Rainy Day Update

In this issue:

• Vale Ray Watson;

• Mildly extravagant self-promotion;

• VDHS now Tier 1;

• Have your say about the Station Precinct;

• Big news for ATC and local mountain bikers; and

• Some other weird cycling-related news.

Have you subscribed to the MMBCC News yet?

Ray Watson, on the right, riding across the Bonnie Doon bridge with his good mate George Chalk. This image is from a photoshoot organised by the Shire in 2011 to promote the rail trail.

Vale Ray Watson

Long time club member Ray Watson passed away a week ago. Our thoughts go out to Ray’s family. He was an absolutely lovely bloke, who really enjoyed riding his bike.
Any club members who are available on Wednesday 24 October to attend Ray’s funeral at St Andrew’s Uniting Church at 1pm are invited to ride their bikes to the church to celebrate Ray’s love of his bike.
Pedal on Ray.

Mildly extravagant self promotion

By Nathan Pelling

The second road race for the season got underway with a strong field of 24 riders. The 25 km Handicap race along the Howes Creek Road course with it's undulating terrain kept everyone on their toes.
First group off the mark was Bella Green and Tony Morris with the respective groups starting afterward right back to Josh Hopwood who was in a lonely pack of one off Scratch. This wasn't going to deter The Juggernaut however, fresh off his Bronze medal performance at the Victorian ITT Championships he was in hot pursuit of the strong group of 6 riders a minute ahead of him.
The main action was happening a little further up the road where the group of three, Christine Hopkins, Nathan Pelling and Allan Gerrans were riding their own team TT to quickly round up the couple of groups ahead of them. This formed a large group that was now in good stead to hold off the quicker chargers behind them. The aforementioned trio continued to force the pace at the front of the pack rolling turns with the odd cameo appearance from a couple of others in the bunch. 
This group was able to roll along strongly and hold off the quicker groups for most of the return leg, the short sharp rolling hills took their toll on riders legs however with those who were still fresh enough able to push a bit harder and break the pack up a little.
This is where the blatant self promotion kicks in; I did exactly this on one of the last hills of the course looking behind at the crest to now surprisingly be in a breakaway containing only myself. 
Sitting there now lonely in my chamois there was nothing left to do but pedal as hard a possible as there were still a couple of early starters visible in the distance and only a couple of K's to go. Surely this is how Sagan, Froome and the like feel when chasing down the last of a breakaway! Fair comparison I feel, amateur hack in club race and the biggest stars of the sport.

Anyway enough suspense, the last of the riders up the road, Bella Green, was caught with only 50m to go making for a close finish. The final results being N. Pelling with a maiden win from Green and Tilda Reeve, followed by the fellow early pack leaders of Gerrans and Hopkins with the rest of the field closely behind.
Many thanks to all the volunteers we had at our race this week; great to see so many helping out including Gwen, Belinda, Deb, Janine, Kody, Jarrod, Tim, John, even Ben and Alistair! Thank you all.
Many thanks to Tony Copland for the pics - here are the results.
Next week’s race in an Individual Time Trial, starting and finishing on Graves Road. Entries via SMS to John on 0428 503 437 by 8pm Wednesday.

Mt Buller VDHS earns Tier 1

Our Mt Buller round of the Vic Downhill Series in now an MTBA Tier 1 event!
MTBA no longer organise a dedicated national series but allocate points from all events towards an overall points score called the National Cup. The ‘bigger’ events are listed as Tier One and award the highest number of points. This should mean we attract more visitors (and therefore, entries) to the mountain this summer.
More details about the National Cup calendar here.

Station Precinct Activation Project - have your say

Mansfield Shire are trying to find out what to do with the Station Precinct. The club was invited to put its two-bobs worth last week (about a possible club rooms and a multi-use trail linking the end of the rail trail to the centre of town, the Botanic Gardens and a loop of town - even up to Riflebutts Reserve.) Now you can too.
Use this link to have your say.

ATC wins tender to run Mt Buller shuttles

All Terrain Cycles have announced they’re the official Mt Buller Bike Park Gravity shuttle operator for this season 2018/19!
Plans for the summer include a discounted locals pass, an opening weekend / 10 year anniversary party on 1 December and a DIG for a PASS Program. More details on Facebook.

Finally…

Some slightly weird cycling related reading for a rainy day.

There’s hope for us old bike riders yet… Andreas Tafi won Paris-Roubaix in 1999, aged 32. He wants to make a comeback and ride it again next year, as a pro, aged 52! WTF!
Hannah Jenkins is English but after a bike crash she speaks English only in the morning… in the afternoon it has to be German! More at the BBC.

Weekend update

Racing Round-up

First race of the Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club’s 2018/2019 summer was Dirt Crits at Riflebutts MTB Park on Tuesday 9 October. After a few rare drops of rain, the track was in mind condition.

The Reverse Time Trial is based on two short races. Results from a mass-start first race are used as the basis for a staggered start to the second, handicap race.

Winner of the first lap was Matt Empey, followed by Tom Macmunn and Dan Friday.

Last home was Ruby Dobson who was, therefore, first to start the second race.

Winner of the second race was Alex Green, followed by Jack Hogan and Jason Parker.

But points were also awarded for riders who’s two lap times were closest… so we didn’t end up with too many sandbaggers in the first race.

After Damian Grundy had finished with the abacus, the win was awarded to Matt Empey from Dan Friday and Tom Macmunn equal second, ahead of Grundy in fourth and Dave Moore fifth.

Kudos to Bella Green who had only 1 second difference between her first and second lap!

Next week is our Come ’n’ Try night! We’ll have loan bikes at Riflebutts for anyone who wants to come along and give mountain biking a go. Come along for a lap or two and find out what all the fuss is about!

