Newsletter No 62 May 2003
WELLINGTON VETERANS’ CYCLING CLUB (INC)
www.wvcc.org.nz
T
he WVCC caters for the competitive and keen recreational rider 35 years of
age and over. We promote Time Trials, Road Races, Recreational Rides and
Endurance Rides for men and women on a regular basis throughout the year.
All riders welcome
For further information please ring
President
Secretary
Treasurer
Club Captain*
Race Manager
Wally Woods
237 7655
Gary Jones
904 3199
Phil Valentine
385 6440
Brendan Traynor
478 5801
Doug Barrett
04 904 0351
*For membership enquiries call Brendan Traynor
on 478 5801 or 021 421 263
To contact me with anything for the
Start line
see below
Gary Gibson
24/55 Hamilton Road
Hataitai
Wellington
Tel: 386 1262 Wk: 568 6071
Email: [email protected]
Photos from the March 2003 combined National Vets & Masters 40km TT at Masterton: Left - Ray Marshall (Silver) Andrew Townsend
(Gold), Wally Woods (Presenter), Barb Carson (Gold), Shona Smith (Silver) See more photos, page4 ...
The Oyster Cycle
I
have only been on one ride since
I joined the club. That was when
I saw you all gather at Makara
Beach and you kindly accepted me
as a casual entry for the ride to the
top of the hill.
The big plus of club membership
(apart from the badge), is your
monthly newsletter Startline and it’s
easier to sit in my armchair than on
my saddle and read instead of ride.
After enjoying Newsletter No61
and Jon Bridges’ racey account of
Singapore monkeys and crappy pedals (or was it crappy monkies); I
wondered if I had a story to tell.
Surely 60 years cycling in at least
10 countries must be good for a yarn
or two (should that be yawn).
It was page 6 of the same issue of
Startline with the useful advice on
Peloton riding that made me think
instead of the Isle D’Oleron; one of
the oyster centres of France.
I had to learn two things in
France: safe overtaking on motorways at 150km/hr in a Peugeot 201
and moving out of the last lane in
time to let the Mercs and BMW’s go
by at 180 km/hr. The small car was
good enough for me and the bike
would just fit in the back without
taking the front wheel off; the sec-
ond thing to learrn was peloton riding.
One meaning of the world
Peloton is “a ball of wool” and I soon
found out that you need to stay
tightly wrapped up in the bunch, or
fall right behind when the wind hits
you. It was hypnotising to keep my
eye on the tyre in front and keep as
close as possible while being alert
for the least change in rythm.
As the weakest in the bunch, I
was indulged and only rarely did I
take a few minutes out front before
tiring and falling back. On long hills
the group would wait at the top and
Jackie, our leader, would even ride
back down to encourage the stragglers.
The Island of Oleron, North of
Bordeaux, is flat, but subject to
strong sea breezes. On the first days
ride of 80km I saw no scenery, only
the wheel in front. I was desperate
to hang on to it because if it got away,
I was in trouble. Falling behind the
group, I had to pump the pedals until my lungs screamed for mercy. In
the wind and on my own, it was as
hard as leading the group and desperate acceleration was called for
before the group drew futher away.
Back at camp, Jackie saw my hag-
gard look of exhaustion and said
“Easier day tomorrow and we’ve
laid on a nice lunch. The ladies will
come and join us.”
He lied. The next days pace was
faster still and nothing has ever
seemed so sweet as the ramshackle
oyster shed that came up precisely
at midday. For the French that is the
sacred hour for a pastis or two before trotters at table and snails in the
trough. Laid out on trestle-tables on
paper cloths, the glasses gleamed
and “amuse geules” beckoned. slipping into something mor comfortable that my wife had brought, I
gulped down the first glass of cloudy
yellow pastis and felt the alcohol
mainline to my brain.
What a meal in such humble surroundings! No amount of Michelin
stars or prtentious decor could better the large platters of “fruit of the
sea’ including those perfect oysters
harvested an hour befre and right
outside the hut.
