KOCC - stay or transfer to HDCC?

[Metro Commuter]

End the year on a controversial point.

I have just renewed my KOCC membership, and it came with quite a bit of soul searching.  I know, from speaking with my KOCC friends, they went through the same process.

In the end I stayed with KOCC because guys like Lee K and Commuter are there, they are friends who I worked with when I was on the KOCC committee, and they do a good job.  Wayne Swan, aka "Windex Man", did an outstanding job for KOCC, and his resignation is a huge loss to KOCC.

But HDCC was looked mighty appealing.  I have ordered the new HDCC kit, for no other reason than it looks good and in a happy coincidence some of my old HW gear had worn out... I do most of my racing with HDCC, most of my cycling friends are members of and/or on the committee of HDCC, and HDCC has reinvented itself post Mick Chapman in ways not thought possible 18 months ago.  HDCC members pretty much run the velodrome and do that very well.

The other thing that nearly got me to transfer to HDCC was the stalled or failed merger.  Plenty of soft pedalling on that by some key people on the KOCC Committee. Shame, because a lot of people thought it was a good idea.  Suppose I will wait and see what 2011 brings...

Thoughts/comments?

[The Ferret]

Aah Metro,

Where does one begin? Son, your transfer would be subject to approval from the Board. Do not put the cart before the horse and assume that because you win the odd D grade race, you would be a shoe-in for acceptance!!

However, other valid points you raise include the positive direction the club is taking, and you need small steps to gain momentum. The new kit has inspired some people and the stalling of merger talks, purposely so on KOCC's behalf, has only motivated certain individuals within the club. It would be fair to assess the average age of the HD committee at approximately 45 years of age. (Loveboat takes that up 5 years!!)

You know you want to come over Metro. Troupy and Adam Tolfree have seen the light, although neither leaves home alone anymore or walks near wet concrete!!

Putting on my Nostradamus hat, I would suggest you may gain a couple of kilos, perhaps drop a further grade locally, but ramp up your posts as you can claim to have another year's experience. Such is life. Shalom.

Your true committed friend for 2011 and beyond.
See you at HD in 2012.

The Ferret

[giantcfr1]

Interesting question for me too - I am signing up for a racing license this week and am deciding which club to choose. Some of my friends are pushing me towards Kooragang claiming that it is going ahead. I don't know much about the current state of the clubs but when i was racing 10 years ago HD was the dominant club.

[Metro Commuter]

Gaintcfr,

Not sure where your friends come from saying KOCC is moving forward and HDCC is not. If anything the reverse is true.

Last year (2009) HDCC did struggle - had to cancel some races because of shortages of people to run races and problems with contracted traffic controllers. Robbie's death hurt HDCC badly, and Mick's death had a profound effect.  Key HDCC members believed HDCC would not survive, and after Mick's death merger was something they thought had to happen. However, after a lot of softpedalling from key KOCC Committee members on having a meeting between the two committees, the meeting finally took place and after that meeting some of the HDCC delegation formed the view that merger was not something some from the KOCC Committee favoured.  So HDCC reorganised itself.  HDCC now has a younger committee (relative to what it was previously, and relative to the KOCC committee), an internal structure to ensure races can be run, new sponsors, and are continue to be committed to the velodrome and an off-road road racing circuit.  

I only see more of the same for KOCC, which is running regular racing at Kooragang.  KOCC has, for a few years, tried to be innovative by hosting teams races and points races, and they are great. So it is more of the same good stuff, rather then new stuff.

Look at the makeup of the committees for each club - probably a fair guide for the focus of the clubs. If you are in the upper three grades then HDCC is the club you should join.  If you race C grade or below then KOCC is the place for you.

Good luck with your decision

[Metro Commuter]

Where does one begin? Son, your transfer would be subject to approval from the Board

Ferret - HDCC has not only been poaching juniors from KOCC - they have been out approaching more senior (as in older) KOCC members as well.  I am told the HDCC Handicapper even tried to convince the former KOCC Treasurer to transfer after plying him with large volumes of red wine.

You know you want to come over Metro. Troupy and Adam Tolfree have seen the light, although neither leaves home alone anymore or walks near wet concrete!!

Those transfers are significant losses to KOCC - Troupy and Tolfree are long term and well liked members of KOCC.  I am watching with keen interest to see how some on the KOCC Committee react to their transfers .

[giantcfr1]

hmm... tough decision i am signing up tomorrow so it has to be made - my KOCC acquaintances are fairly firm in their loyalty to the club

I hope to be back racing A grade eventually (but im starting in D for now if they don't put me in C grade). Since you can race at the other clubs' races is there really any advantage/ disadvantage of being in a particular club in terms of the field that you are riding against - unless of course you are entering a teams event? - which for me will be a team's sprint on the track.

