Dulwich Hill Bicycle Club

Hi All (mainly women),

In an effort to increase women's participation in racing events, some local clubs, spearheaded by SU Velo, have put together a series of women’s only road races at various locations around Sydney. It is a points series and you will be awarded points for simply turning up. So the more races you attend, the more points you will accrue.

They are hoping to attract at least 40 women: 20 to each grade.

The details are below:
4 race series
24 March, SUVelo, Heffron (8.30am)
6 April, CNSW Sydney Road Titles (register via CNSW)
14 April, MWCC, West Head
27 April, LACC, Homebush

- Points for attendance plus for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, bonus points for attending all 4 events
- Both A & B grade to be run at the same time
- MWCC to be neutral for the Akuna Bay climb and then the race to be 'on' when they reach West Head
- Sydney Road Titles points for attending and points according to place in your category (elite, MAS1,2,3 etc)
- Jersey for series leader for both A & B
- Clubs hosting to put up $500 for prize money for their races

I already know I can only make 2 of the 4 but hopefully this will increase interest in women's racing and more series will pop up again in the future.

Sydney road race my favourite...no hills!

I've done the womans Akuna bay race before and that was quite fun also. Gear up girls.

Someone remind me about this when it gets closer to the date...

Someone remind me about this when it gets closer to the date...

I'm going to remind you now. Then it's someone else's turn to remind you next week. Then the week after.

Oh fine. I'll put it in my diary.

Hi All,

Looks like this road series is gaining momentum. Thanks to my sister agreeing to babysit I can now make the first race on the 17th March. Would be great to get a DHBC women's contingent out there and I know of a few people who will be going.

For those who have never raced before don't worry, it's my first road race too! Just make sure you have a gold CA licence. Would be great to see some newbies out there. Who's in?

1. Jothebuilder

1. Jothebuilder
2. Lizanne (pending if I have a bike)

1. Jothebuilder
2. Lizanne (pending if I have a bike)
3. Eleri

1. Jothebuilder
2. Lizanne (pending if I have a bike)
3. Eleri

Don't forget me Eleri.

We should try and talk Maddy into racing. I reckon she could well become our best Elite female rider. Lots of raw talent and she hasn't even been training much. Ex rower, got to be good. I might try and get her to come along to more of our rides as she hasn't got many people to train with.

I went for a ride with her yesterday morning and she is definitely keen on racing. I'm friends with her on the ol' FB so will get her on the forum...

1. Jothebuilder
2. Lizanne (pending if I have a bike)
3. Eleri
4. Trouty
5. Maddy (lift with Skinner)

Team photo?

Now to work out who the lead out Duck is?



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Maddy is the big duck, then the rest of the ladies are the small ducks
the average size for a DHBC Lady excluding Maddy is around 5'1 (and yes i'm totally taller than Eleri!)

and oh ya, still pending me having a bike to ride, i can now do 3 of the 4 races!

Can't you use your older roadie?

it needs a new headset (the one on it is pitted making it very twitchy) and front wheel (i'm riding one with a dent in the rim) Then iit needs some TLC, a new chain, brake pads, and cables. it's kinda in rough shape, i need to give it some love and i don't have the money to it.

Although if i can find a free wheel i may ride the fixie as a SS

For those who are keen on racing, but not sure where to start, Donna is running a course on Racing Skills this Saturday 9th March out at Dunc Gray Velodrome.

The details are here:
http://domestique.com.au/events/womens- ... it-circuit

It is $49 and includes a full days coaching and lunch. I am considering doing it.

I also noticed Avril Swan is going. I met Avril when I did my coaching course. She appears to be a participant here but she used to ride professionally in Europe for Ireland. She regularly podiums the A grade women's events here in Sydney. Even has her name on her bike. Would be well worth it with her knowledge and experience (not to mention Donna's)!

Anyone interested?

I would have gone but stu and I are away in the mountains sat morning to Sunday. Every little bit helps and it should be fun. We expect a what you learnt report.

Thanks for posting information on this road series Jo. I'm going to give it a go! (gulp!)
I now have a printout of an email that says I have a Masters 1 licence, so I guess I'm all set.

1. Jothebuilder
2. Lizanne (pending if I have a bike)
3. Eleri
4. Trouty
5. Maddy (lift with Skinner)
6. Pia

Go Pia! Awesome.

Go Pia! Awesome.

Awesome from me too Pia and Maddy......great to have you racing.

Hi All,

Given the first race is at Heffron, shall we all ride out there together? Leave MRC at 7am?

Suggestions and comments welcome.

SUVelo confirm that the race is on Sunday the 24th NOT this Sun 17th.

