Siobhan McCarthy in action on her new Argon 18 Galium!
Siobhan will be one to watch out for in the open race at the Mooloolaba Tri Festival end of March
Antony Dimotrovsky's race report for support race at the bay crits
The 1st stage of the 2010 Bay Series was held in the Botanic Gardens at Geelong. The course was fast and flowed well. The sky was grey and the wind was solid. 100 riders rolled up to the start and everyone hustled for their position on the start line. The back of the pack was not where you wanted to run this race from. The flag dropped and we were away.
The attacks came thick and fast however I managed to get myself into the top 15 riders and held that position for most of the race. After a few laps I decided the place to attack was coming up the little rise just before the main straight into the headwind. I thought if I could get a big enough gap before turning into the headwind the bunch would look around at each other and argue about who was going to chase.
With 3 laps to go another guy had the same idea and attacked at the exact spot I was planning to make my move, so I jumped across to him and we gave it a red hot go. Unfortunately the bunch had other ideas and caught us across the back of the course with the wind at their back's. We were doing 60kph so the bunch must have been hot to chase us down. We got swallowed up by the bunch and I sat in for a lap to get my legs back before making my way back up to the front for the final lap. Elbows were out, riders were getting loose and you'd think that there was a gold watch up for the winner.
As we turned onto the finishing straight I was 4th wheel, and essentially the top 4 onto the main straight finished in that order.
Overall a pretty good result for the opening day.
Stage 2 was a similar course to the 1st , again in the Geelong Botanic Gardens however the organisers thought it'd be a good idea to throw a few switchback corners and a small hill into the mix. The hill wasn't massive, but after 45mins hitting it at 45kph the legs definitely felt the sting. The sun was out however the wind was up again.
The legs felt good today and with my front row position I launched an attack from the 2nd lap. The boys wouldn't have any of that and closed me down quick smart. I took my usual position of about 10th wheel and held that until we got the bell for the 2nd sprint prime.
The NSWIS boys jumped on front and had the train going for their sprinter, Pohung Wu. I've raced against Po before and I knew he was an absolute bullet so I sat on his wheel till about 200 to go then tried to get the jump on him. I did just that and got a bike length on him however he managed to make up the gap and leap in front of me just before the line to take the points. I turned back to look where the bunch was and we put about 150 metres on them, however with nothing left in the tank after the sprint we unfortunately weren't able to capitalise.
The remainder of the race went pretty quickly and before I knew it we got the bell for the last lap. I again got myself in a pretty good position for the final kick however had to negotiate a crash 3 wheels in front of me on my approach to the line. I only just got rolled for a top 10 placing and finished up 11th.
It was a tough day for some though with only 30 out of the 100 riders finishing the stage.
Stage 3, the 600 metre Hot Dog course was where the business started. 300 metre sprint out of a hairpin corner, hit the brakes into another hairpin corner and repeat, for 45mins..... I was currently 7th on GC so still had my front row position, which got me through the 1st corner ok. I can't say the same for 40 other riders though. It was here that I found out that it wasn't just the riders or the course I had to contend with, it was the official's too.
Since when were lap out riders allowed to jump back into the bunch at the front ???? Not once. Not twice, but what seemed like every 2 laps for 30mins I was constantly passing the same lapped out riders who were allowed to jump back into the front of the bunch after sitting out for 2 laps. It'd take me 2 laps to get back to 10th or so on the road, someone would go down, half the bunch would lap out then be allowed to jump back into the front, where I'd have to battle with them for another couple of laps where it would happen all again.
Before all this started a group of 3 got away and they continued to get away as we weren't able to get any momentum to chase them down.
Once the bunch dwindled down the race panned out well for the final 10mins or so but I was again marred by a crash in the approach to the line and got rolled again for a top 10 finish. Another tough day for the pack with only 30 or so riders finishing the stage.
Stage 4 at Williamstown had all the ingredients for a hectic day. The temperature was hot. The wind was up. The course was tight. 2 x riders were equal on points for the Yellow jersey and the same officials from yesterday were marshalling the course. None of that mattered for David Pell though. He went off the front on the 2nd lap and that's where he stayed.
Meanwhile back in the pack, lapped out riders were again allowed to jump back into the front, only this time the officials let them go so early that all 50 riders who were allowed the lap out managed to get 50 metres up the road in front of us.
