Hey Hitchy

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by flyingdutch
Where's the new bike?

G'day Dutch,

You sure know how to depress a guy!...actually, its still being fitted for flags & 'motor noise thingys' as recommended by a certain dutchman!....the truth is that there isn't one my size in the country!. We're waiting to here back from 'look' at present, but it looks like middle of June at best......I keep telling myself that I can wait...the problem is...I CAN'T!,

cheers,

Hitchy

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by flyingdutch
Where's the new bike?

Oi Dutch,

If memory serves me correctly, (& it frequently doesn't!)...you're a Hawthorn member?....I noticed hawthorn have joined the Northern Combine this RR season. So......to quote lance...."you ridin'?, or you hidin'?".......when are we gunna see your debut at the combine (don't make it this weekend, its a 90K handicap & it won't be pretty!),

cheers,

Hitchy

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Hitchy
Oi Dutch,

If memory serves me correctly, (& it frequently doesn't!)...you're a Hawthorn member?....I noticed hawthorn have joined the Northern Combine this RR season. So......to quote lance...."you ridin'?, or you hidin'?".......when are we gunna see your debut at the combine (don't make it this weekend, its a 90K handicap & it won't be pretty!),

cheers,

Hitchy

Hidin 😄

Trying to work my way back up to something resembling race-fit after a layoff over the last few weeks.
Crit at Kew this Sunday should depress me enuff. dem roadraces dont sound very friendly for lil ol me🙁

can you give me any insight into what's involved in near future and what to expect. Being 36 do I have to keep racing against annoyingly fit 18yr olds???
Is one allowed to stick pump in their spokes???

[QUOTE]Originally posted by flyingdutch

Quoted message said:

Trying to work my way back up to something resembling
race-fit after a layoff over the last few weeks.

Quoted message said:

Crit at Kew this Sunday should depress me enuff. dem >roadraces dont sound very friendly for lil ol me🙁

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by flyingdutch
Hidin 😄

Trying to work my way back up to something resembling race-fit after a layoff over the last few weeks.
Crit at Kew this Sunday should depress me enuff. dem roadraces dont sound very friendly for lil ol me🙁

can you give me any insight into what's involved in near future and what to expect. Being 36 do I have to keep racing against annoyingly fit 18yr olds???
Is one allowed to stick pump in their spokes???

G'day dutch,

i'd forgotten you'd had a lay off. It might be prudent to do a bit b4 attempting a RR. The combines 'draw' is posted on both Sunburys & brunswicks sites. when you think you're ready to have a go, try a 'scratch' 1st up, (handicaps hurt!). Scratch is on ability, rather than age, so i wouldn't worry about being 36 (gee, I can almost remember being 36!!!!). most of the annoying ,skinny 17 Y.O have ambitions beyond their abilities & will try & race A or B, leaving us older blokes to 'own' C & D. If you like crits, you'll luv RR. Hope to see you soon,

cheers,

Hitchy

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by flyingdutch
Hidin 😄

Trying to work my way back up to something resembling race-fit after a layoff over the last few weeks.
Crit at Kew this Sunday should depress me enuff. dem roadraces dont sound very friendly for lil ol me🙁

can you give me any insight into what's involved in near future and what to expect. Being 36 do I have to keep racing against annoyingly fit 18yr olds???
Is one allowed to stick pump in their spokes???

G'day dutch,

i'd forgotten you'd had a lay off. It might be prudent to do a bit b4 attempting a RR. The combines 'draw' is posted on both Sunburys & brunswicks sites. when you think you're ready to have a go, try a 'scratch' 1st up, (handicaps hurt!). Scratch is on ability, rather than age, so i wouldn't worry about being 36 (gee, I can almost remember being 36!!!!). most of the annoying ,skinny 17 Y.O have ambitions beyond their abilities & will try & race A or B, leaving us older blokes to 'own' C & D. If you like crits, you'll luv RR. Hope to see you soon,

cheers,

Hitchy

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Hitchy
G'day dutch,

i'd forgotten you'd had a lay off. It might be prudent to do a bit b4 attempting a RR. The combines 'draw' is posted on both Sunburys & brunswicks sites. when you think you're ready to have a go, try a 'scratch' 1st up, (handicaps hurt!). Scratch is on ability, rather than age, so i wouldn't worry about being 36 (gee, I can almost remember being 36!!!!). most of the annoying ,skinny 17 Y.O have ambitions beyond their abilities & will try & race A or B, leaving us older blokes to 'own' C & D. If you like crits, you'll luv RR. Hope to see you soon,

cheers,

Hitchy

What exactly does 'scratch' mean?
Is it like the Austral system where they penalise the stronger and advantage the weaker with some kind of time-penalty system?

I have images of mini-tour style stage racing (but without the support cars, fans and babes to kiss you on the podium😄 )

Are there any relevant race-reports out there? (Hippy-helpline???)

cheers

FD

Quoted message said:

Originally posted by flyingdutch
What exactly does 'scratch' mean?

A graded scratch race means people are put into A,B,C,D etc grades (like in a crit) and the race leaves with everyone together.
If people are being honest, the bunch should be fairly well matched and the race should proceed like a tour stage - without
the money, fans, "babes", feed stations, big climbs, cobbles, etc
;-)

A handicap sees riders start at different time intervals based on their ability. If you are a newbie you will get a few minutes head start, the it moves along until the last group - who are obviously the strongest riders. It should work out that everyone comes across the line at once, even if they have vastly different abilities.
These are painful because you are basically flat out for the whole
race, trying to catch anyone in front and not be caught by anyone behind. You can form bunches with the people you catch or who catch you to try and hold off the chasers. These are more common in the country it seems (and on the track).

Quoted message said:

Is it like the Austral system where they penalise the stronger >and advantage the weaker with some kind of time-penalty >system?

Nope, that's a handicap. A scratch is "all in".

Quoted message said:

Are there any relevant race-reports out there?
(Hippy-helpline???)

Hmm.. I've probably written some stuff over the years. Google
would be more helpful than me right now. Try "scratch" "handicap" "road race" "rules" ..

Here's a track faq:
http://www.umcycling.com/faq1.htm

rec.bicycles faq:
http://draco.acs.uci.edu/rbfaq/

hth
hippy