PACC Track Night - 19th June 2013

After a seemingly trouble free return to the bike, including a couple of cyclocross races, I signed myself up for the next PACC winter track event at the Adelaide Superdrome.   Given how close the Superdrome is to home, I really wish I could just head down there for a few laps every now and again.  Unfortunately, most of the training sessions are held in the early evening, so it's difficult to get there after work. As a result, the best I can do is make an effort to get out to the race meets. 

On arrival, I signed in for D grade, pinned my number on and headed out for a much needed warm up, given the fridge like conditions of the Superdrome. This time around we had a number of tandem bike events on the program, so during the warm up was my first chance to see some of these bikes in action. They can really move! 

With warm up complete, it was onto the events!

Heart Starter - D Grade

First event on the program is usually a heart starter, essentially a short scratch race. In this case, an eight lap race. The field for D Grade was possibly smaller than expected with 5 people, but probably big enough that we could have some decent racing. Sent on our way, we took our turns on the front as the speed built up. Or at least, it usually built up. I kept finding that when i swung off the front and rejoined at the back of the field that I was having to wash off a lot of speed. I couldn't work out what was happening, except noting that Miss V was on the front each time. Asking later, it turns out that she was trying to slow up the pace when she was up front..   sneaky. 

With about one and a half laps to go, and me third in line, Brian took off around the outside. I managed to go with the move along with Michelle and Meriel in front of me. We caught Brian with about half a lap to go, and it was a drag race to the finish. While I managed to catch Michelle, I didn't have the speed to pass her.  

E1 Heart Starter D-Grade 8 Time Avg Speed 
2 APOSTOLOU Michelle 03:15.87 36.76
106 PURCZEL Carl
15 CUSTANCE Meriel
119 FRANSON Brian
88 RICHES Virginia 

500 metre Time Trial - D Grade

Fairly simple race format..   ride fast for 500 metres.  I was starting on the front straight while Miss V was starting on the back straight.  Last time I did this event my start was all over the place as I wobbled all over the start line. This time, fortunately, I was relatively steady. Given the order to start I pushed off and then realised that I had my hands up on the hoods.. what the hell am i doing?  Correcting this mistake I got into the drops and pushed hard. I managed to make up about three quarters of a lap on Miss V and marginally beat my best time over this distance. Woot!  Also managed to get the best time in D Grade.. hurrah!

E9 500m TT D Grade SERIES OMNIUM 2 Time Avg Speed

15 CUSTANCE Meriel 00:48.47 37.14 front

2 APOSTOLOU Michelle 00:42.19 42.66 back

106 PURCZEL Carl 00:41.60 43.27 front

88 RICHES Virginia 00:46.31 38.87 back

119 FRANSON Brian 00:45.75 39.34 front

Derby - D Grade

Essentially like a match sprint, except supposed to be for more than 2 riders. Though with the number of riders in D Grade, we were split into a group of 3 and a group of 2. Miss V being placed into the group of 3, while I was paired with Michelle. 

While waiting, we watched Miss V burst off the front of her race. We wondered if she had gone too soon, but she kept the power on and brought it home for the win! nice work! 

I got on the front from the beginning of my race and tried to control things from there. I don't think I did a particularly good job in that respect, but I got a fairly good jump at the bell and managed to outsprint Michelle for the win.   

E17b D-Grade Derby - Heat 2 3 Time Avg Speed
106 PURCZEL Carl 01:26.03 31.38
2 APOSTOLOU Michelle 

I was hoping there might be a final of sorts, which would have meant that I would be sprinting against Miss V. Suspect there might have been a bit of sledging being fired in my direction in a race like that. 

Scratch Race - D Grade

Much like the Heart Starter earlier in the evening, except 4 laps longer. eek!  depending on the previous races, it can be difficult to get enthused about the last scratch race of the night. More to the point, it can be hard to convince the legs that they should move, especially when it's so cold! That said, it can be a fast and furious way to end the evening. 

This race I think I was caught napping leading into the last lap with Michelle launching off the front, and me being in forth in line.  While I managed to pass Miss V and Meriel, I never stood a chance in catching Michelle. 2nd place.

E24 D-Grade Scratch Race 12 Time Avg Speed
2 APOSTOLOU Michelle 04:56.81 36.39
106 PURCZEL Carl
15 CUSTANCE Meriel
88 RICHES Virginia
119 FRANSON Brian 

Well done to PACC, Lee-Anne and all the volunteers that put the event together.