The first road race of the season was held on Thursday 11 October. A handicap race on the Whitfield Road, out to Sawpit Gully Road and back, attracted 19 entrants. One of the 19 was Justin Berry, trying road racing for the first time. Welcome aboard Justin!

First to start, as the lone Limit rider, was Tony Morris; last to start was the Scratch group of Tom Macmunn, Lewis Dowie, Jock Brega, Damian Grundy and Cam Lachal.

A minute up the road, the Block group of Dave Moore, Steve Duke, Darren Bakker and Rob Skinner looked strong and likely to greet the judges.

Lachal was the first casualty, his Saturday morning bunch ride form didn’t translate to Thursday night and he got dropped on the first hill. Kieren Payne was having gear trouble and he was next to get dropped, just before the turnaround.

By Long Lane on the return leg, the groups were finally coming together but it was near the Barwite Road where the big changes were made; Moore and Duke caught the second Limit group of Di Condie, Justin Berry, David Jagger, Wil Wilson and Rod Manning and powered on to take the win; Moore ahead of Duke.

About half a minute later, Wilson took the sprint for third ahead of Jagger, Manning and Berry.

Another half a minute later, sprint of the night went to Darren Bakker who stormed to the line to take… seventh. (And then complained that the finish line was in the wrong spot!) Then came Grundy (in the fastest time of 41.36, just 4 seconds faster than winner Dave Moore), Rob Skinner and Jock Brega rounded out the top ten.

Many thanks to all our officials and volunteers. And also thanks to Shannon for the Dirt Crits pics and to Tony for the road ones.

Next week sees racing return to the undulating Howes Creek Road course - entries via SMS to John on 0428 503 437 by 8pm Wednesday.

Dirt Crits number plates

A few weeks ago we asked you about semi-permanent number plates for Dirt Crits. They’re about to be ordered.

If you’d like one, please email Damian with the number and name you’d like on your plate, or speak to him at Dirt Crits this coming Tuesday.

Finally…

A good article from Neal Rogers on Cycling Tips on why we might see a few more pros riding on gravel in 2019.

Also on Cycling Tips, from Matt de Neef, some background on Wollongong winning the 2022 Worlds.

Entering tomorrow night's road race?

For this week only you need to SMS Di on 0438 513 355 by 8pm tonight.

Next week John will be back and entries will go to him as usual.

Not the Sunday afternoon news

Latest news:
- The Road Worlds back in Australia in four years;
- Dirt Crits start this week; and
- Road Racing starts this week too!

UCI Road Worlds back to Australia in 2022

Wollongong will host the UCI Road World Championships in 2022. Yes, that hotbed of Australian cycling… Wollongong! Read about it here.

Who woulda thunk it?

Also, have a read of the comments at the end of the Cycling Tips article about it… seems the NSW Government and police have some work to do. Anyway, can’t wait. I’ll be worth a visit to the Illawarra, that’s for sure!

Who’ll be leading the Oz team on a hilly course by then… Jack Haig, Rob Power, Lucas Hamilton? Or perhaps the old man of the team, Michael Matthews! Or maybe Alejandro Valverde will still be unbeatable…

Dirt Crits start this week… for big kids anyway.

Dirt Crits are moving to Tuesday nights and the new calendar has been published.

Dirt Crits starts this coming Tuesday 9 October for Adults.

Kids will start the following Tuesday 16 October… which is the Come ’n’ Try night. If you know anyone who is perhaps thinking about having a go at mountain biking, this is definitely the night to get them up to Riflebutts for a lap. All existing members are also invited to ride a few laps and help any newcomers feel welcome.

The Come ’n’ Try night is for both Kids and Adults. More details soon…

Road racing starts this week too…

The calendar is now up!

The first race will be held on the Whitfield Road / Sawpit Gully Road course (Course 5) this coming Thursday 11 October.

Mid-September Update

It’s been a little while but here is a bit of MMBCC News.
- Upcoming events;
- New Dirt Crits number plates;
- Sign a petition for NSW Police to enforce the Minimum Passing Distance laws; and
- Some motivation for girls thinking of trying XC mountain biking.

Upcoming Events

Sat 22 - Sun 30 Sep - UCI Road Worlds, Innsbruck, Austria.
Tue 9 Oct - MMBCC Dirt Crits start. More details and calendar to come soon.
Thu 11 Oct - MMBCC Road Racing starts. More details and calendar to come soon.
Thu 18 to Sun 21 Oct - Masters Nationals, East Gippsland.

New Dirt Crits number plates

Are you planning on racing Dirt Crits this summer?
Have we got a deal for you?!
We’re planning on getting customised number plates produced for you for the summer - with your name on your number plate! They’re a heavier weight plastic than the current ones, so should last you the whole summer.
They’ll cost $2 each for Juniors, $3 for Seniors.
We need you to tell us what name you’d like included and also which number you have a preference for.
Please email Damian with the name you want and the number you’d prefer.

Minimum Passing Distance laws in NSW

A Metre Matters is law in NSW. While the police there are rightly cracking down on drivers using mobile phones, they’re not enforcing the passing laws. In fact, they’re spending more time booking cyclists for riding without a bell!
This petition is to try to force them to do their job properly and protect cyclists from dangerously close overtaking.
Hopefully, one of these days, the Victorian Government will follow suit and legislate for A Metre Matters here too!

MTB girls - go out and ride your bike!

A little inspiring video of some of the women riding the World Cup.
BTW, Dirt Crits start soon. Come on girls… get out and ride your bike!