The chilled white Picpoul wine
was just right with the seafood, the
cold ham and sausage for the next
course came with a good red. As I
sat in a warm glow and waited for
desert I looked around at my good
cycling mates, and felt a debt of
Recent prizewinners from Club prizegiving night
Road Race Champions
Grade GOLD
SILVER
A
R Marshall
R Kilvington
B
S Avery
T Palmer
C
P James
G Jones
D
L Farrington A West
E
R Dowding
R Jackson
F
J Heap ***
A Rhodes
G
F Wotton
G Baxter
WC Shona Smith
WB Wendy Lewin
2
BRONZE
M Williamson
T Johnson
P Lewin
D Barrett
J Holloway
40km Time Trial
Grade GOLD
SILVER
BRONZE
A
R Marshall
I Sims
B
T Palmer
N Cunningham
C
P Lewin
D Mabey
T Smart
D
D Bell
G Keenam
A West
E
R Dowding
B Ryan
B Traynor
F
T Gavin
D Holey
G
F Wotton
G Baxter
H
B Johnson
W
B Wendy Lewin
W
D Dian Bell
gratitude to this ‘band of brothers’
who had supported me in adversity.
Rising unsteadily to my feet, I
gave them my best impromtu rendition of the song “Dark Eyes” in bad
Russian. It seemed to me that the
chorus with clapping and cossack
kicks brought the house down. As I
stumbled to my seat with slaps on
the back and a few bravos, the sweets
arrived.
Acasia flower fritters with sticky
white muscat to drink. Delicious specialities, but plate after plate; with a
“can’t you eat just one more, we
need to finish them?”
Then came the final blow. Enter
our host to loud acclaim and praise
for his oysters. To show his appreciation of the business, a special bottle of aged Armnagnac.
Just a taste for me I whimpered,
thinking of the overloaded stomach
and liver.
My glass was filled and I couldn’t
bear to waste the divine, golden
fluid. My GP in NZ says I drink too
much; my French GP says I should
drink more. I was in France; down
the hatch.
As my vision blurred and I considered sliding under the table for a
brief snore off, reality hit me like a
cold sponge: “Pay up then on yer
bike.” Twelve kilometres back to
camp lay ahead and across the 5km
viaduct that links the island with the
Atlantic coast. All the crack young
guys made the main peloton.
All that remained was four leftovers consisting of two younger
guys, an 80-year-old and me. As we
hit the bridge, I knew my place. The
red lamp at the back of our small
peloton with my front wheel almost
touching the bike of our 80-year-old.
The road was narrow, the traffic
heavy, and the wind stiff. I knew that
this was a test I must pass. In the land
of the frogs, I represented the country of the All Blacks, and I must not
let down the side.
I kept my place to the end of the
viaduct and then that last fritter and
glass of brandy went to my legs. I
had nothing left. I gave up and let
the wind hit me and struggled into
camp 5 minutes off the pace. With
Gallic charm they had all waited on
the finish line.
“Well done,” they chortled.
“Not me,” I said pointing to the
80-year-old; “congratulate that man.:
Now my goal is to keep going and
do as well at that age.
- Arnold Blades
WVCC Annual General
Meeting
Once again, the AGM comes around where elections for committee members take place. It goes
without saying that these oppointment of office positions are crucial to the smooth flowing of this club.
The committee would be glad to see as many people possible at the meeting to show their support.
Hardwick Smith Lounge
Norfolk Street, Belmont
11am
Sunday 6th July
2003
Remits are invited for submission to the Club. These remits are required 21 days in advance
of the AGM for discussion. Please send remits to the Secretary, Gary Jones; Tel 904 3199
3
Photos from the March 2003
combined National Vets & Masters
40km Time Trial at Masterton:
Top Right: Les Ralph Trophy – Fastest on Age Standard; Garry Humpherson
Middle left: Jim Cummings Trophy, Mens 45-49 years – Ian Seddon
Middle Right: Mens H grade – Bill Johnson, Silver; 1:09:11
Bottom Left: Mens I grade – Ray Bocock, Gold; 1:16:18
Bottom Middle: Les Ralph Trophy – Fastest NZMCA Male; Ian Seddon:
Bottom Right: Les Ralph Trophy – Fastest NZMCA Female; Sally Fraser:
4
PRESIDENTIAL CURSE
Look what happens when a President gets elected in a
year with a "0" at the end. Also notice it goes in increments of 20 years.
