Sandown Crits??

hippy said:

I wanna try the Carnegie-Caulfield crits at Sandown Raceway
(to double my chances of winning Dutchy! 🙂)

Does anyone have any tips or knowledge of the track/racing they can spill?

I was thinking of riding south along Glenferrie Rd, turning left onto
Princes Fwy/Dandenong Rd., riding out and turning right onto Springvale
Rd., then left onto Sandown Rd which should be close to the racing.

Is there a better way to go?
Better in this case = faster, I don't care about same-direction traffic.
I want to get there quick because I wont have much time, leaving around
5.45 from Glenferrie Station for a 6.30 race start.
What's Toorak/Burwood like, outbound, compared to Princes Fwy?

Thanks for any suggestions peeps!
hippy

train? or (dare it say it...) drive??

flyingdutch said:

hippy said:

I wanna try the Carnegie-Caulfield crits at Sandown Raceway
(to double my chances of winning Dutchy! 🙂)

<snip>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I want to get there quick because I wont have much time, leaving around
5.45 from Glenferrie Station for a 6.30 race start.
What's Toorak/Burwood like, outbound, compared to Princes Fwy?

train? or (dare it say it...) drive??

HERECTIC!!! 😉

Have bike, will ride.
There's no way I'm driving to a Melbourne race and I don't think any
trains run out that way <fires up map site for a look>..
Well, dress me in a floral skirt and call me Fruitcup, Springvale
station is right next to it! <fires up trip planning site>
I think it's right near Springvale station even though there's a
Sandown Park station..

at 5.35pm Take FLINDERS STREET line Direction FLINDERS STREET
at 5.41pm Arrive at RICHMOND station
at 5.45pm Take DANDENONG line
at 6.17pm Arrive at SPRINGVALE station
at 6.17pm You arrive at SPRINGVALE
Travel time : 42 min

I reckon riding it might get me there too late. Train will get
me there without sufficient warmup. Curses. I'll see what time
I can get there riding tonight. Might have to retire early to get
to the races 🙂

hippy

hippy said:

I reckon riding it might get me there too late. Train will get
me there without sufficient warmup. Curses. I'll see what time
I can get there riding tonight. Might have to retire early to get
to the races 🙂

hippy

IIRC there are rules for no bikes on trains during peak hour.. this may
or may not be correct.. but when I was working in the city there was
nothing like some dude pushing in with a bike and knocking everyone over.

I once went to get on a train at Richmond and there was a roadie ([censored]
one) leaning up across the two doors.. I picked it and moved it out of
the way, looking around for the [censored], yet nobody claiming the bike as
theirs.. as the train filled up, people were having to move the bike
out of the way.. some old guy ended up having to hold it feeling quite
embarrassed that everyone thought he was the [censored] with the bike.. Then
a few stops later some university looking guy, who I named '[censored]'
stands up and takes his bike and rides off.. without a care in the world..

Note to self, remove unclaimed bikes and place them on the platform..

Well, having said all that, I guess I am a biker on public transport
hater! lookout!! 😉

Oh, and on the topic of crits.. looks like rain will wash out my first
race tomorrow.. I might get an open license and increase my chances of
fine weather on the weekend..

cheers,
GPL

hippy said:

I reckon riding it might get me there too late. Train will get
me there without sufficient warmup. Curses. I'll see what time
I can get there riding tonight. Might have to retire early to get
to the races 🙂

hippy

reckon that's your best bet. Crossed fingers for a win
to inspire me. oh, and to make you feel better too, of course... :p

PS have heard the headwinds can be nasty down the home straight. dont go too early is the tip i got...

F"still 8 sleeps to go"Dutch

hippy said:

Does anyone have any tips or knowledge of the track/racing they can spill?

Stay off the front, and stay downwind at all times when it's hitting you from the side, as the course is very open. It's not like Glenvale, you need to think about position much more. Get to the front on the hill on the last lap, maintain top ten into LH corner after hill. It will be a bunch sprint, the hill is pissant and people usually don't escape in C grade anyway, so let everyone go (you'll reel them all in down the main straight). The last corner is messy as it's an S and tight at speed. Make sure you have a wheel after the last corner, the sprint is approx 300m so you want to be protected until the finish.

See, racing's simple on paper (electronic paper that is). And seeings I told you how to win, I get a coaching fee tomorrow when you post your race report.

In article <[email hidden]>,

hippy said:

leaving around 5.45 from Glenferrie Station

Can you ride down Glenferrie Road and get the train at Malvern? Might be
more room on it there...