Finally…

It looks highly likely Simon Yates will win the Vuelta a Espana tonight, giving the Australian greenEDGE team (Mitchellton Scott as they’re known now) their first grand tour win. A brilliant achievement!
Simon Yates is British (meaning all three grand tours have been won by Brits this year) so it’ll be interesting to see how the mainstream media in Australia reports it.
Will being part of an Australian team mean enough for the media here to treat Yates as a hero?
Or will it take an Australian on an Australian team for mainstream media to pay attention?

Sunday Update

Annual General Meeting

The MMBCC AGM is on this coming Tuesday 14 August, starting at 6pm, at the Delatite Hotel.
Please come along.

Wheels for sale

Dave Moore has some brand new Shimano carbon road wheels for sale. They’re a bargain!

A little Sunday arvo reading…

Team Sky’s biggest problem.

Street art at the Tour.

Finding Mr X.
 

Upcoming Events

Tue 9 to Sun 12 Aug - UCI MTB World Cup, Mont Sainte Anne, Canada.
Tue 14 Aug - MMBCC AGM
Tue 21 Aug - Sat 1 Sep - UCI MTB World Championships, Mont Sainte Anne, Canada.
Sat 1 Sep - Sam Miranda Gran Fondo - part of the Tour of the King Valley
Sun 2 Sep - Sam Miranda Kelly Country Road Race.
Sun 9 Sep - Fruit Loop Ride, Shepparton.
Sun 16 Sep - Amy’s Gran Fondo.
Sat 22 - Sun 30 Sep - UCI Road Worlds, Innsbruck, Austria.
Sun 4 Nov - Preston Mountain Classic.

Sunday update

MMBCC Mid-Winter MTB Get Together

Come for a ride and a pizza!
When – The afternoon of Sunday 29 July. (Pizzas will kick off at around 5pm for an earlyish finish)
Where – Grundy’s@62 Borschmann Rd, Lima South.

RIDE OPTIONS
The Block: 15km loop. A big climb (660m gain) and then a 30min descent including some fun single track.
Home Loop: 2km easy single track loop. A cool track. This is a very accessible trail. Definitely in the beginner sort of range though a little climb to start. Feel free to do repeats.
South loop: 4km slightly longer loop mostly single track. Some beautiful fern gullies.
There are a number of play sections amongst the boulders here so come and explore.
Fine print: This is your chance to explore some private ‘animal’ tracks in the back of the Grundy’s. The wombats here are most industrious

WHAT TO BRING
- Your own pizza toppings, we will provide the pizza base, pasatta (tomato stuff) and cheese;
- Your preferred beverage; and
- A seat.
 
There is plenty of warm space inside so, regardless of the weather, come on out.
Lima South can often have quite different weather to Mansfield so assume nothing. Bring the bike regardless!
If the weather looks ordinary and you have some cool MTB DVD’s then bring them with you...  maybe bring them anyway.
RSVP to Damian via SMS on 0411 045 771 or email.

Annual General Meeting

Now less than a month away, the MMBCC AGM will be held at the Delatite Hotel on Tuesday 14 August, starting at 6pm.
We need to elect a new President. Do you want to nominate? Or is there someone else you think would do a good job that you'd like to nominate?
Plus we’ll need a hand to organise next summer’s road racing, mountain biking AND there’s interest in more recreational riding. There’s also the VDHS at Mt Buller and the Mansfield Tour to discuss.
Please come along.

Friday update

Le Tour starts tomorrow

Good luck to MMBCC Life Member Simon Gerrans who will be riding a lap of France in support of Tasmania’s Ritchie Porte. This will be Simon’s 12th tour. His last few have ended early but hopefully 2018 will see him get all the way around France with Ritchie taking yellow.
Standing (or sitting) in Simon's and Ritchie's way will be Chris Froome (aiming to win his fourth Grand Tour in a row, his fifth Tour de France) and his inhaler.

MMBCC MTB Mid winter RIDE EAT and CHAT get together.

By Damian Grundy

Here we are in the depths of winter half way between the last and the next summer of mountain biking.
I thought it would be a perfect time for an informal get together. It’ll also provide a chance to have a pre MMBCC 2018 AGM chat. You know… where are we going? What do we want to do in the future? Etc, etc…
You’re invited to ride our exclusive Grundy Trails (which are at their absolute mint best in winter) and then share in a pizza feast cooked in our woodfired pizza oven.
Interested? Then let's set a date and make it happen!
Options are: Saturday 21 July, Sunday 22 July, Saturday 28 July or Sunday 29 July.
The location will be Grundy's Farm, Lima South.
Riding will kick-off early afternoon. Ride options are extensive. Depending on who is interested, we can organise some various options of difficulty and speed. All will include plenty of single track.
If you want to come later for the pizzas only, that’ll be fine too.
Dinner will kick off early-ish… around 5pm.
We will provide the pizza dough and basics (tomato stuff and cheese) but you’ll need to bring your favourite toppings and drinks.
Topics of conversation will be the usual tales of trails tall or true, next season's Dirt Crits and any other topics of interest. My beloved family tell me that Trump and asthma medications are forbidden topics!
If you’re keen, please text me at 0411 045 771 with your name and preferred date.
I'll get back to everyone in good time with the final date.

Annual General Meeting Reminder

The MMBCC AGM will be held at the Delatite Hotel on Tuesday 14 August, starting at 6pm.
Wil has announced he’ll be standing down after four years as President, so we need a replacement. Plus we’ll need a hand to organise next summer’s road racing, mountain biking AND there’s interest in more recreational riding. And then we’ll need to discuss the VDHS at Mt Buller and the Mansfield Tour. Please come along to discuss it all.

Upcoming event

July-August - Sam Miranda Tour of the King Valley - website isn’t quite right yet but hopefully will be soon. In particular, the Gran Fondo and the Sunday road race are terrific!

