Apologies

[hilljockey]

Sorry to anyone wanting to look at HD results on the internet for the last couple of weeks, no internet at home (thanks Telstra...)

Also, apologies to Metro and Dot Boy because I did the Team Windsock maneuver to them both on Saturday, mental block about which way to go on that part of the course.

Extra sorry to Dot Boy for making him close a gap just after he'd done a big turn.  My bad, legs that is.

[Commuter]

Sorry to anyone wanting to look at HD results on the internet for the last couple of weeks, no internet at home (thanks Telstra...)

Also, apologies to Metro and Dot Boy because I did the Team Windsock maneuver to them both on Saturday, mental block about which way to go on that part of the course.

Extra sorry to Dot Boy for making him close a gap just after he'd done a big turn.  My bad, legs that is.

Mr Jockey

Dont apologise , just ride and ignore the cranky old B@$t@rD giving directions the only person I have concerns about is the guy who obvoiusly has never cornered above 30km/hr before, quite disconcerting to see someones bike wobbling every which way coming towards you........


Commuter

[Metro Commuter]

HillJockey,

I have no idea what you are talking about!  I must be getting used to C grade numpties swinging the wrong way, and I stopped a swing to the wrong way once.

Commuter,

There were some dodgy bike handling skills on show, but if people have not raced crits then their skills will be sub par.  Each time they race a crit they will improve. 

Ross M scared the brown stuff out of me on the fastest corner, when we were doign about 45kph, but I think he gave himself more of a fright.  He may have had a problem with his rear tyre, as the previous few laps it sounded like it was skipping a bit.

Hats off to young David (which is not you - you are old David) - nice break and a deserved win.

[Gai M]

,

There were some dodgy bike handling skills on show, but if people have not raced crits then their skills will be sub par.
.

Agreed.

However, the young gun who charged at me early in the F grade race has plenty of crit experience and he well knows that he has plenty of bike skill ability.   In fact, he also cut in front of me in a U-turn in a HD crit last year, also, early in the race.

He also knows that the chances of his "grandmother" beating him in any race is rather remote.  So I don't know why he chose to do this.

Thank you to the adult riders who rightly chastised him immediately.

The younger riders need to keep in mind that older riders don't bounce.   Some of us can't just take a few days off for an avoidable accident.   As the oldest female crit rider in the Hunter, I  don't expect overly aggressive riding from my fellow competitors.


On a brighter note, it was great to have a real F grade crit race, although the field was a little too large for an older woman racing alongside a lot of fast but generally less experienced boys.

Boost edit: Fixed quotes

[drv31t]

Gai, I raced in the crit on Saturday in "F" grade. It was my first crit, & I really enjoyed it. I was shocked at some of the brainless moves made by the younger riders in this grade, & was only too happy to voice my displeasure at the move pulled on you.  The ability to set up a move early, & the thought process of what happens when it all goes to crap from them making a bad decision, is what was missing. A little patience is sometimes needed, but that does not come with youth. That is why I made the comment for them to settle down & stop chopping others to make a spot.

I too am learning, & hope to work my way up through the grades. But I don't see how racing without a brain will get me anywhere.

[key]

ahh dammit, missed out on the crit... i was too hungover 

[dr_rob]

It was good fun, hopefully my last race in D grade.

I was thinking that perhaps to placate the owners of the units that we gather in front of, the club should put a few witches' hats across the driveway. Nothing says 'do not cross' more than a plastic orange conical object, and it says to the owners "hey, we tried".

It'd be a shame to lose that course because we were seen to not be playing by the rules.

[Metro Commuter]

Dr Rob,

I wondered how the heck you were placed in D grade...I have passed along a whole range of suggestions on how the resident might be placated and how the next crit might be run a little better next time.  There was quite a lot of stress on the KOCC volunteers, and they did a good job in what is an unusual event for them to host.

Gai,

I vaguley recall reading an article that (on average) most males do not have a fully developed ability to assess risk until their early 20s.  It explains why so many young male drivers have accidents in cars and engage is what older people see as stupidly risky conduct.  Any one who skis will see it on the ski slopes as well.  I know I was dumb when I was in my teens and early 20s - I am lucky to have lived through some of my crazy skiing and sailboarding antics.

