Bootenal Five Stage Tour

Mixed riding and mixed fortune

Despite the lower than expected attendance, the contesting of the Bootenal 5-Stage Tour was exciting and challenging for the cyclists who took part. Paul Dodson took the opening time time trial ahead of Duane Crabbe and Paul Baldock (new owner of TBE), showing that his more mature status is no limit on ability. Dodson was able to carry this into Stage 2 with a great win following a mass start and the pack all jostling for a place at the end of the Georgina East return loop. Julie Firth easily won both stages in the women's division finishing with the lead group in Stage 2.

Stage 3 saw an end to the flatter parts of the course and Roger Swan dominated the first of the hill climbs to take both this Stage and maximum King of the Mountain points. Swan was followed by Paul Baldock and Duane Crabbe on Stage 3 with Julie Firth placing a credible 4th on the hill overall - this also saw her take line honours in the women's division once again, a pattern that would remain for the tour.

Stage 4 started with a 600 metre climb with Baldock, Firth, Crabbe, Muller and Swan all clearing the summit within seconds of each other. Baldock led the group over the climb, claiming maximum King of the Mountain points. Swan and Firth accelerated across the remaining undulations placing 1st and 2nd with Crabbe coming in 3rd ahead of Baldock in 4th.

Eddie Muller was the dark horse of the climbs, easily riding both of the hill stages and showing that this type of course suits his riding style. Paul Dodson was unable to retain his form into the hills and slid to the back of the pack, competing with Andrew Toovey and Jonathan Tam in a separate battle to that of the climbers.

The last Stage was a road race from Georgina Road back to the Bootenal Tavern and was an opportunity for the flat stage riders to emerge once again. Jonathan Tam proved he was now warmed up out sprinting Paul Dodson and Duanne Crabbe to take line honours. Julie Firth rode incredibly well to finish 4th across the line - easily winning the women's event.

The men's event was a more closely fought race with the time bonuses for Stage wins seeing Duane Crabbe and Roger Swan finishing equal first, albeit Crabbe was fastest on overall time. Paul Dodson took third overall.

Special thanks to Darryl Sheilds, Arlia Toovey and Bec Swan for officiating and putting out the signs.

A full list of results is available below and the Picasa Photostream to the right has been updated with pictured of today's event.

Results - Bootenal 5 Stage Tour

Results - 32km Barb Glenister 'Light My Fire'

Photos from the event can also be viewed in the 'Picasa Photostream' to the right of the page.

The Barb Glenister 'Light My Fire' Classic

Barb Glenister ‘Light my Fire’

Individual Road Race

Giles Park & Cutting 32km Road Race

8.00am Sunday 7^th March 2010

(Please note the earlier start time for summer!)

SPOKES CYCLE CLUB MEMBERS WILL PAY JUST $2.00 NOMINATION PER RIDER.

Non Spokes Members are invited to participate and be covered under a $10 Day License Fee.

This is an individual road race testing speed and hill climbing with each rider completing the 32km event from Giles Park, along Morrell Road, over the cutting and back to Giles Park.

Riders will be handicapped ensuring an exciting finish.

Location:

The ride will start and finish at Giles Park, just near the corner of Giles and Narratarra/Moonyoonooka Roads. Registration opens at 7.20am with all cyclists to be signed on and assembled at the start line by 7.50am.

Please refer to the map in the posting below for access to and from Giles Park. Please be aware that the Geraldton Mount Magnet Road is now accessed via the Southern Transport Corridor - unfortunately Google maps doesn't yet show this!

What to Bring

* $2 for Nomination / $10 Day License Fee for non members / $70 Full Member Fee

* Helmet (essential to be permitted to ride)

* Water Bottle and $$ money for cool drink

* Sunscreen / Sunglasses / Hat for after ride

* Tubes, pump etc

We look forward to seeing you at the inaugural Barb Glenister ‘Light my Fire’ event with the ride proudly sponsored by Barb.

If you are interested in becoming a member of Spokes Cycle Club then please email spokescycleclub@gmail.com and a membership form and event calendar will be sent to you.