1x drivetrains

They work brilliantly on mountain bikes and so they seemed to be a great idea for the road too. But Aqua Blue Sport on 3T bikes seem to have gone off the idea. Jarrod’s sent through an interesting article about why 1x drivetrains don’t seem to work as well on the road.

MTBA launch the National Cup

MTBA have launched a new points system which brings together all mountain bike races into the one Australia-wide, year-long series - The National Cup.

Rory’s law to close cycling injury loophole

TAC insurance will cover a cyclists involved in a collision with a moving vehicle. Hopefully, they'll soon cover us for more. Click here.

Finally...

A few pics from Mansfield does Melburn Roobaix a couple of weeks ago. In case you can't guess, we 'skied' it.
And yes... Ben Ross rode the whole thing!
Rumours of Alex Green's impending career change to modelling have been strenuously denied by the Fashion Police.

Club kit closes today

Club kit orders now open again.

Been getting a bit chilly riding lately? As part of our available club kit, Seight also offer winter weight knicks and jacket. Here’s the link to order Seight MMBCC kit.
Email Bruce for the password.
Kit sales have been extended till midnight tonight (Sunday 1 July.)

More upcoming events

Sunday 4 November - Preston Mountain Classic - one of the best road races of the year. This used to be a winter race in late May or early June but is moving to a new date in spring.
More details to come.

Email subscriptions

Here at MMBCC Towers, it's come to our attention that some of you are still subscribed to the club newsletter through the old BlogTrottr service. The club no longer uses this and it will stop soon.
We highly recommend you subscribe through the current subscription service, on the club home page, which uses Mail Chimp.

Wintry weather update

Quite a few local MMBCC roadies are currently in Bormio, in the north of Italy. About now they should be riding up the Passo Stelvio.

Annual General Meeting

The MMBCC AGM will be held at the Delatite Hotel on Tuesday 14 August, starting at 6pm.
Wil has already announced he’ll be standing down after three years as President (sorry, that should be four years! Sorry. Ed.) so we need to find a replacement.
Plus we’ll need a hand to organise next summer’s road racing, dirt crits, the Mansfield Tour AND there’s interest in more recreational riding. Please come along to discuss it all.

Congratulations again Jodie!

Congratulations to MMBCC's very own Jodie Batchelor who has been successful in securing a scholarship of almost $10,000 from Sport and Recreation Victoria (SRV)!
The money secured through SRV's 'Change Our Game Scholarship' has been awarded to Jodie to assist her climb through the cycling Commissaire ranks both at a National and International level.
As mentioned in the last news update, in April this year Jodie passed the Elite National Commissaire Road and Track course (held up in Queensland), making her the only female in Victoria at this Commissaire level. Jodie's goal is to now proceed to the UCI to sit the UCI Track course (held in November 2019).
The scholarship will help Jodie get the experience required to hopefully be the preferred candidate for Cycling Australia, to then travel to Switzerland to attend the UCI Track Course in November 2019.
Well done Jodie, we're all very proud of your achievement!

Club kit orders now open again.

Here’s the link to order Seight MMBCC kit. Email Bruce for the password.
Kit will be available for purchase till Sunday 24 June.

Winter is a great time for some ‘trainer-ing’

Now that the snow is falling and the roads are getting busier, it' a good time to either spend a bit more time on the mountain bike (so long as you don’t mind cleaning your bike afterwards - we’re taking to you Bruce!) or get on an indoor trainer.
With platforms like Zwift and SufferFest making indoor cycling much more interesting, smart trainers are getting more popular than your run of the mill trainer of old. Here are a few links of reviews in case you’re in the market for a new trainer.
(Some of these overseas models mentioned might not be available in Australia.)
Cycling Tips
Bike Radar
Road CC

Upcoming events

June (next weekend) - Melburn Roobaix - a hugely fun day through the Melbourne's back streets.
July - Tour de Beechworth - a Saturday morning ride around Beechworth, a mongrel climb up a steep, dirt hill for lunch, then a sensational French dinner at the brewery that night while watching the Tour de France on the big screen.
August - The Redback MTB Stage Race - experience Australia’s Red Centre by bike, ride endless km of single track, day after day in the warmth of the NT!
September - The Fruit Loop Ride - starts & finishes in Shepparton; a flatter 115km course than the old one that went into the Strathbogies. Now held the week before Amy's Gran Fondo.
September - Amy’s Gran Fondo - rumour has it that this’ll be the last one. (In that case, it'll be back to the Fruit Loop for 2019.)
October - CA Masters Nationals in East Gippsland - seeing as though our club has so many members who are ‘of a certain age’ this is a chance to do something about it.

Friday Update

Just a quick update this week...

Congratulations Jodie!

Photo of all the Australian and New Zealand participants and instructors from the ENC course.

Congratulations to the MMBCC’s Jodie Batchelor. Back in March she attended the Elite National Commissaire course in Brisbane. Last week she found out she’s passed!
Jodie is now one of only six Commissaires qualified to ENC for Road and Track (and one of only two women.)
Next up, she wants to be a UCI Commissaire - so look out for her in years to come at the Tour de France!

Club kit order

Is anyone keen on some Seight club kit? Here at MMBCC Towers we've had a few approaches but we need a minimum of 10 pieces for Seight to open sales.
Now that it's getting a bit chilly, it might be the time to order a pair of thermal bib knicks!
If you're interested, drop Bruce an email.

Mother's Day Sunday

All Terrain Cycles are having a women's clothing sale - 30% off the women's clothing rack! Ends Saturday.

Finally... have you subscribed to get this newsletter via email? Why not!

May the Fourth be with... someone

Will the force be with Chris Froome and the rest of the 'Sky' Empire tonight when the Giro starts?

