Post date: Feb 13, 2012 10:38:37 AM

Welcome to The Bleat, the weekly roundup of news and views from the ACT Veterans Cycling Club.

I’d like to start this issue by thanking Richard Gorrell for his efforts over the past couple of years in putting together the week roundup of events for the club.

I’m introducing a new feature, the ACTVets Member Profile, a weekly insight into one of your fellow club members. For the first profile we feature Club President – Rob Diamond.

Please send me any contributions at the new Email address: TheBleat@actvets.cc

Ian Morton.

TIMELY REMINDERS:

PLEASE NOTE THE EARLIER START TIMES FOR TUESDAY CRITS: See race schedule below.

AGM Monday 27 Feb: Have you considered nominating for the 2012/13 ACTVCC Committee? Download a nomination form from http://www.actvets.cc/files/memberfiles

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 14 February: Stromlo Crits from 5:45pm.

Where: Stromlo Forest Park Circuit.

Sign on: 15 mins before your grade's scheduled start time wearing your registered number.

When: (approximate start and race times): G at 5:45 for 15 min+2; EF at 6:05 for 20 min+2; AB at 6:30 for 30min+2; CD at 7:05 for 25 min+2. NOTE that race times will be reduced in the coming weeks as daylight fades earlier. If the weather is overcast, it is a good idea to time your arrival at the track a little earlier in case start times are brought slightly forward to allow for this.

Event: Stromlo Graded Criteriums

Race Director: Alex O'Shea

Contact: o'shea.alex@comcare.gov.au , (02) 6260 4488

Thursday 16 February: Qbn Track Racing from 6:00pm

Where: Queanbeyan Park

When: Warm up from 5:30 pm; first race at 6:00 pm.

Event: Scratch races, two lap handicap, derny races and Italian pursuits. Road and track bikes welcome.

Contact: track@actvets.cc

As always events can be found on the RMS and more detail at http://www.actvets.cc/track/tracknews

Sunday, 19 February: Lookout Hill Time Trial

Where: Lookout Hill Car Park

Time: 8:00 am

Sign-on: By 7:45 at the latest. Numbers must be worn on the bottom left of your jersey.

Race Description: Time Trial

Course: Lookout Hill - Tharwa village car park - Pt Hut Turn - Finish at Lookout Hill – Dist 19.5km

Race Director: Ross Robinson

Contact:; rossr1@iinet.net.au Tel: (02) 6297 3419

Help Needed on Sunday: Ross will need at least three road marshals and at least two others to help at the start/finish. Please contact Ross with any offers of help.

RECENT RESULTS:

Stromlo Crits, 7 February 2012.

Last Tuesday saw a huge turnout with 131 riders turning out in cool conditions.

In G Grade, Angelika Mauch led out for a good win ahead of Bruce Jones and Antonina Bolschelarski.

In A Grade, Michael Payne took the honours over Mark Harris and David Rae. In B Grade, Simon Junakovic held off Charles Nicoll and John Thorn.

The C/D race had a combined field of 60 riders making for some crowded racing. Andrew Chamberlain took the points from Brad Dickie and Vincent Dunn while D Grade saw Michael McGurgan beating the fast recovering Alan Bontjer and Ben Vagnarelli.

In the fading light E Grade saw Dale Teddy put in a strong ride to win over Brian Chugg and Bob Kent. F Grade rounded out the evening with Richard Hedley taking the line over Daniel Partridge and Patrick Bouquiaux.

Thanks to Chris Nolan for Race Directing with support from Henry Beaverstock.

Stromlo Criterium Points Race, Sunday 12 February, 2012.

E and F Grade kicked off first on a chilly Sunday morning. In E Grade, Alex Sommariva dominated the points over Brian Chugg and Ron Parello. In F Grade, Ian Shaw took the points over James Cruden with James Meredith coming in third.

The Race Director was having anxiety attacks trying to figure out how to separate A and B Grade track on the track. After some strong words from the sideline they finally put some daylight between them so that the race officials could pick the intermediate points. In A Grade three riders decided to make it their own with Paul Connor, Mark Harris and Steve Jones leading out for most of the race and taking the top three places. In B Grade, Simon Junakovic held out Andrew Chamberlain and Paul Angelatos for the win.

C Grade was dominated by Steve Schwenke racking up 13 points with Jim Davey just beating out Michael Reppion for the minor placings. D Grade was a more even spread with Ben Vagnarelli taking the win over Ashley Sked and Michael McGurgan.

In G Grade, Angelika Mauch beat out a small field to take the win from Bruce Jones David Gould. The Tandems had the opportunity to show their stuff on the Crit Track with John Barlow taking the win over Peter Granleese and Lindy Hou.

Thanks to Philip Walker for Race Directing.

