News Shorts - 26 August

BiciSport Masters Peter Budd & Ruth Strapp contest the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships commencing 29 August in Poznan Poland

Shimano Grand Prix MTB Round 4 @ Ourimbah @ 24 August - Eric Dole (BiciSport Master) took 2nd in his age category and 14th from a dirty MTB peloton of 60 starters.

Eric was leading until the last 2 minutes but was caught and finished second @ 26 seconds. Conditions were dusty & technical.

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• RAW Track @ 23 August - Davide van der Browne is currently 6th on the Division 2 RAW Pointscore

RACING THIS WEEK

• 30 August - RAW Track @ 7.30pm @ DGV

• 27-30 August - Tour of the Great South Coast (Cycling Aust NRS Series) (Victoria)

• 29 Aug - 1 Sept - UCI Gran Fondo World Championships (Poznan, Poland)

• 1 Sept - Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters), Calga ITT (ATTA)

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS

New Special Events added or updated on the BiciSport website now include -

• Goulburn Weekend - September 7 & 8

  • For the ITT on the Saturday & Road Races on the Sunday

  • BiciSport starters Stewart Campbell, Mike Lawson, Randolph Baral, Graham Cockerton & Dom Zumbo

• Amy Gillet Gran Fondo - September 15 & 16

  • 10 BiciSport riders are doing the Amy Gillett Gran Fondo in September

• Beers & Gears Cyclosportive (Wagga) - October 6

  • includes the Filthy 50 and the Dirty 130

• Pilu Freshwater-Bear Cottage Charity Ride - October 13

  • Start Finish is at Pilu Freshwater then Church Point & return to Pilu Freshwater.

• Bowral Classic - October 20

  • with Stewart Campbell & Team Happy Wheels

Pilu Racing host the Bear Cottage Charity Ride on Sunday 13 October. A great ride for a great cause with all funds raised going to Bear Cottage at Westmead Hospital. Details in BiciSport Special Events

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are now HEAVIER with the NSW School Term in session

*  Note -

• Roadworks

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Kimbriki Tip to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced with a completion date of 2022.

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 27 & 29 August

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

• 28 August

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

  • Dunc Grey Velodrome Winter Training Group @ 7pm @ 160 laps (40k) - Fast & Slow groups

• 29 August

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

  • Chairmans Ride @ Centennial Park @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

• 31 August

  • Cnr Mill Park Street & Walker St Rhodes (at the Cafe) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am

Vale Felice Gimondi - Felice winning the !974 Milan San Remo Classic in the World Champions jersey

News Shorts - 19 August

Attention all cyclists on the M7 Cyclepath - its beyond comprehension that anybody could conceive this act of urban thuggery on the M7 Cyclepath. Please exercise extreme caution at all times.

Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 11 August - BiciSport Pilu Racing had success at Heffron Park with Matt Coy (left) 4th in A grade, and Jeremy Hopson who took another Heffron victory

West Head Road Race @ 18 August - Brett Cocks (BiciSport Pilu Racing) took 5th supported by Matt Coy who took 12th.

Strade Bianche @ Noosa @ 11 August - Frank Signor chasing the perfect wave on the Sunshine Coast

Strade Bianche @ Noosa @ 11 August - The BiciSport duo of Frank Signor (Mr Molteni) and Roger Thompson-Seagrave at the Noosaville waterfront

Strade Bianche @ Noosa @ 11 August - Mr Molteni was all smiles after completion of the Eroica Strade Bianche course with the prized finishing medal for the mandatory podium champagne spray

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Cootamundra Weekend @ 17-18 August - Peter Budd & Conor Tarlington ventured down to the Coota Weekend for the Saturday handicap & a new State Championship on the Sunday. For Peter it was his last major hit out before heading off to the UCI Masters Worlds at Poznan. The circuit itself lies to the west of Cootamundra and is as picturesque as you could imagine - simply stunning countryside and not a car to be seen.

  The 115k handicap had a rapid start (averaging 47kph). Both Conor & Peter were on ‘good days’ and were both in the sniff of a podium with a little bit of luck. Conor finished 34th & Peter a consistent 57th. A good day of hard NSW country handicap racing.

• Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 18 August - Raoul Westbrook had a fine win in D grade

• RAW Track @ 16 August - Davide van der Browne took a win, and is currently 5th on the Division 2 RAW Pointscore

2019 GRAN FONDO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - POZNAN (POLAND)

• Peter Budd will be travelling to Poznan next week along with BiciSport team mate Ruth Strapp. The support team also includes two other BiciSport riders in Meilssa Budd and training buddy Roger Thompson-Seagrave will be joining Peter & Ruth for moral support when they tackle the World Championships.

  Peter’s journey started in 2016 when the event was held in Perth. Peter picked up 10th place and had him thinking of bigger things. Albi in France in 2017 was his very first trip overseas and the racing was fast and hot. 370 starters and 37 degrees with 155k of racing. Peter finished 61st on that tough day.

