A metre matters

The first round of the Logan Cycling Club's annual summer criterium series was held on Sunday. Overshadowing the event this year was the very recent passing of young cyclist Mardi Bartlett.  Although I didn't personally know her very well, many cyclists in the local Brisbane area did know her, and if certain things hadn't happened, she was due to be racing with us women on Sunday.
I have never shed tears before a criterium event, but Sunday was different.  The minute silence before our race was a very poignant moment, and an important time to reflect on how precious life is, and how much we should not take it for granted.

Mardi Bartlett's death was unnecessary and tragic.  However, hopefully it has helped to bring lots of people together, and raise more awareness about cyclist safety.
I feel a bit guilty about seeming some what insensitive and following this up with a relatively trivial race report. Having said that, from what Holly has indicated, I think Mardi was a person who loved life and cycling, and would have liked to see her friends race well in her memory.

This year the women's Campos team has strengthened their numbers with 3 new recruits (Jess L, Jane W, Jahna H), in addition to Jazzy, Judy Lou and Corissa.
In this first race of the series, we also had representatives from teams such as Lifecycle, Specialized Securitor, Holden, Total Rush, KP and Bicycle Riders Morningside. Add in NRS women's winner for 2013 (now AIS) Kat Garfoot, and the race was sure to be interesting.

Quite a few early breaks were initiated by various women, but about half way through the race Kat, Jemma, Liz and Jazzy created the final break of the day.  Towards the end of the race, Liz's hard work in the first few breaks of the day took its toll and she couldn't hang on any longer.
That left Kat, Jemma and Jazzy to battle it out for the top three places.

On the last lap, Kat put in a powerful attack to gap the other two, and win comfortably.  This also put her in the leader's jersey for round two (in 2 week's time).

Photos thanks to ESI, Bruce Wilson and Holly G.

Share The Road 2011

An amazing experience it was during 2010, the Amy Gillett Foundation Tour for 2011 is only a few weeks away. 

This year the foundation has chosen Tasmania as the location, riding through areas such as Launceston, the Tamar Valley and Mt Roland from Nov 17 to 20.  Although I can't partipate this year, I will be supporting the riders in spirit, as they ride to promote safe and responsible road use, by both cyclists and motorists. 
Some of the riders returning for the challenge from last year (and even the year before) include: Felicity Dales, Duncan Murray, Matt Dimattina, Steve Hodge, Tony Gaudry, Andy Sheats, Carla Ryan, Rochelle Gilmore (and Rachael Kininmonth and Margaret Grant as part of the super support crew).

So take a moment to think about donating towards their important and worthwhile cause.
http://www.amygillett.org.au/sponsor-a-rider

Carly Hibberd RIP

Like many Brisbane cyclists, I heard the sad news this morning that Carly Hibberd had died after being hit by a car while on a ride in Italy.  I didn't know her personally very well, but I do know she has many close friends and family in Brisbane who will dearly miss her. 

For me, she was an amazing role model and an incredibly nice person.  She was already strongly riding in A grade (competing locally and in NRS events) while I was struggling to advance from C to B grade.  I remember watching in awe as she raced at local events such as the Noosa and Southbank criteriums. 

In particular, I remember the two person breakaway with Carly and Kirsty (Broun) in the 2007 Australian Criterium Champs (Southbank Grand Prix), that stayed away to the end of the race, despite all odds that it would end up being "just another" bunch sprint. 

Carly seemed to me to be a gutsy rider who put everything into her racing and training.  I was fortunate enough to race with her a few times at local criteriums at Nundah and Murrarie, and even though she really had no idea who I was, she was always happy to say hello and even offer some racing advice.  I will always remember after one race at Murrarie, out of the blue she said to me, "You raced well today, but remember to keep your cadence up during the race since it will help a lot with your performance."  There was no "reason" for her to give me the slightest time of day, but she did it all the same. 

I know Carly was also friends with many local female Brisbane cyclists, and was a mentor for those moving up from the junior to senior racing circles.  A kind hearted, beautiful person. 
Thanks to Ben Manson for the photos.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/cycling/cycling-community-rocked-by-rising-stars-death-20110707-1h384.html

Nice way to start a New Year

So the 'original' plan was to take a quick trip down to Ballarat in early January to have another racing 'experience' in the heat on the tough Mt Buninyong course. 

However, things that I plan seem to have a habit of transforming themselves into something else...

and in only the last few weeks, this initial plan has changed into travelling down to Victoria a bit earlier, to race for 4 days at "Bay Crits" (the 2011 Jayco Bay Criteriums) as well...

and just today, we will be adding in the Geelong Amy's Ride on Sunday morning too!

Rather than one week off work to do "just" one race, I now get one week off work to do 5 races, watch even more racing, and ride in support of the Amy Gillett Foundation!

Accordingly, if you know what I am like, you know that I am also thinking that this is a great way to start 2011. :)

To any and all of you reading my blog, have a super end to 2010, and I wish you all the best for 2011.
http://www.amygillett.org.au/amys-ride-victoria-2011
And thanks to Leigh Schilling for some of the above photos.

Highlights from STRT 2010

Keep it short and sweet.  That was the plan.  I was thinking about writing a summary of each of the 6 days for my blog.  As I started it in my head, I soon realised this was never going to work... so much happened each day, that I would need to write a short novel if I was going to do any justice to the super week I had.
Instead, I will leave you all with a few photos from the trip, and a summary, not of the time riding, but of the fantastic people I had the pleasure to meet, ride with, and chat to during the STRT.

