A big update of racing news this week (both on- and off-raod) and a huuuge note of thanks.
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Dirt Crits starts again this Tuesday
Juniors
4.00-4.30pm Sprocket Rockets ages 5-7yrs.
4.30-5.00pm Chain Gang 8-10 yrs.
5.00-5.30pm Trail Blazers 11yrs +
(generally 13 plus should go to Seniors at 6pm, but if you’re new to MTB racing, then start with Juniors).
There’s a $10 charge for the 3 weeks in December - 1st, 8th and 15th.
If you haven’t been to Junior Dirt Crits before, Tuesday 1 December is a Come and Try Day - bring your bike and a helmet and give it a go!
If you have been to Dirt Crits before, you’ll need a valid MTBA/AusCycling membership - go to the Join Now page for details and a link to AusCycling if you don’t already have one. No license, no start.
Seniors
6.00-7.00pm. For the first week, Seniors will be a series of graded races; A, B, C and possibly D. Course planning is currently underway and will be unveiled on Tuesday to great acclaim! (Right Dave?)
All riders need a valid MTBA/AusCycling membership - go to the Join Now page for details and a link to AusCycling if you don’t already have one. No license, no start.
Road racing is back, baby!
By Will Calvert-Jones
After the Covid-delay, the Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club summer season finally got under way on Thursday 26 November. Questions were posed; was the Paps fire going to affect air quality? Well, No. How was everyone else’s winter fitness? Subpar and keen. Was the handicapper paid for favourable times? Maybe. But, gee, were we excited to be back racing?! YEAH!
The route was thirty kilometres with road and gravel involved. Those on gravel bikes, not so much involved.
Bypass Eisner (welcome back, old chap) took us off limit but was stopped at the Rifle Butts traffic light. Janine and Nathan worked seamlessly to Booroolite together, with the block group of Tom, Talia, Anthony and Will breathing down their necks. Scratch group (the faster ones that leave last to catch the others) consisting of Bruce, Steve, Dave, Browny and Kody had matches to burn and were ready to strike on the bumpy stuff. Except for Kody, who needed to see a man about a dog, under a tree, out of sight from everyone mid-race with a puncture.
They nearly caught Will who crossed in first with Browny roaring in for second and the fastest time. Nathan took the last podium place on his sparkly new steed while Bruce and John rounded out the top five.
Many kudos to the committee and organisers for getting the race season off and running. The bike club is keen for more participants both fast and leisurely, check out our website for upcoming events.
All the best to Judi and Browny on their recoveries.
Many thanks to Tony Copland for the pics and here are the results.
Next week it’s the O’Hanlon’s Road finish; starting at Lord’s Ground, we ride all the way out to the end of McMillan Point Drive and back, then turn left onto the dreaded finishing hill. Entries to John via SMS by 6pm Wednesday…
Get well soon Judi and Steve
If you hadn’t heard on the grapevine, Judi Duke and Steve Brown were involved in an accident during the usual recovery ride on Friday morning. Both were taken to hospital but are, thankfully, on the mend.
The club sends all our best wishes to both Judi and Steve for a speedy recovery and hope they’re both back on the bike soon.
We also send a huge thanks to those that helped out at the incident; in particular the members of the public and tradies who stopped to assist and helped direct traffic until the emergency services arrived. We’re really grateful for your assistance.
Thank you to the police and ambos for their efficient help and a massive thanks to the other riders/club members who helped out too.
New road race calendar and duty roster
The next few races are now up on the Events Calendar. Have a read through and check when you’re rostered on. The rest of the season’s races will be published shortly.
To make it a little easier, here is just the duty roster on one page. There’s only a few races listed at the moment, the rest will be updated shortly.
Finally…
Here’s a link to the 2021 Pink Bike Trail and Enduro bike Field Test.
After news earlier in the week that Simon Gerrans is getting involved in cycling again now that he’s back in Australia, here is news on what other retired pros are doing.
And with AusCycling starting up earlier this month, here’s an interview with the incoming CEO.