Racing 4/9 Ray Piper Handicap starting at 2pm

[Pete Smits]

CCCC Road Race this Sat is Ray Piper Hcp ( unfortunately had to be postponed earlier in road season)       Distances are 75 - C 50 - D 50 - (E 25 , have their own race)

 Trailer Pick Up - A Hellmich + Chelsea
Traffic at Calga - Al Mclausland
Commie - Scott Tweedie.

Not sure if Scott is able to do the commie role.If none of the regular Commies are available on the day we may need an appropriate volunteer on the day.

[Pete Smits]

At this stage ( 9am on Sat) assume that racing is still on. BOM have changed forecast to rain periods although still very windy. i will post a final update at around 12md

[Pete Smits]

As of midday racing is on

[GrantF]

that sounded like an interesting race concept with the two stages.  Hopefully we'll do something like that again!

we only had 11 starters today, pretty sad effort really considering the weather was no bad at all

I was out driving the kids around trying to get them to sleep
Sat arvo & "happened" to drive past Jones Rd. Calga at about 2.30pm.
I agree with Pete Smits (& not the "let's make it all seem rosy mob") -
that was a pitiful sight: 3 people by the side of the road about a K from
the start (1 fixing a puncture & the other 2 looking at him?), group of 4
just started & swapping off turns, another group of 4 at the start line -
that was it.
Before anybody gets totally defensive on this, I am not trying to "have a go" at any particular individuals and yes I am aware that I was not riding either (but I am not riding at all at the moment - if you'd like to change this then please explain how to my kids & wife ).

And now to the real reason for this post - I wonder if "the world has moved on"  and handicaps such as this (and Peter Parko) are not relevent to the club anymore?  This line of thought certainly aligns with things that have been said around the club such as "it happned before my time and so isn't relevent to me".
There never seems to be any real support for such a thing (either on putting it on the calender in a sensible place or in attending/competing) and I'm sure neither Peter (who loved "real" handicaps) or Ray (who was truly a hard man) would have any love for a handicap that wasn't run in the classic manner (ie. standard time handicaps + everyone running the same distance).
Anyway, as I said this is just a comment on what I saw & feel, perhaps it doesn't really align with the thoughts & feelings of others?

[Andy H]

It seems GF is correct in regard to H/C racing at Calga - the number of riders at these races is pitiful. I'm not sure if it's the fact it'll be a hard race, the distance or what?

The lower grades certainly have no reason not to show up as they have occupied the winners list on the last few H/C.

The only good thing to come out of last Saturday was two competitive and consecutive 25km races which were well worth showing up for.

Maybe future H/C races should be run over this distance to get more riders up there - there would still be time to run a scratch race following the H/C if you think the 25Km wasn't enough.

[Pete Smits]

It seems GF is correct in regard to H/C racing at Calga - the number of riders at these races is pitiful. I'm not sure if it's the fact it'll be a hard race, the distance or what?

The lower grades certainly have no reason not to show up as they have occupied the winners list on the last few H/C.

The only good thing to come out of last Saturday was two competitive and consecutive 25km races which were well worth showing up for.

Maybe future H/C races should be run over this distance to get more riders up there - there would still be time to run a scratch race following the H/C if you think the 25Km wasn't enough.

I could not understand when I got to Calga at 1.30pm that there was only one car in the carpark, 11 starters is pretty woeful especially when a club memeber has to give up their time to grab the trailer, set up signs etc. Not sure if it is the handicap type of racing that is the problem or is the road season a couple of weeks to long. Anyway there should be plenty of entry for the graded cluub champs this Sat

[Patto]

i think there is to many Hanicaps for the year.

years ago there was only ever 1 Handicap.. and that was the CALTEX 100 which used to get around 100+ riders to it.

Maybe the memorial Races just stick to a Road Race day or have a Handicap Crit race.

Troy

[PeZulu]

I think last Saturday came down to a number of factors. Talking to a few club members over the last few weeks it certainly appears that interest is unfortunately waning as the road season comes to an end. The weather on Saturday plus the soloists events on Sunday probably also contributed. In addition, I found juggling kids sport & Saturday arvo racing a logistical challenge on most weekends.  Personally I found the handicap races I participated in to be good fun & yes, a bit harder. But isn't that what we want from our racing, as oppossed to the many competitors that just sit in week after week, watching everybody until the final sprint? I was amused when a fellow competitor early in the race season told me to ease up on the front as guys were struggling to hold on. That was the whole point I replied.

Now while the Calga course has never been kind to me as a 88kg try-hard with too many fast twitch muscle fibers, I'll definitely be there making up the numbers come Saturday.

[Matt]

Grant the 3 people on the side of the road was me Whitey and Grahame. Whitey was knocked down by me after I locked wheels with Grahame in front.  Buggered if I know how I stayed up.

We got going again.  Apols to White

[GrantF]

I'm seeing a lot of feedback here that could be relevant to the "Positive Racing" thread http://www.impactcycling.com.au/index.php/topic,2096.0.html.
ie. As much about attitude as the racing on offer...