Planning for the winter

This summer of racing has brought about many firsts. Some of these include the first full summer of racing for our Bendigo women’s team, Building Champion Squad, the first time I got to wear a leaders jersey in the Jayco Bay criteriums, my first trip to Adelaide for the TDU since it has been a UCI event (although I didn’t see any of the races) and my first summer of racing without any coach.

I also used annual leave to take my first non bike related holiday since I got back on the bike 3 years ago; and this brings me to question my cycling….

Its interesting being a female cyclist racing at a national level as we do here in Australia, especially if you aren’t chasing institute recognition or selection, and you know you aren’t really ever going to make much money out of the sport yet definitely have the ability to be competitive both nationally and internationally. You have those moments where you wonder why I’m doing this, what am I achieving. I often have nights when my work friends are heading out for after work drinks, yet I’m heading home to get on the ergo and then go to bed early (sometimes I venture out after ergo, yet the sweat still hasn’t stopped dripping off my face for up to 1 hour after the shower). I also sometimes get up at 5am to be in the office by 6:30am so I can leave work at 3pm to go and do a 4 hour ride mid week (yes that’s right, I ride 4 hours after working an 8 hour day). A lot of Monday mornings I struggle as instead of turning up to work refreshed from the weekend, I’m more tired from travelling and racing all weekend and can barely understand what’s going on in the meetings, I also wonder if my boss will understand its my recovery day; so I need to stay off my legs and can’t make it into her office next door, 20m away, so I will just chat to her on the phone.
But then I have moments like up at Mansfield on the 16th and 17th of March where we had a good team result of myself 2nd and Lauretta 3rd, on the Saturday in the criterium in the town centre. Then on Sunday although the race didn’t suit our team in the slightest both Lauretta and I started the race to the top of Buller from Mansfield. Lauretta put herself in the early break, at least we were represented and she got a good start on the climb. I did a bit of soul searching as I road up the climb on my own after dropping off the final 5 climbers at about the 4km mark, passing some of the break away including Lauretta along the way and “thoroughly enjoying” the steady climb. Now you might be thinking, how does this make you want to keep on racing. But in between these 2 races we found an amazing coffee shop/restaurant in Mansfield, Nicole drove a manual car without me telling her when and which gear to change into (and had to do a hand break start on the steepest part of Mt Buller), we had dinner with my mum and her friends and discovered that pizza dough can be made with flour and Greek yoghurt, as well as many other things that can’t be told outside the circle of truth. (I have since tried this pizza dough recipe and it is soooo easy, and low fat Greek yoghurt CAN be used).
I also after warming up from the freezing tops of Mt Buller, on the drive home analysed why I got dropped from the climbers when I did, then yet stayed about 100m behind them for the next 2km and discussed what I need to work on to get better at this part of my riding, discussed and planned future races and had random conversations the whole drive home with Nicole.
I guess part of loving and continuing to race is fuelled by the knowledge that you can continue to improve, that you can have the most fun experiences with friends, that you can work with team mates to achieve great results, and you can see parts of the countryside you often wouldn’t see.
Yet it also makes me realise that I don’t have to do this, I do it because I love it, and that is why I won’t be riding at all in July as it will be TO COLD and I don’t like the cold riding.
Now to stay up until 1am watching Flanders on T.V and sleep in on a Monday public holiday, maybe I will be refreshed Tuesday this week…. maybe

Round 4 Cykel Events Red Star Coffee Womens Grand Prix

With the last race in the 4 round series being a hot dog in Richmond, and the last crit for the team for the summer season the team was excited. However we were also coming to the realisation that the warmer weather, getting to wear only knicks and jersey with no layers days was coming to an end.

Tayla and Lauretta were already in Melbourne, so  Nik, Kate and Jo set off on the road trip, which was surprisingly tame and uneventful in comparison  to normal, not sure if it was nerves, tiredness or the lack of Tayla in the car.

The day stared with the usual prologue to see what division we all would be riding in. We were all placed In division 1 so after some food and team talk we were ready to race knowing what was required to keep our team in 2^nd place on team GC also keeping Kate in 3^rd on Individual GC .

With Kate and Lauretta forcing the pace early it wasn’t long for a breakaway to form and the bunch was racing in 3 group’s. Kate was off the front with Jenny Macpherson (liv/Giant) and Bridie O'Donnell (Total Rush), Jo and Lauretta in the 2^nd group and Tayla and Nik in the 3^rd group.

 Kate was taking lap points left right and centre and then picked up 2^nd in the sprint, we were able to stay in 2^nd place on teams GC. It also kept Kate in 3^rd in the individual standings, however if she had of done an earlier tally, and had of gone for a few extra points could have moved up to 2nd. Kate also took the laps leader classification for a great result for the day and a fun day out.

