off the front, that you do this safely without endangering another rider.
• If you have requested a downgrade to a lower grade at the beginning of the season due to poor fitness or return from illness, this does not give you licence to go and smash it in the lower grade, animate the race, and sprint for the win or podium. If anything, it is disrespectful to the your colleagues that are regular riders of that grade, and you are mocking the compassion that the handicapper has shown to you. Don’t do it!
• For this crit season, the criterium deadline for registration will be Tuesday 12:50pm and we will not be accepting late registrations.
• If you have bought and subscribed to the $160 crit season pass, you are automatically entered into the entire crit season. If you cannot attend a race, there is no need to inform the committee as you will just be recorded as a DNS during roll call.
• If you are going to Pay As You Go this season, you will still need to register and pay before Tuesday 12:50pm.  We suggest that you register and pay at least a day in advance. If you have paid and registered for the race and you can no longer make it on time, if you contact committee@crmcc.org.au before the start of the race and ask to move your entry to another, then we can be accomodating. We would prefer that you register early, rather than attempting to register later unsuccessfully (or in exceptional circumstances with a $10 late fee applied).
• Please replace rusty and damaged ‘safety’ pins as they have been known to cause punctures on the criterium track, and in some cases, serious injury. Consider replacing your pins with pinless alternatives.
• Wear your club-assigned race number on your jersey.
• Race fairly and exemplify great and role model-like sportsmanship.
• Nurture other riders around you who might be intimidated by other riders.
• Pass other grades safely with plenty of room for the clearance of your tail rider.
• Alert others to the presence of hazards, incl your position within the bunch e.g. inside line, outside.
• Go through the chute (out of respect to other’s places).
• Membership renewals are happening now for the three month licence, or coming up in mid-Dec for the 2025 annual membership. Please note that due to the fact that I have to match your personal record between two databases (HelloClub and our RMS), your first and last name and DOB must match exactly for me to process your record. If you do not supply the information as it appears in our RMS, then you create extra work for me and you in trying to resolve it. So please decide whether you are ‘Rob’ or ‘Robert’ and stick with it.
  
  The three month reduced membership licence is now on sale for $99, which will end on 31 December 2024. How to join – https://capitalregionmasterscyclingclub.org.au/membership/

Thank you for your efforts in keeping our crit races safe, enjoyable and as efficient as possible.

Wishing you a safe crit season.

Conan

President

Upcoming Racing

Summer evening criterium series week 1 – Tuesday 8 October

The return of our most popular racing – Summer crits – is back on this Tuesday 8th October.
For a tease here is footage of a previous summer crit – B grade – from CRMCC member Gavin Stephens –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMAG67NBcKk

Race director Jason Irwin, marshal Gareth Downey
Bell for the final lap.

Race registration cut-off is Tuesday 8th October at 12.50pm. 
Cost is $10 for a single race or $160 for a season pass.
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 an extra $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.

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.

C-grade waiting for their race during January 2024 to start – picture is courtesy of Ian Hutchings.

Narrabundah Track Practice Session

THURSDAY 10 OCTOBER 5.30 PM – 7.00 PM

ALL WELCOME – DON’T MISS IT !!

Daylight saving is 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

CRUMBS at WEMBO 24 hour mountain bike world championships

Over the weekend of 28/29 September some of our members hit the crit track early by lining up for the WEMBO 24 hour mountain bike world championships. It was all about fat tyres and the bell lap was a long time coming as they head out on an 11km loop up and straight back down some Stromlo’s fastest but rockiest trails. 

With a couple of hundred metres of climbing per lap all chunked into the first half it was a long hot grind up and a fast decent in rapidly dropping temps that looked to have the better of Kev Wells early. A quick retreat to rewarm and catch some sleep and he was back out on course in the early hours to bank more laps on his way to 18 in total, a solid 204kms and 4603 metres climbing for the day.

Craig Tozer blindly believed a nine year hiatus between 24s could be overcome by a long winter on the roadie, only to be reminded conditioning is as important as fitness in these races. Aiming for a podium things were looking good early in the evening as he sat comfortably third in age group, but by 9pm the back had seized and by midnight it was curtains. Still, 15 laps were done with 3900 metres of vert in 170km so there’s no excuses to sit in at crits.

Seb Mueller debuted in his first 24 with possibly one of the most minimalist pit set ups going. Pacing and fueling were the big lessons but he looked strong throughout and despite a short kip salvaged a respectable result knocking out 24 laps for 273km and a massive 6407m of climbing. Very solid first effort, particularly as a self supported rider for much of the race.     

In the end Canadian Cory Wallace took the squiggly rainbow stripes. Posting the third fastest lap time during an amazing 40 laps, 474km, and 10,178m climbing in 23hrs:48min he was 8 minutes quicker than the 40 laps put down by the team of seven CORC young guns in the teams race. Great news is he meets the age qualification for CRMCC, bad news is he’s not around on Tuesdays!   

Upcoming races needing volunteers

3 November 2024 – Tharwa – Mt Tennent Terror graded scratch:
An ETC.

19 November 2024 – SFP criterium
Race director

26 November 2024 – SFP criterium
Race director

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

10 December 2024 – SFP
Race director

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.