1840: William Henry Harrison (died in office)
1860: Abraham Lincoln (assassinated)
1880: James A. Garfield (assassinated)
1900: William McKinley (assassinated)
1920: Warren G. Harding (died in office)
1940: Franklin D. Roosevelt (died in office)
1960: John F. Kennedy (assassinated)
1980: Ronald Reagan (survived assassination attempt)
2000: George W. Bush (?)
And to think that we had two guys fighting it out in the
courts to be the one elected in 2000.
You might also be interested in this. Have a history
teacher explain this if they can.
Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.
Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.
Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wives lost their children while living in the White
House.
Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
Both Presidents were shot in the head.
Now it gets really weird.
Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy.
CYCLING QUOTES
"The thing with Spinning is that
there isn’t any co-ordination
required. And, not to denigrade
the opposite sex or anything, but
that really appeals to men."
- female Californian Spinning
Instructor about the appeal to
men of the bike-based exercise.
-The Editor of Startline would like to note that the opinions
of contributions to the newsletter are not necessarily that
of the WVCC, especially the Editor.
Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln.
Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners
named Johnson.
Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in
1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born
in 1908.
John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born
in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was
born in 1939.
Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are composed of fifteen letters.
Now hang on to your seat.
Lincoln was shot at the theatre named 'Ford'.
Kennedy was shot in a car called 'Lincoln' made by
'Ford'.
Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.
And here's the kicker.......
A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe,
Maryland.
A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn
Monroe.
Creepy huh? This is one history lesson people don't
mind reading!
- John Elliott
PR
NEWS
29/04 04/05 Tour de Romandie SUI 2.HC
Final G.C.:
1. Tyler Hamilton (USA-CSC)
2. Laurent Dufaux (SWI-Alessio)
3. Francisco Pérez (SPA-Milaneza)
4. Fabian Jeker (SWI-Milaneza)
5. Alexander Moos (SWI-Phonak)
6. Carlos Sastre (SPA-CSC)
7. Yaroslav Popovich (UKR )
8. David Moncoutie (FRA-Cofidis)
9. Roberto Laiseka (SPA-Euskaltel Euskadi)
10. Inigo Chaurreau (SPA-Ag2r)
18h 06:37
at 33
at 37
at 54
at 58
at 1:45
at 1:48
at 2:12
at 2:12
at 2:12
5
Born again Cycling
T
his one happened a good few
years ago now, but it still makes
me smile.
It was Saturday. One Wellington’s
(rare?) but appreciated - really hot
summer’s days. I was sitting at home
enjoying the sun and the paper and
a strong, dark coffee, when a couple
of seventh day adventists come puffing up the steps to the front door.
Nothing unusual in that. But instead
of the expected “have you seen these
brochures?‚ or “good morning,
we’re visiting your neighbourhood”,
this hopeful pair tossed forward an
opening gambit of “is there pain
in your life?” Pain? I just about fell
over laughing. See, only an hour
or two earlier I’d been bashing my
body through a hard interval session on the bike.
You know the thing. Crank up the
speed till you just about can’t bear
it any more, then keep going till
your legs pop and your lungs reach
melt down. Then do it again. And
again. Pain? Well it’s not quite up
there with sticking your fist repeatedly into a pot of boiling water but
it sure as heck nudges out that little bit of je ne sais quoi weekend
angst. And I’m pretty certain that no
amount of higher belief would offer
much relief. So I sent them away
with a lie. “No, there’s no pain”.
Whatever. On a long ride the other
day I was grinning to myself recalling the moment and as my mind
wandered around like a dog after
another dogs wanderings, it struck
me that I could have said, “No, cycling is my religion”. I don’t say that
in a glib way and I certainly don’t
mean to offend. Cycling as religion?
I’m not thinking of tabloid headlines
6
or screaming sports stadiums or selfindulgent hero worship.Or how you
spend your money. No, deeper. As
in a genuine state of mind.
Something that drills far down into
how you think, how you plan your
week, how you interact with people,
how you work, who your friends are,
how you live. Something that is just
as important for the state of mind it
creates as the racing or physical effort it offers. Something you don’t
just view as a pass-time, a sport or
even a passion? But is implicit to who
you actually are. Isn’t that religion?
Sure, cycling is not alone in this regard. Any consuming passion could
and does do the same. Running.
Climbing. Theatre. Opera. But cycling offers all the right elements in
perfect harmony. You spend hours a
week doing it. You have to be committed. You need the determination?
Self-sacrifice - to get out there in rain
and wind and dark. You need to look
ahead, to know that the here and now
is but a stepping stone.
Perhaps above all, you spend much
of that time on the bike in the good
company of just your own mind.
Scenery becomes a backdrop, the act
of pedalling hypnotic. You get to
think. Bar the odd interruption of a
car driver pulling unexpectedly out
of a compulsory give-way, you get
space to work through what you
want, what you’ll do, what you believe in, why you believe in it; in
your personal life, your workplace,
politics, ethics, whatever.
Somewhere along the line, years or
decades in, you get to need that space
and time. Not want: need. It doesn’t
flash up in a cathartic moment, it’s
not a sudden “hallelujah! I believe
in cycling!”‚ but more of a creeping, embracing awareness. Somewhere along the line you realise that
you have stopped apologising to
your work colleagues or clients
about bowling into the office sweaty.
You’ve stopped caring about
whether people think you are mad,
or stupid, or just too poor to drive.
You’ve stopped caring whether you
have the latest group-set. You care
deeply about whether you can go for
a ride. You frequently tell people, no,
sorry, you have a meeting you just
have to get off to. You’d rather ride,
even when it’s wet.
Truly. You believe. That cycling
goals and achievements are some of
the most important in your life. That
many of the people you respect most
are cyclists (and I’m not thinking
about world champions here). And
that, just possibly, you have a worldview that’s more open, more diverse,
and more genuine than it would have
been if you weren’t a cyclist.
Not that I’m preaching.
- Jim Robinson
Kiwi
gutter
style
- Gary Gibson
PR
➨
➨
➨
➨
➨
➨
➨
➯
➨
WIND
➯
➨
?
Here is a brief desciption of the two different bunch riding styles; with
the New Zealand gutter style riding on the left, and the European echelon
riding on the right. If the wind is coming from the left, then the reverse
happens and in the “gutter style” the bunch tends to go over the white line
onto the wrong side of the road.
If anyone has ridden this “gutter style”, they’ll know the traps and
pitfalls, where you hate to be at the back, where you get little respite from
the wind and you’re at the mercy of punctures. You also hate to be on the
front where the work is hard and when you’ve done your turn, you find
yourself trying to fight your way back into the first six riders or so, just so
you don’t end in the gutter, at the back.
Whereas in the few times I have ridden the European style on the right,
the racing has been less anxious and nerve ridden as the ‘gutter style’.
Once you have done your turn on the front, you then rotate to the back of
your echelon at a steady pace and continue with the rotation, getting your
turn at a rest (until there’s an attack).
This European style would be perfect for the Vets fun ride around Lake
Wairarapa during any strong crosswinds, not to mention all the other fun
rides. However, some might say that aren’t we supposed to be riding two
abreast?
WIND
➨
➨
➨
➨
➨
I
n strong crosswinds, it strikes me, that in the few events where
there are large enough bunches, that no-one instigates the echelon
riding techniques seen in the European pro-events. I can only guess
that this is mainly due to the small numbers that we tend to have in
New Zealand club events (and I’m not just talking about Vet racing).
When the large bunches actually happen, no-one knows how to form
a second or third echelon, thus resulting in a long line of gutter riding normally seen on the Flanders cobblestones.
➨
Crosswinds: Riding the Peloton, making the echelon
European
echelon
style
NEWS
UCI SUSPENDS COAST
May 8 (EFE) - The International Cycling Union
(UCI) has issued a communiqué announcing the immediate suspension of Team Coast from all international competition due to the fact that the team has not
satisfied all the debts it still owes its riders. According
to the UCI, Team Coast has not paid their riders their
salaries for the month of April 2003. "This situation
regretfully shows that the teams has very serious structural problems, even after all the measures taken by
the UCI to protect their riders. As a consequence and
according to the rules of the UCI, Team Coast is suspended immediately".
THE UCI FREES COAST RIDERS
Hein Verbruggen, president of the International
Cycling Union (UCI) has announced that the fact that
the riders from Team Coast haven't been paid their salaries means that the team has broken their contract and
they are free to look for teams elsewhere. The UCI had
suspended Team Coast for a second time last week for
their inability to pay riders their salaries. "The riders
shouldn't be afraid, we have a 3-month salary guarantee and we could, if necessary pay the riders", said
Verbruggen. Wolfgang Strohband, Ullrich's manager
and Belgian Rudy Pevenage are looking at the possibility of together with Italian bicycle maker Bianchi,
requesting a new team license from the UCI.
