G’day festive CRMCCers,
For this week’s Bleat –
Call out for Race Director and Marshal for Crit on 21 Jan 2025
Next Crit Race – Tues 14 Jan from 5.50pm
Narrabundah Track Racing – Thurs 16 Jan, 5.30pm
Crits race report for 7 Jan – Mick Hanbury
Track race report for 9 Jan – Graeme O’Neill
Handicapper’s hammer – Rob Langridge
Upcoming 2025 road season
Notice of CRMCC Annual General Meeting on Mon 10 Feb 2025
Upcoming races requiring volunteers – race calendar can be found here
Call out for Race Director and Marshal for Crit on 21 Jan 2025
We require a race director and a marshal for the club’s criterium to be held next week on 21 January 2025. Please contact race.committee@crmcc.org.au if you can help the club host the event.
Summer evening criterium series – Tuesday 14 January
NOTE – we have received feedback from members about the passing via faster groups during races. The faster group is to pass on the outside. With racing this week being clockwise that would mean the faster group passing on the left side.
*****The club will be implementing some extra checks to ensure that everyone on the crit track is a financial member before the race. This will involve the use of an entry chute before the start of each race.*****
Race director Mark Vardy, marshal Matthew Corby, first aid Ryan Fawke
Bell for the final lap.
Direction clockwise
Grades Time Race Duration [sunset 2020]
E/F/G 17:50 30mins + 2 laps
A/C 18:30 A 45 mins + 2L, C 40mins + 2L
B/D 19:20 B 45 mins + 2L, D 40mins + 2L
Race registration cut-off is Tuesday 14th January 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?5021186
Late registration 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.
Switch race entry:
In the event of rain or another event, the members who have paid $10 to enter and decide to not race, those riders have to send an email to committee@crmcc.org.au before their race starts, where they would like to transfer their $10 with their name and race number, and the date to which they want the credit transferred.
Such requests via Facebook will be ignored.
Race Committee
Narrabundah Track Racing
The Program for Thursday is as follows:
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice.
6.00pm – 6.20pm: 8-lap graded scratch race.
6.20pm – 6.50pm: 20-lap points race.
6.50pm – 7.20pm: Italian pursuit.
Spare Track Bikes
We have several spare track bikes if you wish to try track racing.
Note that you will need to either be a financial member, or have a trial membership to participate. Please see https://actvetsbeta.wordpress.com/membership/.
Riders will need to bring their 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.
Attendance
Please register your attendance at https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar?5021918 , where each race will cost $10.
New or returning members who wish to ease their way into track racing may do the just the warm-up and single event at nil cost for the session. Just show up at the Narrabundah track by 5.30pm.
Graeme O’Neill
Crits race report – 7 January – Mick Hanbury
Welcome to 2025 and the gods of wind and cold. What an exciting first crit of the year and thanks to Greg Mitchell our marshal, Ryan (little) Fawke our resident medic and Ian Hutchings the club’s awesome photographer for assisting last Tuesday.
We kicked off the new year with A and C grade and immediately (two laps in) we had our first DNF for 2025, rider 310 and by the end of the night a total of 13 DNFs, a clear sign that too much trifle had been consumed over the Christmas break.
Starting with A grade, it was largely are three part race. Part A: The Steve Crispin show attempting a solo win, he was looking the goods until the pack decided to teach him who’s boss. Part B: Ben Morrison and Stuart Griffths teaming up to show why they are the best of the best and finishing a clear first and second respectively and then Part C: the chasers who continued to work well as a group. With only one spot left on the podium Steve Crispin lit the burners to claim bronze.
C Grade can only be described as a Greek Tragedy or as all that missed the break would call it an absolute train wreck. Riders were strewn like unwanted Christmas presents around the track with DNF after DNF, heads were shaking and choice words being muttered that cannot be made public. The break was magnificent and made up of six, a new rider to the club that will give B grade someone to chase, a few returning riders, a couple of Christmas demotions and one usual C grade suspect, the smartest guy out there. With two laps to go, the smartest rider out there Mark Vardy drifted off the back while Mike (Big) Fawke mumbled thank god. Our Visitor, Mark Jansen honoured his end of the bargain and didn’t contest the finish leaving Wayne Spratford to claim poll over Big Fawke and Ian Preston. Well done to the Magnificent Six.
B Grade was a typical affair, Krusty having a crack at a promotion to A grade but as usual his eyes were wider than his plate and he was soon gobbled up. Mid race, Luke Philps decided to put his hand up for a few solo pictures by Ian. With about 10 minutes to go and Mark Terracini’s daughter, watching from the sidelines cheering dad on, lit a fire in his belly. Fearing the worse and an easy win for Mark, a select pack of four decided to chase him down making way for an exciting final few laps. First home was Luke Philps followed by Leonard Pooley and Mick Rose.