@DulwichHillBC @SUVelo_Racing Confirmed 24 March at Heffron Park both women's grades (A & B) will be held at 8:30am. Sign on from 7:30am

I so wanted it NOT to be on my ride leader roster weekend. Oh well ride leaders, expect a begging email from me ...

Well... That's disappointing. Does anyone know when it changed? I can't make the 24th as I'm at a triathlon. What a bummer...

Just for the record:

1. Jothebuilder
2. Lizanne (pending if I have a bike)
3. Eleri
4. Trouty
5. Maddy (lift with Skinner)
6. Pia
7. Camilla

Just for the record:

1. Jothebuilder
2. Lizanne (pending if I have a bike)
3. Eleri
4. Trouty
5. Maddy
6. Pia
7. Camilla

Not quite sorry...

2. Lizanne (pending if I have a bike)
3. Eleri
4. Trouty
5. Maddy
6. Pia
7. Camilla

I'm riding over to Heffron btw - easy way to warm up.

Well... That's disappointing. Does anyone know when it changed? I can't make the 24th as I'm at a triathlon. What a bummer...

and so it begins ... Triathlon takes precedence over real bicycle racing ...

Not quite sorry...

2. Lizanne (pending if I have a bike)
3. Eleri
4. Trouty
5. Pia
6. Camilla

I'm probably out too, would have been fine had suvelo not changed the date, I will be out at SIRC watching the world cup rowing on sunday. Will probably ride randwick botany on the 23rd though. Sorry girls, I have friends racing for aus, so that takes priority i'm afraid, Goodluck!

Never mind Maddy, gives you A more time to train harder so we can lead you out for a win.

Catch you soon

Sorry to hear there will be a few less of us at Heffron, it's a shame they changed the date!

I'd love to ride over with you Eleri. Let me know what time you want to set off.

Pia

Anyone going to Heffron here are the times. I'll ride over to the start, leaving MRC at 7:15am for those who want to ride over with me.

Open Club Racing Mar 24 Heffron
Men C/D 7.30am
Men A/B 8.30am
Women's A/B 8.30am
Sign on 7am, $10 entry with gold license

Five DHBC women headed over for this - Trouty, Camilla, Pia, Denise and me. For Pia and Denise it was their first race but they were keen to be part of the Women's Series and, well you have to start somewhere so why not Heffron Park?

Trouty and I took our chances in A Grade - it was fast! My, it was fast. Jo crashed about one third of the way into the race on that stupid left hander with a sort of manhole thing in it on the inside. Unlucky to come down there, but a challenging corner at the best of times, made worse at the moment by some temporary fencing on the inside. Fortunately she has surface wounds only. A 2nd crash a couple of laps after the Prime took a few more down with more serious injuries. I stopped to direct traffic around that accident, fortunately far enough behind it to avoid the carnage. A neutral lap out and it was back on. I stayed with the bunch to the finish line and finished about 7th or 8th I think. Pleased with that as I hadn't ridden A grade before and Jo and I were speculating on when we would get dropped. Strava says I averaged 38kph. That's fairly respectable!

Pia, Camilla and Denise rode B Grade. Pia placed third in a sprint for the line with 4th. Top effort for her first race. It was great to have a number of women out there. Lizanne was there with the juniors and DHBC's little Adam was out there racing too. Wonderful to see a Junior's race. Good on SU Velo for organising that too.

Women who want to enter the next race in the series, ENTRIES CLOSE TODAY - enter via Cycling NSW online entry system.

Rest of the races are:

6 April Sydney Road Titles (yes, the ones where entries close TODAY)
14 April MWCC West Head Road Race
4 May LACC SOP Crit

I did remember whyi don't race Heffron, I have always hated that track. i think they realised after today, there were just too many riders on the track, especially when a mens grade comes past you at a corner. it's narrow and the corners are technical, and in that grade no one takes the corners slowly. Still I was comfortable with the pace till the crash.

Pity I didn't see the b grade finish, I know a couple of girls in b grade that ride really well so Pia should be so proud of her 3rd place. Fantastic job. Not sure where Denise and Camilla finished but it was great to see a sea of red jerseys......and a little red jersey with Adam who also raced.

Well done DHBC ladies! I'm a bit battered and bruised but so glad mini Pini is not I injured too badly. Possibly new bar tape that's it at this stage. As for me....the days of me being a leg model are over!

~snip~ I'm a bit battered and bruised but so glad mini Pini is not injured too badly. Possibly new bar tape that's it at this stage. As for me....the days of me being a leg model are over!

