![[Cadel rides the stage 4 ITT]](./cadel.jpg)
It certainly feels like winter in Melbourne at the moment, but there is plenty going on around the club at the moment. Read on below for information on weekly activities, training sessions, social events and reports from recent events. Our feature this month includes essential information on anti-doping and what you need to know as a club rider.
Remember... We are here for you, so if there's anything missing from the newsletter - information you'd like to share or even a set of photos from a recent event, please forward them on to <social@brunswickcyclingclub.com>.
Alf is looking for people interested in obtaining their traffic controllers qualification with the club. This qualification allows you to stop traffic during road races. If you are interested please contact Alf on 9469 4296 to organise a date that suits best.
Teams for the Club Teams Time Trial:
Notes:
Bring a rug and a bean bag to the clubrooms on Saturday the 26th July to watch the penultimate stage of the tour on the big screen! Pizza, drinks, and entertainment will be provided on the night - along with a time trial sweepstakes.
All club members and friends are welcome to attend. Please RSVP Nathan by Monday 21st July at <ndf@undershorts.org> or on 0404 622 272.
Footscray Cycling club are running their very popular criterium series, alternate Sundays over winter at the newly resurfaced (and very fast) 2km Drake Boulevard Course.
Toilet facilities are available, a race release is not required. For more information please check the Footscray CC Web Site or contact Vito on 0408 147 709 or Mark on 0408 508 129.
The Macedon Ranges Cycling Club have extended a special invite to Brunswick members to race at their upcoming club classic races. These races are conducted on a Saturday afternoon so you will need to obtain a race release in order to attend.
Start time is 1pm sharp. Registration and warm up 1hr prior recommended. Racing in 3 divisions: Junior, Intermediate and Seniors subject to numbers.
Entry closes one week prior. Div 2 & 3 $5, Div 1 $10, late entries $15. For more information and entries, please contact Alan 'Sandy' Sandford on 5422 1382, mob: 0408 323 369.
Each Sunday morning at 8:00AM, keen track cyclists gather at DISC in Darebin Rd Thornbury to spend three hours maintaining fitness and honing their track riding knowledge and skills.
At these sessions, all levels are catered for from first timers through to experienced A-Grade riders. All sessions commence with a group warmup - generally around 15km of moderate rolling around with a torrid final 2.5km to get the heart rate up and the legs ready for some serious work.
![[Group warm up]](./disctrain.jpg)
The middle part of the session includes work efforts such as sprints, longer sustained efforts, team pursuits and the like. Between the hard stuff is the time for some theory and practice in tactics like boxing-in, close riding, standing starts, and many other essential track skills.
At the end of each session there is a group warmdown, usually around 10km which is then followed by some stretching. After the session many participants then adjourn to a local eatery for a quick bite before heading home.
Sessions are run by Joe Schibeci Brunswick CC's head coach (pictured below), himself an ex pro-rider and experienced road and track cyclist.
![[Super coach Joseph Schibeci]](./super_joe.jpg)
Most participants bring their own track bike however a number of club bikes are available for those who don't have their own. (If you intend to borrow a club bike, please byo pedals and shoes) For the inexperienced or those who haven't experienced riding on the track before, separate introductory activities are always provided to make sure that safety and rider confidence is always at a high level.
* Efforts will vary depending on the time of year. The last Sunday of each month will be handicaps.
![[r+y+f=t flyer]](./ryf.png)
Join us Thursday nights at the clubrooms for a group training session that includes rollers, yoga and food.
We'd like to be done before 9:30pm so please do not be late. Roller session begins at 7:00pm sharp, RSVP by Wednesday night.
RSVP, questions, comments etc: ndf@undershorts.org or 0404 622 272.
Sat July 19th : Broadford (scratch)[map & profile]
Sat July 26th : Lancefield PS (handicap) [map & profile]
Sat Aug 2nd : Gisborne Sth (trophy) [map & profile]
Sat Aug 9th : Lancefield W'bridge (scratch) [map & profile]
Profiles and maps courtesy of 
Entry is $20, or $10 if you volunteer to marshal for a race. Handicap and trophy races require pre-registration, for more information, entry details, locations and times please check the 2008 Northern Combine fixture (pdf).
![[Tuesday Night Track Action]](./tue_race.jpg)
Keep your speed up over the cold months with weekly track racing, every Tuesday night over winter. Juniors start racing at 6:30pm. Seniors warmup and racing from 7:00pm. The track will be open for training from 5pm until 6:30 if you'd like to roll around before racing.
The roller derby is taking a brief break this month to relax and enjoy the Tour de France, but we will be back and bigger than ever for the last Friday in August...
![[Brent and Rusty in front of Pop]](./brentrolls.jpg)
Join us Friday 29th August at the Brunswick Clubrooms for another dose of silly roller fun. Next round will again feature the pairs relay race, along with some new challenges like the slowest 10m and a roller "madison". So prepare to not take yourself too seriously and join in on a fun night of social roller racing.
The Brunswick CC pre-season bicycle swap meet has been set for Sunday 26th October. Start clearing out your old parts and get your shopping lists ready for the summer season.
