A week is along time in bike racing
by Pip Read, World & Australian Masters cycle champion
Rain, rain and then more rain! The most common sayings that I've been hearing around the traps this winter is 'when will this weather end or I'm sick of the indoor trainer' and as this end of Australia has had the wettest winter in a long time, I can agree with that.
I suppose that at least it gives us all a chance to check out the trusty bike steed and do some much needed maintenance. I was pocking around in one of my local bike shops the other week and found some great gizmos. My latest favorite tool is a brake pad aligning tool. This little blue plastic thingy is great, fits to the rim and when pointed in the correct direction makes it almost fool proof at aligning pads. It has improved my brake performance markedly; I can't remember how much it cost but well worth it.
The second is my workshop apron, just like the ones that you see the mechanics wearing. It has pockets in the front and keeps the jeans out of the washing machine.
Well that's enough of a ramble, on to the racing. I have had two club team races and I think I've wondered aloud before why do we, in Australia, have our road season in winter? Anyway the first race was run by Northern Combine Cycling. This was the first race on my new race bike, a Colnago CX. As you may remember my partner and I were overseas and this bike and the TT bike just happened to follow us home, so I just had to keep them both!
Back to the race. The race regulations state that participants are only permitted to use public/supplied toilets, the trouble is they only supplied one and that was at the start finish and you guessed it half way round the first lap I was forced to obey nature's call. So after that little forced delay I completed the remainder of the race solo.
I also competed in a time trial in my favorite area around Newstead, Muckleford and Strangways. For some strange reason I entered C grade with all the other women entered in D grade. I am very familiar with the circuit and with a tail wind out and a strengthening head wind on the way slightly up hill return journey we had what promised to be a tough race. I had ridden a recon ride the day before and I was already aware of the dirty roads, potholes and the magpie. I had planned to get in some good time with the tail wind and with luck save something for the return. I think the magpie must have tired its self out attacking various riders, as I didn't see it at all. I was very happy when I did the download from the Garmin and while not finishing in the points was looking forward to the racing the following day.
At the Victorian Masters Road Race Championships we had a late start and as with this time of year the weather seems to change for the worst later in the day, we had a strong wind and threatening skies which thankfully did not turn into rain until we finished. Entry numbers where again down and the organisers joined W 4, 5 and 6 and as I have just moved up to W6 was expecting a tough race. To my surprise at the top of the first hill before Guildford I looked behind and say no one so decided to put my head down and see what happened. I set myself an average speed and heart rate zone and just peddled. I had learnt a lesson previously to always keep an eye out on what is going on behind, but I looked around at the last turn about 6k's from the finish and saw nobody. It was then I decided to back it off a bit, and to my utter surprise I was passed by the W4 competitor five meters before the line.
Recently I raced at Gisborne on a short but very tough little circuit. On paper it doesn't look that bad but after seven laps it was very taxing. Most of the roads around the district have suffered from the weather quite a bit over the winter and the organisers moved the start line to the top of the hill which meant we actually completed seven and a half laps per circuit. With the first half lap under control I found myself with a gap and as with the previous race I set my goals and this time regularly looked behind. Someone gave me a gap at the start of the last lap and I finished first in B grade.
I have a few friends coming up to do some recon rides of the Australian Masters Road Race Championships, which this year are being held in Ballarat, almost in my backyard, and as I know the roads will be showing them the circuits. I will then be doing my own recon rides of some upcoming races with the Northern Combine Time Trial Championships at Newham near Hanging Rock on a different circuit than I've used before. Always helps to be prepared.
Stay safe,
Pip