Jo is only saying that as she hasn't even dared look at her elbow. And you should see the leather bar tape .. it's totally shredded. IMO Heffron is a dangerous circuit due to the horrible tight corners, made worse by a "cheese grater" surface. As there's only open's there I'd never race anyway, but its a seriously flawed track and maybe organisers need to look at how many grades they have out there at once. Congrats to Pia on her 3rd.

Jo is only saying that as she hasn't even dared look at her elbow. And you should see the leather bar tape .. it's totally shredded. IMO Heffron is a dangerous circuit due to the horrible tight corners, made worse by a "cheese grater" surface. As there's only open's there I'd never race anyway, but its a seriously flawed track and maybe organisers need to look at how many grades they have out there at once. Congrats to Pia on her 3rd.

It's getting totally ripped up and re-surfaced Stu, I talked to some Randwick people today. They have already built a nice little kid track there.

They're also building a new clubhouse. Both RBCC and BRATS get some space in there...

Well lets hope they remove those ridiculous tight corners from the layout, widen it somewhat and make it more flowing ... Does anyone know if its being redesigned?
To answer my own question:
"The redesign of the cycle track includes an extension of the cycle criterium track with retention of the technical turns. New competition standard surface treatment and landscaping to provide physical barriers to pedestrian paths and playing fields is proposed."

http://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/library/ ... 20Plan.pdf

Peleton Cafe claims it wil be resurfaced in CONCRETE http://pelotoncafe.com.au/heffron-park- ... g-roundup/

I disagree that heffron has 'dangerously' tight corners or that it should be redesigned. Criteriums are characteristed by their sharp corners and tight, close racing if you remove that you might as well just have a road race. Part of the skill of winning is the ability to corner correctly.

I can think of many other course which i've raced which have similar corners, Dunc Grey crit course for an example. Competitors know the course and the dangers of racing it before they enter, no one is forcing anyone to race. Whilst i agree the surface could be better and that would result in a safer course, changing the course layout is unneccessary.

Congrads everyone for racing anyway

I did say In MY Opinion (and I saw Joanne's elbow) ... obviously not everybody thinks that way or no one would race there. Each to their own I guess. Apologies for hijacking the thread. Now back to the racing.

Is concrete the best surface? Requires expansion joints which ultimately move and create lips in the surface... I would have voted asphalt.

I agree with Alex - the technical aspects make it a great race track. It's a bugger when anyone comes down, but that even happens on open circuits like EC. The rough surface also makes it unique - bumpy does not necessarily mean accident.

I have a love hate relationship with Heffron. I've never done that well there but it keeps drawing me back. It would be good to remove some of the manhole covers and other 'features' but I personally like the layout.

I have a love hate relationship with Heffron. I've never done that well there but it keeps drawing me back. It would be good to remove some of the manhole covers and other 'features' but I personally like the layout.

Yeah it was a manhole that the girl in front swerved which caused me to swerve and clip another wheel, then a girl on the outside hit me having no where to go. It's racing not much you can do. I personally don't like Heffron which is why I hardly ever race there, but thats my choice, but lots of other people love it. I think they realised they had too many riders on the track at once...passing each other. They are addressing that.

There is a long discussion on Facebook about the number of riders on the track under 'Sydney Women's Cycling'. Worth a read. A number of different opinions on the topic and the A and B grade men's riders who were on there at the same time...

There's a race report here on MWCC. Looks like one hell of a fast race!
http://www.manlywarringahcc.org.au/news ... -1-report/

Hi All,

Cycling NSW has just uploaded the start times for this Saturday's Sydney Road Titles (http://www.nsw.cycling.org.au/cy_nsw/ra ... /13070.htm). They are the same as last year's I believe.

I'll be on the 8:18am train from Central, and will be happy for company.

Pia

Current point score is up:
http://domestique.com.au/wp-content/upl ... points.pdf

Well done to Pia who is currently coming 3rd in B grade with one race to come this weekend at Lansdowne. Details as follows:

SATURDAY 4TH MAY
VENUE: LANSDOWNE PARK, Henry Lawson Drive, Villawood NSW
SIGN ON: 7:30am
START: 8am

Women’s A Grade 55mins + 1 lap and prime
Women’s B Grade 45 mins + 1 lap and prime

I am yet to decide whether I am going but if I am I will have room for 1 other rider. I think I will.

Yay Pia! That's fantastic!

4th of May, hey. I can actually make it then. Oh well, may as well continue the humiliation!

BTW Pia, I've been meaning to say that you can borrow my tri bars if you like.

Anyone know how the points work by the way. You obviously get one for showing up, but beyond that?