Tim Francis RIP

It still seems incredibly difficult to believe that Tim won’t be around at SE Qld races anymore.  Most CQ members would be aware by now that he was killed tragically in a motorvehicle accident on Sunday April 22^nd.  His wife Robyn was travelling with him at the time, and remains in hospital recovering in ICU. 

I didn’t know Tim very well, but like many others who met him, Tim instantly gave me the impression of someone with a great passion for the sport of cycling, with a great sense of humor.  Tim was always very respectful to everyone, and seemed to give everyone the time of day, no matter how well he knew them; even if he had just met them.  I first met Tim at the 2008 New Year’s Day criterium at Nerang, where he was actively involved in promoting the event to help raise money for the Daniel Bennett Memorial Fund.  Tim would regularly take photos at these events to help raise money towards this great cause. 

Over the years, I often ran into Tim again at other events in SE Qld, where he was either competing, or taking photos, or commissaring.  I particularly remember taking photos (with Tim’s awesome camera) of Tim and Robyn when they raced the Avanti Classic in 2009.  I think Tim was quite happy to be racing for once that day, rather than behind the camera lens, or behind a commissaire’s clipboard! 

 Tim has been a President of the Goldstars Cycling Club (on the Gold Coast), as well as commissaired at the TDU, and the UCI world track champs.  We saw him recently at the Crestmead Summer Series criteriums (once again he was there to take photos), and asked about what it was like to be part of the motorcycle commissaire “brigade” at the TDU.   Tim couldn’t wipe the smile of his face and said “mate, it was absolutely awesome”.  I am glad Tim got to do the things he was passionate about in life.  We will miss you lots and lots Tim.

http://goldstarscyclingclub.com/2012/04/tim-robyn/

Sunshine

Well we needed it. SE Qld needed it.
The rain. A whole darn week of it.
It was a great week; just not so good for cyclists. Apparently a lot of bike shops sold a lot of wind trainers last week!
Then the sun came out.
Sunday morning we were greeted to sunshine, and it was beautiful.
Matt and I did a ‘relaxing’ recovery ride (a classic ‘Redcliffe loop’) of about 60kms. I have not seen Brisbane looking so green in such a long time.

A lady bug decided to travel with us for part of the way along the Sandgate foreshore. Don’t know how she managed to hop onto my helmet and hang on for about 5kms (at over 30kph!), but she did. It made us smile, and I took it as a ‘good luck’ sign for the day.
I was nervous on Sunday morning…
I was racing Sunday afternoon.

Racing is fun. But racing can also make me quite anxious. Especially this race.
It was due to be my first ‘attempt’ at women’s A/B grade in the last ten weeks. The last three times I tried to race in this grade last year, I was dropped before the end of the race. I remember my legs burning while watching all the girls powerfully surge away from me. How frustrating.
I relieved my frustration by training harder, and training smarter in the last ten weeks. Ten weeks ago I started with my coach, Anthony. It has been great.

The Daniel Bennett Memorial Race was a fantastic day. Lots of people turned up to support it; and everyone seemed to get something ‘good’ out of the day. Even Cameron Hughes (Grafton-Inverell 2007 winner) turned up in support of it; as did Commonwealth Gold medalist Matthew Hayman. It rained during my race, but it didn’t matter. What mattered to me was that I finished with the bunch. Finally I finished with the other girls.
I still have so far to go, but it is nice to see that the training is ‘working’. I am getting closer to where I want to get with my cycling. It makes me smile. It makes me smile just like the sunshine did on Sunday morning.