Do you race?

[sirjames]

So does anyone here race at all?

I have raced for 5 years now after 8 years as a bike courier. I started mainly to keep my fitness up after finishing up as a courier but am now totally hooked with the whole culture.

I have done some great races and luckily been able to race in Canada and Germany as well while on holidays. The race that always sticks in my mind is the 2006 OZ Road Race Champs in Adelaide. I was already sh1tting bricks having to race against Cooke, Gerrans, McEwen, Luke Roberts, O'Grady etc and in the first 5k down a hill there was a huge crash and about 30 of us were bought down. It was then over the next 40k that i learnt the big differences between pros and us (or maybe just me....). When the crash occurred the front end dropped the hammer to try and make the split permanent. I ended up in a group of about 10 blokes including Baden Cooke trying to bridge back on. We are all rolling, trying to bridge the gap, and while i am the back of the roll Gerrans latches onto the back of us. I think "awesome, we have him, he will drag us back up" but a sec later he just smacks it and he just leaves us for dead and it was there that i got a first-hand experience of the what you need to be a pro. The second time was when Cooke just methodically dropped us all with an infernal pace before bridging back onto the group. My average for a hilly course until i got dropped (end of lap 2) 45.4kph. insane insane.....

So anyhow who else races? or wants to race?

 

[goal sneak]

Hey sirjames, congratulations that is a pretty big effort just to be in races like that let alone stick with the the likes of Cooke for a period of time.

I don't really have the time to do anything serious with football and university, but would love to get a bike and go on rides every now and again. Just wondering if you could recommend any bikes for a beginner cyclist. I am really fit so that is not really a problem, would love to get a bike with the idea on maybe entering some triathlons in the footy off season.

 

[SlainteO'Hailpin]

I did consider it when I was younger but football/basketball won out that decision.

Kinda regret I never gave it a crack though.

Every year the tour is on though I ponder wether to buy a bike or not and get into riding with the aim of having that as a sport when i get to middle age and ride in seniors stuff.

 

[sirjames]

Hey sirjames, congratulations that is a pretty big effort just to be in races like that let alone stick with the the likes of Cooke for a period of time.

I don't really have the time to do anything serious with football and university, but would love to get a bike and go on rides every now and again. Just wondering if you could recommend any bikes for a beginner cyclist. I am really fit so that is not really a problem, would love to get a bike with the idea on maybe entering some triathlons in the footy off season.

If you want to do the odd tri then i would recommend getting a road bike as opposed to a mountain or hybrid. Then you are set up for the odd ride and if you want to do a tri you dont have to change anything on the bike, just chuck some clip on TT bars if you like.

In relation to brands i would check out Giants. For your money they are fantastic and have a great warranty system as well.

If you want any specific info on models, shops to go to or stuff like that let me know.

 

[sirjames]

I did consider it when I was younger but football/basketball won out that decision.

Kinda regret I never gave it a crack though.

Every year the tour is on though I ponder wether to buy a bike or not and get into riding with the aim of having that as a sport when i get to middle age and ride in seniors stuff.

Yeah i was 29 when i started road racing and i am looking forward to 35 when i become a vet and race in the masters!

Cycling is the perfect sport as you get older due to it being a low impact activity. I always feel reassured that i see heaps of old blokes out riding their bikes. I remember when i played footy and didnt see many guys past 35-40 playing......

 

[goal sneak]

If you want to do the odd tri then i would recommend getting a road bike as opposed to a mountain or hybrid. Then you are set up for the odd ride and if you want to do a tri you dont have to change anything on the bike, just chuck some clip on TT bars if you like.

In relation to brands i would check out Giants. For your money they are fantastic and have a great warranty system as well.

If you want any specific info on models, shops to go to or stuff like that let me know.

Thanks for that james. My mates dad owns a big bike store so I might go down and see what he can do for me.

 

[weagles_fan]

How do you enter races?

 

[sirjames]

Seeing as your in Melbourne i will give you a run down of the Melbourne races but i would recommend getting in touch with a cycling club and they would help you out. If you want to PM me i can let you know the closest club to you.

Starting from this Sunday the St Kilda Crits start down in Port Melbourne. Here is a link to the flyer:

http://www.skcc.com.au/fileadmin/user/SKCC_Club_Images/35169_SKCC_Summer_Calendar.pdf

Sunday morning crits also start out at Glenvale soon as well, may even be this weekend. Check out the carnegie caulfield cycling club website for more details.

Other than that check out www.vic.cycling.org.au for larger races.

I would recommend doing a criterium to start with though. They are short and a good introduction to racing. Im not racing this weekend but will be down at St Kilda next weekend.

You will also need a license to race. If you are just starting out i would just get a day license. If you like it you can get an annual license. I raced on day licenses for about 6 months before i got an annual one. Just get one on the day of the race.

If you want any more info let me know.

 

[Bigfan92]

yeh i would love to race but just need to get more k's in the legs

 

[blackcat]

So does anyone here race at all?

I have raced for 5 years now after 8 years as a bike courier. I started mainly to keep my fitness up after finishing up as a courier but am now totally hooked with the whole culture.

I have done some great races and luckily been able to race in Canada and Germany as well while on holidays. The race that always sticks in my mind is the 2006 OZ Road Race Champs in Adelaide. I was already sh1tting bricks having to race against Cooke, Gerrans, McEwen, Luke Roberts, O'Grady etc and in the first 5k down a hill there was a huge crash and about 30 of us were bought down. It was then over the next 40k that i learnt the big differences between pros and us (or maybe just me....). When the crash occurred the front end dropped the hammer to try and make the split permanent. I ended up in a group of about 10 blokes including Baden Cooke trying to bridge back on. We are all rolling, trying to bridge the gap, and while i am the back of the roll Gerrans latches onto the back of us. I think "awesome, we have him, he will drag us back up" but a sec later he just smacks it and he just leaves us for dead and it was there that i got a first-hand experience of the what you need to be a pro. The second time was when Cooke just methodically dropped us all with an infernal pace before bridging back onto the group. My average for a hilly course until i got dropped (end of lap 2) 45.4kph. insane insane.....

So anyhow who else races? or wants to race?

Vogels and Gatesie swearing at Hansen for attacking, then Walker just riding away. The bloody bureaucrats at cycling Astralia then divided u23 and pro, which is stupid, when the AIS team can control things and take the race from the Drapac guys or other youngsters.

The nationals should be invitation, pros, plus best u23s, then guys who have won A grade crits, and races like Bright, Grampians and Mersey.

Keep the field to about 80. 20 u23s. All institute riders.

 

[groverjones]

yeh i would love to race but just need to get more k's in the legs

Yep, I'm with you there.
I last entered a competitive cycling race as a junior, and am now looking at the Masters category.
I'm planning on entering at least one of the Perth triathlons this year, but that depends on how my lungs hold up - bronchitis knocked me off my bike for 4 weeks, and I've been back on it for only a week.

 

[sirjames]

Hey Grover how old are you (if you dont mind me asking)?

I am a perth boy and remember you mentioned elsewhere you rode with Henk. I knew a few of the other boys who raced around that time as well, as well as Henk's brother Leon. Im sure we must know a few of the same blokes.