Strategic Plan Discussion

Following on from the first Strategic Plan Discussion last Tuesday, the next meeting - More People Racing / More People Participating in Events - will be held on Tuesday 8 May at 6pm at the Delatite Hotel.
See you there! All members welcome…

ATC Gravel Grinder race 2

Seven starters took to the All Terrain Cycles Gravel Grinder 2.
First away was Craig Wilson and he looked to have a good lead till he got to the cows on the long paddock (it was the gravel of Long Lane, actually) and promptly punctured.
Steve Flew, resplendent with musette bag and still on the club loaner bike, went past the stationary President and was never headed.
AJ Stepenson and Dave Moore filled the other steps of the podium.
Dan Purcell started on his own off Scratch and while he caught Bruce Halket and Tom Macmunn he couldn’t catch any others, despite riding fastest time.
Flew was awarded the ATC voucher for his win and Wil was awarded the Conrick Prize for getting a second puncture!
Results can be found here.

Speaking of Dan…

Good luck this weekend to Dan Purcell who’s racing Mens’ C-Grade at the VRS Tour of the South West in warm, wonderful Warrnambool. Give ‘em heaps Dan!

And more on gravel...

A few more pics have been uploaded from the Two-Up Ride on Anzac Day; scroll down after using this link.

Mansfield Tour

At the Presentation Night we held a discussion on the 2019 Mansfield Tour, particularly about how we plan to split up all the work necessary… so it’s not all left to just one or two.
Here is a first draft of a breakdown of the roles we need filled. Each role has it’s ‘busy period’ at a different time of the year. Most of the work will be computer-based, so you need to be proficient with emails and probably spreadsheets too.
We received a few expressions of interest on the night but this is for those of you who didn’t attend Presentation Night.
If the Tour is to go ahead in 2019, we need more of you involved. Have a read of the roles and then, if you can help, please email Bruce.

Thursday News

This week... news from presentation night, the club's Strategic Plan, our last road race of the season, the Mansfield Tour and details on yesterday's Two Up ride.

Have you subscribed yet?

2017/2018 Presentation Night

Dirt Crits Series winners, from left to right: 2nd Damian Grundy, 1st Daniel Friday, 3rd Bruce Halket.

Summer Road Series Championship, from left to right: 2nd Talia Appleton, 1st Dan Purcell, 3rd, Bruce Halket.

Summer Road Series Womens’ Trophy: 1st Talia Appleton, equal 2nd Judi Duke. (Absent, equal 2nd Jodie Batchelor.)

Alain Guerin Crossover Trophy, from left to right: 3rd Dan Purcell, Alain’s grandson Jett Guerin, Alain’s wife Coral Guerin, 1st Bruce Halket, 2nd Damian Grundy.

The All Terrain Cycles Good Sport Awards were presented to Damian Grundy, for organising and handicapping this season’s Dirt Crits, and will be presented to John Eisner, for handicapping the Summer Road Series (and also because we’ve all decided he desperately needs a pair of knicks that actually fit!)

Strategic Plan Discussion

Following on from the Strategic Plan Discussion at Presentation Night, the first meeting - More People Riding - will be held on Tuesday 1 May at 6pm at the Delatite Hotel.
See you there! And ask any others who might be interested.

All Terrain Cycles Gravel Grinder race 2…

will start this coming Sunday 29 April at 9am from outside Rodwell’s on the Buller Road. Registration will open at 8.30 and presentations of prizes, including the ATC voucher to the winner, will be held afterwards at the Mansfield Coffee Merchant.

Mansfield Tour

At the Presentation Night we held a discussion on the 2019 Mansfield Tour, particularly about how we plan to split up all the work necessary… so it’s not all left to just one or two.
Here is a first draft of a breakdown of the roles we need filled. Each role has it’s ‘busy period’ at a different time of the year. Most of the work will be computer-based, so you need to be proficient with emails and probably spreadsheets too.

We received a few expressions of interest on the night but this is for those of you who didn’t attend Presentation Night.
If the Tour is to go ahead in 2019, we need more of you involved. Have a read of the roles and then, if you can help, please email Bruce.

Two Up Ride

Anzac Day saw the second annual Two Up Ride held. Eleven MMBCC members set off from the Bot Park on a planned route of approximately 85km with plenty of gravel sections, as is tradition.
However, due to too many punctures taking too long to fix (Ian Conrick set a new world record for FIVE punctures in one ride!) this had to be truncated to about 60km.

Sunday update

2018 Black 'n' Tan

Race 1 of the All Terrain Cycles Gravel Grinder Series was held today, Sunday 15 April, on the famous (should that be infamous?) Black 'n' Tan, attracting eleven starters.
The much anticipated 'tan' sections were in perfect condition for racing after rain on Saturday and didn't really have an impact.
The rain then stayed away for Sunday. However, the windy conditions, and Bruce's ordinary handicapping, meant it was a back marker's day.
Dan Purcell and Josh Hopwood powered their way through the field and dropped even the last stragglers on the climb up the dirt on Mt Battery Road. Josh managed to get away at the finish to get the better of Dan.
Bruce was a long way back in third.
Ride of the day was shared by Darren Bakker and David Heatley, who both managed to hang on to Scratch until they accelerated up Mt Battery Road, and held on for 4th and 5th respectively.
Craig Wilson won the 'Sense of Direction Award' by taking a wrong turn onto Hallett's Lane, instead of Sculleys Lane and adding an unnecessary kilometre or two.
Here are the results and below are Alex Green's pics.

Don't forget... Summer Presentations this Thursday at 6pm

This Thursday 19 April the Delatite Hotel will host the MMBCC Summer Presentations at 6pm. Come along and congratulate all the winners!
It’ll be followed by a quick meeting about the Mansfield Tour, then the Strategic Plan discussion.
Why not come down for dinner and a chat...

