Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Embrocation & Disqualification - John Sewell Handicap 2012

Great Northern Combine race on the weekend. The John Sewell Memorial Handicap presented by the Brunswick Cycling Club drew a full-house by the Wednesday prior, and the trash talking had begun early. 

Soawyer, Duggan and D'alfonso managed to get entries. However with D'alfonso pulling a Mills and forgetting a wheel, and then a helmet on the drive up, it was left to Soawyer and Duggan to hold the fort for TDR. 

Soawyer was off 9 minutes. Duggan off 7 minutes. The 5 minute bunch looked very strong and we didn't hold out much hope of holding off scratch either. 

This guy won the sock competition. Easy. 





































The 7 minute group worked well together for the majority of the first lap, with people only starting to miss turns after about 20 km. 

9 minute bunch working hard. Soawyer never far from the front

















We rounded the 9 minute bunch up and the pace slowed, with lots of stragglers hanging on. The pace dropped dramatically, and after a bit of chat about not wanting to get caught, Soawyer attacked with Duggan on his wheel and managed to shake the chaff off the back of the bunch. 

Paddy Mc started with Soawyer in the 9 minute bunch and finished well for 10th

















Last lap and we catch the 13 minute bunch at a rail crossing. Someone yells "Scratch is on us!" and it's on. It's actually the 5 minute bunch and they filter to the front as the stronger riders try to maintain good position in the now enormous bunch. Soawyer drags Duggan up and drops him off into a good position for the sprint finish. Duggan goes marginally early and is pipped by half a wheel on the line by BCC's Ian Clarke. 

















Result! 

Wait, why are they needing to get placings down to 20th? Turns out about 1/3 of the field has been disqualified for white line infringements cornering. This was a message to riders to tighten behaviour up before the 3DT this week. 

Unfortunate, but definitely required. We're happy to cop one if it ensures the longevity of the Combine. 

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Race Report - Geelong Club Tour

Words by G.Hogan... (Gee-Hoges)...


The Geelong Club Tour began like most tours do, the night before, you smash a much pasta as you can, fixing whatever is wrong with your bike and watching Jack Ass late into the night at your good mates.

Day One: 
Started out fairly poorly, it was pouring rain and it was cold and you just wanted to go back to bed and question why I keep doing this to myself, and there is one answer: 

Bikes. Are. AWESOME!!!

STAGE 1: 45min Kermesse. 

Ned Volk, his dad Paul and myself managed to pull B Grade for the weekend the weekend of racing, pfft yet another mistake from the handy capers. The race began  fairly steadily and to serious until about 5 minutes in when attacks came left right and centre and were shut down fairly quickly. 15 minutes in coming down the downhill *flat back tyre*.

Shit. 

I was at the furthest point the start finish line and by the time I got there I had lost a lap already and I had  another lap to get back in, with the quickest tube change of my life I had it fixed and was waiting for the group to swing back through to get on. I got back in to be confronted to another flurry of attacks that were again shut down right away. The tempo was being set by Ned, some two other blokes and myself, we were dishing you the pain and it was evident with most of the stragglers dropping off.

Re-entering the kermesse after the puncture 















Bell lap. I had the dream position, 3 back at the front of the group, 500m to go I was just following the wheel of whoever stuck their nose into the wind. One guy managed to slip off the front and had a gap on us, with Ned stuck on my wheel (he knows I can sprint) it was up to me. Into the head wind and on an uphill drag that was taking its toll on the legs I got onto the rider, around him turning an uphill hair pin with 75m, and started the final sprint to the line.*looks under left arm* clear sailing, *under right arm* Ned's on my hip. Crossed the line to Ned saying "YEAH BUDDY

#fistpumpmoment 

One-two finish was awesome, and then the realisation that Paul let us down and rolled in 6th instead of 3rd. Ah well dream was alive with me in top spot in the GC. The drive to stage two Ned and I look at each other and said "Maccas?"...smashed a double cheese burger and a chicken and cheese burger for our lunch time feed, only 4 bucks each and its dairy, meat, carbs and sugars in it..the whole food pyramid! 

STAGE 2: Time Trial. 

This was held at the purpose built criterium track in Belmont. It was only 4km/ two laps so no excuse not to be in 53 11. The start list was reverse order of the GC but riders were going off every 30 seconds so we didn't have to wait long. Those who have ridden on that track will know that is tight, and cornering means the difference between winning and losing. Thank god that cornering is one thing that I'm good at!