D Grade needs a name change to the “The Sensibles” they were the only group to work together as an organised unit all night long and they even allowed a few dislodged B graders to sit on the back on them to catch their breaths. The most exciting part of D grade’s race was a young frisky kangaroo name “Gill” racing them down the back straight and winning. In the end and minus “Gill” it came down to a bunch sprint with a win by Vanessa Judge over Paul Clare and Ian Morton.
Finally E grade. With two prime stallions turning and the light and the extreme cold starting to get the better of us, we decided to shorten the race to 20 minutes of outstanding entertainment. This race was described by little Fawke as the highlight of the night and racing doesn’t get any more exciting than this. With the lead constantly swapping, it came down to the closest finish of the year requiring much deliberation by the race committee. It was truly believed that if Bruce had sneezed or lunged on the line the result may have been a different, but there can only be one and that was Chris Copeland by a nano metre over Bruce Griffin to claim the title of prime stallion.
Race director – Mick Hanbury
Thanks to Ian Hutchings for the pics from last week’s regular crits – (A&C)
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18kWqid3Nr/, (A&C) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15qUeumGdN/ , (A&C, B&D) https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15fsBaXR4A/ , (B&D)
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1FrELm34Bt/ and (B&D, E)
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19Njgn6r9p/
Narrabundah track racing report – Thursday 9 January – Graeme O’Neill
Thursday 9 January saw the tenth track racing session for 2024-25 and the first competitive session for the new year. The temperature was moderate with a strong wind across the track providing a headwind in the first banked turn. Attendance (nine riders) was low, but on par for this season.
The 8-lap A grade scratch race had a field of five starters. The race commenced with Hamish Anderson leading out at an easy pace. Craig Kentwell, Warwick Wilson and Conan Liu did early turns on the front, gradually stepping up the pace. Unusually, the tactical riding commenced on lap five with the bunch slowing and splayed across the track. The jockeying for position continued for two laps until Warwick Wilson surged out, energising the bunch. Conan Liu chased down Warwick and was soon uncatchable taking a comfortable win. Conan’s effort strung out the bunch making the commissaire’s job easy. The following riders were, in order, Hamish Anderson, Craig Kentwell, Alison Hale and Warwick Wilson.
The 8-lap B grade scratch race had a field of four starters with Ken Birch reacquainting himself with track competition after a couple of years absence. Ken played it safe and sat on the back of the bunch for his first bunch outing. The race was orderly with Ian Drayton, Phil Coulton and Graeme O’Neill doing one lap turns on the front. On lap 7 Phil Coulton raised the pace and slowly opened a gap on Graeme O’Neill. It did not take long for Ian Drayton to sense the danger and surge out in pursuit of Phil. Phil and Ian contested the final laps with Ian taking a close win. Graeme hung on for third place.
The second event was a 1-lap standing start time trial. This event is quite technical and requires a very strong initial acceleration and sustained, high-speed sprint to the finish. Most of the A grade times were very close. Hamish Anderson was the standout with an excellent time of 28.91s. The following times were Warwick Wilson (31.02s), Conan Liu (31.19s), and Craig Kentwell (31.88s). B Grade times were good with Ian Drayton 32.35s, Phil Coulton 32.70s and Graeme O’Neill 35.82s. Ian Drayton’s form keeps improving as he recovers from recent knee surgery.
The evening’s third event was a combined A and B grade 2-lap handicap. Ken Birch took off from limit and put in a great effort for his first handicap outing. The bunch eventually caught and passed him just before the finish. Phil Coulton put in an early acceleration and was soon in pursuit of Ken. The back markers started strongly and consequently took out the placings. The result was Hamish Anderson 1st , Warwick Wilson 2nd and Craig Kentwell 3rd.
The final event for the evening was the usual Italian Pursuit. With only six available riders of very disparate abilities, this race was a challenge for the handicapper. In the event, the selections provided a very close race. As expected, Team 2’s Phil Coulton and Craig Kentwell built a good early lead. The final lap was a contest between Hamish Anderson and Conan Liu. Conan put in a blistering lap and, as expected, made up a considerable distance. However, Hamish was rock solid and held out Conan for the team 2 win. The final margin was only 3 – 4 metres.
Major place getters were as follows:
8-Lap Scratch: (A1 Grade) Conan Liu. (A2 Grade) Hamish Anderson, Craig Kentwell, Alison Hale.