Because what I realised is that what made the trip memorable for me, were the people involved.  Sure, the countryside was great, and the bike riding was fun, and the places we stayed at were awesome. 

More awe inspiring for me though were the people I got to ride beside and behind and infront of each day; and chat to at dinner and breakfast. 

What a diverse group of individuals to meet; but united within the common cause to help make our roads safer.  I was surprised by how different each rider was (such unique backgrounds and careers; and unique family and life situations), but how well we all "jelled" together in the first two days.  No-one was "above" anyone else, and everyone helped each other out whenever they could. 

Yes there sure were some tough days in the saddle, but even after the 'minor' frustrations of hot days, flat tyres, rough off-road sections, sticky mud, getting lost (even with a gps!), and sore legs, everyone managed smile and a laugh and a story at the end of the day. 

Thank you so much to each and everyone of you:
Simon Gillett, Rachael Kininmonth, Steve Hodge, Phil Anderson, Mary & Dennis Safe, Rochelle Gilmore, Rachel Neylan, Carla Ryan, Felicity Dales, Lindy Hayward, Kayt Edwards, Matt Dimattina, Duncan Murray, Rhys Gillett, Ned Draydon, Matt Pringle, Ken Kroeger, Michael Scott, Paul Hardwick, Paul O'Dwyer, Rob Keogh, Marg Grant, Andy Sheats, James Hannam, Ian Carpenter, David Moffatt, Steve Cesinger, Kieran Hogan, Matt White, Andrew Tanner, Michael Price, David Gillett, Tony & Tracey Gaudry.
(Special thanks to Steve Hodge for the above photos!)

Share The Road Tour 2010

I will take some time (I promise) to write a more thorough report about the 6 days of riding soon...
but in the meantime, I just need to say t-h-a-n-k-s to all the riders and organisers involved with the Amy Gillett 2010 Share The Road Tour.

An incredible week, with many memorable moments; and it was super to share this experience with lots of like-minded people while helping deliver the message of better road safety and awareness; for both cyclists and motorists.

In particular, I need to mention how honored I was to meet Mary Safe, Amy's mother, who has devoted her life to educating young people on safer cycling and safer driving.  Awesome work.

Noosa and only ONE week to go!

So after a very adventurous race at Glen Innes to Inverell, the annual Noosa Cycling GP was on again.
See race report by Ange McClure here:
http://www.sweetascycling.com.au/sweetascycling/news/61-what-a-team-what-a-daywhat-a-result

Quite happily, I was just a spectator for the Noosa event...
but I have to say a huge c-o-n-g-r-a-t-u-l-a-t-i-o-n-s to Nikki on her awesome 5th place during the women's criterium on Saturday afternoon.

Those of you who know Nikki already, also know that she has really put all of her body and mind and heart into her training this year, and is finally coming up with some well-deserved results!!!

You can read her report here:
http://nikolina-cycling.blogspot.com/2010/11/2010-noosa-grand-prix.html

And as for me,
well it is only one week to go to the Amy Gillett Foundation's Share the Road Tour...
yep...
we will each be riding 800km with 8000m of climbing in 6 days.
I will try to update my blog while riding (pending internet access), but otherwise I will be sure to give you all a report on my return to Qld!
http://www.sharetheroadtour.com.au/archives/77

Grafton eve

Saturday October 23rd... if you are a keen cyclist, you may have had this date in your diary for many months already... and now... well... Grafton-Inverell is THIS weekend!

This will be my second year racing in the women's event; this time as part of the Bundaberg Sugar/Sweet As Team, rather than as a solo rider as I did last year.  So long as the weather holds out (no hail nor sleet, and no evil headwinds nor snow thanks), it should be another interesting day of racing.  A strong field of girls will be lining up.

A good friend of mine gave me some motivational quote cards this week to help inspire me for my next set of races/rides/training and beyond (... thank you so much, they do help!) -
and I found this one particularly relevant for this weekend.
"There is only one thing for us to do,
and that is to do our level best
right where we are,
every day of our lives".

During this taper week, I also had the privilege of a 'guided cycling tour' of some parts of the Sunshine Coast hinterland which I (surprisingly) never knew existed until now... including some helpful short cuts!!!

Embarrassingly it seems I was taking the 'long way around' in a few instances!  One of my next goals is to learn more about where to ride on the Sunny Coast.

This weekend also marks the only "TWO weeks to go" point to the AGF's "Share The Road" 800km Tour.
Yep... this is another hint...  please donate... please. :)
https://www.registernow.com.au/agf/Donate.aspx?F=342

Thanks for your support...

While I seem to be doing a lot of my training in the rainy weather lately,

it is probably a good time to say thanks to all my sponsors and supporters so far for the Amy Gillett Foundation's Share The Road Tour in early November.

In particular...
Cadence Cycling

Body 4 Life Massage

Velo Bicycles

Robert Bird Group (Brisbane and Sydney offices)

and North Coast Veterinary Specialists (special thanks to our business manager Janelle, and our main receptionist Jayne!).

... And yep this is just another reminder that if you haven't already donated, please do so.  Even the smallest of donations will help!
https://www.registernow.com.au/agf/Donate.aspx?F=342