With one exception due to the fact I was cutting a corner to tight and I needed to break to not hit gravel and stack I did not touch the brakes once! To come through and post the stage winning time of 6:21min averaging 41- not even kidding

Yes it was short but best TT I have ever done! 1 second up on Ned who ran wide on the last corner loosing 2 or 3 seconds which proves my statement "cornering means the difference between winning and loosing"

*not in any way to scale but this is an idea of the track*











So at the end of day one I was for the first time ever the leader of the GC at any tour..even though it was still anyone's race as all the contenders were within 30sec to a minute.

STAGE 3: The deciding stage. 60km road race through Steiglitz Historical Park/ Brisbane Rangers National Park... 

Yes that's right - Brisbane has a park in Victoria...

The race was under control for the first 3km but after that the groups split fairly quickly and I found myself in a breakaway group of 7 or 8 riders. Some fresher than others as some didn't race the day before. I couldn't hack the pace much longer through the hill, there was this kid that as absolutely driving it up the hills! *curses*  And I'm being deadly serious when I say- I can't climb like I used to!

The long and the short the cold I woke up with and my efforts the in stage one and two had taken its toll on me and I dropped off the break away, and later the main group after doing most of the work as none else was willing to try. I had lost the tour that day, I crossed the line ten minutes down from the first rider which was fairly disappointing, but  I can't really complain with two stage wins.

Over and out


Tuesday, May 29, 2012

From Copenhagen, with love

Watson is overseas being a fancy lawyer in Dubai. He's still rocking some mad TDR/Briko style!

Watson after smashing the Copenhagen Marathon
























He's in France cycling in a few weeks and we're hoping to get some updates from his adventures.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Random Visuals - SKCC Trophy

Duggan had his first day out in B grade at the SKCC trophy this year. Happy enough and glad the lads didn't go too hard on him first day out! D'alfonso an unlucky DNF with an immense call of nature...

















Race report and pictures to come from the G-Hoge's who won two of the three stages at the Geelong CC Tour. Stay tuned.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Random Track Visuals

Courtesy of Caz, who's apparently going to run 95.5" at this weeks hour of power!




Friday, May 18, 2012

Race Report - Phillip Island Grand Prix Support Races


Words by Soawyer...

Hi all, long time reader first time writer here at TDR, endeavouring to bridge the void between HellKrew and aforementioned compatriots.

Awoke to a fantastic day in the Northern suburbs and was pretty excited at the prospect of racing my bike on a race track, at the beach, in the sun. As the morning wore on it became pretty obvious this would not come to fruition.

The team meeting place had been decided on as Proud Mary in Collingwood because
A. Gene works there and we’d likely be looked after
B. As the hipster-est team in club racing it seemed fitting.

I was last to arrive in the team bus finding Matt, Gene and Steve itching to get caffeinated, we took up residence at one of the outdoor tables and discussed tactics for the day (read. BMX). After pumping ourselves full of stimulants we loaded up the bikes and hit the road. It seemed a little early but we’d already seen the bike of the day, Bianchi MTB in world champ colourway seemingly cutting laps round the cafe.
More in-depth tactical discussion followed on the drive down (read. vintage motocross).

Upon reaching the  track to catch the end of some unimportant teams race the severity of the weather had become quite apparent. 137 starters 36 finishers. regardless we entered, numbered and embro’d up for the support races. Matt, Steve and I all being in B while Gene looked after C grade. It would be the first outing in B grade for Steve and I so nerves were high, we went for a warmup lap, track was wet but still grippy enough, wind was atrocious. Rules for the day would be position, position, position and don’t let yourself get pushed onto the rumble strips or grass.

As we rolled back into the pits after our sighting lap facts would say that the wind picked and blew a marque over right as we rolled under it, however I’m pretty convinced it was the rising vortice of RAD which picked up the flimsy shelter and threw it at some guys Mercedes. Following this we lost jackets, weathered another downpour and gridded up. Due to entries A and B grade had been combined and the race shortened was to be around 70km now.

We rolled out happy to be moving again the first few laps was quite civil a few small moves going off the front but no real commitment. We had some unspoken rivals in the bunch in team Canard who had apparently been waiting for us to make an appearance in B, pride was at stake. A few more laps of the same interspersed with some occasional action from the few A graders in the bunch. Finally at about 10 to go (of 15) 3 guys got off the front one of them an A grade guy, a Leongatha CC and one from our new rivals team Canard. The bunch let them get out to about 1-200m but always keeping them insight Team Saint Cloud did our work but let it be largely. Then on the back straight after pulling a turn I looked under my shoulder for the next rider coming through to see day light, I’d rolled about 10-15m off the front without realizing it. Looking up the road I saw the break nearing the “climb” (I feel silly saying that word after Bawbaw) about 100m up the road, it felt too early, but I went for it and caught the 3 escapees as they crested the hill. They seemed happy to have another face in the mix, we crossed the line with 9 to go, it was going to be a long day.