(B Grade) Ian Drayton, Phil Coulton, Graeme O’Neill.
1-Lap Standing Start TT: (A Grade) Hamish Anderson (28.91s), Warwick Wilson (31.02s), Conan Liu (31.19s), Craig Kentwell (31.88s).
(B Grade) Ian Drayton (32.35s), Phil Coulton (32.70s), Graeme O’Neill (35.82s).
2-Lap Handicap: (A & B Grades) Hamish Anderson, Warwick Wilson, Craig Kentwell.
Italian Pursuit: Winner Team 2 (Hamish Anderson, Phil Coulton, Craig Kentwell).
Season Point Score:
Hamish Anderson (179), Conan Liu (158), Ian Drayton (147), Graeme O’Neill (135), Phil Coulton (131), Steve Jones (124), Craig Kentwell (109), Sarah Stephens (101), John Paul De Sousa (72), Warwick Wilson (67), Ben Davis (66), Wayne Benham (59), Alison Hale (48), Ken Birch (20), Dave Buckley (16).
Handicapper’s hammer
Upgrades:
Luke Philps B to A
Mick Rose B to A
Wayne Spratford C to B
Michael Fawke C to B
How to survive a windy criterium race
The first race of the year was a shocker for many. A strong wind, riders returning to racing after long lay-offs and some aggressive riding led to decimated fields, DNFs galore and accusations aplenty: ‘The handicapper’s an idiot!’, Rider x is in the wrong grade!’ ‘They’re riding as a team!’; and ‘It’s not fair!’ That’s a bit of hyperbole on my part but there was certainly much discussion about the Tuesday night’s carnage. Here are some ways to survive a windy crit.
Warm up properly
If it’s going to be full on from the start, make sure you are fully warmed up prior to the race. Yes, it’s great to turn up and gasbag for 20 minutes beforehand but it’s not going to help when the pressure is on.
Get a good start
Our races usually start reasonably calmly, so it doesn’t take much effort to be in the front half of the bunch. From there, there’s less chance of having to bridge when someone drops a wheel.
Study the wind beforehand
Know where the wind is coming from and do your best to shelter from it. Don’t sit out on the windward side of the bunch and always move up on the leeward side.
Show solidarity to other dropped riders (ban the gutter!)
Once the race has split, team up with those around to form an echelon on the straights. The split may have occurred because everyone was riding in the gutter but there’s no point or the chasers doing the same! The only result is that the followers will be very reluctant to take a turn. In other words, don’t stab the rest of your bunch in the back.
Get aero
You can spend thousands on an aero bike or you can make yourself more aerodynamic by riding in the drops or on the hoods with your arms bent around 90 degrees. Additionally, sit behind a bid dude.
Freshen up for the race
If results are important, ensure you’ve had a light training session the day before and skip the morning bunch ride. Tired legs don’t like the red zone and will complain accordingly. If racing is just a part of a long-term plan, then be prepared to accept mediocre results.
Upcoming 2025 road season
The club’s first road race for 2025 will be held on Sunday, 2 February on the Lookout Hill course.
The race will be a graded scratch event starting at 0900 AET.
More details in the weeks ahead including on the race calendar and via the Bleat/Facebook.
Notice of CRMCC Annual General Meeting – Monday 10 February 2025 at 7pm (via Google Meet)
The 2025 AGM for the Capital Region Masters Cycling Club will be held on Monday 10th February at 7:00pm via Google Meet:
https://meet.google.com/qnx-uion-ace?hs=224
Previous Bleat’s announced the club’s AGM was to be held via Zoom. This was in error.
All CRMCC Members are invited to attend and encouraged to consider joining the committee. There will be multiple vacant positions declared open.
In contrast to previous years, we will not be offering an in-person AGM; if the online mode of attendance is a problem for you, please contact the committee via email (committee@crmcc.or.au).
The Committee membership nomination form is at:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Tt7NK_6jAoJRclpWUiMxWRqO1aaT_5pH
Please direct any questions about membership to the Club Secretary (secretary@crmcc.or.au).
If you have specific questions about vacant committee roles and responsibilities, please contact president@crmcc.org.au .
Upcoming races needing volunteers
2025
21 Jan 2025 – SFP crit
Race director, marshal
11 Feb 2025 – SFP crit
Race director
25 Feb 2025 – SFP crit
Race director
11 Mar 2025 – SFP crit
Race director
25 Mar 2025 – SFP crit
Race director
Please contact race.committee@crmcc.org.au if you can fill any of these roles for the club. https://rms.crmcc.org.au/calendar
Thank you to those members who have offered their services to fill roles so our races are run.