--
Shane Stanley

GPLama said:

IIRC there are rules for no bikes on trains during peak hour.. this may
or may not be correct.. but when I was working in the city there was
nothing like some dude pushing in with a bike and knocking everyone over.

I think they are allowed but discouraged. I have taken them on during
peak hour and I take great care in not upsetting the yuppie scum. 🙂
As Ed says, Aussies are a bunch of lawless something-or-others so if it
means racing or not racing, I'll break the Connex rules :P

Quoted message said:

I once went to get on a train at Richmond and there was a roadie ([censored]
one) leaning up across the two doors.. I picked it and moved it out of

I lean mine on those entrance panels next to the doors/single seats and
stand with it, or sit next to it, if there's not many people.
In peak hour, I might have to hold it in the middle of 'open territory'
and adjust it as doors open on different sides and different people move
out.

Quoted message said:

the way, looking around for the [censored], yet nobody claiming the bike as
theirs.. as the train filled up, people were having to move the bike
out of the way.. some old guy ended up having to hold it feeling quite
embarrassed that everyone thought he was the [censored] with the bike.. Then
a few stops later some university looking guy, who I named '[censored]'
stands up and takes his bike and rides off.. without a care in the world..

Should've pushed it out the door - the owner would become obvious fairly
quickly.

Quoted message said:

Note to self, remove unclaimed bikes and place them on the platform..

Ah ha. 🙂

Quoted message said:

Well, having said all that, I guess I am a biker on public transport
hater! lookout!! 😉

I'll make sure and have it nice and dirty for you to brush your suit on.

Quoted message said:

Oh, and on the topic of crits.. looks like rain will wash out my first
race tomorrow.. I might get an open license and increase my chances of
fine weather on the weekend..

Oh, aren't you in Melbourne? I was looking forward to Biker v Suit on a
Train, Fox Pay Per View tonight at 8!! 😉

hippy

flyingdutch said:

hippy said:

I reckon riding it might get me there too late. Train will get
me there without sufficient warmup. Curses. I'll see what time
I can get there riding tonight. Might have to retire early to get
to the races 🙂

reckon that's your best bet. Crossed fingers for a win
to inspire me. oh, and to make you feel better too, of course... :p

haha.. how hot is it out there?! I'll keel over before I get there if I
ride there.. and I LIKE the heat! :S 🙂

Quoted message said:

PS have heard the headwinds can be nasty down the home straight. dont
go too early is the tip i got...

Cool. I don't figure on doing to well on a new course anyway but I've
heard the wind is a killer and breaks tend to succeed here.

hippy

hippy said:

I think they are allowed but discouraged.

Yep, found the link on:
http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/tools/faq.php

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Well, having said all that, I guess I am a biker on public transport
hater! lookout!! 😉

I'll make sure and have it nice and dirty for you to brush your suit on.

No suits here anymore.. working in the 'burbs.. which is a great ride to
and from work..

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Oh, and on the topic of crits.. looks like rain will wash out my first
race tomorrow.. I might get an open license and increase my chances of
fine weather on the weekend..

Oh, aren't you in Melbourne? I was looking forward to Biker v Suit on a
Train, Fox Pay Per View tonight at 8!! 😉

Yep, in Melb... if you keep an eye on
http://webcam.omni.net.au/webcampan.php you'll see a cool front on its
way some time this arvo/night to ruin the rest of the week..

Only place you'll see my on telly is either on the news being killed by
a car, or in court - 'Biker vs Unleashed pooch on bike path'..

cheers,
GPL

GPLama said:

Yep, in Melb... if you keep an eye on
http://webcam.omni.net.au/webcampan.php you'll see a cool front on its
way some time this arvo/night to ruin the rest of the week..

Tuesday
Fine during the day with a freshening northerly wind. A cooler gusty
southwesterly change in the late afternoon with rain to follow tonight.
Max 33

Dunno how long it will take to get here.. probably not during the race.
http://mirror.bom.gov.au/products/IDR022.shtml#image

Quoted message said:

Only place you'll see my on telly is either on the news being killed by
a car, or in court - 'Biker vs Unleashed pooch on bike path'..

hehe 🙂

hippy

Shane Stanley said:

Can you ride down Glenferrie Road and get the train at Malvern? Might be
more room on it there...

