Women's 50km Road Race - West Head November 11

[Eleri]

On an auspicious date (for a number of reasons unrelated to cycling) MWCC is putting on a Women's 50km road race at West Head on November 11.

Racing starts at 7.30am from the D'Albora Marina, Akuna Bay. The finish is at the Elivina Track car park on the road out to West Head (there is a trailer at the start that you can put a bag in with clothes / spares etc that they take up to the finish).

For November, entry will be free for women (who have a Gold race license - upgrade from Silver available for $33)

A 50k road race on your doorstep with no entry fee, can't do better than that!

Any takers? I'll probably go.

*If 10 or more women register. If they don't get the numbers, competitors will be able to enter whichever regular grade they choose. But we know it won't come to that, right??

[Camilla]

Hmm. I'm female, have a gold race licence, bike and no money. Would be churlish not to enter!

[Trouty]

Hmm. I'm female, have a gold race licence, bike and no money. Would be churlish not to enter!

I hate hills, and I will be the one at the back with the groupetto, but I guess I could go? DHBC masters ream reunion!

[Eleri]

There's no hills at West Head. Was there yesterday. They've all gone.

[Trouty]

There's no hills at West Head. Was there yesterday. They've all gone.

Liar liar bike on fire!

[mikesbytes]

Flat by country standards

[JoTheBuilder]

I'm not sure 'racing' for 50km sounds like much fun but I might come along...

[Camilla]

I was totally going to fake an early flat and hang out in the grupetto too. We can watch Eleri take off in the break away then sit up!

[rach]

hello! I'm new here..Where is West Head?

[Trouty]

I was totally going to fake an early flat and hang out in the grupetto too. We can watch Eleri take off in the break away then sit up!

I'll be near the front for about 5 minutes if that.....then ill be with you in the groupetto!

[Stuart]

hello! I'm new here..Where is West Head?

Northern Beaches it's a great ride on lovely hot mix after the turn out to West Head itself. Map link

[Eleri]

Bump

I'm definitely in for this. Trouty is still in. Camilla writing her PhD and out
Jo the Builder? Back on the bike by then?
Rach? You coming along?

Any other women? It's FREE. It's LADIES DAY

[JoTheBuilder]

Hi Eleri,

I'm out regardless unfortunately. Heading to Newcastle for lunch (in the new car!). However, I've got a taste for racing after last weekend so it won't be long until I'm out there again.

[Trouty]

Hi Eleri,

I'm out regardless unfortunately. Heading to Newcastle for lunch (in the new car!). However, I've got a taste for racing after last weekend so it won't be long until I'm out there again.

Just to let you know, tat even if there is a hint of rain...I'm out...yes soft. Forecast is good though for Sunday.

[Eleri]

There's more blurb up about it now

http://www.manlywarringahcc.org.au/news ... -for-free/

[Camilla]

Only just remembered this. But indeed I'm in the cave. Good luck tomorrow ladies and may it be sunny so that Jo can go out and play! Although we all know it's really the hill that scares her...

[Camilla]

Hello? - results people! Or are you all out celebrating?

[Trouty]

Hello? - results people! Or are you all out celebrating?

There wasn't a big show of woman. In the end there were only 6 of us, so they gave us 3 minutes head start on D grade, and the deal was once they caught us the race would combine, however, awarded separate prizes. Up the first 12 km climb Donna Meehan and the 2 younger girls (Clare from Clarence St Cycles, and another whose name escapes me), were doing most of the work - whilst Eleri, myself and another girl stayed at the back sucking wheels. Girl number 6 dropped off before the top of the climb but I think Eleri and I made it to the top with the bunch. I struggled on with the bunch and the D grade blokes caught us. I lasted with them further till the 20km mark and watched them sail away in the distance - I hate that feeling. Eleri dropped prior not sure when. The race was 27.5km so I didn't quite make the bunch finish, so just rolled around by myself like a big girls blouse. Donna and the other 2 girls stayed with the men though and as predicted they came 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the woman's, but Eleri and I weren't too far behind. I did try and dig deep into my "bag of courage" but it was no where to be found. Happy to finish and it was a lovely day to ride.

Unfortunately there was a terrible accident in one of the other grades that happened right at the finish line. Some recreational cyclist panicked seeing there was a race on and decided to do a u turn at the bottom of the hill right into one of the speeding cyclists coming down. A sommersault followed, and he was carted away in the ambo.

[Eleri]

I left my legs at Dunc Gray on Saturday night. Kept the mangy banana and the other detritus but left the legs somewhere on the back straight.

However, Strava assures me I did a PB on McCarr's Creek road to Akuna Bay - my warmup consisted of rolling down a hill. Not ideal. But then I already had nothing left. We headed off up a 4km hill to the West Head road and I was doing OK. But got dropped on the first incline round the corner. Kept going hoping the D Grade blokes would pick me up but they took ages. Jumped on the back and discovered that D Grade blokes at the back of the bunch are a bit on the hopeless side when it comes to bunch riding skills.

They caught up with the women, which means I did too - only to get dropped on the Wall. My well honed skills of getting dropped and then chasing down the bunch deserted me - probably needed the assistance of the missing legs. Nearly caught Jo after the final turnaround.

Glad I went - next time I won't attempt to sprint with teenagers on the track the night before. But I'll definitely do it again.

The 3 women who rode with C Grade (which did a 54km race) kept attacking off the front for the whole race according to Geraldine who was one of them. Sounds like they gave the blokes a run for their money.

[Camilla]

I almost feel like I was there! A big call, after DG. Well done for making a show of it against that crew. A shame there weren't more ladies though. 6 is a pretty poor turn out. Only myself to blame though!

Glad to hear you kept the banana Eleri. Might come in handy one day.

[Eleri]

There were 9 because 3 of them wanted to ride 2 laps and promoted themselves up to C Grade. SUVelo had it's championship that day at Heffron so a bunch of those women were out. I reckon it's got legs.