First criterium

way to go maaaaaaate 😄

what's the course like at H-crossing?

F "What does that bell mean? 🙄 " Dutch

mogulhead said:

I've enjoyed reading others race reports so I thought I'd write my own. Went in my first cycling race last week. It was at Hoppers Crossing at the VUT circuit with Footscray Cycling Club in D grade. It was a criterium. It started off with a comfortable pace but there was a strong southerly head wind which kept speeds low on the back straight. Did some laps where I just stayed out of trouble and out of the wind. Then with about 7 minutes to go some guy took off from the front. I watched him go and waited for a reaction. We all seemed to be looking at each other waiting for someone else to do the chasing. Anyway after a couple of seconds I thought bugger it I'll try and go with him. I got away from the bunch and caught him in a bit over half a lap. We only stayed away for about a lap and a half and I was totally spent. I found out it is a lot easier to break away from the group than to stay away. Got my breath back after a couple of minutes back in the bunch and I see the 2 laps to go board. On the last lap I make another break. I get half way round the course before they pass me. I finish about 100m behind the main bunch happy that I was reasonably competitive in the race. Average speed for the race was about 33kmh

My second criterium last Saturday I won. Learnt my lesson from the week before and just stayed with the bunch and stayed out of trouble. Some guy did a break with about 2 laps to go but he got chased down. I heard the bell for the last lap and thanks to a previous posters experience I knew that it actually was the last lap. Anyway it was the last bend to the finishing straight and I was on the outside line right on the wheel in front. He accelerated and I went with him but he stuffed a gear change and lost momentum. I then got on a wheel on my left used him to accelerate past him and then went flat out to the line. A guy on my left was catching me right to the line and I beat him by about 10 cm. My main thought crossing the line was I bloody well hope that that was the last lap. I didn't get the average speed for the race but it was a lot quicker than the previous one as the wind speed was less. :eek:

$35 bucks for the win is bloody nice but they told me one more win and I'm up to C grade.

Cheers

$35 for the win in D? That's looxury mate. Well played!

Ritch.

PS. C grade is a little faster, but if you're winning this early in D, then I reckon you'll be competitive. Good luck!

ritcho said:

$35 for the win in D? That's looxury mate. Well played!

Ritch.

PS. C grade is a little faster, but if you're winning this early in D, then I reckon you'll be competitive. Good luck!

Is it coz he was winning early that they said with another win he goes up to C grade? Or are there other factors? Like looking like a stronger rider than the rest. who usually decides?

"oely" <[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

ritcho said:

PS. C grade is a little faster, but if you're winning this early in D,
then I reckon you'll be competitive. Good luck!

Is it coz he was winning early that they said with another win he goes
up to C grade? Or are there other factors? Like looking like a stronger
rider than the rest. who usually decides?

Obviously if he can win D grade, he should move up, he's
simply a strong enough rider to go up a grade. If he's
winning it early it just means he was fast enough when he
started and can move up straight away, rather than the
usual, 'training' curve.
The other riders in D grade aren't going to be happy if
he wins every race are they?

hippy

oely said:

Is it coz he was winning early that they said with another win he goes up to C grade? Or are there other factors? Like looking like a stronger rider than the rest. who usually decides?

The mystical dude known as the club handicapper, and out at Footscray they can be a bit severe. Ritcho: (Uncle mfhor puts his oilstained coaches' cap on and tries to look severe and knowing - fails) you shouldn't have gone the breakaway in the 1st race, and instead, made your win look like a sort-of 'fluke'. That way, you can stay in the grade you're comfy in, and rake in the cash! They watch your form, and have a few pairs of eyes to do it with. Don't give too much away too early! (cagey roadie tactics)

Seriously, it's harder to get put down a grade than go up, so make sure you do plenty of training if they do put you up to C grade, otherwise, your winnings will all go in fruitless petrol money and entry fees!

When I get my act together, I may see you down there. It's been a few years, and I'm getting itchy fingers (/toes?) All I need is about 5000 ks in my legs, and some willpower. Melton Club is starting racing on a new. purpose-built off-road crit circuit next Sunday - Coburns Rd., if anyone's interested. I'll be up on dirt rds back of Orbost on the knobby tyred thing, towing a Bob (I think).

Oh, yes, Well done! If you're beating them this early, maybe you'll be racing the Bay Series next year!

M "like the riding manners of A-grade, but not the speeds" H

The course is a closed circuit used for driver training. There is only one small bump on it and no sharp corners. It is pretty open so the wind can have a big effect. Its nothing like that lung buster course that the Hawthorn crits use. That course is an animal. A few laps around that course and you would certainly know you've been racing. Also the fact that D grade can average 36kmh around it just makes me tired thinking of it.

Cheers

mogulhead said:

Its nothing like that lung buster course that the Hawthorn crits use. That course is an animal. A few laps around that course and you would certainly know you've been racing. Also the fact that D grade can average 36kmh around it just makes me tired thinking of it.

Cheers

hehe!

'tired' kicks in after 10 minutes.
'tired/desparate/"why the hell do i drink so much beer?"' kicks in after about 25min
'I_am_melting' hits you on the last lap along with the realisation that oxygen-deprivation for your brain aint a good thing.

...AND im lervin it 😄 😄 😄

F"2 5th's and gettin closer"Dutch

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

Quoted message said:

Melton Club is starting racing on a
new. purpose-built off-road crit circuit next Sunday - Coburns Rd., if
anyone's interested.

By off-road do you mean a sealed crit track that is not located on a public
road or do you mean a circuit for dirt crits?

I heard rumour about a new purpose built road crit venue last year and how
the construction process was about to begin soon. I was just mentioning to
a friend the other day that I had not heard anything about this fabled new
track in quite a while. I think you've just answered my question.

Thanks
Geoff

flyingdutch said:

hehe!

'tired' kicks in after 10 minutes.
'tired/desparate/"why the hell do i drink so much beer?"' kicks in after about 25min
'I_am_melting' hits you on the last lap along with the realisation that oxygen-deprivation for your brain aint a good thing.

...AND im lervin it 😄 😄 😄

F"2 5th's and gettin closer"Dutch

When I was racing I gave up on Kew Boulevard after seeing some monster wipeouts on that bottom corner - lots of skin left on gravel, paint off nice frames, etc. Favourite course was Barry Rd., Campbellfield, where I have memories of a 20 min B-grade 2 man breakaway that stuck in 34 degree heat, with no-one wanting to chase. I got away with that one.

M "memories" H

Geoff said:

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

Quoted message said:

Melton Club is starting racing on a
new. purpose-built off-road crit circuit next Sunday - Coburns Rd., if
anyone's interested.

By off-road do you mean a sealed crit track that is not located on a public
road or do you mean a circuit for dirt crits?

I heard rumour about a new purpose built road crit venue last year and how
the construction process was about to begin soon. I was just mentioning to
a friend the other day that I had not heard anything about this fabled new
track in quite a while. I think you've just answered my question.

Thanks
Geoff

The former. Hot-mix with no cars! Yay!

M " I'm excited" H