If I wear knicks, etc. under normal clothes and don't stink when I get
on sans-riding, the yuppies will be none the wiser.. save for the road
bike I'm wheeling and the click click click of carbon soles on tarmac! 🙂

hippy

Shabby said:

hippy said:

Does anyone have any tips or knowledge of the track/racing they can
spill?

Stay off the front, and stay downwind at all times when it's hitting
you from the side, as the course is very open. It's not like Glenvale,
you need to think about position much more. Get to the front on the

Think? Uh oh.

Quoted message said:

hill on the last lap, maintain top ten into LH corner after hill. It
will be a bunch sprint, the hill is pissant and people usually don't
escape in C grade anyway, so let everyone go (you'll reel them all in
down the main straight). The last corner is messy as it's an S and
tight at speed. Make sure you have a wheel after the last corner, the
sprint is approx 300m so you want to be protected until the finish.

Oh goodie, tight corners.. my fave.. doh!
Hills?! Arr! Well, if I do indeed make it on time to race, thanks for
the tips - I'll try and put them to good use. Have you been out in the
wind? Damn..

Quoted message said:

See, racing's simple on paper (electronic paper that is). And seeings I
told you how to win, I get a coaching fee tomorrow when you post your
race report.

Cheques in the mail Shabsta! 🙂

hippy

Shabby said:

hippy said:

Does anyone have any tips or knowledge of the track/racing they can
spill?

Stay off the front, and stay downwind at all times when it's hitting
you from the side, as the course is very open. It's not like Glenvale,
you need to think about position much more. Get to the front on the
hill on the last lap, maintain top ten into LH corner after hill. It
will be a bunch sprint, the hill is pissant and people usually don't
escape in C grade anyway, so let everyone go (you'll reel them all in
down the main straight). The last corner is messy as it's an S and
tight at speed. Make sure you have a wheel after the last corner, the
sprint is approx 300m so you want to be protected until the finish.

See, racing's simple on paper (electronic paper that is). And seeings I
told you how to win, I get a coaching fee tomorrow when you post your
race report.

You know he's just gonna blame you now when he doesn't win.

It's probably YOU who's delaying his trip 🙂

--
Nick

hippy said:

> Stay off the front, and stay downwind at all times when it's hitting

Quoted message said:

you from the side, as the course is very open. It's not like Glenvale,
you need to think about position much more. Get to the front on the

Think? Uh oh.
hippy

next he'll say 'count' 😄 😄 😄

"hippy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

GPLama said:

Yep, in Melb... if you keep an eye on
http://webcam.omni.net.au/webcampan.php you'll see a cool front on its
way some time this arvo/night to ruin the rest of the week..

The cool front...
It arrived just in time to ruin track training tonight. :-(
Thursday's training is not looking to good at this stage either.
At least Saturday night a Vodafone Arena can't be rained out.

Geoff

Geoff said:

The cool front...
It arrived just in time to ruin track training tonight. :-(
Thursday's training is not looking to good at this stage either.
At least Saturday night a Vodafone Arena can't be rained out.

Geoff

wimps! 😄

obviously the tri boys/girls dont like getting their speedos wet so i had the Hawthorn Velodrome all to myself
(altho your mate, whom did the BR once rocked up as i was 'warming' down)

flyingdutch said:

wimps! 😄

obviously the tri boys/girls dont like getting their speedos wet so i had the Hawthorn Velodrome all to myself
(altho your mate, whom did the BR once rocked up as i was 'warming' down)

I was in the same boat but managed to get 30 min before the wet... doesnt it have something to do with keeping the track bike clean??? They cant get grime on them for some reason????? I am just a track newbie so not too sure but I am sure it has something to do with looks and style.....:p O well, the shortened track session gave me time to go home and paint my nails....

warrwych said:

flyingdutch said:

obviously the tri boys/girls dont like getting their speedos wet so i
had the Hawthorn Velodrome all to myself
(altho your mate, whom did the BR once rocked up as i was 'warming'
down)

I was in the same boat but managed to get 30 min before the wet...
doesnt it have something to do with keeping the track bike clean???
They cant get grime on them for some reason????? I am just a track
newbie so not too sure but I am sure it has something to do with looks
and style.....:p O well, the shortened track session gave me time to go
home and paint my nails....

I thought after that rainy sprint session you'd know how slippery the
'drome lines can get in the wet? 🙂

hippy

hippy said:

I thought after that rainy sprint session you'd know how slippery the
'drome lines can get in the wet? 🙂

hippy

i stayed right away from those slippery lines Hipmeister - didnt want to chip a nail 😎