Racing 29 11 14
Cycle racing this week was held in one the most perfect mornings that has availed itself to racers in
many a month. This was a week of returns for a number of riders who for various reasons had not
raced in a very long time.
A terrific sized bunch of 18 hopefuls lined up at the start, after the sign on and debriefing by the
commissaire David Brown it was down to business.
David Rowe and Rhonda Thew got things underway, with the pair doing nice efforts on the front and
riding fast but conserved. Rhonda and Dave are both very experienced riders and know how to play
nice, until the finish is in sight.
One minute later Ian Lavery, Michael Harding and Simon King clicked in the cleats to try and ride the
pair in front. Michael and Simon have not raced in some time and may have forgotten how to pull a
turn up the front, but Ian would have none of that and would roll off forcing them to take turns on
the front.
Three minutes back was a much under rated group with Dion Poy Steven Wiblen and Matt White
making a well over due return to racing. This trio could well have one of the top five in it. Dion has
been getting stronger every week and Steve showing that all the mountain bike riding is still good for
road racing over short distances. Matt White has had virtually no time on the bike since his success
in the Grafton to Inverell 12 months ago and struggled from the start. Matt is never one to quit
unless the mind over rules the legs, this would be a test for him.
Chopping block on the six minute slot we saw the evergreens, Bruce Phelps, Tim Bartlett, John
Harrison and Dave Gillies. Tongues were wagging that this could have been a stacked group as these
are all keen mountain bike “chook rider”. Bruce and John have struggled with form this series but
some say its only to catch the eye of the handicapper. Tim would be the strongest of this group and
Dave, still sporting a full growth of leg hair should be able to go the distance.
The scratch bunch at seven minutes thirty were Greg Coombes, and the team of Andrew Ford,
Colton Tooth, Jye Reardon, Tristan Allard and Paul O’Connor. Now these boys have either got serious
wardrobe issues with matching attire or extreme hindsight or perhaps a team in the making with
tactics to match. Either way Coombes would have his work cut out today if he was to successfully
prevail within this group.
The go team of Thew and Rowe had hit the first turn before scratch had left the blocks, a lead but
not a comfortable one. The trio of King, Lavery and Harding were working well but the strain was
clearly evident on the faces of King and Harding, but the two season riders will not throw in the
towel and work til the very end. This could have led to their downfall as they continued to put in
strong efforts on the front even when the legs saying “no more” and the mind was already on their
first coffee to be had.
Second to third turn was as usual sorted out on fish farm hill. The tactic was to shake off any caught
riders on the uphill and recover on the downhill. The main problem the scratch bunch faced with this
theory was basic physics. Whenever the drive was on the group would daft off Tristan and Jye, the
two smallest frames in the pack and the power riders would sit at the back , hoping they would ride
themselves out of contention for the finish line. There was plenty of talk in the ranks of the back
markers this is good to see as the team were by majority rule without a captain.
On the last turn to the fish line Rhonda had ridden away from Dave, Ian and Simon had moved up to
within striking distance of Rhonda. The Wiblen/Poy group were sitting just far enough in front of
scratch to be very nervous as to whether they had enough stamina to maintain the lead or get
swamped on the line, and neither wanted an Ag station hill sprint. The fast finishing pack of
combined scratch and block riders were throwing everything at this last section. Doing turns on the
front had been replaced with rolling turns around the 50kph and no sign of the let up. Halfway up Ag
station hill Paul O’Connor dropped down two gears and went for it, Andrew Ford saw him change
gear and went with him to shut him down but Jye Reardon had tucked in nicely behind them and as
they started to slow he pounced and rode away by two bike lengths, or was it the perfect lead out?
So as they rolled across the line it was 1st Ian Lavery 2nd Rhonda Thew 3rd Steve Wiblen 4th Dion Poy
5th Simon King 6th Michael Harding 7th Jye Reardon 8th Andrew Ford 9th Tristan Allard 10th Tim Bartlett
and the last point on offer went to 11th Colton Tooth. It is a sign of a hard race when someone
fertilizes the grass on the road edge after crossing the finish line, even though he claims he
“swallowed a fly”.
Racing next week is at Trenayr circuit 6.30 sign on 7am racing, anyone interested in trying racing or
training with the club come on out and enquire. Just head to Trenayr and look for the lycra.