25km Team Time Trial

Race day dawned and a multitude of excuses for not riding saw the 25km Team Time Trial easily the most well marshalled event to date. There were sore backs, torn heart muscles, spider bite, and a sore throat to mention just a few. The upside of all this was, marshals on all corners and separate jobs for bell ringers, timekeepers, and photographers at the finish.

Nineteen riders in seven teams faced Ian Andrews, event co-ordinator for the day, for five laps of the Deepdale circuit. A strong south easterly saw riders reaching over 50 kph along the finish straight.

The first three teams finished within 40 seconds of each other. Peter Burchell, Gavin Keyser and Steve Davies managed to outgun Mort Harslett, Max Nowrajee and Jon Tamm to win by 14 seconds. Paul Dodson and Reg Salmon were third, a further 26 seconds in arrears. Paul Matthews and Duane Crabbe weren't too sure if they were riding as a pair or team of three as Dave Rakuscek floated back to ride with arch enemies Burchell, Davies and Keyser for a while before then riding back up to his team for the finish.

Mark Greene rode with junior rider and friend Tim Lendic who hadn't ridden with the Club for a while and they placed a respectable fifth. However the real battle was between sixth placed Julie Firth and Deb Wake and the Andrew Toovey led group of Barb and Tim Glenister and Jenny Hastie. Even though the final time difference was only one second, the duo started fast and closed to within 22 seconds after the first lap, but Toovey’s experience held the group together and this showed with the group recording negative splits with every new lap.

Thanks to John and Gabe Andrews and Gerald Westerik who were the official marshals for the day and to the many others who sacrificed their race in order to assist.

Spokes next event is the Barb Glenister 'Light My Fire' Giles Park Cutting Lap. This is a 32km Individual Road Race starting at 8am from Giles Park on Morrell Road, Moonyoonooka. The Club already has allocated marshals for this event so get your bike ready and we will see you there!

Results - 25km Team Time Trial

15km Individual Time Trial

No wind………in Geraldton?

Sunday morning dawned and the usually windy and hot summer of Geraldton had been replaced with an overcast and almost still day -excellent conditions for an Individual Time Trial.

There was a good mixture of men and women to contest the 'race against yourself and the clock', with the twenty riders set off at one minute intervals. The tight circuit saw many changes of position and some very close finishing times. Paul Dodson's secret training well and truly paid off with him recording the fastest time of 25:51 for the 15km circuit, averaging some 35.5km/hr. Duane Crabb was second on corrected time of 26:39 and Mort Harslett celebrated his recent 70th birthday in style by claiming the third fastest time of 26:43 and an average of 34.4km/hr. Some comments after the event suggested that tri bars were obviously beneficial for time trials, however not all competitors felt that their physique would allow them to achieve such aero dynamic positioning! The remainder of the mens field were very close in time with just a couple of minutes separating all cyclists.

The womens event was hotly contested; new rider to Spokes Deb Wake was the fastest female in a time of 28:24, beating Julie Firth by just one second. Gabrielle Andrews came in third in an excellent time of 28:47 and an average if 31.9km.hr. Chris Kerr beat her previous time by 7 minutes on her reclining bike and was easily the most improved at the event. Paula Purcher and Barb Glenister were both keen to test themselves against each other; unfortunately the result will have to wait for the next time trial as Paula flatted into the last lap and was forced to withdraw.

Spokes had a special presentation at the conclusion of the time trial, recognising the commitment and dedication of Darryl and Vicky Sheilds to both the Club and cycling in the Geraldton and Midwest area. Darryl and Vicky don’t like to be made a fuss of however the Club was keen to ensure that their efforts over so many years were rewarded with a contribution towards their planned travels. Spokes wishes them well in their future adventures and looks forward to seeing them out on their bikes once hand over has been completed.

The Bicycle Entrepreneur is now officially in the hands of new owners Paul and Sarah and Spokes Committee and Members wish them every success. Spokes encourages all members to visit the shop and continue to enjoy your member discount.

Special thanks to Tim and Barb Glenister for putting out the signs and to Jon Tamm, Darryl Sheilds and Dom Micono for marshalling.

Full results are available below and the picasa photostream to the right has been updated with pictures from the event.