Why low numbers at the Steel River Crits for C grade and below?

[Bill Cox]

I ride from East Maitland, ride the 20 minute crit and then ride home.  The 20 minutes is more beneficial for speed training and bike handling skills than a 40km handicap at Kooragang.  Use Saturday for your longer sessions.  Many lower grade riders need to focus more on these parts of their training than going slower for a longer period of time.  Speed will win you more of the races ridden around here than endurance.  Ask those who can sprint!!!  Why do you think A&B grade has more starters?

[Metro Commuter]

Uncle Bill - never a truer word has been typed.  And from the man who won the C grade crit through superior race smarts!

[giantcfr1]

I miss crits - prob my favourite event after track sprinting - hope to be back racing them soon. Can you elect to go up into the higher grades if you are just out of touch with them? so that you can get better?

[Metro Commuter]

My understanding is "no".

[Daddy Walrus]

I have been convinced to turn up to the next crit.
My bike handling skills are not good. It becomes apparent when you are in combined races with a higher grade. They sem to be yelling at me the whole race. 90% is unintelligible.
It seems a bit too enthusiastic at times.
Chillax B graders, you won't lose the race because I rolled off on the wrong side.

[Metro Commuter]

DW,

Your bike handling skills look fine to me. 

The swinging off on the wrong side is a big no-no in A and B grade, and should not be done in any grade.  Those who race, or have raced, in A and B grade where a wrong swing is akin to sleeping with your best mate's mother and hot sister while he is forced to watch, cringe when people swing off on the wrong side in C grade and below  The reasons are simple - it stuffs the bunch up but, more importantly, it is introduces additional risks.

My view is most of C grade would kick B grade's backside if they focused on learning some race craft and skills - it is the subtle stuff that makes the difference.  The guys I race against in C grade are very bit as fit as the majority of B grade, but they are just outsmarted.

Aside from any legitimate yelling, some people in A and B grade yell because they are either just big mouthed dcikheads, they have a mental health issue and are off their meds, or they are trying to mess with your mind and force you off the back or back on the front.  For the former group I recommend you tell them to shut up and use their energy pedalling instead of flapping their lips, for those with a medical issue just ignore them, and the latter group roll to the back and make them take a turn (because they are usually the wheelsucking scum in the race).

Lookign forward to seeing you at the next crit.

[Proudly hairy-legged]

Big call on C grade kicking B grade's butts Metro.

We had a fantastic B grade race on Saturday with lots of attacks by young Tim and even more by Matt Taylor keeping everyone honest.

I'm not saying the C graders couldn't have kept up at all, just that the pace was much higher than B grade races have been in the past. I'm a bit of a fence sitter on the KOCCHDCC club merger thing but I can't help but point out the high pace was on a weekend that Black Hill was cancelled.

I am talking 'gang B v C grade here, not HD. Don't think I could keep up with a HD B grade race!

[Metro Commuter]

Yes, I know a huge call, but one I think has merit.  There are some fit people in C grade, but accept the attacks in B grade would challenge the fitter ones in C grade.

[Daddy Walrus]

Up until the last race we had at Seaham Matt Taylor was a HD C grader.
He loves to push.
I don't think he loves pain, but I don't think he hates it either.

[Proudly hairy-legged]

He seems to enjoy putting the rest of us through some pain too!

[lmac]

I love the crits too - great for intensity/speed. Very different fromthe KI racing, of which there is a glut..........
I would probably prefer a slightly earlier 0800-0830 start, but thats just being picky 

[dying breed]

There are a heap of reasons why there are poor numbers to all racing in Newcastle.

1/ There is too much racing in Newcastle. This is not a criticism. Just a reality. When people can race twice a week. All year round they can pick and choose when and where they will race.

2/ Races are too short in Newcastle. Saying that no one want to be doing any more laps around KI than we already do but racing at Black Hill, Seaham and Even the crits are too short. This is not leveled at any of the clubs. More at the riders (yes me included). We don't indicate the length of races we want to do and there is a distinct lack of volunteers at racing to help with traffic management and follow cars or any other myriad of tasks that could be done. The volunteers that are out there doing the job every  are over worked.

3/ Newcastle is a fishbowl. A great majority of the cycling fraternity refuses to go out side the safety of local racing.  Having just come back from Melbourne the racing there is done at harder intensities over longer courses and more varied courses. But saying that there are 5 or six clubs down there. Most clubs work in together though and only one club stages races each weekend, other than the Vets club which holds Sunday races down there also.

4/ The racing in Newcastle is soft. Go race in Melbourne for a majority of us in Newcastle and you drop your self a grade as that is about where we stand. Except Vets where that is fairly standard across the country.



my two cents

DB

[Gai M]

Do they have a "G" grade in Melbourne?

Mind you, after my experiences at attempting to race twice this week-end

maybe F grade is a dying breed here.

[Metro Commuter]

A wee observation. I raced the CCCC crits @ North Wyong last night. I did not count the numbers in each grade but guessing about 20 for most grades, with perhaps a few less in C and F grades and a few more in A grade.
Lots of kids racing too - and they race with the adults.

Why are these crits successful? The CCCC crits are well run, but then so are the HDCC crits. Prizemoney, which is a motivation for some but not me, is paid but not huge (I received about $19 for 2nd in C). Course is pretty good but not marledly better or worse than Steel River.

Perhaps one element is cCCC does seem to have a strong club feel, and it is the only club.  They seem to run a points. Comp.

[The Ferret]

Dying Breed,

In a sport where the volunteers are just that....... volunteers, you should personally approach each and every one of them and ask them to sit around for an extra 30 minutes in winter when it is cold whilst they are stationary in a chair, turning traffic etc. They still only recieve the same money. I agree we need longer races. It won't happen though. But, we need faster races to be able to go away and compete away from our fishbowl. Everyone needs speed. They don't get dropped at club level because, as you say, the distance is not long enough. It is because the speed winds up and they go out the arse. I know you are relatively new to the sport son, and want people to think you have this perceived knowledge, but your post clearly highlights that you do not. Please do not coach anyone son........and leave any jets alone at the RAAF base. Shalom

Your friend

The Ferret