Amstel Gold tonight... #GoGerro

News of Friday the 13th

Don't forget to subscribe...

Racing this Sunday

From the archive: Steve Flew climbing up Mt Battery Road on his way to wining the 2012 Black 'n' Tan.

The All Terrain Cycles Gravel Grinder series kicks off this Sunday with everyone’s favourite, the good ol’ Black ’n’ Tan. Starting from outside Rodwell's and finishing on Graves Road, registration will start at 8.30; racing starts at 9. Entries on the day.
(We’re short of a few marshals. If anyone has a spare hour to lend a hand, we’ll shout you coffee afterwards at the Merchant.)
On Sunday 29 April we'll be racing on the Long Lane Loop.
Winners of each race will receive a voucher at ATC plus the glory and kudos of a grateful nation.

Summer Presentations

Next Thursday 19 April the Delatite Hotel will host the MMBCC Summer Presentations. Come along and congratulate all the winners!
It’ll be followed by a quick meeting about the Mansfield Tour, then the Strategic Plan.
Why not come down for dinner and a chat?

Upcoming Events

Ride the Ranges next Sunday 22 April - 85km for $45 or 130km for $75, starting and finishing in Euroa.
Wangaratta’s Graham Daws Memorial will be held on Saturday 12 May and is now part of the Riverina Inter Club Racing Series.

Meanwhile in Europe…

This Sunday is the Amstel Gold Race. SBS will show it on Viceland from 10.30. Go Gerro!
And next time you take a drink in the bunch, especially on a wet day, spare a thought for Lawson Craddock, seen in this little ‘incident’ during the Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco.

April Tour of Flanders Fools Day

It's Tour of Flanders Day.
April Fools!
No... really! It's Tour of Flanders Day. One of the best pro races races of the season is on SBS Viceland tonight from 9.30. In the meantime, here's what's been happening at MMBCC Towers, starting with the last two road races. (MTB details to come soon-ish.)

Penultimate Thursday

By Joop Van Hosterberg

Club racing focused on the short sharp climb of the Coombesberg on Old Tolmie Road with a “long tail” to a finish outside the showgrounds on Mt Battery Rd.
At this point of the year it has become very difficult for the fast ones in Scratch and 'Block to catch the outliers in the Limit groups, as they seem to have learned how to ride in a group! Smooth is fast folks!
This being the second last race of the Summer season, intense interest is focused at the top of the leader board and a good result from any of the top three will all but secure the aggregate trophy; Club President Craig “Wil” Wilson now well and truly out of the picture.
Talia Appleton, riding very strongly since her overall win at the Victorian Schools Cycling Competition, was looking to post a strong result as was Dan Purcell, resplendent in his Mansfield Tour ‘Sprint Leader’ jersey. Vice president Bruce, alas, was away for this race and this may prove telling in the final wash-up.
Handicapper Eisner would be happy with the way the race came together in the finish, but not so close that a bunch sprint was required.
The youngsters stayed away, mostly, with the exception of a very strong ride from Cam Dobson, who pulled away from his group to secure his first win.
An avalanche of junior talent followed Cam over the line with Matilda Reeve in second place, Elise Empey rounding out the podium, closely followed by Bella Green for fourth place.
Talia Appleton arrived in 9th place picking up a couple of valuable points in the aggregate race.
In late news the club “raced” up the Col du Tolmielet on Sunday morning in warm but wet conditions.
Damian Grundy prevailed, over Steve Duke and Judi Duke with the rest of the small field in age order, oldest coming in last!
Next Thursday is the last race of the summer series with a finish on Whitfield Road near the Botanic Park, the outcome of this race could determine the names on the coveted “Wooden Crank”.
Thanks to all our volunteers over the season and especially during the Mansfield Tour last weekend.

Down to the wire

By John Eisner

A strong field of thirty three cyclists fronted up for the final Thursday night race of the 2017/18 Mansfield Mt Buller Cycling Club’s Summer Road Series. The stakes were high for several riders with club championship points (and all-important sponsorship contracts) at stake.
Courtney Lynch, Bella Green and Elise Empey led the charge as Limit followed by the smooth and improved bunch of Di Condie, Judi Duke, Kieren Payne, Matilda Reeve, Rod Manning and Dave Bock.
Peter Ellett, John Eisner, Talia Appleton and Craig Wilson were next, followed by Alex Green, Kody and Janine Appleton, Allan Gerrans and the Steves (Flew and Curnow).
Dave Moore, Andrew Stephenson, Rob Skinner and Cam Dobson were next then Jock Brega, Jarrod Appleton, Darren Bakker, Steve Duke and 'rolling start' Aaron Peterson.
Bruce Halket and Damian Grundy made up the Chopping Block while Dan Purcell and Kian Lerch-MacKinnon were off Scratch.
As predicted it was a fast 25km out to Sawpit Gully Road and back. Wilson was energetic and rode off the front of his bunch but was unable to bridge the gap to the well organised Condie group. Similarly, Empey rode well, in her restricted gears, off her bunch to mix it well in the final ten. With lots of hard work most of the faster groups merged by the return to the Barwite hill leaving a few casualties along the way.
Up front Di’s group continued to ride smoothly and in a close finish managed to hold off the pursuing Scratch group by 24 seconds with Di taking out a good win.
Payne placed second with Manning third, Judi Duke fourth and Reeve fifth.
A big thanks over the whole season to our crew of helpers and to the Delatite Hotel.
Speaking of the Delatite, that's where the club will be be hosting the Summer Presentations at 6pm on Thursday 19 April. Winners of the Summer Road Series, Womens’ Road Aggregate, Dirt Crits and the Alain Guerin Combined trophy will all be announced.
Invitations are cordially extended to all members, family, friends and miscellaneous hangers-on.

