Buller Cycling

The usual bunch of diehards turned out this week to tackle the best course of the cycle clubs race calendar – the Ohikanui. In this race we race out through the gorge, turn just after the Ohikanui Bridge and head back to town. This is a longer race, giving plenty of time for strategy to unfold, and of course the Adventure Tours and Waimea Hills to tackle on the way home for extra punishment. This season we only raced this course the one time and it was a mass start race with hidden handicaps.

They were especially hidden handicaps too, as Rodge has taken over from the AWOL Paul Comesky as handicapper, and he was typically vague again this week. However he did remember to play his Wild Card for double points this week!

Tuesday morning was a bleak autumn like affair, however the day progressed nicely to give us a sunny evening albeit with a stiff breeze to contend with. The swirling wind through the gorge gave us a good mixture of side, head and glorious tail winds. The bunch sauntered out to the break point just past Waimea and the race cruised for a couple of Km’s as Glen lead us out into the gorge. After a little cat and mouse Rodge and Rhys Tait decided to use the Adventure Tours hill to try and open the field up. Pete Maich and John Knudsen kept the bunch in touch all the way to the scout lodge when the frontrunners started to open up a small gap.

Tjalve made a move and bridged the gap keeping the chasers in touch. By the end of the scout lodge straight Rodge and Taity were towing us along at 60km/hr plus and the strain was starting to show. Tjalve slipped back a little and AJ jumped into the gap to chase the front two. After a short solo effort he latched onto Rodge’s wheel for a km or so, but the gap to the chasers behind was widening and the pace was just a bit too hot. He decided to drop off the back and wait for the chasing bunch to catch up and use the mass of riders to formulate an attack. Unfortunately the mass of riders turned out to be Tjalve and Knuddy as Pete and Mike Casey had drifted off by this stage as well after the fast breakaway. The 3 quickly got organised and started chasing hard but Rodge and Taity were equally determined to try and open up a bigger gap.

Meanwhile Mike and Pete were themselves chasing hard, but with only two riders their work was cut out. Mr and Mrs Irving were clicking along at a steady pace not too far behind, but didn’t seem to be suffering from the same level of exertion as some of the other riders. Leanne Power and DJ Gugich were riding the short course option and were at their turn point and starting to head for home by this stage. Kerrie gave us a bonus extra kilometre of racing for free by putting the turn markers ½ way to Reefton after the Ohikanui Bridge, but once they were discovered the race for home was on. AJ, Knuddy and Tjalve continued to work well together and kept a good pace up, chasing hard and with short, quick turns at the front they were able to close up on Rodge and Taity coming into the head wind along the Scout Lodge straight. However the two hills that followed let Rodge and Taity get a 2-minute gap, which they held to the finish.

Tjalve worked well all the way home but got hung out to dry about 1km from the finish line and just didn’t have enough gas after Saturdays Hill climb to hang on for the sprint. AJ tried to go about 400 meters from the line for a long sprint but Knuddy kept on his wheel and then made his move around the outside with about 30 metres to go. Taity was first across the line, holding out Rodge, who had played his Wild Card. His double-points haul will leap frog him up the club points championship table to within a few points of top of the table Mike Casey.  Knuddy was third across the line ahead of AJ and Tjalve. With their two minute gap Taity and Rodge were 1st and 2nd on handicap respectively, with AJ sneaking 3rd.

With 1 week to go of points scoring races it’s now all on! The table is starting to get congested at the top and next weeks decider race is a handicap start to Costello’s Hill and back, which will be an interesting and hotly contested event. There are enough points on offer for at least 3 riders to have a good chance of taking this years title.

The following week will be our final event for the season which will be a track night, with a couple of different races and then the prize giving and some orange juices will be held on the same night at The Westport Motor Hotel. Meeting time for Tuesday 9/03, Handicap start to Costello’s Hill is 5.45pm at the Fishing School Buildings, Brougham Street for a 6pm briefing at the start line. Meeting Time for Tuesday 16/03, Track Night is 5.45pm at Victoria Square (opposite Fishing School buildings) for a 6pm start also.

A small bunch of hardy souls arrived at Waimangaroa prepared to brave the searing heat on Saturday, ready to race from the flat at Waimanagaroa up the hill to the Denniston museum. The 10km course is probably the toughest local race on the calendar and riders need to be firing on all cylinders to turn in a good time.

The Hanna Family Trophy was up for grabs along with some cash prizes, so the stakes were high. Last years winner Robert Schuddeboom from Greymouth was fairly salivating at the thought of tackling the hill once again. He had raced through his mail run (he is a Postie in Greymouth) in order to get to the start on time, so was well warmed up. He has probably spent the last few days re-delivering all the mail to the correct households! He proved that he was ready to go by setting a course record of 29m28s, which will be tough to beat. He started last and managed to pass the entire field in the process.