Keep your eye on the BCC website for more details as they arrive.
The Landlink team (women over 30 with some employment only need apply) travelled up to the capital on Thursday to race 4 stages over 3 days as part of the Kowaslki Women's and Junior Tour. There were little tackers of 10 on restricted gears, up to U19 gals (on their way to South Africa for the Junior World Champs) and senior women, racing over the roads near Mt Stromlo, Uriarra and Coppins Crossing. And just in case you didn't get to see enough of the same roads, we pretty much just cut laps of those surrounds all weekend. There were supposedly complete road closures though, which supposedly made it safer.
Suzanne Alway, Jenny MacPherson and I were a small but formidable team. JMac has had plenty of racing experience, and even though she's now a member of the real community, with a job contributing to society (more than I can say for myself), she knows how to wield a sprint in anger and has plenty of stamina to control the bunch. Suze is less experienced, but did a fine job defending our lead all weekend. In Stage 1, I won the 16km TT by 2 minutes over 2nd place, which meant that I only had to finish in the front bunch for the remaining 3 stages, and the tour was won.
Stage 2 was brief (39km hilly road stage) but there were young'uns trying to grab QOM (Queen of the Mountain) points and show us the perks of weighing less than 55kg, so my climbing legs were tested and did not disappoint. Stage 3 was a crit around the superfast Stromlo circuit, and JMac ended up 2nd behind the local hero (which was quite uncoincidentally PC of her). We attempted a canny lead out trick, but the youngster isn't junior National champ on the road and track for nothing! Stage 4 was sort of 2 x laps of Stage 2, and Jen and Suze did a great job for me, controlling the bunch and responding to attacks. I finished 3rd in the stage, and so won the tour overall by 1.25, after they had given time bonuses a-plenty to anyone from Canberra.
![[Bridie O'Donnell in the ITT]](./bridie.jpg)
Despite coming out of a heavy training block, I am holding some promising power with 11 weeks til World Championships. All that climbing in North QLD and Goto Island (while on chief cheerleader duty for Mitch racing Ironman Japan 2 weeks ago) has been a good start, and now I'll get a little more domestic racing in before leaving for Italy in late August. A year ago in this tour, I was 2nd in the opening TT, but then lost valuable time over the following 2 days' hilly road stages, and finished 8th overall. Compared to racing tour of Flanders or Drenthe world cup, I had ample room on the road, far better positioning, and greater confidence going into these National series races.
I then repeated my dominant performance at ASADA's anti-doping, a tent constructed by the sheltered workshop some distance over bushland from the start/finish area. Feeling no fear of the nightmarish Suisse episode (remember - dry as a chip?), I had ample fluid and even passed plenty of ml unnoticed onto the AIS trackkies. Hey, you try peeing in front of a stranger in a tilted portaloo in 4 deg weather! Then mock me.
A yellow leader's jersey was passed my way, millions of dollars of prizemoney was divided by the team, and we then packed up our bikes, wheels, Mt Stromlo observatory post cards, and we headed home. A big thanks to Landlink, ACTAS, CycleEdge, Oakley, Shotz, CBD Cycles, Zipp and AIS. I raced for the first time on my new Teschner road frame, and it held up a treat.
Next on the calendar are plenty of local racing, with no excess baggage or airport runs required. On the 19th July is the Melbourne to Ballarat, followed the next day by the Victorian Club Teams Time Trial (where I am controversially trying to get start in the men's team for Brunswick Cycling Club - I'll compare notes with golfer Michelle Wie on how to handle the heckling on that one), and then the Victorian Championships in Ballarat in August.
Ciao! Bridie
On Sunday 29 June during the warmup, newly joined member Tony Currulli collided with a rider who had slipped on the banked turn. Tony landed heavily on his shoulder and chest. Initially his injuries appeared to be quite minor, however after a few minutes it became evident that the injuries were more serious and he was transported to hospital by ambulance.
It turned out that Tony had fractured his shoulder, collarbone, cracked eight ribs and had a small tear to his lung. Tony spent the week in hospital but has now returned home and is even back at work. I guess that proves that you can't keep a good man down! We wish Tony a quick recovery and hope to see him back at the track soon.
The new Eastlink road was opened to cycling and pedestrian traffic on Sunday 15 June. This included a 65km road race. Those who participated were surprised by the inclusion of bollards placed strategically on the roadway to create an interesting obstacle course for the thousands of cyclists riding on the new surface. After much investigation we have found the photograph that may have inspired the organisers when planning the course layout.
![[Bollards on bike path]](./bollard_path.jpg)
Roller Derby #6 on Friday 27 June included the introduction of the Chooka Challenge Trophy. This very attractive perpetual trophy (see picture) will include the names of all those who can complete a "mile around the dial" i.e. four laps in a time equal to; or faster than; David "Chooka" Ceccini's long standing record of 1 minute and 2 seconds which stood for an amazing 12 years back in the 70's and 80's.
![[Chook and the Chooka trophy]](./chooka.jpg)
Two (foolish?) riders rose to the Chooka Challenge, Phil "Philthy" Bushell and Andy "TC" White. Neither rider put the time in any danger. Philthy made a valiant attempt but could only manage pathetic 1' 46". TC's time was a far more respectable 1' 26". To put these in perspective, Chook would have lapped TC once and Philthy twice! Chook must've been a machine in those days!
