Champion cyclist now 'flashing pedals'

by Pip Read - Australian and world masters champion cyclist

For me personally, the Victorian Clubs Team Time Trial Championships were a bit of a flop. Having said that my team still finished third in the elite women's section.

I rode the course twice in the weeks leading up to the event and the last time was the day before the race, when my Saturday bunch decided to go that way to miss the fog that was hanging around, unsuccessful I might add.

Teams were made up of three riders but unfortunately one of our riders was injured so that left two of us. I was on my time trial bike and Justyna on her road bike. I had been praying for a north wind to blow us home but on the day we had a south wind; tail wind out, head wind home and the return leg was very slow. Third is still a good result for two riders!

Two weeks later I was competing in the Victorian Masters Time Trial Championships and the next day the Victorian Masters Road Race Championships, held this year at Harcourt between Castlemaine and Bendigo, in Central Victoria. The event was organised by the Castlemaine Cycling Club, and it was a new circuit for me. The race was missing the great names of the past few championships but it was a great circuit none the less.

Saturday ITT championships: The race started on the old Calder Highway (now bypassed I might add) and the roads were relatively quiet. Relying on conditions I had picked up on an earlier recognisance ride I had planned to ride on a smooth part of the road, but for some reason I couldn't find it. Once I got my head around mishap I was fine, except for the up hill section almost from the start. The rain was threatening at the turn around point and I really started to notice the wind, quickly realising why the trip out was quite quick. Almost half way home and the rain came down, not heavy but enough to be annoying and make the bike and me dirty. I finished first in my age group and second fasted female time for the day so I was quite pleased.

Sunday RR Championships: The organisers decided to start all the women at the same time and this saw some of my fellow competitors having a bit of a grumble. I thought that it was a good decision as all sixteen of us might make a bit of a race of it. But this did not eventuate as almost at the top of the first hill after the start one of the younger girls attacked. I decided to follow, not because I needed to as we only had two in my age group, but it just seemed like a good idea at the time. We worked very well together and by about the half way point we were told by our follow car official that we had a six minute lead on the following bunch. Not long later I started suffering from back pain and decided to ease off and told my breakaway partner to go. I still finished first in my age group and second overall, a good hard race.

This month I also managed to ride marshal the women's C grade at my club's trophy 60km race. This grade of race is intended for women who are relatively or completely new to racing and they will be under control until over the KOM for the second time. Encouraging women new to racing is always something that I like to do and it was a fun event.

I've also had another career change, this time in entirely my own direction. My business is Flashing Pedals Mobile Bicycle Workshop. If you see my little ute flying around with signs on the side give me a wave or a call. This is the first for me in business so wish me luck!

You can contact me via the Flashing Pedals webpage here.

That's about all for the moment, please stay safe on the road.

Talk soon

Pip