Another long newsletter for a holiday Monday read…
Join the MMBCC WhatsApp group
Want to keep up with what’s happening in and around the MMBCC - all the rumours, gossip and goings-on?
For instance, did you know that Alex Green used to be a champion gymnast, specialising in the pommel horse? Apparently he was inspired by WWII prisoner of war movies (not gladiator movies.)
Or did you know that club President Mauro Brega used to be a heavy-handed debt collector for a prominent and wealthy West Australian mining magnate and his family? That was until he had a falling out with the magnate’s daughter over a bag of salt and vinegar chips and a tub of ice cream!
To find out more, join the club’s WhatsApp group by sending an SMS with your name and number to the group Admin, Will Calvert-Jones, on 0400 144 366.
Mansfield Hotel Tour staffing
We’re still a couple of volunteers short for the Tour on 20 and 21 March. Even if you can only spare a few hours, please contact Jason Parker via email to help us out!
Do you love riding mountain bikes in Victoria?
We need your insights. The Victorian Mountain Biking Strategy Survey is live and the deadline has been extended. It was due to close Sunday 7th March but has now been extended to the 21st.
Dirt Crits
Cross Country night at Riflebutts saw normal transmission resumed when Ruby took the A-grade win and Bocky got back on the top step of the podium in B-grade!
That’s an especially well-deserved result for David who’s had a tough couple of seasons with injuries - well done mate! Damian even managed to get himself onto the podium without having to manipulate the handicapping!
Here are the results and thanks to Mel Green for the podium pics.
Next week we’re back to Gravity Enduro, longer-travel bikes and only being timed for the downhill bits. Entry numbers will be down a little due to so many Mansfield families travelling to Maydena in Tasmania for the MTB Nationals. Good luck to all those competing!
MMBCC Q&A
By Bruce Halket
Questions need to be asked and the answers demanded following last Thursday’s handicapped road race for the Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club. We present a club quiz on the race. Your questions start… NOW!
Where was the race held?
It started at the Botanic Park and headed north along the Whitfield Road to the turnaround at Sawpit Gully Road. After heading back to town, we turned left onto Barwite Road, then right onto Old Tolmie Road and finished on Graves Road.
How long was the race?
32 kilometres. Normally we use this course twice each summer but the earlier edition had to be truncated due to road works - so this was the longest race of the season.
How many entered the race?
There were only 15 on the start line but it was a quality field. It was started by David Bock as the Limit group and concluded with the Scratch group of Will Calvert-Jones, Chris Miller and Bruce Halket.
Was series points leader Ewyn Carter able to increase his lead?
No. It’s a bit difficult to score points if you don’t turn up! He apparently spent the night at a Writers Festival in a tree house in East Gippsland as guest speaker. Either that or his work for Paton Air Helicopters left him stranded in Traralgon overnight; you choose.
What about Chris Miller, who is coming second in the points?
He was second again, but he’s getting used to it.
What about last week’s winner, Josh Hopwood?
No, he didn’t turn up either; probably busy finishing his 12,000 word thesis discussing the influence of heart rate monitors on performance art in the time of Covid.
Who won?
Bruce Halket ahead of Chris ‘The Bridesmaid’ Miller and Will ‘WhatsApp’ Calvert-Jones.
Who was the ‘Most Valuable Player’?
If such an award was presented it would jointly go to Justin Berry and Mark Calvert-Jones, in 4th and 5th respectively, who only got caught a few hundred metres before the line. Special mention to Calvert-Jones for his first race in four years!
Was it hard?
No, dead easy! (Well… not really.)
Was there much other traffic on the road?
Not much. But the cars we did see were driven by very courteous people who we thank very much for their patience. Thanks as well to all our officials and marshals; without you we couldn’t race at all!
What racing is happening next week?
The club is hosting a Handicap race on the Mt Buller Road, out to Merrijig and back. Entries the usual way via the usual SMS by the usual time.
Can I see the results?
Yes you can, click here.
Are there any photos from the race?
Yes there are… supplied once again by Mansfield’s Kristof Ramon, Tony Copland, below.
Are there any other MMBCC events coming up?
On the weekend of 20 and 21 March the club is going to fill Mansfield with bike riders! There’s the Mansfield Hotel Tour (see the Public Notices section of the Mansfield Courier for details on road closures and expected delays) plus the Highline MTB Festival on the South Blue Range which will be spectacular spectating!
Finally, the answers to the questions we haven’t had time for:
a) Carbon Fibre; b) Dehydration; c) Craig Kelly and Christian Porter are the odd ones out, the others are all mammals; d) Yes, if you hold it up to the morning sun and stand on one foot; e) A small possum-like creature found in the mountains of British Columbia; f) Greed and the failure of economic rationalism; and g) Vaccinations.
Discovering Resilience
The MMBCC’s banker, the Mansfield & District Community Bank, have invited all members to the upcoming Discovering Resilience Presentation on Wednesday 17 March at 6.30pm. This is a FREE online community presentation.
More details below…
Finally…
A good little article about Strade Bianche (a chip off the old Black ’n’ Tan block) which was ridden and won by Dutch riders on Saturday.
The other side of the argument about disc brakes from Rouleur.