Next Criterium this Sunday - 20/9/09!!!

[Rainbow]

Hi everyone. I know this isn't gerenal protocol, but I'll give it a go!

Venue is confirmed for this Sunday.

Criterium Racing: Sunday 20th of September 2009.
Location: Dunc Gray Criterium circuit
Start time: 7:30am- 8am
Expected finish time: 8:30am-9:30am
Grades: Slowies (C), Middies (B), Fasties (A)
Cost: $5 for racing
Prize money: nil.
Distance: approx 30kms but based on who shows up, less for slowies, maybe more for fasties
Type of racing: Scratch race for A grade with 3 intermediate sprints and a handicapp combining B & C into a fair seperate race.
One day licenses: No, too costly at present.

The plan is that everybody meet at Mick Mazza's at 6:30am as usual & ride out together race & ride back as like last month. The route has been found to be suprisingly safer & quieter than expected.

If anybody chooses to drive out or is coming from another direction & doesn't know where dunc Gray is; here's the map:
http://www.nsw.cycling.org.au/default.asp?id=29416

[simon.sharwood]

If any non-racing slowies want to go out and have a look, that's what I am planning to do, possibly with long return via. Landsdowne Park, Prospect Ck cycle track, Liverpool-Parra rail trail and then the mighty Cooks River trail. About 70kms all up and a good look at bits of Western Sydney you probably only ever fly over

[weiyun]

My apology for piking out of this one at the last minute. Have volunteered to escort wheelchair marathoners in the Sydney Marathon on Sun AM. It'll be my first ever attempt at a full marathon course... On a bike.

[othy]

Why do they need a bicycle escort? What is your role?

[weiyun]

Why do they need a bicycle escort? What is your role?

Apparently because of their speed and low position, cyclists are ideal to spot road irregularities and clear out human traffic en-route. Also in situations where they encounter trouble (crashes are known to happen), assistance can be provided promptly. For the full 42km, they can achieve 27-28km/h average and can reach 50+km/h on downhills.

I'll find out more in person on Sunday.

[mikesbytes]

see you there

[othy]

Apparently because of their speed and low position, cyclists are ideal to spot road irregularities and clear out human traffic en-route. Also in situations where they encounter trouble (crashes are known to happen), assistance can be provided promptly. For the full 42km, they can achieve 27-28km/h average and can reach 50+km/h on downhills.

I'll find out more in person on Sunday.

Thanks - let us know how it goes. I read about it on sydneycyclist and it seemed interesting but wasn't sure what they actually required the cyclists for. Should be a nice ride - don't get dropped by a wheelchair!

[weiyun]

Should be a nice ride - don't get dropped by a wheelchair!

Looking forward to it. Will quickly induce a flat and avoid the ultimate embarrassment if needed.

[Simon Llewellyn]

Where have all the C/D graders gone? Today could have been a win as B only caught with 3 laps to go...

Provisional results for handicapp

1. Simon Craig
2. Mike
3. Mark L
4. Simon L (fastest time)
5. Chris Thompson/ David Lamb?

First female- Victoria

[Trouty]

Where have all the C/D graders gone?

.....Waterfall I guess was a better option. No fun riding with 1 other rider for c/d grade. ANyway I am sure it was a good day.

[mikesbytes]

Where have all the C/D graders gone? Today could have been a win as B only caught with 3 laps to go...

Provisional results for handicapp

1. Simon Craig
2. Mike
3. Mark L
4. Simon L (fastest time)
5. Chris Thompson/ David Lamb?

First female- Victoria

That's mikesbytes

5th would be David Lamb as Chris took an excursion into the bushes after trying to tack onto Simon L

[Simon Llewellyn]

.....Waterfall I guess was a better option. No fun riding with 1 other rider for c/d grade. ANyway I am sure it was a good day.

There was 3 C/D graders who held off with a 4 lap handicapp for 37 of 40 laps (5 B & 5 A) & if you had a few more it would make for a strong handicapp group, I dare say a winning handicapp group.

But I guess there is always next month... I think next month I will try to create a handicappping system with 6 groups so that everyone finishes close together.

