Cootamundra Haycarters Handicap 08-09 may 10

[shrubb face]

Ladies and Gentleman,

I present the Cootamundra Haycarters Handicap. 2 days of fast paced, short distance, handicaped, road racing fun.

When: Sat 8th & Sunday 9th May
Where: Cootamundra, about 3.5 hours south.
Distances: 70km first day, 60km second day.
Accommodation: If we stay in the same place as last time, its brilliant. Good food, woodfire, comfy bed, reasonably priced and best of all good company. James F will confirm once we have approximate numbers.
Entries close: 25 April
Why: Because road races are like getting very very drunk. Its fun at the start, then its very very bad, once you stop you never want to do it again and a couple of days latter you find yourself planning the next one.

Chubb.

[othy]

I'm interested. Not ready, but interested.

[kiwiames]

Yes count me in for this one. Sounds like a good race to begin a first road season.
I'll be needing a lift to and from for this one, once I know whos going then i can work something out.
From what I have been told from Mr President this is indeed a fun weekend away.

[T-Bone]

My computer is back in action again, so i'll get onto finding some accommodation. I'll make my first inquiries on monday, so try to let me know your interest before then.

[NOOG]

I'm keen for this

[Camilla]

I can't believe about about to say this, but I think I'm keen. Something about Chubb's description gripped me.

[T-Bone]

Just spoke to Al tonight. So 4 more racing + 1 support.

[timyone]

when do entrys close?

[Karzie]

I'll be coming also.

Ian

[mikesbytes]

What's the wind like in May?

[timyone]

gale force, the whole month

[shrubb face]

are you trying to talk yourself out of it as well tim?

[mikesbytes]

Tim did a dam good job of cutting thru the wind last year

[timyone]

nah i didnt do the heycutters, the one i did is later in the year, its the big one day classic
Im not sure the diff between the two

[mikesbytes]

That's the one I'm referring to Tim, its the same location isn't it?

[shrubb face]

Ok. James is currently in the process of sourcing accomodation, hopefully it will be in the same place as last time and then we are looking at approximatly 60-70 dollars each including breakfast. In order to book the accomodation we need confirmed numbers by this sunday (18th april), as rooms fill up quickly in Coota when the racings is in town.

Confirmed people so far are:

Alex C
James F
Al + 3 extras

[Camilla]

aaah! I really want to come, but I suspect I am not:
a) going to be strong enough (and don't give me the you'll be fine Camilla, just have a glass of red - I've been quite sick after sucking in the hell that was last Thursday in the roller room, and before then wasn't exactly on the razor's edge anyway);
and b) I don't really have the time. Work is killing me.
I think you'd best count me out James. If things change I'll sleep in the back of my ute, but I'll be wanting a spot on front of the fire beforehand. And maybe the use of your shower.

Camilla

[kiwiames]

Yes count me in Alex.

[T-Bone]

Accommodation booked for:
Al/Coral + 3
Alex
Me
Amy
Mark

Others coming along let me know so i can book you a room.

[NOOG]

I've just entered James. Could you please book Eli and I a room? Ta.

[othy]

I have also entered. Please book a room for Dani + Myself.

[PeterOS]

Sorry for the late notice James but if its not to late could you book me a room too.

[williamd]

Count me in too.

[T-Bone]

Don't worry Bill, AL said you were coming, so you're already in. Peter, i made a mistake with Mark, so that's now you. I'll phone tomorrow for the others, won't be a problem.

Booked:
Al/Coral + 2
Bill
Alex
Me
Amy
Peter
Tim (will confirm)
John (will confirm)

[timyone]

yeah im in
havent signed up yet though

[timyone]

ok im in





lol i need 10 charecters for this to be a proper message

[shrubb face]

Yay, nicely done Tim. Now i might have someone in my bunch.

[othy]

James, any update on the accommodation?

[mikesbytes]

What's the availability of transport like?

[T-Bone]

All booked Tim and Tim and John.

[othy]

All booked Tim and Tim and John.

Thanks!

Now to do some more training in the limited time I have left (all current theory suggests that you can't "cram" for a cycling race...).

[williamd]

Mikesbytes wrote what is the availability of transport like.

Al may have space for a few riders and bikes in his van.

[shrubb face]

Well entries are now closed, so we should get the handicaps sometime later this week. Its not a huge field but it should still be a good race, lets hope the weather is friendly this time.

After looking at the field im slightly worried about where my handicap might put me

[mikesbytes]

I decided to do the NSW masters road/crit championship instead. All the best guys/gals. Go team DHBC !!!!!

[shrubb face]

Handicaps are out. They all look pretty good, i think im in with an ok chance for this one.

Handicaps as follows.

-Bunch 5 7:30 mins (limit + 15:30)
79 CHUBB, Alexander
-Bunch 6 9:30 mins (limit + 13:30)
94 FOWLER, James
95 LLEWELLYN, Timothy
-Bunch 7 12:00 mins (limit + 11:00)
119 LLEWELLYN, Simon
120 NGUYEN, John
-Bunch 9 17:00 mins (limit + 6:00)
161 O'SULLIVAN, Peter
162 VESTY, Amy
163 BRIERS, Timothy
- Bunch 10 23:00 mins (limit 0:00 mins)
181 DASKALOPOULOS, William
182 SUMNER, Alan
183 CAMPBELL, Francis patrick
184 CARSWELL, Ian

[T-Bone]

looks alright i guess.

