why such low Fri night numbers?

[Metro Commuter]

I was told 37 racers at last night's Fri Night World Championships, a far cry from the 120+ that used to turn up.  Was t perceptions about the weather, or too close to Xmas, or do people have reservations about racing on the very poor surface at Paradise Hills?

[Gai M]

I too have noted that there are far less riders on Fri evenings than a few years ago.
As  it takes the same time for me to travel from Cessnock to Wyong Nth as Kooragang, I usually do the crit down there, as crits are my favourite race and the "straights" are much shorter. 

As I am trying to regain previous form (GFC?) since my accident I have been striving to keep up with E grade instead.  (the best I've managed so far is 1/2 lap)

Of course, I am probably the exception rather than the rule.  Yesterday, I was not inclined to drive all the way in and maybe not race due to rain, or be dropped very early because of wet road conditions which will impair my ability more than those I am desperately trying to keep up with.
I had already been into "Newcastle" am to pick up my brand new rollers.  I decided to save travel/wait time and practised on them instead.  I had to hold on to somethihg beside me, but I balanced heaps better than I did 18 months ago, the only other time I have tried them.


I know some people think the Fri races are too short.  Personally, being an ex-sprinter (running) I don't mind.  I would just like to see more "F" grade riders who won't disappear into the distance leaving me doing TT practice.

[hilljockey]

Christmas parties, people going on holidays, general silly season silliness.  Just my guess.

[Robbo]

was a Christmas party for me this time, but even the numbers were down at that. The rain has been the official reason for that, so it appears it doesnt just affect bike racing.

[The Ferret]

Monahan,

Or is that Fast Gai to your friends? Lower grades could have longer distances if they rode quicker. Simple. Everyone is challenged by the light vs distance and the officials, as I understand it, have a duty to get everyone off the Island, preferably with light. Encourage some like riders to show up so that you have some competition.

Your friend

The Ferret

[lantern]

Come on Granny SUPPORT Your  local  area & clubs

Maybe its time to put in more efforts & training. Than think about what might  have been(Running Sprinter)

That way maybe u will last ONE lap 

[Gai M]

Granny
Maybe its time to put in more efforts & training.

Lantern, I do not know who you are, but a few comments about your comments:


How did i get the nickname "Granny" in the first place.  It was DB's way of acknowledging my age compared with my competition. As far as I know, I am the 2nd oldest female racing cyclist in the Newcastle and CCoast areas, the oldest to compete at BlackHill/Steel River/Cessnock races and the oldest by far to race track.  The blokes who are my age or more have mostly been racing since their teens or before.  I got my first ever bike in my mid-twenties.  And I am not hugely slower than Jane M.

I work  ]SEVEN[ days a week and train almost every day (including efforts and indoors in the rain).  Also it is fact that if a man and woman are riding together, and the man is "cruising"  at 70%, the woman beside him is putting in a 90% effort.

I agree that it is almost inexcusable for a mainstream rider (A, B, C, D) grade rider not to support their local races most of the time, but when one is almost "unique", then one needs to choose races that are appropriate to one's level.  The notion of being unique is not too far-fetched.  In the recent World Masters Games -both of them- I was the only one in my age group prepared to do the sprint _  and the points race.  Also, I first started doing the CC crits when I was a member of Cessnock club which does not do Friday races.  From Cessnock, CCC is just as far away timewise as Kooragang.

Yes, a number of other riders in F grade might not train too seriously too often, but including me in this group is not appropriate.

[The Ferret]

Granny (or Cougar),

The numbers have been alright the last few weeks. I did a guestimate head count last week. I reckon 100 riders turned up. Looked like about 7-9 riders in E grade. Someone may correct me on these numbers, who might know officially.

Your friend in accuracy

The Ferret

[Daddy Walrus]

Observations:
1) If you don't turn the last cone in the top 5 you are just making up the numbers.
2) The longer distances on Sat or Sun provide a training session
3) It seems more tense on the Friday night.
4) But it provides a welcome break from the winter races with a different racing format.

The road quality may stop people from racing there. I know the glass stops people at Blackhill.

Has any club discussed other racing venues than Kooragang in the summer?

[Boostland]

Has any club discussed other racing venues than Kooragang in the summer?

There has been more than discussion.

http://www.newcastlecycling.smfnew.com/index.php?topic=82.0

Kooragang has started doing some crits see link above for more info.

[The Ferret]

Daddy walrus,

I have observed you race son, and it is fair to say you are an honest, hard bike rider. Whilst not ragging the finish of HVV or KOCC (The Ferret has won at all of them) they are more of a straight line sprint, which requires some placement ability, but essentially the skill to hang on to the wheel. The beauty of the Friday night finish, for the change that it offers, is, like a true crit circuit, the race is often to the corner before the finish, and thought is required. As you say, you need to be in the first 5 at the witches hat, so everyone should be belting down to the witches hat to put themselves in the first 5 to maximise their chance to win. Practice is much harder than theory. Shalom

Your friend

The Ferret

[Metro Commuter]

Ferret,

Can I add that the Friday night finish can be complicated by numnuts who have no idea about sprinting, cornering or tactics - so you can be baulked by some bunter freaking out as the pace quickens and people get closer to each other.  Far better finish for the higher two grades than for the other grades, but in any event far better than the KOCC or Vets finishes IMHO.

It would, IMRO, be useful for a senior experienced rider to be able to rider with C grade and below and provide some tips on positioning, tactics and skills.  I know that there was some debate with Commissaire Mick and HDCC, but it would only improve racing in the lower grades if they were told what to do from someone they are likely to listen to.

Yours in seeking to improve racing in the bunter grades

MC

[Robbo]

MC,

there are a number of ex higher grade folk in the lower ones. As with the higher grades, there are few in the lower ones who listen. Apparently self appointed knowledge has been dished out in spades no matter what grade.

Unfortunately!

[The Ferret]

Robbo,

You are correct son. Many people think they know it all.

Metro,

The lower grades need to go from further out. They need more urgency to stop the numnuts and others who create a traffic jam at the u-turn or thereafter. Go hard and stuff someone's finish up son. It won't change the fact that you still don't finish in the top 3 of C grade. If my mail is correct (and we all know the answer to that) you are perilously close to a stint in D grade.....??

Your observant friend

The Ferret

[Metro Commuter]

Ferret,

Unless you know something about how I might be graded that I do not, I am not at jeopardy of a downgrade.

I was not the only former B grader last night who decided against joining in what passes for a sprint in C. Suppose I just have to regrow some testicles and take a chance. Sadly when in B grade I never thought there was much risk at all. Either my assessment of risk has altered or the risk has altered.

Do not get me wrong - there are some good riders in C and I reckon all some of them need is for someone they will respect to teach them some better skills. They will not get that from within C.

An example - last lap heading up the main straight in a head/crosswind. Only two people jammed in the gutter were people who have raced B.  Every other lap people sat half way across the road giving a very nice rest to people like me who could hide in the lee.

Another example - how is it a fat 41 year old can be soft pedalling on the front to not chase different mates who were away up the road - >eldo in one instance and Lucky another - and no one pushes past me, and in one of those cases the softest of pedalling results in myself and one of the young female triatheletes getting a break of our own, thgen I am able to back her out.

Now the most remarkable thing is I am riding so friggin bad at the moment - probably the slowest I have been since I have been in C - that it just makes me wonder how thhis happebs when I was not doing anything clever. You club's handicapper will vouch for how dumb I am, just ask him my nickname after I borrowed gis /@4 for my trip to Europe and the UK last year

MC