In the back of my mind I know we were in a pretty good position as Canard and ourselves were not likely to aggressively chase down a break they both had friends in and it would be up to the remainder of the bunch to get together and reel us in, in this weather I didn’t see anyone willing to do the lion’s share and get popped out the back. The next 5 laps passed without incident our small break working well together, trying to shelter from the wind always keeping an eye on the pursuing peloton. With 4 to go we lost the Canard boy this was not great news as I was sure they would work to bring the break back and turn it into a bunch kick. We all dug that extra little bit and kept talking to keep the morale up, I began to think about how I was to beat the two guys I was left with, A grade guy must’ve had about 30kg on me so I figured a drag race was pretty much out of the question, Leongatha guy was less worrying but had been pretty quiet the last few laps so might be a bit fresher. I decided to go on the climb drop them off my wheel and make them do their work into the wind hoping to wear them out a bit.

It didn’t work, I didn’t have as much left as I thought, they held on and we swapped a couple more short turns in the wind and wound up for a sprint ( I still feel I can run a faster sprint than I ride).

3rd overall 2nd in B grade, fkn stoked. Then to add to the stoke Duggan takes the bunch sprint for 3rd with Matt leading out and rolling in 5th.

Yet again a top day out racing, the weather really can’t dampen the feeling of achievement and exhaustion post race, ontop of that winnings paid for fuel and big M’s. Points all round. I am however starting to think that TDR should brand themselves as foul weather experts (read. In with a shot when most people aren’t stupid enough to come out racing)

Ed: Mad props to Brunswick's own Rachel Oakenfull for finishing her first road race in tough conditions. Oh and Gene for a strong ride also...

Post race photo after racing in the freezing cold, rain and gale force winds... Whatevs

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Race Report - Wood/Sellars Memorial Handicap

Words by TDR newcomer, Dingus Dave's cousin, Greg Hogan...


The drive from Geelong to Meredith for Wood/Sellars memorial handiycap began smoothly, no rain. However it was pretty cloudy and it was also really, really cold. Oh and quoting "shit cyclists say" left right and center...

Is that carbon?...Awwww carrbon... Is this a good spot to pee?

The race began with two groups between scratch and limit, a mistake on the handicaper's behalf was to put myself, and my high school mate and riding buddy Ned Volk, on second limit.

The first 5ks were fairly fast and with out realising it we had already dropped three or four other riders. the remaining local guys had made the decision to sit on and do minimal work. Ned, the power house that he is did most of the driving to bridge the gap to the limit markers where i pulled a turn where i could, pulling up beside Ned to say "I'm bonking. Got an extra bar? C-c-c-car baack. If i dont like this can i return this? *a gel* (All jest aside, I was actually starting to feel pretty bad though).

















Not long befor the mid way point we caught the limit markers and went straight past, leaving them there. By the half way point., 32kms, I had dropped off the remaining pack, leaving me in no mans land and Ned with two others out in front. At some stage think with 20kms left, Ned broke away solo to clame the victory.

















The last lap and half was by myself. I had some guy sitting on me not doing a thing, so I managed to shake him off coming into the hill section of the loop. The 10km time trial began to at least try to get on the podium. With the remaining two local boy always in sight I was slowly pulling them back, the bloke in the HTC kit that actually looked like Matt Goss popped big time, and I got past him with 7km left.

By now I'm running of the two slices of toast with nuttela that i had for breakfast and 1 part red & green cordial, two parts water and the words of Jens Voigt "SHUT UP LEGS!!". I brought the guy left back to roughly 15-20 seconds but with the ecouragement of a passing car he dragged the finishing time time gap back out to 40 seconds.

















Second road race of the season and second podium finish under my belt. I'm keen for more races where I'im not needing to say "I'm bonking...got an extra bar? I think my breaks are rubbing". But in all seriousness, I actually think I had a slow leak in the back...

Greg in team issue volleys...
























And what do two Uni students buy with prize money from a race? Spiritus- 95% alchol...smells and tastes like metho. It's gonna be a rough night when that goes down.