We have plenty of very very fit young people in C grade.  They are the fittest in the grade.  Some of them are sensible riders but some are not.  It is a problem that affects most grades but seems to affect the grades from C down, and is part of the reason why I am quite keen to get back in to B grade because there are less dangerous riders in that grade than there is in C grade.

All I can recommend is you give the problem riders a very wide berth, and if they persist in chopping wheels complain to the Commissaire so they can be given a stern warning or a holiday.

MC

[The Ferret]

Dr_Rob,

It would be more of a shame if KOCC lost HD's course. Imagine if HD came to Kooragang and generally disrespected a tenant or did not make as safe a finish as they do........they could put Kooragang at risk and HVV of losing their respective courses. The upshot of all of that........everyone would race at Black Hill and the town might start to produce some decent bike riders again. Shalom

Your safe friend who likes his garden intact

The Ferret

[2ndwheel]

in my years of experience those riders that winge the most about those around them need to take a good hard look at themselves. they may find they it is them that cause a lot of the percieved problems. Good Riders
(as in skill) know where to ride in a bunch who to be in front of and who to avoid.

[The Ferret]

2ndWheel,

Nothing truer has been uttered son. You are correct. If you see danger, get away from it.

Your friend

The Ferret

[Metro Commuter]

. Good Riders (as in skill) know where to ride in a bunch who to be in front of and who to avoid.

2ndWheel - agree.  However, in F and E grade you get a lot of new never raced riders mixed in with slower experienced riders.  What do you do when you are in a bunch made up predominately of  inexperienced riders who have superior fitness?  You can not, because of inferior fitness, be in front of all of them, and if you avoid them you might be riding solo.  I think it is, with respect, a different issue in the lower two grades than elsewhere - the lower grades get nearly all of the first time racers.  By the time they work their way up to the C grade most riders have acquired some rudimentary skills.

The answer, IMHO, is skills training for new riders and some degree of mentoring.

[Metro Commuter]

It would be more of a shame if KOCC lost HD's course. Imagine if HD came to Kooragang and generally disrespected a tenant or did not make as safe a finish as they do........they could put Kooragang at risk and HVV of losing their respective courses.

Ferret, you are wrong (yet again).  Steel River is no more HDCC's course than KI "belongs" to KOCc and HVVCC.  The three courses are on public land and no single club has"dibbs" on any of them - the arrangements between the clubs works well because the co-operate. 

Moreover, the same tenant had issues with how HDCC organised races at Steel River impacted on him, and people at HDCC organised racing show exactly the same disregard for the garden spaces and private parking areas of the nearby businesses as those who attended KOCC's event last Saturday.

Anyhow, to take your argument to its logical conclusion, does that mean the inadequate way in which HDCC manages riders who have finished on Friday nights put KI at jeopardy for KOCC and HVVCC?

[Metro Commuter]

...everyone would race at Black Hill and the town might start to produce some decent bike riders again..

Hmmm.  Not everyone who currently races would race at Blackhill if it were the only course.  Plenty of people, esp from C grade down, would stop cycling.  It is the same argument that the HDCC President has pushed with the crit, and he has been voted down by his club - he wanted the multi-witch hat crit course because it was harder and improved fitness and skills, but the demise in racing numbers at HDCC crits was when the PResident had his way.  as much as I really like your President, I think he was wrong and that number attending the HDCC crits will return to their previous higher numbers once people become aware that the easier squoval course is being used.

[hilljockey]

Plenty of people, esp from C grade down, would stop cycling

That would be pretty weak.

KI is exactly the wrong course for lighter people, flat and windy, but I for one turn up there regularly and have a go anyway.

People should just man up and race whatever course they get.  If it's hard, it should only make them stronger next time they are on a course that suits better.

The counter argument could be that getting dropped does not make you stronger.  But, trying real hard not to get dropped is no picnic, a real work out in itself.