It stayed this way for a few laps and it wasn't until Bike Bug's Team Manager - Caroline went up to the officials and told them what had happened. The officials made a decision to neutralise the race for it to get back to order however even after we all got back together it was still chaos until the lead boys put their foot down and strung it all out again. Whilst all this was happening David Pell was tapping out consistent laps extending his lead.
The rest of the 40min race was the usual high paced affair and like the previous 2 stages my run into the finish was marred by a crash. It seems that sitting in the top 10 riders on the road doesn't guarantee you a smooth run. This time however it was the Yellow jersey who went down on the 1st corner of the final lap. This was enough to slow up everyone who was sitting past 6th wheel with the lead 5 riders getting enough of a gap to run into the finish.
I finished up just outside the top 10 for stage 4.
Overall the 2010 Bay Series was a great experience. 4th on Stage 1. 2nd in a Sprint Prime on Stage 2. Held a top 10 position for 3 x Stages and finished up just outside the Top 10 overall. Hopefully a sign of things to come for 2010.
More Photos of Team Bike Bug in Action at the Bay Crits
Straub in action on the final stage
Robbie Williams amongst the action on Stage 3
Nic Sheehan after hitting the deck in the final stage of the support race
Geoff Straub & Andrew Hermann flying around one of the hairpin on stage 3
Hermann on the drops coming around the hairpin!
Antony Dimitrovsky riding at the front end of the bunch in the support race on day 3
Team Bike Bug in action on stage 3
Team Bike Bug in action on stage 3
Team Bike Bug in Action at the Bay Crits
Andrew Hermann flying along on stage 1
Jack Bennett cruising along while hanging his tongue out!
Geoff Straub leading Baden Cooke, Greg Henderson and Graeme Brown
Robbie Williams showing off his new Galium in the bunch!
Jack Bennett warming up on his Galium Pro
Nick Sheehan smashing it along in the Support race!
Geoff Straub showing the pros how to ride at the front
The support crew watching Stage 1 of the bay crits!
Bikebug Team member Andy Herrmann and his Madison partner Ben Harvey riding Madison together
Ollie showing the world what Alfie does all day at work
Alfie and Guy in training for the next tamdem worlds! According to Guy, Alfie has been sitting on.
BRATS Athlete Sue Henry makes the Podium at the world masters games
Bike Bug North Sydney supports a Sydney-based cycling development team to help improve and mature riders' skills, and to provide the cycling community with a much needed stepping stone from 'developing' to 'semi-professional'.
Alfie at the top of the hill waiting for Lance to catch up!
Bike Bug 500
The Bike Bug 500 was held at Heffron Park in Sydney on Saturday, 20 December 2008. It was a great success, with Charles Topfer winning B grade, and Rabobank rider Graeme Brown winning the A grade race. CyclingNews Report
Bell Lap
Finish
2008 Christmas Party
Kieran Roche's Race Report from the Australian Junior Traithlon Series
Former Wallaby Mark Challender with his new Colnago CLX
Sue receiving her medal from Craig Alexander
Bryan with his Colnago Cristallo
Bryan receiving his medal from Craig Alexander
Bryan in an Aero position on his new bike
Troy wins the BMC Working Week Series Solo 8 Hour Race
Murray Booth's Merida Evo Team Bike
Owen Foster's new Colnago. He'll eventually grow into it.
Owen Foster's new Colnago. He'll eventually grow into it.
Owen Foster's new Colnago. He'll eventually grow into it.
Frank Fortuna Struggling at Heffron Park
Tim Jardine’s New Extreme Power
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Wayne's 1 of 60 Limited Edition Colnago for Ferrari
Wayne on his Colnago for Ferrari
Wayne receives his Colnago for Ferrari
Wayne's Colnago for Ferrari
Phil has pimped his ride with Token red chainring bolts
Phil's new chainring bolts and pulley wheels
Phil has pimped his ride with Token red ceramic Pulley Wheels
Phil's huge muscles
Phil's new Chris King Headset
Phil’s new Extreme Power with Ksyrium ES Wheels
Rick Jordan and his New Colnago Cristallo
Dave Stephens with his New Colnago Extreme Power
Dave Stephens' Extreme Power
Olly attacking A-Grade at Tuesday Night Racing
Olly ready to race
Olly at the track
Multiplex custom painted Colnago
Gladiator Criterium Report
With the news coming through of Lidcome Cycling Club putting on their “Gladiator” team criterium event, Bikebug North Sydney gathered some staff members and customers to battle it out in this unique event. The race format involved riders in team of 4 racing for an hour, with 3 intermediate sprints, after each sprint a rider from each team was to pull out, leaving the last 15 minutes of the race a battle between the 14 teams and 14 riders.
