z11.3 November 21 Bleat

Post date: Nov 21, 2016 10:2:21 AM

Hello Vets,

In the Bleat this week;

• Vintage Bike Exhibition

• Race Directors for 2017

• From the desk of the handicapper

• Racing this Week

• Race Reports

Please send me your contributions at: TheBleat@actvets.cc

Ian Morton

Vintage Bike Exhibition

Peter Taylor is a postman and cycling enthusiast, who services bicycles from his garage workshop and maintains a large and wonderful collection of vintage racing bikes. The highlights from Peter’s collection will be on display at the Canberra Museum and Gallery starting from Thursday 1 December 2016 until 5 March 2017.

The range includes rare Post World War II European bikes to an Australian bike raced at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. The exhibition coincides with the inaugural L’Étape Australia by Le Tour de France cycling event which will take place in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales in December.

The event would be delighted to welcome Pedal Power ACT members to the opening – by Minister Gordon Ramsay Minister for the Arts and Community Events at 12Noon Wed 30 November at CMAG.

Pedal Power Members should RSVP for catering purposes by COB Mon 28 Nov to cmagbookings@act.gov.au or 02 6207 3968.

Location: Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG)

Date: Thursday 1 December 2016 – 5 March 2017

Full details at http://www.pedalpower.org.au/news/velocity-vintage-racing-bikes/

Race Directors for 2017

The club’s ability to conduct racing for the benefit of the member’s comes down to handful of Race Director’s who donate their time to ensuring the racing is held in safe conditions and in the spirit of the club’s racing etiquette. But we always would like to be able to add more members to our Race Director ranks so as to share the workload. So we are on the lookout for any club member’s who are interested in becoming a Race Director in 2017. Race Directing is not a hard task and means just a few hours of your time when you need to direct a race, the bonus is that you’ll receive a healthy 20 point addition to your season points score which may prove the difference if you’re racing to win overall season honours.

If you’re interested in throwing your hat into the ring for 2017 and becoming a race director all you need to do is to email race.committee@actvets.cc and register your interest or approach one of the club officials at the crits on a Tuesday night.

From the desk of the handicapper

Crits

Andrew O’Neal F to E

Ben McDuff B to A

Wayne Shippley C to B

Bryan Holloway C to B

Paul Ledbrook B to A

Roger Wheatley D to C

Road

Mark Taylor D to C

Alain Arbaut E to D

RACING THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, 22nd November: Stromlo Criterium

Where: Stromlo Forest Park

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

Race Description:

B/D 5:50 B 40m+2, D 35m+2

E/F/G 6:35 28 min + 2 laps

A/C 7:10 A 40m+2, C 35m+2

Race Director: Ben Davis

Contact: Email: bdavis@internode.on.net Ph 0416014629

Wednesday, 23rd November: Track Racing

The Program for Wednesday is as follows:

5.30pm – 6.00pm: Warm-up and free practice;

6.00pm – 6.20pm: 10-lap graded scratch race;

6.20pm – 6.40pm: 4-Lap Handicap;

6.40pm – 7.00pm: 12 Lap Points Race;

7.00pm – 7.20pm: Italian Pursuit.

Sunday, 27th November: Dairy Flat Criterium - Team Points Race

Where: Dairy Road, Fyshwick.

When: 8:00 am

Note the earlier start time.

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

Race Description: Teams Point Race Points Race

Race Director:Nick Boylan

Contact: Email paddlepower@grapevine.com.au Ph: 0406379973

Nick will need a volunteer to help out. Please let him know if you can assist.

RACE REPORTS:

Stromlo – 15th November

Other than a slight breeze (by Stromlo's standards) and the threat of rain, it was perfect weather for some great racing.

E/F/G were first off the rank. The two visitors, David and Dale, showed their hand early in E grade. David took the lead about half way through and gave a strong solo performance, only relinquishing his lead in the final sprint. Mike Golding also tested the water early in the race, but the final results were determined by a big bunch sprint. With the sprint spreading the bunch out, Phillip Martin, Kirsty Cummin and Michael Golding were the first three across the line. Towards the start of the race, Bob Miller attempted to pull off the front in F grade, but was quickly pulled back in. F stayed together as a bunch for the rest of the race. Once again, it was a bunch sprint that determined the placing with Andrew O'Neil coming first followed by Bob Miller and Ian Morton. And, of course, Bernard gave a commanding solo performance in G grade.