Looking back it was a successful series for the BCS team the goals that were set way back in early December were

 To be up there on team’s GC  CHECK 2^ND

To come home with one jersey CHECK Kate laps leader

I am sure I am a bit bias but I think we have one of the best group of girls going around

Well done to all the BCS girls and a big shout out to the Liv/Giant girls for taking out the team classification.

 

Lauretta's Season on the track

Last weekend’s Bendigo Madison saw the conclusion of the Victorian track season, and what a season it was. After being selected for the state team in December, many weeks of hard training and racing followed to ensure I would be competitive at a national level ready to race for February 2013.
One of my favourite weeks was the Victorian Christmas carnivals. As usual, it offered some fantastic racing across all four locations; Horsham, Bendigo, Shepparton and Wangaratta. Over the four days I had a few minor placing's and a couple wins including the Ladies silver Bracelet Wheel race at Shepparton and the Godfrey Family Omnium double elimination at Horsham.
The Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic (bay crits) followed Christmas carnivals and although not exactly successful, I definitely learned a lot riding in such a quality field. I also got to ride my brand new Specialized Venge road bike for the first time.
Last year I competed in the Santos Women’s Cup in Adelaide and only finished 1 stage, so this year I came into it with the goal of completing at least two. Stage one around the east end of Adelaide was a thrill to race, with a large crowd leaning over the barriers cheering us on. Stage two, Gastro got the better of me, despite this I still started and launched the first attack to then soon be dropped off the back and quickly removed from the race. The final stage at Unley hosted a smaller field due to several riders scratching  but still offered some fast racing. I surprised myself at this stage as I was expecting to have no chance of finishing but during the race I found myself attacking, chasing and holding position. I finished the race mid field and achieved my goal of completing at least two stages. The whole team road these races, and not only was I able to complete these 2 races, but had also helped team mates throughout the series and gained more knowledge in regards to working together as a team.
The highlight of the season for me was competing in my first track nationals as an Elite woman.  The four days of Championship racing was held at Dunc Gray Velodrome in Sydney. The team arrived in Sydney two days before the commencement of racing. Unfortunately as we arrived so did the storms and torrential rain. After three days of being stuck indoors Thursday arrived and with it my first and favourite event, the individual pursuit. Being my first year as an elite woman, all I really wanted was a PB. I achieved this with a time of 3:47.064, bettering my previous time by over 3 seconds and placing me 8^th overall. The following day I had the 100 lap point score; once again I surprised myself and finished in 8th after only losing one lap. My final day of racing offered a 40 lap scratch race, which I finished in 9^th place. Although I didn’t win any medals, It was a surreal experience to be racing with Olympians, world champions and some the best female cyclists Australia has to offer. 8^th and 9^th place may not seem as a major achievement but just to compete in that field, without being absolutely demolished, is a big achievement to me.

After a week off the bike, Ararat and Ballarat Track Carnivals beckoned. At Ararat I won the first handicap of the night and raced hard but with no results for my other three events. At Ballarat, I won the opening scratch race, placed second in the handicap point score and won the Victorian Madison Championship with my partner Toni Abbisogni also from Bendigo . The 50 lap Madison was one of the most enjoyable races I've ridden all year. A timely attack, launched by Toni, resulted in us taking a lap which no other team was able to bring back.
The Austral wheel race was an aggressive and successful night of racing. I placed 3^rd in the Victorian Women’s Scratch race after attacking several times, reducing the main field from 11 to 6. I placed second behind Jessica Mundy in the handicap points after once attacking the field resulting in the bunch splitting.
The final track race for the season boasted a first for women’s racing; a women’s Bendigo Madison. The stellar field included teams from all over Australia making for some tough racing. Once again I partnered with Toni Abbisogni and after 60 laps of fast and hard racing we came in 6^th. Although it destroyed my legs and my body aches from the effort, I loved it and will hopefully be doing it again next year.
It is now time for me to start thinking about the road races, and adapting my body for these changes.

Tayla tells a tale

The day started with the trip to Casey Fields to find opposite weather conditions from the previous round 1 race. The sun was shining and the wind was gusting in what seemed like every direction when warming up around the 2.2km course.  Once warmed up and ready to go, the time trials were ready to commence in order to grade all the riders. I was first up to battle out one lap on the windy course followed by Carly, Nik, Lauretta and Kate. Once all riders had finished the prologue we were broken up into our grade with Carly and myself narrowly being placed in B-grade and the other BCS girls to battle out A-grade. 

After a bit of a break of watching Cheryle Barker performing in the novice category and having something to eat, Carly and I were ready to begin. The wind had started to die down for the beginning of our race and I started off sitting on Carly’s wheel as we commenced our first lap. It was an aggressive criterium with each lap riders pushing to get to the front to take the lap point.  This resulted in many attacks throughout the race, but most were brought back in very quickly. After positioning myself in the middle of the bunch, I sat in and held the wheel in front not bothering to sprint for the lap points.