Now to work out transport. Who's driving and has room for another person or bike??

[Karzie]

looks alright i guess.

Now to work out transport. Who's driving and has room for another person or bike??

Allan Sumner said last week he still had a spare seat. I don't know what the ride is going to be like in the van, however....

[weiyun]

Allan Sumner said last week he still had a spare seat. I don't know what the ride is going to be like in the van, however....

Al and Coral's pet dog is looking forward to riding in your lap.

[othy]

Handicaps are out. They all look pretty good, i think im in with an ok chance for this one.

Handicaps as follows.

-Bunch 5 7:30 mins (limit + 15:30)
79 CHUBB, Alexander
-Bunch 6 9:30 mins (limit + 13:30)
94 FOWLER, James
95 LLEWELLYN, Timothy
-Bunch 7 12:00 mins (limit + 11:00)
119 LLEWELLYN, Simon
120 NGUYEN, John
-Bunch 9 17:00 mins (limit + 6:00)
161 O'SULLIVAN, Peter
162 VESTY, Amy
163 BRIERS, Timothy
- Bunch 10 23:00 mins (limit 0:00 mins)
181 DASKALOPOULOS, William
182 SUMNER, Alan
183 CAMPBELL, Francis patrick
184 CARSWELL, Ian

My picks are John, Simon and Amy. Chubbsy will obviously be doing the most suffering. I'll be doing my best to stay on Amy's wheel and ride it to victory.

[mikesbytes]

othy, your in the hot seat with that handicap

[shrubb face]

I dont know about suffering, im rating my chances in this one.

[T-Bone]

I'm guessing Al has Bill, Frank, and Ian in his van, so Peter could go in there too.

I can fit 2 others, so i guess Alex and Tim L, though Tim may travel down with Simon as he's not racing Sunday.

John said he has room for 1 more, so i guess Amy could go in his car.

Lastly Tim B, i assume you're travelling with the misses.

Hope this works for everyone. Just reply with any other ideas.

[othy]

Sorry, I have no room as I don't have any racks for my car yet and my wife is coming.

What time are people leaving on Saturday? Want to meet at the Maccas (Yass?) on the way?

[T-Bone]

No worries othy, i guessed that might be the case.

I'm thinking of leaving at around 7am, or maybe a little later.

[shrubb face]

So have we got a meeting time organised at the maccas? I really enjoyed breakfast last time.

[othy]

James, What is the name & number of the pub we are staying at?

Shrubb, I'm willing to meet at Maccas, just give me a time (and the correct location) - I'm probably not the best to work it out. We were there for breakfast last time so it must have been around 10am?

[orphic]

So how was it?

[MarkL]

My theory is there were nasty crosswinds and they all got blown off track and are still racing for the line

[othy]

So how was it?

Went well for me - finished with the winning bunch on both days (at the back, staying out of trouble).

Day 1.
Great weather for racing, my group worked well together. 3 riders came past quickly at about the 30km mark and I was the only one to jump on them. Stayed with them for about 8-10km, but wasn't feeling it (cramping calves) so I dropped back to the bunch chasing. Made sure I started rolling turns as soon as I got back. Just rode through the cramps and they went away. Another rider dropped back after a few km. The final climb at about the 45km mark, two riders will still ahead by about 500m, and a small group from the current lead bunch attacked on the climb with about 5 riders heading up quickly. I decided to stay with the main bunch and this was probably the biggest mistake. The small group formed up ahead and worked well together staying away. We chased all the way to the finish, with the scratchies catching our bunch on the bridge heading into town - absolute chaos. The small group I think held them off (only just) and thats where the winners came from.

Day 2.
Mostly the same riders from yesterdays group, we formed up well and managed a good pace. No cramping today. Managed to win one of the "sprints" (it was at the top of a hill) on the first lap of the course. On the second lap we were down to about 12 riders and everyone realised we might be in with the money. Made a small stab at another sprint (on a hill again), but ended up having a young guy from Albury-Wodonga come around me. Formed a small group of 4 in front, which included the eventual first woman. We were obviously the strongest riders in the group and had a bit of a discussion about how to handle the final 2 climbs. We decided to ease up and wait for the bigger group as there was still a long way to go.

Kept it together until about 10km to go - at this point our group completely shutdown, as before the two climbs the strong guys on the flats just stopped working in anticipation of myself and a few others about to ride off the front. Lost a lot of time along the back section of the course. We held off all other bunches again until the top of the final climb, where I had won the first sprint. Alex came past very quickly and then 50m behind him were the bunch. No scratchies in it at this point. He died with about 1km to go, but it was a top effort and the right/only place to launch an attack. James, John and myself were all in this group and once again I just hung at the back and stayed out of trouble until the finish.

Stayed for the presentation to collect my winnings. Thanks for to Tim, John and Ely for also hanging around.

Good weekend of racing. The B&B was great - my wife and I got what was apparently the best room, from the comments of everyone else. Looking forward to heading out there again later in the year.

[orphic]

Sounds like you had a great weekend of racing Tim. No dreaded cross winds like last year?

What did you spend your winnings on?

I know the guy that won on Saturday. I will have to ask him what his secret is next time I see him!

[NOOG]

Here are some photos...