NOTE: Full results available at http://rms.actvets.cc/

JJ's Bleat: Criterium Grade Size

Over the last couple of weeks we have seen the size of a number of grades grow to quite large number (28+). Although this has provided from a spectators view point and excellent race with lots of attacks and counter attacks. The problem that I see is that the grades start growing to the point where they become difficult to deal with as a rider. Larger groups by their nature are far more hectic in terms of riders trying to move up and to manage the pace. These create stress within the group and can create situations where incidents can happen with less than desirable results, or in more simple terms ‘crashes’. The race committee, as well as every other member of the club, are not keen to see our record of minimal incidents eroded by this situation. As such I am seeking feedback on how the riders feel about the bunch sizes. Please email me with your thoughts:

James Jordan

handicapper@actvets.cc

ACT Veterans Member Profile

In the first of our weekly items, we take a look at our Club President, Rob Diamond, and find out a little bit more about him as a cyclist and as a person;

How long have you been a member of ACT Vets?

Since June 2004

What is your favourite course in the ACT Vets racing calendar and why?

Gunning and Dalton. I like the less hilly courses. They are also quiet roads that we don’t get to ride on so often that we take them for granted. We are actually blessed with the range of courses we have available.

What Grade did you start in?

I started in G grade. The day of the race was the first time I had ridden a race bike. I didn’t even know how to change the gears or get my feet out of the toe clips, so yes I fell over on the start line! And I had no lycra. The race was at Gundaroo on a cold day that looked like rain. I remember asking Rico Fitch, who I didn’t know then, what would be better to ride in, my track suit top or an old wind proof that at least looked like something a racer might wear. He was very polite and suggested the windproof. I can imagine now what he must have been thinking. Of course once we got underway it was all I could do to hang on and watch. Then someone yelled at me ‘take a turn’! Take a turn at what I wondered? Anyway I finished the race with the group. I had never ridden so far in my life. 40ks!

How long have you been cycling?

I have always ridden, but prior to joining the vets it was just to the shops or to take the dogs for a run.

What got you interested in cycling?

I was playing comp squash, running and doing gym work and was starting to suffer some wear and tear. So after a shoulder job courtesy of Kevin Woods it was suggested maybe I should look for other sports. In fact for a while after the operation the only thing I could do at the gym was ride an exercise bike. After a while I got bored with that and thought I should get a road bike and try real riding. A friend had actually given me an old Giant that I had left in the shed so I took it to the bike shop and picked it up on the way to the race at Gundaroo, never having ridden it.

What was your most memorable ride?

My riding has progressed a bit since those days and I quickly became hooked on the whole scene associated with riding. I remember Kevin Woods saying to me after he heard I had joined the vets that it would take a few years to get the strength in my legs. I didn’t really believe him at the time but he was right. By 2007 I had moved through the grades and was looking for all sorts of challenges on the bike. So I entered with my friend Tony to do the Etape du Tour. This was a 197k stage through the Pyrenees with 4 hors category climbs. Remember earlier I said I didn’t like hills! It took 9 hours in the 35 degree heat. There were over 7000 riders and I came in around 1500^th so I was pretty pleased.

What is/was your favourite bike?

I haven’t owned many bikes in my short racing career. After the old Giant I bought a Cannondale 6/13 and it was such a dramatic improvement that I think it skipped me up a grade straight away. So that is the bike I remember most fondly. Sadly it ended up under the rear wheel of a car (with me still attached to it) or it would still be safely racked up in my bike shed.

Where do you work?

I have a travel agency in Manuka. Using this excuse I now run cycle tours into Europe so I can get out of the Canberra winters.

How do you find the time to train?

Like a lot of bike riders, I get up early. At the moment its usually Tuesday crits, Wednesday bunch, Thursday ride to coffee shop via Red Hill, Friday bunch, Saturday bakery ride and race Sunday. This usually sees me doing around 250ks each week.

Family?

I am married with 4 grown up children.

What does your partner think of your cycling?

Judy was a keen cyclist when I used to think she was mad doing what she did on a bike. She is not a racer but has done just about every Hartley and Fitz's Challenge to date. So she is very supportive of the time and money that I spend on cycling. If I look out the window at 5am on a wet morning and mutter that I think I will go back to bed today I quickly get told to get out there on the bike and don’t be soft!

Directing This Month?

See our website for list of future events and allocated race directors. http://rms.actvets.cc/

Please notify James Jordan (handicapper@actvets.cc) if you are unable to meet your obligations or provide a substitute director in your absence. If you are unable to direct for any reason please try to make alternative arrangements by swapping with other allocated Directors. If you cannot make a swap please give us at least a week's notice so we can call for a replacement in a timely fashion.

Current List to March 1:

Alex O'Shea (14/2/12)

Ross Robinson (19/2/12)

Ed Pellegrino (21/2/12)

Nick Boylan (25/2/12 Sat at 5:00pm)

George Pongracz (28/2/12)