Cycling

Cycle Club Update 5/2/10

Dear OCTC cycle members, licence holders, non-licence holders and sponsors.
 
In my role as OCTC cycling secretary I am attempting to make contact via email with all the persons that I have been given an email address for.  I have obtained the address list either from Cycling NSW with the licensing information, Club membership database, and those persons that have attended club meetings and wrote down their email address and those of others they thought may wish to be part of the Orange cycle sport community.
 
First news is the cycling arm of the club is up and running again, with new enthusiasm and a desire to promote cycling in general.  We do have a focus on racing, but equally we want to promote social/group cycling.
 
The new committee consists of Mick Cain - President, Ray Selmes - Secretary, Richard Martin - Cycling treasurer and race organiser.  (We are a sub group of the Orange Cycle and Triathlon Club).
 
This year, and for the next two years we have been fortunate enough to gain sponsorship from Costin-Roe Consulting, Darryl Grant Cycles, Printhie Wines, La Colline Restaurant and Smartline Mortgage.  Allan Adams has spent a heap of time designing a new cycling kit, with jersey and knicks displaying the sponsors logos and a new colour scheme.  Please contact Allan Adams at DG Cycles where you can try a sample of the clothing for size and place your order.  Pricing for a set of knicks and jersey is $208 for club members.
 
Richard Martin and Tim Hughes have submitted a heap of dates to Cycling NSW for approval for the 2010 year.  Approvals have been given for road events at Forest Reefs, Tallwood and Panuara.  Unfortunately we have not been successful in finding a suitable venue for criterium races in Orange.  We do not have enough volunteers or officials to be able to run all events on the approved calendar, and as such will only advertise a race meeting when we are confident we have enough officials and volunteers.
 
Following this weekends Tallwood race the next "big" race event is planned for the weekend of Saturday 27 March.  Also starting at Forest Reefs but taking the Panuara loop, starting at 10.00am, 54km distance.  This is a City versus Country meeting, with Orange and Bathurst Clubs hosting the Lidcombe Auburn, Southern Highlands and Sydney Cycle Clubs.  Already we have some visiting riders that want to make a weekend of it and join us on a Sunday social ride as well.
 
Training Rides.  This has been a topic of much debate and it was decided at the last general meeting that the club will attempt to "officialise" and sanction future training rides.  This will mean some changes, firstly all participants will need to be a club member and hold either a domestic general competition licence, or "ride-it" (participation only) licence.  The Wednesday evening social ride has gotten quite large and we feel for safety reasons it needs to be formalised with a greater focus on using this ride to introduce new cyclists to bunch riding skills and road safety techniques.
 
We need volunteers and officials.  A club is only going to be successful if it has members willing to get in and help, as well as compete.  To be able to more self sufficient we need members to become approved traffic controllers, race commissaires and first aid officers.  If you think you can offer your time, both to become accredited and work at race meetings then please contact any of the club committee.  The intention is for the club to organise for group training and assist financially if required.
 
Track or Velodrome racing.  For the round and round racers there is plenty of racing still to be had at Bathurst on Friday nights during daylight saving.  7.00 pm start, registration from 6.45 pm, normally 4 different race formats a night.  These are very well organised events, with typically 60 to 70 riders on any Friday night.  Juniors and Graded seniors, some nights they even have enough woman to have a class for them on their own.  Fixed wheel, no brake track bikes only.  Charlie Gascoyne and Mark Tobin are regulars and if you contact them I am sure they will give you some words of wisdom if you want to try this very close and exciting form of cycle racing.
 
Social Bunch or Coffee Rides.  These rides are not associated with the club, but certainly lots of club members participate in them.  As a reminder here are the rides we are aware of;
 
Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  Brabham sportsground (East side amenities building), meet from 6.00 am leaving at 6.10 am on the dot.  Forest Road, Spring Terrace and past the airport back to the start point by 7.00 am.  About 23km.  High-Vis clothing and lights front and rear are recommended.
 
Saturday morning.  Next to Roberts Bakery Piesley St, meet 7.00 am for 7.05 am start.  Head out Cadia Rd, Orchard Rd, Forest Reefs, Tallwood, Spring Terrace past the airport back to Orange.  62km, moderate to fast pace.  Will split into bunches depending on ability, also can cut short by missing Tallwood.  Most times this group ends at Bills Beans for coffee and chat.  
 
Sunday morning.  Brabham sportsground (West side amenities building), meet from 7.20 am, with some slower riders choosing to leave  before 7.30, and the remainder leave 10 minutes or so later.  This bunch typically splits into three ways, those wanting a challenge can take the Cadia mine hills, the middle group taking Tallwood, and the more casual going from Forest Reefs straight to Millthorpe.  Most stop at the Millthorpe corner store for a coffee and chat.  Ride back to Orange via Spring Hill, or sometimes via Spring Terrace.  distance between 50 and 60km.

Training

• Saturday morning, and
• Sunday morning

Saturday and Sunday morning rides are traditional bunch rides undertaken by road cyclists.  These are not Orange Cycle and Triathlon Club sanctioned events, but rather social rides that any rider, licensed or not, club member or not can participate in as an introduction to group cycling.
 
Saturday morning : 7:00am start  from Roberts Bakery in Peisley Street, Moderate to Fast pace, average between 30 to 36 km/h.  Finish back in Orange with a good coffee and chance for a chat.
 
Sunday 7:30am start from the corner of Forest Road and Huntley road, easy start 25kph and generally will split into two or even three groups depending on abilities and course taken. Most times regroup with a coffee stop at Millthorpe and cruise home together.

Both rides are around 60km with an option of an additional 8km through the Tallwood loop on the Sunday morning. This loop is usually completed by the faster riders while the rest stop at Millthorpe for a coffee. Saturday morning may shorten up once we commence racing on Saturday afternoon.

These rides may change slightly in course depending on the agreement of the cyclists that are riding on the day.  Both rides are on public roads and all riders are expected to ride within NSW road rules and RTA guidelines for Group Cyclists.  Generally you will find several OCTC members participating in these groups and they will advise new starters of group riding etiquette and how to join the OCTC and gain a Cycling NSW licence if new riders wish to take the sport more seriously.