Come down and have a go at the next Roller Derby.
Under the watchful eyes of Brunswick's past champions, twelve riders took up the challenge this month to have some serious fun at the clubrooms. Qualifying was done over a flying 400m followed by two rounds of competition.
In round one, riders rode the 'traditional' handicapped one lap standing race. First-timers Jamie, Simon Scherer and Ann McLeod all took out their respective races by narrow margins.
In round two riders were paired up for a relay race in which each team had to complete three laps, no less than one each. These races were not handicapped, but pairs were chosen based on qualifying times - the end result was chaotic and thoroughly entertaining. Highlights included a thrilling chase by Damian Hodges who managed to close a 100m gap and win as Simon Scherer rode onto the platform in the last few metres. Watch out for this race in future months!
This month also saw the introduction of the "Chooka Challenge". The challenge: Ride 4 laps in under 1:02. Phil Bushell gave it a sterling crack and had the whole room on edge as he suffered through his 4 laps of pain. Andy White followed with 4 laps of his own personal hell, declaring afterward that Chooka really was the champion!
In the finals Jeff Romans pulled away from Simon Scherer to take 5th, Brent McKenzie took advantage of Phil's 4 lap effort to push him into 4th and Russell Collins chased down Damian Hodges and left him for dead to put his name on the winner's trophy for the second time in a row.
Special thanks to our major sponsors Knog and Solo Race-Bred Cyclewear for providing prizes. Thanks also go out to Peter's Meats (401 Sydney Rd. Brunswick) for supplying sausages for the evening, and to our volunteers Suze, Chris, Caroline, Phil, Carrie and Sheryl for helping to make the evening happen.
11/06/2008 - It was a fast ride down to Mordiallic with a tailwind pushing us along. Once we turned around, we discovered the assistance Mother Nature was providing and Nathan suggested the group maintain the new social turns. This shared the load and enabled the group to hold onto Claire who was lagging behind. "Wednesday night rides are definitely a good chance to get more km's in for general fitness for track riding, and I need it!!" said Claire.
18/06/2008 - It was a fairly windy night this Wednesday with a tail wind out and head wind back, fewer people took to the roads with the Brunswick bunch but never the less the pace remained that of a solid tour stage ride.
Great results by two of Brunswick's masters riders in the recent Northern Combine 3 Day Tour - Peter O'Callaghan was victorious in the B Grade competition while Andrew Fillery took out the top podium position in C Grade.
Peter managed two stage wins (stages 1 and 3) and finished first in the General Classification 23 seconds ahead of his nearest rival. There was less than one minute separating the first five riders. Well done Peter.
The C grade competition was red hot with the lead swapping after each stage. Andrew Fillery managed one outright stage win in stage 3 but edged out the rest of the competition and won the overall competition by a mere five seconds. Less than one minute separated the first seven riders! Andrew made the most of the available bonus time points by winning one intermediate sprint worth five seconds and the stage win worth 15 seconds ensuring the bonuses counted where they were most needed.
It is mentioned in almost every bit of coverage of Le Tour, it has transformed the way athletes train, compete and recover, it has caused massive scandals at the highest levels of our sport, and yet it's a topic that is rarely discussed at the club level: Doping.
While it is extremely rare for club-level athletes to be using banned performance-enhancing practices, it is important for every athlete regardless of the level at which they compete to be aware that as members of Cycling Australia, we are bound to comply with an anti-doping policy. So what is this policy and what are your obligations to it?
Cycling Australia's current Anti-Doping policy is available on their website as a PDF document. It describes what is required by athletes, what constitutes a breach of the policy, and what the consequences are for such a breach. For club riders, it is worth noting that:
Cycling Australia and the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) use the list of prohibited substances and methods as published by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). An updated list is released in October each year, and goes into effect from the 1st January.
The current list is available on the WADA web site.
For information on how to interpret the list, please refer to the factsheets available on the ASADA web site:
All riders competing at any level are bound by the anti-doping rules of Cycling Australia. Even if you do not compete at an open level, it is important to make sure you do not inadvertantly break the rules. To make sure that you do not find yourself disqualified, fined and or banned, it is important to be aware that there is a published list of banned substances and that you are required to avoid them.
Remember: Ignorance is never a valid defense. It's up to you to know what your rights and responsibilities are, and to make sure that you are not accidentally doing the wrong thing.
Sports Medicine Australia recently launched an information and education website called Clean Edge. This website contains information, resources and pointers to other sources. Have a read of the information available there and if you have any concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to ask someone in the club.
Have you got a feature story, report, anecdote, photo set or event you'd like to contribute to the newsletter? If so, please send an email to:
<social@brunswickcyclingclub.com>
To subscribe to the Brunswick Cycling Club monthly newsletter, send an email to <social@brunswickcyclingclub.com>. Please include your name, preferred email address and ACF license number (if applicable), and we'll put you on the list.
"He's not racing now - More like digging post holes."