Next race is on the 24th of July. Can't wait! :)  

National Cyclocross Series - Rounds 1 and 2

An event that I had been looking forward to for ages, and yet was concerned that I wouldn't be able to take part in, due to a nagging knee issue from the Outback Odyssey.  Thankfully, all went well during the weekend. The atmosphere around the circuits on both days was awesome thanks to the masses of spectators and competitors cheering everyone on and the running commentary from the announcers. 

Round 1 - Mulch Hill - B Grade

We'd raced of this circuit (or something extremely similar!) before, so I knew what to expect. Two climbs of mulch hill plus some long fast straights. A thoughtfully placed barrier at the base of the first mulch hill climb, and stairs on the second meant that I was destined to be running up both.  

Heading up Mulch Hill (Photo c/ K. Riches)

Lining up on the start line, I looked around and saw a few regular A grade riders. Nice of them to come and support us I was thinking. Until I saw that they were on the wrong side of the tape to be merely spectating!  A huge field for B grade, but clearly I was going to be out of my depth (more so than usual!) 

The whistle went for the start and we were all off.  Guys from behind rocketed forward while I tried to keep up with the pack on the first straight, if for no other reason than to get some good footage on the bar mounted camera :D  Not far after the start and the bulk of the field when through the few puddles of mud that were on the course, and I was greeted with a wall of mud spray..  Nice..  

Overtaking Paul Z (photo c/ M. Young)

Approaching the tennis courts I found myself behind Paul Z, who I see as a bit of a benchmark. If I can keep up with him, I'm probably having a good day, If he's sailing away from me, I'm having a bad day.  This time around, I kept with him during the first lap, and into the start of the second. I managed to close up the gap over mulch hill for the first time.  Second time up mulch hill and I had lost a bit of that time, but was still within contact.  I had managed to close the gap up to the mulch covered hairpins under the trees. Fortunately for me Paul chose the wider lines, while I took the inside lines. So managed to overtake someone (woot!).  It was all for nothing though as Paul's superior speed saw him pass me on the next long straight. He was within sight for the remainder of the second lap, but slowly pulling away.   

The rest of the race I was pretty much on my own. I was aware of one rider that was a few hundred metres behind me, but didn't seem to be catching. So I just tried to keep a steady pace until the chequered flag.  Thankfully I managed my goal of finishing on the lead lap, but only just! :) 

Strava Data

Best news of all, no apparent issue with the knee! 

Video of my race

Round 2 - Zombie Park - B Grade

Round 2 saw us heading to Zombie Park, near the cemetery. This venue (I think) provides a better atmosphere due to the more compact layout, with the event village centrally located. 

The course for this round was apparently similar to the last club race which Miss V and I had missed due to us being on the Outback Odyssey. The course layout is what we've come to expect at Zombie Park though with generally flowing corners with something nasty in one of the far corners of the park.  What I wasn't really expecting was the sheer number of corners with a series of 12 hairpin bends! 

Start positions were determined by yesterdays results, so I waited patiently while everyone else got called up. If nothing else, a start position at the back of the field might give me some good video :)

The whistle went and we were off. Perhaps it was my imagination, but it felt like the start was slightly slower than in Round 1 as I seemed to be able to keep up for the most part, which is unusual for me! The first fast flowing section ended at the nasty bit of the course which consisted of a series of tight downhill hairpins on loose dirt. During practise I hadn't been able to ride them, so I knew I had to run this section. On reaching this section for the first time there was a mass bottle neck and the whole pack slowed while people tried to ride through. Knowing I couldn't, I just got off the bike and ran around them all! :D yay me! :)

Piloting carefully around the tricky section (photo c/ V. Riches)

Sadly, those places that I made up didn't last too long and I soon had a steady stream of riders come past me, including Paul Z.  I never really had the power to catch back up and stay on their tail, though managed to catch glimpses of where the guys ahead of me where at due to the wide open nature of the course. 

My first approach to the fallen log obstacle took me by surprise having arrived a lot hotter than in practice. I dismounted only to find that I was travelling a lot faster than expected. Thankfully my legs were able to keep up and launch me over the log without an embarrassing face plant.

In the closing stages I knew there was one guy behind me, though he didn't appear to be gaining, so I just needed to maintain my pace.  I think I finished second last in this one, though once again I achieved my goal of finishing on the lead lap. hurrah!

Finished!  (photo c/ V. Riches)

A big thanks to all the people that came out to watch, especially family and friends who took the time to come and cheer and heckle! :) 

Strava Data

Video of my race: