Hello Vets,
In the Bleat this week;
- From the Desk of the President
- Nationals Report
- Gear for Sale
- Racing this Week
- From the Race Committee
- Race Reports
Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc
Ian Morton
From the Desk of the President
Dear Members,
Thanks to all those members that swelled the number of riders at Stromlo on Friday night. Looks like we’ve saved the track. Big thanks to Ben Davis who arranged for Liberal MLAs Giulia Jones and Mark Parton to visit. These two MLAs have promised to hold the Government to statements by the Minister, Chris Steele, that the Crit track will at least be preserved in it’s current format. An article from the Canberra Times is attached;
Dougal Torrance
President, ACT Vets Cycling Club
Nationals Report
2019 CA Masters Road Nationals wrap – Vets report
ACT Vets were represented by 4 riders, including M7 stalwart Owain Tilley, M5 monsters Brendan Byatt and Stephen Blackburn, and me. Owain committed to the single TT event, while Brendan opted to do TT and RR. Stephen did the RR, while I entered all 3 to try and get my money’s worth from 1200kms of car travel. In the TT, we all posted fairly competitive times, but were outmuscled on the mildly undulating course. The conditions were perfect, with little wind and perfect ambient temperatures allowing us to operate comfortably. From my perspective, it seemed the hills were shallow and short enough to allow the bigger boys to roll over with carried momentum. There was no advantage to be gained from long dragging false flats or hills, so I had to rely on raw power and aero. It seems I need to work on both, although being forced to change seat height and setback 20mins before the start was less than ideal. Nonetheless, Brendan was our top finisher with 5th, while Owain snagged 6th and I came a personally disappointing 9th.
The next day Stephen and Brendan set off in the road race. It was three 20km laps of an undulating circuit punctuated by a long twisting descent and a long and punishing climb of 200m over 2.6kms. The M4 race broke up on the first climb with a breakaway group and several chase groups, with Stephen in the break. The gaps between groups opened up each time up the climb, with the break staying away to the finish. In the final, the winner broke away from Stephen and his break companion and opened a 37s gap, with Stephen winning the sprint for silver. Brendan worked hard throughout but his skillset was not suited to the course and rolled in a creditable 27th.
Saturday was the MMAS4 road race, and I was suitably nervous. My family dropped me off at the start and drove off before I realised I had left my shoes in the boot! Fortunately, I was able to contact my partner and she returned soon after. The race unfolded much like the MMAS5 race, with several attacks along the flat before the descent that went nowhere, and much watching between riders. I stuck to Peter Milostic like glue knowing he had gone rogue/ solo at NSW champs the fortnight before and established a 4min winning margin. At the descent, the varied skillsets of the riders came to the fore and the sorting of the pack began. I was 9th wheel at the top, but ended up second wheel behind Milostic by the bottom. We worked consistently through the valley leading up to the climb. The climb started and instantly people started dropping from the lead group. A group of 8 formed and rode strongly towards the front lead by Milostic. I went to the front to try and force a split and by the time we got to the top, we had established a group of 4. We worked together along the top, with Milostic and I working most consistently. The descent was far smoother with less people this time around, and we continued working through the valley together. Next time up the climb, I got on the front again and just sat on a constant wattage trying to hurt the two that weren’t working consistently. 340w wasn’t enough to drop, but I could hear them working hard.
Over the top, it was status quo, with the only change being a puncture to one of the break. It came down to 3, and by the bottom of the climb, we had 1:50 over the chase. Immediately, we sat up and watched each other. Milostic was first to go, with the first of many attacks that I was able to fairly quickly cover. I was feeling pretty good. He went again and again, but wasn’t able to eke out a gap. I attacked hard and opened up a few bike lengths, which was maintained until lactic got the better of me and I sat down. They clawed their way back, and it was obvious this was going to be a sprint. Ion the finish flat, there was much foxing between Peter and Darren Lever on the right side of the road. I was surprised the commissaires didn’t do anything. I remained on the left and watched. It then hit me that if I jumped, they would have to cross to my side of the road before getting in my draft, so went from a long way out. I gave it everything, setting a personal best 20s power of 840w and just smacked through the gears as the speed increased. I kept expecting people to come through, but it never happened, right through to the line. Once I knew I had it I raised the fist and gave a yell. I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked. I knew I was a chance, but I never envisioned a sprint win. I was chuffed. A bit.
The crit was an interesting affair, with Milostic watching me only in an effort to defend the overall Champions jersey. I let one break too many go and ended up blowing my chances of the win. In the end, despite finding it easier than I expected, I made a strategic error on the last lap, and got gapped before crossing the line for 12th. I was fairly relaxed, though, as my main aim was the road race.
All in all, not a bad result for the Vets and CCC, with Anthony Murfett winning M3 in the TT.
Steven Crispin
Gear for Sale
Allan Bontjer is helping the Jessop family after Dennis’ recent passing with selling off some of his cycling gear.