Riding for team Bikebug was store Manager Troy Glennan, sales assistant Shaun Higgerson ( SouthAustralia.com/AIS) and customers Kris Koke and Brad Glennan. On paper we were expecting Higgerson to be our man for the last 15 minutes, but the heat and Shaun’s busy schedule of late saw him do his part for the team in the first 15 minutes and bring back a break containing 3 FRF Couriers/ NSWIS riders.
The next 15 minutes saw a fall in one of the tight corners on the Dunc Gray Criterium Circuit, and a breakaway containing FRF Couriers NSWIS rider Rob Lyte and Troy flying the flag for Team Bikebug. This break was brought back on the lap before the 2nd sprint prime but Troy still had the energy to stay in front of the bunch to take the prime and the $60 prize to go with it. Brad decided he had done enough work for the day and volunteered to drop out next lap.
This left Kris and Troy to try and make the winning combination for Team Bikebug, with Kris spending plenty of time on the front of the bunch as he usually does. The pace was high, but as he was going to be the man that fought it out for the last 15 minutes he decided to save some energy and hide in the bunch. This saw another attack by FRF Couriers NSWIS rider John Ebeling which was usual behaviour from this team as they had in effect 12 riders in the race. Troy spent the next few laps with John off the front but the bunch had them well under control, so it came down to the last 15 minutes.
After a fast 45 minutes Kokey decided to hurt the rest of the bunch a little more and do a couple of hard laps on the front, and even causing a split of 3 riders on the 2nd last lap. This however was brought back on the bell lap and saw Peter MacDonald from FRF Courier NSWIS off the front, he held this margin the rest of the lap to win by the narrowest of margins from Jose Rodriguez ( Clarence St Cyclery) and Peter Milostic ( Penrith Panthers). Kokey held on to secure 5th place for Team Bikebug.
In earlier racing Oliver Martyn raced in the B grade men’s race, unfortunately the days work at Bikebug had proved a little too tough for Olly and after attacking the bunch and having to bridge across another gap he lost contact with the group and called it a day.
Under NSW legislation a bicycle is considered as a vehicle. As such, cyclists are required to obey the road rules, including stopping at red lights or Stop signs, Giving Way as indicated by signage and giving hand signals when changing direction. As cyclists have responsibilities when using the road system, they also have the right, like other vehicles, to use the road and be shown courtesy and care by other road users.
A bicycle means a vehicle with one or more wheels that is built to be propelled by human power through a belt, chain or gears (whether or not it has an auxiliary motor) and includes a pedicab, penny-farthing, scooter, tricycle and unicycle. See Australian Road Rules for further information.
Cyclists also have some special rights, which include:
Riding two abreast, no more than 1.5 m apart
Travelling to the front of a line of traffic on the left hand side of the stopped vehicles
Travelling in Bus Lanes and Transit Lanes. However, cyclists cannot travel in Bus Only Lanes
Travelling on the footpath where indicated by signage
Cycling on the footpath if the cyclist is less than 12 years old. An adult, who is riding in a supervisory capacity of a cyclist less than 12 years old, may also ride with the young cyclist on the footpath
Turning right from the left hand lane of a multi-lane roundabout with the proviso the cyclists must give way to exiting traffic
To be a legal road vehicle during the day, a bicycle must have:
At least one working brake
Either a bell or horn fitted to the bike, within easy reach and in working order
To be a legal road vehicle at night, a bicycle must also have :
Lights fitted and in use when riding at night - a steady or flashing white light that is clearly visible for at least 200 metres and a flashing or steady red light that is clearly visible for at least 200 metres from the rear of the bike
red rear reflector that is clearly visible for 50 metres when light is projected onto it by a vehicle's headlight on low beam
It is compulsory to wear an approved helmet correctly when riding a bike. This applies to all cyclists, regardless of age, including children on bicycles with training wheels and any child being carried as a passenger on a bike or in a trailer.
Failing to obey road or bicycle rules may result in a fine.