Next was B and D grade. With dark clouds in the distance, and random drops of water falling on my paper, it was not looking too good for the finish of the B/D race. But fortunately the threat of rain dissipated quickly. Very early in the race a group of three riders, Paul Ledbrook, Dougal Torrance and Nick Boylan, took the lead in B grade. At one point they had a lead of nearly half a lap. About half way through the race Ben McDuff managed to get onto the leading bunch of three, with some help. The group of four remained well in front of the rest of the bunch with the top three placings going to Ben McDuff, Paul Ledbrook and Dougal Torrance. There were a few attempts of a breakaway in D grade, but they were all brought back into the fold. D grade remained together as a bunch with the final sprint placings going to Roger Wheatley, Radi Kovacevic and Ben Healy.

With the light fading, A and C grades were the last ones to race. The pace in A grade was set to maximum right from the start, as demonstrated by the relatively large number of DNFs. Maybe we should start using the Greek alphabet to find a grade for the first two place holders, Stephen Isbel and Ed Pellegrino. They managed to finished about 3/4 of a lap in front of the rest of the grade. All indications are that if we had continued racing they would have lapped the rest of A grade. The third placing, held by Mark Harris, was determined by a bunch sprint. As with D grade, C grade quickly annihilated any attempts at a breakaway and essentially stayed together as a bunch throughout the race. The first three placings going to Wayne Shippley, Bryan Holloway and Tom Tokich were determined by a final bunch sprint.

I have a number of people I would like to thank. I would like to thank Santa for helping to sweep the track. Even if he likes to scare little children with talk of Bleat reports. Thank you to Graham and Phill for helping out with the registration and setting up the equipment. As a race director, I am always apprehensive when the bunches come together. Thank you to those riders who were calling out when overtaking and to those who moved over and let the other riders quickly go past. Standing on the sidelines it looked like the overtaking went smoothly, I hope it felt the same in the bunch. And finally, a BIG thank you to Barbara and Mary for helping out with the finishing chute and start line.

Linda Stals

Narrabundah Track Racing – 16th November

The sixth Track Racing session for 2016-17 attracted 19 riders, maintaining the good record for attendance so far this season. The evening was warm and initially looked like providing perfect conditions for racing. However, the wind was unpredictable, initially light then strengthening suddenly for the second race and later moderating, but swirling around the velodrome.

The 8-lap A grade scratch race was very competitive. Antony Bishop had a first outing with the track group, reinforcing a group of strong riders in A grade. The race unfolded with several riders trying attacks from time to time. However, no one was allowed to get away. The nett effect of the abortive attacks was to raise the pace to a ferocious level by Lap 6. At the end of this lap, Antony Bishop made an early burst for the finish. Steve Jones and Michael Langdon hitched on with the trio gapping the field by 6 – 8 metres. Antony’s lead out set up Steve Jones perfectly for the sprint win. He was closely followed by Michael Langdon with Antony taking a well deserved third place.

The 8-Lap B grade scratch race started at an easy pace. Dominic Rideaux soon took the front, acting as derny for the group and holding a good steady pace over several laps. The race became interesting approaching lap seven. The pace suddenly surged with riders jockeying for a good position at the start of the bell lap. The race transitioned to a classic bunch sprint from which Phil Anderson emerged victorious over Ross Scutts and Steve Dean. The win set up a good night, overall, for Phil.

The next event was a 200 metre flying time trial. This event is a flat chat sprint over 200 metres from a flying start. It is quite technical with the acceleration and positioning approaching the start being critical. It is a quick, fun event. Most of the A grade times were clustered between 14 and 15 seconds. Antony Bishop and Steve Jones went under 14 seconds with Antony taking first place in 13.28 seconds and Steve following in 13.40 seconds. Ben Robey did a great time of 14.05 seconds, taking third from Michael Langdon by just one hundredth of a second. The B grade times were mostly clustered between 15 and 16 seconds. Two riders went under 15 seconds with Steve Dean taking a win at 14.36 seconds and Steve Hirsler taking second in 14.66 seconds. Both riders love this event and it shows. Phil Anderson took third for B grade in 15.21 seconds.

Michael Langdon Attacks from the Front as the Bunch Relax

The third event was a 10-Lap Snowball. The event had a points sprint every two laps. This event is similar to a points race, except that the sprint points increase progressively through the race, making tactics crucial. In A grade, Peta Brill took the first sprint and established a break with Ben Robey. Ben and Peta held on to take the next two sprints in turn. By Lap seven, the bunch had caught the breakaways, with Steve Jones taking the next two sprints. The final points wash up for the event was Steve Jones (9), Antony Bishop (6), Peta Brill (5), Ben Robey (5), Michael Langdon (5), Kerry Knowler (5). It was interesting to find four riders on equal third points.