 However soon enough the mid race sprint came around, I could see Carly had positioned herself well to contest and got 4th to claim 1 point. I stayed in my position and got Carly on my wheel giving her a break. However the sprint had caused a gap in the field and a breakaway had occurred.

The groups were about 50m apart with both Carly and I in the 2nd group, once they started to get away we decided we needed to catch them quickly. The pace was increased until we managed to join as one again and then it suddenly slowed.  Coming into three laps to go we were both sitting in the middle of the bunch as the speed vamped up, with some futile attempts to breakaway, but with the bell ringing and one lap to go Carly had made her way to the front and I knew it was important to did the same. After several attempts to get to the front and coming into the final straight I found myself stuck in the middle but could see Carly at the front about to go for the sprint. Carly crossed the line in a very impressive first position after a group sprint and I rolled through with the rest of the bunch in 13^th. 

As soon as B-grade was over Carly and I warmed down as we watched our team mates compete in the A-grade field. It looked to be an attacking race with many breakaway attempts, including some attacking racing from our own girls. Kate picked up some points in the mid race sprint battling the Liv Giant girls over the line. A one girl breakaway attempt lasted into the final lap before the group brought it back to finish the race with a group sprint. Kate led around with Lauretta on her wheel allowing her to sprint her way into 4^th position. Nik came through in 14^th position with Kate closely following. It was a great exciting day and a great lead up to the final round ridden on March 23^rd.

An outsider looking in

Kate's mum, Cheryle, tells us about her second Novice race and how it is to be a new racer

My second novice race was exciting, fun and a great learning experience. It was held at a dedicated criterium track at Casey Fields on Sunday 3^rd March 2013. Unlike the first race there were no sharp corners to tackle. After the first race I decided to read some tips on riding crits and thought it is so hard to keep all these tips in mind during the race yet it all made sense.

Tip 1# “Stay at the front, but not on the front”.

It is hard not to get excited and want to try to chase down attacks or get on the front and do a turn (because that only seems fair). Yet it is a race and not a social ride so it is not about helping each other out. I was on the front during the last 3 laps and I hear a voice rising from the crowd “Get off the front”. Yes I thought, very good advice Kate and promptly dropped back.

It is also hard to make the call when there is an attack as to whether to chase them down, let someone else chase them down, keep the attack going because you might get away or should you conserve your energy and drop back into the bunch? I actually enjoy being able to chase down an attack but when you look around and see everyone else is also there you realise you have just put in a massive effort that others in the bunch benefit from without having to put in the effort you just did. Oh so many things to consider and before you know it you are on the final lap getting ready for the sprint.

Tip 2# is similar to buying or selling real estate – position, position, position!

I had heard Kate say at the start of the race that you need to be second coming around the final corner to have a good chance of winning. However, in the final lap I found myself boxed in after getting off the front earlier in the race. I moved a bit to the right in the hope that the rider next to me would move aside. The response from another rider behind was “hold your line 189”. 189 was my racing number and rider etiquette is apparently you should not push your way out from being boxed in for safety reasons – particularly at novice level. So I watched a few Hawthorn Cycling Club women start moving up for the final sprint and dropped back a bit to go behind a few riders and started my chasing. It was an exciting finish and the first time in racing I had something left in the tank to sprint. I finished 0.001 of a second behind the third place rider. I was absolutely thrilled at being in a bunch sprint and coming fourth.

When I read the tip on sprinting after the race it suggested placing yourself at the edges to allow yourself to catch a free ride with the swarm of riders as they move past to move up the bunch. Similar advice was given from the more experienced riders in the Building Champions Squad.

It is clearly different when you are part of a team rather than being an individual in the race. During the A grade race I could see our team working well together. Though you discuss strategies before the race you need to be able to read the race and respond accordingly. At many times during the race I saw both Lauretta and Kate near the front of the bunch and in a break-away group. Kate seemed able to be in the attacking group without having to chase them down. It was also one of the best races I have seen Nicole race. She did a massive turn at one point and was still able to be with the lead bunch at the finish. During the race there were many times Lauretta chased down a group that had broken away or do a turn on the front and though she put in a 100% in the final sprint after a lead out from Kate it seemed  she had used up a lot of energy earlier in the race. 

Final comment –

So next time I will try and not work so hard at the front during the race, sit on the outside edge to catch the fast moving train of riders for the final sprint and continue to enjoy the excitement of racing (while trying to be safe and holding my line!).

I still have a lot to learn; when to attack; when to chase down attacks; when I should bridge the gap or when I should let others bridge the gap and so on. And some people think racing is just about being the fastest.