Summer Presentations and Strategic Plan

As mentioned briefly above, you're all invited to the Summer Presentations at the Delatite Hotel at 6pm on Thursday 19 April to find out who's won.
Also... as mentioned in a previous newsletter, the club is developing a strategic plan and would like members to be involved. Being a small club, the plan will be used promote membership and organise events, communicate to our local community and the broader cycling community and use in conversations with potential sponsors and agencies such as local government and state government.
You’re invited to a meeting at the Delatite Hotel, after the Summer Presentations, to discuss and develop the plan in more detail.

To get in the mood for the Tour of Flanders...

Cycling Tips Preview plus Cycling News Preview and Top 12 Contenders. And, most importantly, here is your invitation to view the race in comfort and style... in Alex's shed.

Hell of the North (cote)

Next weekend is another of the best races of the season, Paris-Roubaix, the Hell of the North.
However, the even better* Melburn-Roobaix, the cobbled cult classic is on Sunday 24 June. All event information for the 13th 'Hell of The Northcote' can be found here.

* This one we can actually ride ourselves!

Don't forget...

We have two more road races left this season! We have our Autumn Gravel Series races (click here and scroll down a bit...) on 15 and 29 April.
Get inspired by the cobbled classics and get into it!

Finally...

This isn't related to our local races, the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix. It's an interesting little film about Graeme Obree.

Congratulations Dan!

A few words from Dan on the Mansfield Tour...

I just wanted to write a quick few sentences to really thank all the mmbcc members and volunteers for the support over the weekend.
All the cheering from the roadside was a great motivator - not to mention the 'Go Dan' signs and chalk on the road up Mt Buller (AJ, Donna, Steve & Judi you guys are legends!).
From a rider perspective the whole race was incredibly well organised and ran super smooth, I didn't hear a negative comment all weekend. I know the challenges the organising committee faced in planning the race so congratulations Di, Bruce, Wil and everyone involved for pulling it off.
Old Tolmie Rd (Col du Tolmielet - as it is now known) has become famous overnight and is really being talked about through cycling circles. Cycling mates of mine in Melbourne are already asking me "what's this crazy steep berg just out of Mansfield that everyone is talking about?". While I died a thousand deaths up there on Saturday afternoon, I think it was a terrific addition to the race and will no doubt improve Mansfield's status in the cycling tourism industry. If the course remains the same, I look forward to watching Kian and Josh really rip up there at the 2019 Tour. Maybe Kian can take his KOM back? Maybe Bruce will pin a number on and show all the Masters Men how to climb Col du Tolmielet?
Shannon - Just quietly I think the Sprint classification was a great addition too! Thanks for sponsoring it.
What a team effort by the club to deliver this awesome event. Thank you all!

Pre-Tour update

Starting with the latest first this week… more video, results both on- and off-road.

Mansfield Tour

Good luck to Rob Curtis and Dan Purcell (I can hear Matt Keenan now, "Purcell's Baaaack!;) who are racing the Tour this weekend. Race well boys!
All the best too, to everyone else who’s helping out on the Tour - thanks very much for all the time you’re donating and we really hope you enjoy the race and having so many roadies around town this weekend.

Thursday Night Road Race

Ian Conrick is apparently writing an article on Thursday’s race. It hasn’t hit MMBCC Towers inbox yet but we’re sure it will eventually and when it does, it'll appear here.
In the meantime, here are the results (which also includes the cumulative points scores - the last time we'll publish these for the season - just to build the suspense) and below are Tony Copland’s pics.

Dirt Crit results

Gravity Endure night at Dirt Crits last Monday and no surprise to see Dan Friday and Matt Empey with fastest times. But based on differential, Damian took the win with only two seconds difference between his first and second runs.
Here are the results.

Bike Buller MTB Festival

By Kate Empey

Big congrats to Dan Friday who took out 1st in overall ranking in Vet’s Gravity Gods (three races over three days, two Downhill and one Gravity Enduro).
Elise was first in overall U15 Girls and Amateur women’s. Matty and David both finished overall 2nd in their respective categories.
Zac Empey even got a look in with his 3rd in the Kids 10km race (but any disappoint in not winning was soon forgotten because he got a NEW BIKE for his birthday on Friday! Happy Birthday Zac! - Ed.)
Bella Green came 4th in both Downhill and Gravity Enduro. Bella has had a massive improvement over a year and she and Elise competed in their first downhill event.
Kian Lerch-MacKinnon finished 4th in XC and competed in every other event too including Downhill, Gravity Enduro and Super D with his ever present smile!

Public Holiday Update

Fairless follow-up

To start off with this week, this may be of interest to those of you that went to the movie night last week. Here is the YouTube video to watch Steve Fairless win in Denmark in 2015, after just missing out in Slovenia in 2014 (in the movie).

Dirt Crits

While the results are still in the ether somewhere, we do know that Bella Green won followed closely by Ruby Dobson and Dan Friday (junior).
Results link will be here soon... ish.

At least Bella's smiling...

The Handicapper’s eye view of Thursday night.

By John Eisner

Wednesday Night, 8pm; most of the entries have been SMS’d for the Howes Creek/O’Hanlons Hill finish on Thursday. Just after 8, Craig Wilson and a few others receive a reminder, boosting the start numbers to a healthy 33.
Over coffee the next morning the groups are looking good. Josh Hopwood pleads lack of race practice and is placed straight into the formidable looking Scratch group with Bruce Halket and Lewis Dowie.
Jock Brega, Tom MacMunn and Jarrod Appleton looked like a solid Block unit while Matt Empey, Dave Moore and Steve Duke looked good in group three.
Janine Appleton and Mel Green are a bit in no-man’s land but form a dynamic duo questionably helped by the addition of Alex Green.
On recent form, there was no real reason to split the next nine players – Jason Parker, Steve Flew, Ian Conrick, John Eisner, Jodie Batchelor, Peter Ellett, David Jagger, Wilson and Kieren Payne and similarly Di Condie, Rod Manning, David Bock and Donna Stephenson looked good in the penultimate group.
Elise Empey and Bella Green made up the young, Limit bunch but what to do with Talia Appleton? Great recent form, a couple of missed Thursday nights and probably likely to be run over by the Conrick bunch (possibly literally). Thinking Di will be a good mentor.
Thursday night as the race unfolds, Hopwood “menaces” the rest of the backmarker groups who formed one unit, fairly rapidly eventually catching Rob Skinner, AJ Stephenson and Nathan Pelling.
The Conrick group worked like a machine despite its size and finally caught up with the Condie crew to be subsequently caught by Mel and Janine.
With the race coming together at the bottom of the final hill, Talia made the most of her power to weight ratio and according to one observer, “danced off the front” to take a good win.
Acting somewhat like a chromatography experiment, the hill separated out the rest of the bunch with Hopwood putting his fiddle back in its case and crossed the line second. Manning and Donna Stephenson did well to come 3rd and 4th with Bruce Halket 5th.
A big thanks to our crew of helpers and to the Delatite Hotel for another fine dinner.
Here are the top ten results and also the season point scores… it’s close at the top!
Plus... here is the last kilometre or so seen from the Juggernaut's Cycliq headlight/camera.

On board with the Juggernaut in the final.

And here are Tony Copland's pics of the night.

Finally...

Please take a few secs to add your name to an e-petition on the Victorian Government website about vulnerable road users... like us!

Oh! One last thing...

If you've put your hand up for the Mansfield Tour and you haven't spoken to Bruce about your role yet, please give him a call in the next day or two. (You've got his number...)

Sunday Update

With the Mansfield Tour only weeks away, please subscribe so you can stay up-to-date and what you're helping out with. (It's on the Home page, on the right!)

Movie night this coming Wednesday 7 March

Double Bill - Fairless and MAMIL

As long as the DVD arrives in the post in time, first up at 7.30 will be Fairless, which tells the story about Steve Fairless, a rising star of Australian Cycling who gave it away at the age of 26 to return home to his dairy farm and provide for his family. At the age of 50 (over 20 years later), Steve returned to settle some unfinished business. He quickly became one of the best ...
After intermission, MAMIL, a new Australian-produced cycling movie with promises of ‘a light-hearted, yet insightful, look at the secret lives of MAMIL’s in their natural habitat’. Yes, ubiquitous ‘Middle-Aged Men In Lycra’ are thrust front and centre stage in this 98-minute feature film that focusses on personal reflections upon why we ride.
Here’s a review of MAMIL and here’s one of Fairless from when it was first released, with a bit of an interview with the director.
Tickets are $15 each for MMBCC members and friends. Please email Bruce to book your seat.

Dirt Crits Scratch Races

Three grades raced a longish lap at Riflebutts. Six riders rode six laps with Damian Grundy taking the win just ahead of Bruce Halket.
Seven raced over four laps with James Griffin winning a minute ahead of Rachael Grundy.
Talia Appleton and Bella Green raced three laps with Talia taking the win.
Results here.

Individual Time Trial over the Coombesberg

Time Trials are not fun. They are a test of fitness and a riders’ ability to endure suffering. There are next to no tactics involved - just go as hard as you can for as long as you can.
To make matters worse, the MMBCC Individual Time Trial last Thursday 1 March was held on an out-and-back, undulating course over 12km including going up the dreaded Coombesberg and back again to Graves Road. Then the weather chimed in with a gusty, blustering southerly making it even harder!
Not fun.
With handicaps taken into account, the win went to Talia Appleton ahead of Judi Duke and David Bock. The rest of the top ten were Cam Dobson, Bella Green, Rod Manning, Bruce Halket, Damian Grundy, Ian Conrick and Steve Duke.
Bruce Halket rode fastest time of 21.11 proving he’s no fun at all. Lewis Dowie was second fastest with 21.44 just ahead of Damian Grundy on 21.47.
Many thanks to Di, Darren, Rob and Richard for helping out and officiating, to Dave for the flyby and to the Delatite Hotel for presentations and post-race de-brief.
Next week sees O’Hanlons Road rear its ugly head again as the finish line for a handicap race, starting at the Lords’ Ground. Entries the usual way by 8pm Wednesday please.
Speaking of Wednesday, this coming Wednesday 7 March the MAC will host a movie night for all MMBCC members. It’s a double bill featuring a short documentary on Shepparton’s Steve Fairless and another doco called MAMIL. See you at the MAC at 7pm.
Finally, with the Mansfield Tour coming up on March 17 and 18, we can confirm that Sydney Olympic Gold Medallist and Chief Commentator for cycling at the Commonwealth Games on Channel 7, Scott McGrory, will be the commentator for our Tour too.
Here are the results. And they also include the cumulative point scores…

Physics and cycling

Here’s a good article on Cycling Tips which explains the physics behind why you should try a break away.

Finally…

A working bee was meant to be held today to fit signage to the club’s TT start ramp in preparation for the Tour. Press studs have been ordered to easily install the banners on race morning, without the hassle of cable ties as in previous years.
Thankfully, David Jagger did some testing of the press studs we’d bought (like the ones pictured above) and found they’re not strong enough screws to go into the steel frame of the start ramp.
We’ll have to use pop rivet press studs instead.
Because of this, a group SMS was sent around explaining that the working been has been cancelled.
An unnamed member responded that “The club hardly needs more studs!”
A reply stated “Incorrect. The current club studs don’t screw well enough!”