The riders set off at 1 minute intervals and settled into their work, some trying to make up time on the lower slopes and others keeping a bit in reserve for the airstrip section, which is always challenging with a hairpin climb and a few changes of gradient to overcome. Greg Jeffs from Greymouth set the second fastest time of 30m43s. Brian Adams was the first Westport rider with a time of 36m04s for 3rd place overall. Tjalve Mollison-Sjoberg took out the Juniors title in his first attempt at the hill with a very handy 36m23s.

Meanwhile it appeared that Steve Rogers, John Knudsen and AJ Power were racing for the coveted “Red Lantern” (traditionally the last rider in “The Tour” wins a red jersey or the “Red Lantern”). Knuddy kept his track record alive by once again taking it out just behind AJ with Rodge streaking ahead with a 38m39s time. While the conditions at Denniston were unusually pleasant it wasn’t long before everyone headed back down the hill for the prize giving and a gentle ride home to clear out the lactic acid in the legs.

The local riders will have to put their best foot forward to get the Hanna Family Trophy back to its rightful home in Westport. All our future hopes rest on the shoulders of Tjalve who has ridden exceptionally well this season and seems to live for the opportunity to ride hills. No pressure, young man!

 

Well what can we say, another Tuesday, another race, another fine evening, but alas, where were all the cyclists, only eleven turned up for what was as near perfect a night for riding as you can get.

Martin Abel was spotted riding out of town down Brougham Street trying to avoid the eye of those waiting at the fishing school – you were spotted and your non-attendance duly noted. Rodge was holidaying in Nelson.

Tonights race was to be a handicapped start out to the Tauranga Bay nursery and return but with our part time handicapper away – democracy took over and it was agreed that a mass start ride would be far more social especially given the glorious evening. So we rolled out in a group towards Bulls Road where the neutral zone ends and the serious racing would start – well some of us would have been happy for the leisurely pace to continue the whole way.

AJ was giving he new bike, which he won as a spot prize in the recent source to sea, it’s first race outing – but his front tyre had other ideas and punctured at Carters on the way out. We suspected that just wanted to get in the car and eat jellybeans.

Up past the cement works and our lovely ride spoilt once again by some cretin who decided that everyone needed some exercise, to some that means being only able to talk in small sentences, but to others watching their heart rate edge closer to 200 whilst halucinating about jellybeans.

Several had already decided that going to Tauranga Bay was a pointless exercise as you still needed to ride back and so Jenny was turning at Carters, Leanne said she’d go to the Star Tavern (for a drink?) and Lynda somewhere past the quarry and back.

Once out past Wilsons Lead road saw Rhys, Pete and Hayden holding a 30 metre gap to Mike and Knuddy with Glen opting to ride with Lynn a little further back. Down to the turn around and back up the hill saw Hayden dropped while Pete and Rhys fought it out in front. Pete let Rhys take line honours again, a couple of minutes back to Hayden and another 30 sec to Knuddy and Mike. Leanne cruised in looking refreshed after her Star Tavern pit stop and Glen and Lynn rolled along followed closely by Lynn. Final placings on Handicap were Pete Maich 1st, Mike Casey 2nd and Rhys Tait 3rd.

As usual all enjoyed the ride with the superb weather only adding to a great night. Next week we head up the Buller Gorge to the Ohikanui bridge and return. Saturday sees the annual Denniston hill climb starting at 1pm from the Waimangaroa shop. Only a couple more rides left until the winter recess, so come on have a go.

Big thanks once again to Kerrie for the signage, Leanne for time keeping and Claire for moral support from the tail car.

We were dished out near-perfect cycling conditions for our last time trial of the season. This ride will sort out the winner of this years Most Improved and Fastest Time cups in the Holcim Time Trial Series. Thanks to Holcim for their support for this series and especially to the tanker drivers who always give us plenty of room on race nights. This week was no different and we are appreciative of the courtesy.

Steve Rogers secret training (or married life?) is paying dividends with fastest time of the night again with 23m52, taking about 30 sec off his last time trial; Taity was 2nd fastest with 25m01; Pete Maich is starting to crank up his season with a 26m04; Tjalve rode a personal best of 26.09; Brian Adams powered into it with a 26m10; John Knudson 26m12; Hayden Leach 26m32; AJ Power didn’t power into it with a 27m17; Mike Casey 27m46; Glen Irving 28m20; Nina Stupples 32m09; Lynda Osborne 35m10 (about 50 sec off her last time trial!); Claire Westoby 35m58; Leanne Power 36m41 (knocking 60 seconds off her last time trial as well!) The plus and minus points will be added together and when the sun and moon are in alignment we should have the answer as to who was the most improved time trialler for the season. There has been some dramatic reduction in time trial times over the course of the season so the competition for the cup will be tight.

Thanks to Mrs Irving for signs and baby-sitting duties this week. Next week we are back to handicap racing and we head out to the Cape Nursery at Tauranga Bay and back. The following 2 weeks will be races to Ohikanui Bridge and Costello’s Hill, which will draw the season to a close. Meeting time is 5.45pm at the Fishing School buildings, Brougham Street, ready for a 6pm start, all welcome next Tuesday night.

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