CCP APPROVES CREATION OF TEAM BIANCHI
The Council of Professional Cycling (CCP) has approved the creation of Team Bianchi, which will take
the place of Team Coast. The future team has been accepted as a Division 1 team by the CCP, but will not be
able to have a guaranteed place in the grand tours, especially at the Tour de France. In order to take part in
the Tour, Team Bianchi will have to be invited by the
Tour organization. The CCP's approval is conditional
to Bianchi making a reasonable offer to all the riders
and technical personnel of Team Coast.
7
FROM THE ARCHIVES
August 1950
FOR THE RECO RD
Event : 60 kM MSRR. Martinborough. M’borough / Parkvale / Longbush / M’borough.
Time Keepers: Lyn & W Woods, J West, P Philipsen & M Wilkinson. Date: 06/04/2003.
Weather : Partly cloudy, mild and light NE.
Most Aggressive Rider : Geof Shaw.
Place
1
2
3
4=
4=
6
7=
7=
9
10 =
10 =
12
13 =
13 =
13 =
13 =
13 =
13 =
13 =
20
21
22
23
24
25
1W
27
28
29
2W
30
32
33
34
Race
No.
12
2
13
14
24
4
49
10
8
30
32
17
20
19
5
28
29
3
27
15
1
31
23
6
44
18
34
39
42
9
41
47
26
33
38
1
2
48
46
Recorded
Name
Time
P
James
1 37 18
R
Marshall
1 37 18
G
Jones
1 37 18
P
Lewin
1 37 18
L
Farrington
1 37 18
S
Avery
1 37 27
R
Kilvington
1 37 51
T
Palmer
1 37 51
T
Johnson
1 38 06
A
West
1 40 09
R
Dowding
1 40 09
G
Shaw
1 41 33
D
Barrett
1 42 41
J
Williamson
1 42 41
S
Critchely
1 42 41
K
Smith
1 42 41
B
Smith
1 42 41
M
Williamson
1 42 41
G
Sexton
1 42 41
D
Mabey
1 42 50
M
Clarke
1 43 12
J
Wilson
1 46 53
P
Dickinson
1 47 50
N
Cunningham 1 53 52
F
Wotton
1 57 52
Shona Smith
1 57 54
R
Jackson
1 57 56
J
Heap
1 58 01
G
Baxter
1 59 07
Wendy Lewin
1 59 08
A
Rhodes
1 59 08
S
Cullen
2 09 33
C
Morrison
2 10 32
J
Holloway
2 21 03
T
Gavin
DNF
Visitors
P
Sutherland
1 37 18
G
Owen
1 42 20
Age
Group
C1
A1
C2
C3
D1
B1
A2
B2
B3
D2
E1
C4
D3=
C5
B4
D3=
D3=
A3
D3=
C6
A4
D7
D8
B5
G1
WC1
E2
F1
G2
WB1
F2
D9
D 10
E3
Hdcp.
01 00
01 00
01 00
01 00
01 00
01 00
00 00
00 00
00 00
01 00
01 10
06 00
05 20
05 30
07 10
08 30
05 30
06 30
07 00
07 00
07 10
05 30
07 20
06 40
09 00
12 00
11 30
10 00
09 00
17 40
11 40
00 00
08 20
12 30
Hdcp
Hdcp
Time
Place
1 36 18
8=
1 36 18
8=
1 36 18
8=
1 36 18
8=
1 36 18
8=
1 36 27
13
1 37 51
17 =
1 37 51
17 =
1 38 06
19
1 39 09
21
1 38 59
20
1 35 33
3
1 37 21
16
1 37 11
14 =
1 35 31
2
1 34 11
1
1 37 11
14 =
1 36 11
7
1 35 41
4
1 35 50
5
1 36 02
6
1 41 23 23 (mech.prob)
1 40 30
22
1 47 12
27
1 48 52
30
1 45 54
25
1 46 26
26
1 48 01
29
1 50 07
31
1 41 28
24
1 47 28
28
2 09 33
34
2 02 12
32
2 08 33
33