[Simon Llewellyn]

Here's my toughts & template I'm building up, If you win convincingly you go up. If your not on it you can nominate & depending on who shows up & the distribution, the handicap marks can be moved:

Scratch:

Simon L
ALex C

A2 (1 lap)

James F
Tim L
Tim B
Alex R
Matt W
Christian
John N

B1 (2 laps)

Mikebytes
Mark L
Simon C
James M

B2 (3 Laps)

Langdon
Chidgey
Geoff

C1 (4laps)

David L
Chris Thompson

C2 (5Laps)

Victoria
Joanne
Camilla
Jessica
Amy


If your not on this plaese nominat a position & we can discuss...

[mikesbytes]

Race Report

Finally got bumped to B after riding in A in the last 2 DHBC crits, but I didn't mind as it was a strong field in B, consisting of;
- Michael (Michael Ch)
- Michael (Miclan)
- Michael (Mikesbytes)
- Simon C
- Mark L
I felt we had a real chance of beating everyone and headed the charge, doing the first 3 laps on the helm, which got everyone in the rhythm and then Mark L took the helm.

After a while we got into 1 lap turns, Michael Ch was struggling with pace so I suggested he rolled, but he ended up rolling off the back. So the rest of us hammered.

15 laps in, A grade caught us and we slowed to let them past, but they ended up going about the same pace as us. When Simon L was on the front they would pull away and then we would catch up with the others in front.

However the well oiled B team were punching out consistent laps as a well oiled machine. by 25 laps we knew we had bet everyone except Simon L, but we had also forgotten about C graders David & Chris who were also pumping out a cracking pace.

Then A grade blew apart, Alex B was at the side performing a weight reduction exercise, while James F and Tim L were regrouping, we knew we had beaten A except for Simon L.

This was the trigger for us to really hammer it, as it was now a drag race with Simon L. Miclan blew, leaving Mark, Simon C & myself to bring it in.

With 2 laps to go Simon C pull a good move, as I rolled, he went around Mark and attacked, an excellent move. I responded too late, but started to reel Simon in, but when I got close he responded again and that left Mark and I to slug it out and Mark put in a excellent sprint on the front straight that I wasn't able to respond to.

I don't know for sure, but I think average speed for Simon, Mark and I was about 38kph

[Trouty]

C2 (5Laps)

Victoria
Joanne
Camilla
Jessica
Amy


If your not on this plaese nominat a position & we can discuss...

I think you better re-think Amy's handicap, she is not far off Micklan and co. Sorry Aims - I know you will die of boredom. I will be drafting off the back of Camilla anyways.

[shrubb face]

Sorry i didnt make it out there today guys, still recovering from my cold. I was really looking forward to this as well...

[Simon Llewellyn]

Scratch (A1):

Simon L
ALex C

A2 (1 lap)

James F
Tim L
Tim B
Alex R
Matt W

B1 (2 laps)

Mikebytes
Mark L
Simon C
James M
John N
Christian

B2 (3 Laps)

Langdon
Chidgey
Amy
Adrian E
Ian D
Chris H
Weiyun

C1 (4laps)

David L
Chris Thompson
Nick B
Geoff M

C2 (5Laps)

Victoria
Joanne
Camilla
Jessica



If you're not on this or disagree please nominate/ dispute so I can reassess, & we can discuss... Because I'm not that sure with a few handicapps...

[simon.sharwood]

Provisional results for handicapp

1. Simon Craig
2. Mike
3. Mark L
4. Simon L (fastest time)
5. Chris Thompson/ David Lamb?

First female- Victoria

And a coupla photos, the first of which shows off the ... ummm ... interesting qualities of an iPhone lens as the b-grade bunch streaks past, led by eventual winner Simon Craig.

And the second shows the three podium placers.

Special cred to Mark who came second after a nasty (and largely my fault ) fall on the way to Bankstown.

FWIW, Lindsay and I had a quick chat and hatched a rough plan to take the Waterfall slowies to the next crit to see what it is all about and get them planning to agitate for a 2010 racing license in their Christmas stockings! Hopefully that'll bulk out the C/D grade.

[micklan]

It never ceases to amaze me how quick (via Christians route), it is to ride to Dunc Grey rather than drive...

[Chris 249]

Thanks to the organisers for a fun race......they even made sure there was some padding in place for the off-track excursion I had after trying to latch onto Simon's wheel, thinking he was going past for the last time.

It seems that the comparatively small fields and smooth track would actually make this an ideal environment for the other C/Ders to get into racing. Although some of the corners are tight, surely it would have to be a lot less threatening than Henson or somewhere similar.

PS if the kitty is light on, it's because I forgot to pay my entry fee; sorry.