Dirt Crits is back!
by Dave Empey
We’ll make a start this Tuesday 9 November at Riflebutts. Adults start at 6.00pm.
Get ready for a bruising XC course… time to remove the excess Covid pounds.
As we sort out the race schedule for the next few months, we’ll publish details in the Events Calendar.
So is Dirt Critters!
by Kate Empey
We have decided to return to the old format as not many kids have responded to our email so far. It will probably grow again but with current numbers we will just run all kids together at 4:30pm, this coming Tuesday 9 November.
Road Racing is back too!
By the Road Racing Committee
It’s been a bit of a wait but road racing will start again this Thursday 11 November 2021. The first race will be the Alain Guerin Memorial, starting at Botanic Park from 5.30pm, for a 6pm start. Course 6 - Whitfield Road - Sawpit Gully - Graves Road finish. The race route is on our website if you aren't familiar, use this link and click on number 6.
A review of the road racing program took place over the winter to remove gravel races, reduce the number of steep climbs (no more Campagnolo hill finishes!) and generally make it more inclusive for as many riders as possible. The plan was to slowly increase length with a full season program, but with the cancellation of the first 5 races, it just so happens we are starting with a longer course.
Don't worry if you aren't race fit - none of us are - so dust off your number and join us from 5.30pm Thursday evening. It’s handicapped and the more that enter, the larger the groups that start together.
Handicapping duties this year will be taken over by Dave Moore - so be nice to Dave from now on. (Well… nicer than normal, anyway.) Dave will be forming the groups, usually with 3-5 riders in each group and on nights with over 20 riders, we have 4-5 groups.
If you’re still not sure, have a read of the Road Racing Info page. (Regular racers might also have a read, just to refresh your memory, especially the section near the bottom of the page.)
We have to thank two new members, Rachel Delaney and Liam Delaney for the introduction of a new way of club communication. It is called TEAM APP and is accessible through your smartphone, or you can access it on your tablet/computer or get notifications via email. Here is the link to Team App. It will provide a platform to enter races, communicate immediately with all MMBCC Team App subscribers, have latest newsletters, link to our website and Facebook, calendar of events both Racing and Ride - with Mountain Bike, Gravel, Race and Social Rides and be a platform to promote our sponsors. It should be a one stop shop - rather than us relying on the website, Facebook or WhatsApp.
To enter the race, we highly recommend you be fully vaccinated (or be under 16 yrs or have a valid medical exemption form) and you need a current RACE license with AusCycling (it’s easy to download your race licence onto your Apple or Android phone). If you don't have a current race license, please use this link for AusCycling.
If you want to come down and support our race or volunteer, we’d prefer you bring along your vaccination certificate (or exemption).
In keeping with our COVID Safe Plan, you need to check in with your smartphone with our unique QR CODE - located on the club trailer. This is mandatory.
The weather looks like it is going to be kind to us for Thursday evening. Remember to bring along your race number from last year and charge up your red tail light (that needs to be on for the duration of the race). If you didn't race last year - we will provide a number for this year.
Entries need to be completed by 8pm Wednesday 10 Nov. If you have set up TEAM APP - you can enter via that - or for the rest of this year, we’re happy to accept entries via TEXT to Dave Moore on 0459 020 966. From January all entries will be managed through the app - so we recommend you download it and get used it as soon as you can.
After the race, we are heading off to our sponsors, The Mansfield Hotel for dinner. Everyone is welcome, whether you raced or not (but you do have to be fully vaccinated though).
So remember:
Enter by 8pm Wednesday;
Bring your race number;
Smartphone for your membership ‘card’, Vaccination certificate and QR code check-in;
Constant-beam tail light, not flashing; and
Friendly race attitude.
See you there.
MMBCC’s new ‘pro’ racers
Elise Empey and Matthew Empey
Matthew and Elise have been signed to an Australian based UCI downhill racing team - Colab Racing. This means they will race next years UCI World Cup Season. There are four members of the team, all young Australians:
Cassie Voysey – Elite Women
Matthew Empey – Elite Men
Taj Pollard – U/19 Men
Elise Empey – U/19 Women
Team sponsors include Maxxis, Krush, Fox and Fox global.
Ruby Dobson
Ruby has entered into a contract with the Roxsolt Liv SRAM team for the remainder of 2021 and 2022.
Roxsolt was founded in 2013 as a UCI continental women’s team and has grown to be successful in road, cyclecross and mountain bike disciplines domestically and in the USA.
Ruby is the team’s first junior rider and along with fancy bikes and new kit she has been warmly welcomed by a great group of women. While her focus will continue to be XCO MTB she is committed to competing in the 2022 Cycolcross season and larger road events.
You can keep track of Roxsolt news on Facebook and Instagram (@roxsoltlivsram).
Talia Appleton
Talia has been invited to ride for a new, young, women's team that is being formed by Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club and sponsored by 99 Bikes.
The team plans to do nine races next year; six in Victoria and three interstate. This is an exciting opportunity for Talia to dip her toe into the world of team-based road racing.
Talia is Vic Road Race Champion!
As a prelude to the club re-commencing racing, Talia Appleton traveled to Glenrowan on Saturday and WON the Victorian Junior Road Championships for Under 17 Women.
Talia and two others got away from the main bunch on the first of three laps. She powered ahead in the last few hundred metres finishing a length clear.
Here are the results.
Great result Talia - congratulations!