In the B grade Snowball, Steve Hirsler showed the initial enterprise to take sprint 1. He was soon chased by Phil Anderson and eventually Ross Scutts. Steve held on to take the first four sprints. In the final sprint Ross Scutts finally overpowered Steve. Additionally, Phil Coulton struggled up to third place with a gutsy effort. The final points wash up for the event was Steve Hirsler (8), Phil Anderson (6), Ross Scutts (5), Phil Coulton (3), Steve Dean (2).

The track session closed with the usual, all-in, Italian pursuit. There were 8 riders on each team. The outcome was difficult to predict as Team 1 appeared to have better anchor riders and Team 2 appeared to have a stronger line up for mid race. The race ran largely to script with Team 2 establishing an early lead and Team 1 chasing this down. By Lap 6 both teams were even. However, a big effort by Steve Jones and Antony Bishop brought it home for Team 1.

Major place getters were as follows:

8-Lap Scratch: (A Grade): Steve Jones, Michael Langdon, Antony Bishop (B Grade) Phil Anderson, Ross Scutts, Steve Dean.

200m Fly Time Trial: (A Grade): Antony Bishop (13.28s), Steve Jones (13.40s), Ben Robey (14.05s) (B Grade) Steve Dean (14.36s), Steve Hirsler (14.66s), Phil Anderson (15.21s).

10 Lap Snowball: (A Grade) Steve Jones (9), Antony Bishop (6), Peta Brill (5), Ben Robey (5), Michael Langdon (5), Kerry Knowler (5) (B Grade) Steve Hirsler (8), Phil Anderson (6), Ross Scutts (5), Phil Coulton (3), Steve Dean (2).

Combined Italian Pursuit: Winner Team 1 (Graeme O’Neill, Steve Dean, Ross Scutts, Steve Hirsler, Andrew Peel, Domenic Rideaux, Antony Bishop, Steve Jones).

Current Points Score Leaders: Steve Jones (113),Michael Langdon (107), Ross Scutts (87), Phil Anderson (81), Alec Millett (80), Steve Hirsler (72), Kerry Knowler (66), Ian Drayton (65),Andrew Peel (65).

Graeme O'Neill

Old Federal Highway Handicap – 20th November

What a great day for a 48km handicap--especially if you are watching from the sidelines! Thanks to Reinhard Mauch for offering to help at the last moment and he was rewarded with the trail car duties. Many of the riders looked a little fried at the end but I'm sure those who finished would have enjoyed the hit-out. Bernie Crowe got the race under way for G grade. Such was Bernie's speed and stealth that lead car driver Bruce Jones didn't even see him go past at the start. However, Bruce was much more alert later in the race when he spotted two red belly black snakes on the course and encouraged them to leave. The lesser handicapped riders complained when I announced the distance of "FOUR LAPS", but how else can you achieve 48km on a 12Km course? Some grades also didn't take my advice of "slow up the hills and fast down," and notable grade destroyers applied the reverse tactic much to their group's peril. A grade only had four riders so had the advantage of the A2 start time and so were in the running for a win but only Peter Marshall and Tom Hartley could sustain their fierce pace until the end.

Tom Roberts, one of our regular first aiders, was on hand but his services were fortunately not required. We should really also employ a psychologist to provide counselling to the low self-esteem locals who obviously think they own the Old Fed. Today's confrontation was when a local in a huge V8 pick-up, so threatened by the sight of Tom, Graham Hendrie and me standing at the finish, felt that he had to rev his engines at the start/finish line and then roar off! (And not come to a complete stop at the stop sign, I might add.)

The race got quite exciting by the last lap, as C should have caught D to take the lead and Peter and Tom were passing everyone else. But my predictions were wrong and in the end it was the old warrior and master tactician Mark Taylor who attacked his group of D and E graders on the last crest and was able to (relatively) cruise into the finish ahead of Alain Arbaut and Michael Hanbury. Peter was the fastest for the day and only 28 seconds back. So my other advice at the start should have been "Don't let Mark Taylor ride away because you'll never catch him." Mark did the same thing at Breadalbane not long ago. The riders who rode out would have had a hot slog back but no doubt enjoyed some quality couch time in the arvo. Thanks also to Dave McGuiness at the Lake George turn, Allan Bontjer for driving out the race director, and, of course, to Graham who once again unpacked the van, set up the urn registered the riders, recorded the times, printed out the results and posted them in the RMS. If you haven’t already said thanks, bought him a beer, listed him in your will, cleaned his bike for him this year please do, as time is running out. We also can’t forget the contribution of Ian Morton who set up the signs along the course. Ian has a particular fondness for whacking in star pickets into NSW soil, but shares the burden in the ACT.

Robert Langridge