Simon Steel Downunder

First Race - September 17th

Well the time came to break out of the lonely testing mindset and try that
racing in a bunch business without (a) forgetting I am not on my own and
snotting all over the bloke next to me or (b) swinging nice and wide and
ending everyone's race early...

At the Randwick Botany CC circuit races

Having gained a few pounds since last season the OPCC outfit was a little constraining, but you'll be relieved that there is no skinsuit in sight!

The circuit is a technical little 2km affair, with a gusting wind not
helping cornering. They race 5 grades over here, A to E. A is a little
rapid, E is a little more rounded (check the photos, there's a bike under
there somewhere). Resisted the strong pull of E grade and set off with D to
'learn the lines' for 10 laps with 15 or so more likeminded.

5 laps in and the back of the bunch was becoming familiar, as was the yo-yo
effect on every corner. 7 laps in and the front half was proving to be far
more enticing. End of the 9th lap and a total lack of cornering skill left
me pushed out of the line on the windward side. Bo**ox to this and off the
front we go, in a display of total lack of tactics, towing the eventual
winner for the whole lap before being pipped for half a wheel on the line.

Insult to injury there came a tap on the shoulder and an instruction to race
C grade next week to be bashed into shape by the bigger boys (and girls).

Anyway, full OPCC regalia was on show, as you can see.

 

 

 

Having Another Go...PSSSSSS!! September 26th

being the second part of the ongoing attempt to work out bunch racing:

Another windy day promised to make the sudden promotion to C grade that much harder. As did the swell in numbers to around 25 riders (the circuit is at most 4 metres wide and at the narrowest 2 metres). Pre-race nerves were not helped by comments like 'oh yeah, if theres a crash its always in C grade'!

So to the off and after half a lap a quick glance back showed no-one there,
not that I had dropped the field they were all ahead.......the pace was a
good step up on the week before, as was the aggression in the corners.

Slowly worked up to the front half of the bunch, to cheers from Hils as we
went past each time, and the relative comfort of 'choosing' my own line.

About 7 laps in (14 lap race) saw a move to the front as the bloke I was
tucked in behind decided he was tired of towing us round and moved over.
Now a bloke from my office also races C and hates fast pace, being more of a
sit in and sprint at the end chap. Lacking a sprint myself and with office
pride at stake the pace was duly upped, with the bunch lined out behind.
The bloke at 2nd wheel started to sound more and more like a broken steam
train.

A lap at the front and all going well, thoughts of moving over and letting
someone else take over for a while and pssss.......pssss......psssssssss.
Yep, punctured.

Blissfully unaware that I could take a spare from one of the marshalls and
rejoin the race so headed back to the clubhouse a pied.

So, disaster in the 7th lap, but office pride intact for the moment. Must
practise my sprints......

Another successful ride October 22

Due to the intervention of a weekend away and a particularly nasty hangover,
last weekend was the last race since puncturing a few weeks ago.

Around 25 riders lined up for C-grade with looming storm clouds threatening
to end proceedings early.

Given the expectation that we would get the last lap bell early the pace was
high from the off (averaging 24mph on a tight little circuit) so no-one
could get off the front. My attempt at glory was shortlived, trying to get
away somewhere around the start of lap 8 and ending a few hundred yards
later at most. Funny how the shouts to chase escapees down mainly came from
those sitting at the back waiting for the sprint at the end.....

Close call a couple of laps later when the wheel ahead of me came back
rather sharpish, although not as close as for the bloke behind me at the
time who had to change his pants when my only option was hitting the brakes!

An early bell at lap 11 of 14 resulted in all sorts of pandemonium as half
the field decided they were in the wrong place and should try to be 4th or
5th wheel and the whole group charged round the last bend into the finishing
straight.

Luck more than judgement found me behind a decent wheel, managing to sneak
up at the line for cheeky second.

November 8th

No OPCC kit on view on the web for Aussie rouleurs to admire this
week.

A largeish bunch of approaching 30 riders went off in C grade with a
reasonable pace from the off keeping the attacks to a minimum. Felt like a
bit of a yo-yo at times, moving up and down through the group as it went
round.

Anyway, some bloke had a try to get away with about 7 to go and it took a
couple of laps for the group to chase down. 5 to go and the strange idea
surfaced that the group may be reluctant to chase again so it might be worth
having a go.

It all worked perfectly, with a reasonable gap opening up. Added bonus with
B grade catching up C (A, B and C all start at different times but race
their own race, a grade overtaken has to allow the others to pass) and
slowing them down a bit as they passed.

4 laps to go and B pass me, with some joker from C hanging on the back - cue
a stern cloth-capping over the tannoy from the marshall and imminent
disqualification (you can hang onto a lower grade or your own but not a
higher one).

Sadly it all went to pot at the bell for the last lap as the bunch performed
that great 'catch and instantly drop cos your legs are knackered' manoeuvre.

Oh well, may try my hand at sitting on the back and going for the sprint
next time..........