Friday night is back!

[hilljockey]

Woo hoo!

A grade won by over muscled sprinter types (only 2 laps).  That'd be Dane Crawford and Thor.

B grade, the famous B Glendenning (sp?) finished with the bunch!  Masso gave everyone a good hard start, hitting it from the go.  Ferret was in there somewhere.  Boosty too exhausted from pumping his tyres up as the race was starting.

C grade won by A Hersey but Spokey would've had him if the race was 1m longer, but it wasn't...

D, can't remember, might've been Billy Bailey.

E and F, Oscar Hourn beat them all, Gary Ryan a close 2nd.

Good to see the world champs back and happening, HD is the club to be in!

[Gai M]

hj

Good to see you had a good time last night. 
sounds like there was a fair turn-up even though there wasn't a lot of promotion for this.

I have heard rumours (and it's all third hand info) that track starts this Wednesday night.
Reading the latest postings on HDCC "and friends" facebook page, one can deduce that something is
happening on the track this Wed.  I'm not personally on facebook, I just use someone-else's rego in this house
to keep up with what's happening at Newcastle's "best" cycling club (mainly track).  And to ensure that I am aware if there is anymore untoward comments about myself.

 Not much info is posted on this forum anymore.

The HD results for last night are already posted, and next Friday's race has been listed.  However, I cannot find anything about
the upcoming track season on HD website or the Velo website.  Nor in last Tuesday's Newie Herald.
Velo training was cancelled last Tuesday, with a water-logged photo to show us why'
But no mention of Wednesday starting next week.
I only knew about the start of the new season because I was with some people in the know last Wed night.
AND WHEN I WAS AT CCCC CRIT LAST NIGHT, THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE WHO KNEW.

IS TRACK THIS YEAR ONLY FOR THE CHOSEN FEW?
I have checked the HDCC Mission Statement where I found that apparently HD aims to cater for all levels of ability.
(Not just the elite-level!)

As Newcastle is miles away from any other velo facility (and Adcock Park is currently unavailable), I don't think it is fair to
narrow down the participation levels just so certain categories of riders are excluded or not actively encouraged to compete.
Sydney clubs can choose this path as there are other options for "lesser riders" without having to travel considerable distances.

If I didn't work seven days a week with early morning starts, I would just go to Lidcombe.  They know how to cater for heaps of different kids, (not just the really good ones) and they have produced quite a few elite level track riders.  And they look after the newer/slower adult riders -all in one night.  The one night that I managed to go last year I was made to feel more than welcome... by everyone.

Why haven't I posted this in facebook?
My facebook relative will not allow me to do anything on facebook except read it.
And of course, I have not been nominated for membership either. ( no attempts at poaching the only regular Masters Woman tracke in Newie either)

The biggest thing that will make me livid is discrimination (any)

[hilljockey]

Well, I've not seen any promotion either but knew it was on more or less how you found out.

HD don't actually run/own the velodrome, that's the trust.  They do allow the trust to have a webpage on their server, but it's not being maintained at present.  The IT Guru built it and handed it over to someone else.  In all fairness that other person does a fair bit for cycling locally and maybe that's why he's not had the time to look after it.

I don't think they discriminate, all are welcome.  They are putting a lot of effort into the juniors at present.

Although the trust run the velodrome, it's really being driven by HD.

I'll be there for as many races as possible, but away for work next week...

[Gai M]

Well, I've not seen any promotion either but knew it was on more or less how you found out.

......

Although the trust run the velodrome, it's really being driven by HD.

Yeah, hj, I knew that.
However, it is a relief to know that I am not deluded: Your observations reflect mine.

As an old, weak female with no family support within the cycling fraternity my position as a conpetitor at track
is somewhat tenuous.
What really drives me is knowing that I am too old to give up, and try to make a comeback in the future.

And with the millstone of a newsagency an hour from Newcastle/Central Coast and more for the big smoke, I don't
have any options (to go elsewhere).

See yoiu the week after next!

Grannie

[giantcfr1]

guess i better dust off the bike and try to lose the 10 kgs i put on from doing nothing over the winter. Don't think i'll return at the top of C grade somehow

[Gai M]

..................doing nothing over the winter. Don't think i'll return at the top of C grade somehow

I wish...

I spend my time stressing whether I can even keep up in D grade (the standard for D grade has risen over the last few years)
...or like early in the season last year, trying to keep up in vain with C grade- low numbers in D.

I guess I should behave like my cohort and just watch tele, play bingo and go for leisurely strolls,
BORING!!!

[simply red]

If you don t  use it you ll loose it gai,keep up racing and keep trying to stay with the bunches By doing this, you can  be sure you will always be the strongest  that you can  be...underneath it .. thats what counts .Pleasing ourselves, enjoying each others company and being  social,thats what cycling meansto me and many more riders in newie .Its not all about being the best, just being yourself is good.

[giantcfr1]

Do you think they'd put me back in D grade if i asked? My last ride was in May and i won div2 crit. But haven't ridden since, put on 10 kg and had a relapse of Chronic fatigue.

[Gai M]

Do you think they'd put me back in D grade if i asked? My last ride was in May and i won div2 crit. But haven't ridden since, put on 10 kg and had a relapse of Chronic fatigue.

giantcfr1,

just go ahead and ask.

If you have put on 10kg. etc in the last few months, you could end up being the "most improved" for the new season.
if you get lean and fit again.

[giantcfr1]

I might ask - I just think that i'd lose heart starting in c and being thrown off the back in the first 10 metres

[Gai M]

I just think that i'd lose heart starting in c and being thrown off the back in the first 10 metres

Don't give up so easy.

You can't do any worse than me.

After spending almost a year learning to ride track (granny-aged women can be slow and timid learners)

I got lapped every race for almost a whole track season.
The next season, I nearly got lapped for a lot of that season.

Now that the make-up of D grade has changed in the last couple of years,
I STILL  get lapped  more often than not.

And I hate getting lapped.  I keep on hoping that sometime I'll score a place. 
winning IS much more fun than coming last.

AND there are a couple of "administrators" who I am aware of who would be happier if I didn't show up.
You are younger than me and you would be faster than me.  They would be more than happy for you to compete.

Just give it a go, one step at a time. (to avoid any more relapses). Don't try too hard the first few times, and before you know it,
you'll be successful in C grade.

[hilljockey]

Don't worry about giantCFR1 granny, he's a big strong lad with known form.

Lots of fun again this Friday night.  Even better being part of it instead of on the sidelines like last week (hey CFR1, I've barely ridden in months and had no trouble staying with C grade).

Big Hitter won A with Thor 2nd again.

The handicapper got a spot in B.

Metro, Seldo, myself and many others missed a place in C but big butt Boxhead got 2nd.  What a burgler!

The bloke who won D did it real easy (Ben Aitken?).  Simply Red got a place.  How good is she going!

Friday night world champs are a real blast! (at least while it's only 2 laps...)

[Gai M]

hj,

well, discussion in "the Friday night is back" thread has finally returned to Friday matters.

(After we filled up paragraphs ...on other matters)  !!


Every time I read how you keep up with no training I turn green.
I struggle even when I don't miss training sessions.

[giantcfr1]

HJ - a couple more months of excuses, talking it up and bragging about past exploits and I might have the motivation to come and race Friday nights again. Good to see Thor back on top - i would never have dreamed he'd be a sprinter back when we raced the juniors together.

[Metro Commuter]

Dumbarse crash between lone kid and A grade last night...

C grade was okay but nowhere near as much fun or pace as previous two weeks.  I fear I may have overtrained last week - I did 150km during the week!