Bikes (some already listed at https://canberrabuycycle.com.au/buy-a-bike/). Willing to sell immediately on negotiation;
- Bottechcia SP9 Supernova
- Coppi Steel Frame only Aelle tubing
- Eddy Merckx Carbon EMX5
- Ridley 24T HM Carbon Rs3
- Ridley Boreas frame only, 2009
- Merida Scultura 4000 Entry level
- BH Prisma 2011
- Orbea Aluminium/Carbon
- Principia Revolution III
- Bianchi Liti Aluminium
- Giant Cadex Carbon
- Bottechcia Typhon Carbon (needs head tube cut and headset install)
- De Rosa Avant Carbon
There are also some spare wheels, if you need a second set of wheels for training.
Misc
- Cyclops Trainer
- Tacx work-stand
Clothing
- Many road shirts, euro size 4-5 medium
Many full kits, same size with Shirts, knicks, socks. Also some matching vests and jackets and caps.
Contact me to view and negotiate prices
allan.bontjer@gmail.com
0422808035
Allan
RACING THIS WEEK:
Tuesday, 15th October: Stromlo Criterium – Graded Scratch
Where: Stromlo Forest Park
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number.
Race Description:
B/D 5:50 B 25m+2 laps, D 22m+2 laps
E/F/G 6:20 E/F/G 20m+2 laps
A/C 6:45 A 25m+2 laps, C 22m+2 laps
Race Director: Michael Reppion Contact: Email: michaeljohnreppion@gmail.com Ph 0430889357
Marshals: Travis Hicks
Wednesday, 16th October: Track Racing
This season’s first track racing session.
The Program for Wednesday is;
5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice;
6.00pm – 6.20pm: 8-lap graded scratch race;
6.20pm – 7.00pm: 1-SS Time Trial;
7.00pm – 7.20pm: Italian Pursuit.
Sunday, 20th October: Corin Time Trial
Where: Start of course is at the intersection of Tidbinbilla Rd and the Corin Dam Rd. Finish is approx 12km up the Corin Dam Rd at entry to the old Square Rock car park, near the gate.
When: 9:00 am.
Sign on: 15 mins before scheduled start time wearing your registered number
Race Description:
Climb to Square Rock car park.
Race Director: Alain Arbaut Contact: Email: arbaut@grapevine.net.au Ph 0400493148
Marshals: David Wilson
From the Race Committee
New RMS
The update of RMS, which works better on mobile devices, has been implemented. Bookmarks to the old RMS no longer work. You need to follow the updated links to the Race Calendar and Results from our home page at actvets.cc.
Upcoming Race Officials Roster
With the implementation of the new Race Calendar, the publication of the upcoming Race Officials Roster in the weekly Bleat will be discontinued.
Rostered race directors AND MARSHALS are shown against each race.
Please check the calendar (http://rms.actvets.cc/calendar). If your name is followed by TBC (To Be Confirmed) you need to contact the race committee (race.committee@actvets.cc) as soon as possible to either confirm your attendance or to request a swap.
Empty race directors and marshal positions are denoted as Vacant. Some marshals for races in the ACT need to be Events Traffic Controllers (ETC) and appear as Vacant ETC.
Please review the vacancies for upcoming races and email the race committee with events you would like to help out at, rather than wait and be asked to help at a race you wanted to do. Races cannot happen without members contributing to make them happen.
Ian McVay
Race Committee
RACE REPORTS:
SFP Criterium – 8th October
Hail storms throughout the afternoon and a sudden drop in temperature did not bode well for the first crit of the summer season. The attendance reflected this as well, along with the hopeful looks on faces whenever anybody asked the race director if the event was still on. All were to be disappointed, because yes it was! A little bit of rain doesn’t stop a vets race (particularly if I’m not riding).
The first event was E, F and G grades, which had seven starters (all from E grade) and was the biggest field of the night. E grade are obviously the hard men and women of the club. This race also had the closest finish of the night with Frank O’Sullivan leading onto the straight by some distance, only to be mowed down on the line by Penelope Anderson. Frank was judged to have just held on over Penelope with a finish so tight even the riders were not sure who got it. David Gunther finished in third.
Next up was A and C grade with a total of three riders who all agreed to have a ride together. Seymour Savell-Boss finishing ahead of Ben Davis and James Curran.
The final event was B and D grades. B grade had three starters who rode at a high pace, largely driven by Michael Fawke. In the end a good sprint was won by Bruce Goodfellow from Ian Preston, with Michael coming home in third.
D Grade was an entirely different kettle of fish. All five starters went at a brisk pace until Al Bontjer rode off the front, and away into the distance, not to be seen again by the field. This was easily the ride of the night, and a really nice comeback to form for Al. The pressure to chase from behind was intense, with the race in the end looking like a time trial, as every rider finished individually. New rider to the club James Sullivan finished a very strong second, followed by a hard chasing Craig O’Neall.
Special thanks to Paul Delmenico for marshalling on a very unpleasant night weather wise, and Ian McVay for kangaroo ejection duties.
Mark Harris