[Metro Commuter]

GCFR,

Got a fair idea who you are talking about.  People associated with a bike shop not far from Hadleys are the core of KOCC - there are family and church connections.  All nice people but likely to be as objective about the respective merits of KOCC as The Ferret.

You are correct - get a licence from one club and you can race at the other clubs (other than the small number of days when the clubs host their respective club championship races).  The teams issue is the only real complication.  For me I have always been able to find good people to race in CD teams time trial events (we've won a fair few of those), but most (not all) of those I train  with are with HDCC, so if the few of them that are with KOCC transferred to HDCC (which they have or will next year) then that would probably clinch the move for me.

In terms of the track, I don't know.  From my recent return to the track I think most of the particpants at my level (B grade) are with HDCC, so a teams event on the track might be more difficult if I was with KOCC (which I am).

Kind of brings home the good sense of merger - KOCC + HDCC would field a number of top shelf teams on track and road....

[giantcfr1]

I've never had to worry about a choice before - living in a small country town meant that there was only one club available. Its actually a much harder choice when i currently have no loyalty. I am hoping to find a good team for the state track titles next year in the teams event though.

Do you think a merger would create less racing on a weekend or do you think that the current level of racing (Fri, Sat, Sun) would continue?

[The Ferret]

Giantcfr1,

Son, I have no problem with God, only those who follow Him so blindly. HD is the only way to go. Open your eyes, there is only one way to go if you want to ride in as team. When is the long awaited comeback son? Perhaps The Ferret knew you when you went around before?

Your friend

The Ferret

[lmac]

I think HDCC is the more innovative club as of 2010..... Racing in different venues for me is a big one. The Steel River crits and Black Hill courses are great. I am transferring over from KOCC. I am however, disappointed a merger didn't go ahead - would have been a big step forward IMHO.

[The Ferret]

Imac,

Love the line at the bottom of your quote son. The Ferret was for a merger as well, but if my mail is correct, this was poo poohed by the KOCC heirarchy.

Come over

Your friend

The Ferret

[giantcfr1]

Ferret - I like to consider my God-following fairly well informed - being a teacher of Literature and History. Unfortunately there are no degrees in the critical analysis of club membership and i may have blindly followed the KOCC bikeshop prophets with their offerings of product discounts and honest bike servicing. I have obviously been completely sucked in with their supportive nature and encouragement to 'regain my former glory' so much that i have been indoctrinated with the KOCC gospel. I have however been known to stray from the faith with offers of state glory (the root of all evil) and i sense that the temptation is growing.

The long awaited comeback should be Friday night - look for the fat bloke sucking everyone's wheel and only taking turns on the slight downhill run from the bridge.

Perhaps you did know me before - but you aint seen nothin yet - f grade won't know what hit em when my belly flops from side to side.

lmac - isn't KOCC doing the Steel River Crits now? that's what they have on their calendar.

_{from a completely misguided individual who believes one day he can ride bikes fast again}
"a

[giantcfr1]

well the long awaited comeback may have met another blow - another $500 trip to the dentist this morning blew too much of a big hole in our single income family budget. But at least it gives me time to decide which club i want to join.

[Metro Commuter]

GCFR,

Well, bugger me.  For years I tried (including when I was on the Committee) to get them to shift racing on Sat arvos in summer either later, or to host crits, or do something other than race week in week out at KI.  The naysayers (the shop people) said no. 

They tried one crit @ Steel River and that did not go well, partly because of lack of knowledge.  But pleased KOCC has (finally) started racing elsewhere.  Perhaps KOCC is more innovative than I gave it credit for.

If you like crits, and KOCC continues to host them once a month, then there are now two crits a month - and we need more crits and less mindless laps of KI. 

turn up to the track tomorrow night and have a look-see.  It is very well run, and if you can't race at least you can turn up and brag.

MC

[giantcfr1]

MC - more crits sounds good to me. Not sure if i can turn up tomorrow - but you have raised an important aspect of the 'non-A grade/ burnt-out' cyclist mentality - the brag about how good we used to be or are going to be one day. I don't know why - but it is mentally stimulating to recall your former cycling exploits with exaggerated enthusiasm and threaten a return, whilst covering yourself with claims of being overweight and being too busy to ride (just in case you get sput out the back of D Grade in your first race). My favourite is when you are riding along the road in your much too tight former yellow jersey from when you were 15, and pretending to have a flat when some old bloke on a mountain bike is rapidly catching up to you.

some things never change