  Last year it was Varese in the north of Italy where a super hard 132k climbing course wasn’t Peter forte and neither were the pot holes in the road. He did not come last but somewhere around 200th after pinch flatting his tubular on the less than acceptable roads.

  This year is Poznan and although it is Peter’s last year as a Master 6 the course in Poznan is more suited to his skill set. Anyone that knows Peter knows that he is yet to hit his proper racing weight and he does surprisingly well with his racing given his love of food.  The Poznan race is 151k long with a total elevation change of 451 metres. The biggest climb is a whole 33 metres high.  Considering the Singleton TTT course had over 300 metres of climbing I think Peter has this one covered and hopefully he will get to use his handy sprint at the pointy end of the race.

  The races at the World Championships start extremely fast and Poznan should be no different. Peter has been doing a lot of motor pacing behind Melissa on the scooter at race speeds to prepare for the Poznan Championship. It is likely that there will be winds blowing so being near the front is something that Peter is prepared for and hopefully echelons will thin out the riders near the front so that the final sprint isn’t totally out of control. Given around 300-400 riders will start his age group a top 50 finish is a great result for any rider at this level. Peter will be aiming to achieve that result or better and hopefully no punctures like last year. 

RACING THIS WEEK

• 23 August - RAW Track @ 7.30pm @ DGV

• 24-25 August - Tamworth Cycling Festival (CyclingNSW)

• 25 August - Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

Cootamundra 115k Handicap @ 17 August - before the start with Mike O’Reilly, Peter Budd & Conor Tarlington

Cootamundra 115k Handicap @ 17 August - Peter Budd at the 80k mark just 2 minutes behind the lead riders

Cootamundra 115k Handicap @ 17 August - Conor Tarlington at the 80k mark just 2 minutes behind Peter Budd

Cootamundra 115k Handicap @ 17 August - Conor Tarlington on the finishing climb for 34th after a great effort

Cootamundra 115k Handicap @ 17 August - Peter Budd had a sniff of the lead group at the 80k mark but settled for 57th

Cootamundra 80k Scratch Race @ 18 August - Conor Tarlington before the start

Cootamundra 80k Scratch Race @ 18 August - Conor Tarlington finished 15th in Division 2 in heavy crosswinds that made “gutter grovelling” the order of the day

Danish Hour Record - Marting Toft Madsen before the Hour Record effort. Bike by Argon 18.

Danish Hour Record @ 13 August - Marting prepares for the launch

Danish Hour Record @ 13 August - Marting in action during the Hour record

DANISH HOUR RECORD - Rider (MADSEN - Denmark), Coach (SIMMONS - BiciSport)

Marting Toft Madsen is an amateur riding for a continental team in Europe. He works full time as an engineer. Martin began working with Alex Simmons (BiciSport coach) at the end of last season. Setting a new hour best ride was a key objective. Marting completed 53.975k at the Odense track in Denmark on Tuesday evening 13 August 2019.

That betters the previous Danish record held by Mikkel Bjerg of 53.730k. It's also further than Martin rode last year at altitude in Aguascalientes Mexico, 53.619k. Since the Lugarno chapter, only Wiggins has gone further at sea level, and all time only Wiggins, Boardman and Rominger have gone further at sea level. It’s the 5th furthest ridden under all time UCI regulations (Boardman, Rominger, Campenaerts, Wiggins, Madsen). Very happy to have been working with Martin this season. Hoping we can get him to the World Championships in some even better shape ! Alex Simmons (BiciSport coach)

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are now HEAVIER with the NSW School Term in session

*  Note -

• Roadworks

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Kimbriki Tip to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced with a completion date of 2022.

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 19, 21, 23 August

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

• 20 & 22 August

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

• 21 August

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

  • Dunc Grey Velodrome Winter Training Group @ 7pm @ 160 laps (40k) - Fast & Slow groups

• 22 August

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

  • Chairmans Ride @ Centennial Park @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

• 24 August

  • Cnr Mill Park Street & Walker St Rhodes (at the Cafe) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am

VALE FELICE GIMONDI

Rest in Peace Felice, it was a great ride.

Felice graced Team Salvarini & Team Bianchi during his illustrious career

Felice Gimondi (wearing the World Champions Rainbow Jersey) in the Giro D’Italia

Felice Gimondi in his latter years alongside the iconic powder blue Alfa Bianchi Campagnolo Team Car

News Shorts - 12 August

For both Ruth Strapp & Peter Budd (both BiciSport) the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships loom over the horizion and commence at the end of August.

A Poznan review will be posted next week.

Calga 100k Handicap @ 11 August - Eric Dole took 2nd in very cold & windy conditions

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• National Cyclo Cross Championship & Series Round 7 @ King Valley Wangaratta @ 10-11 Aug - Mike Lawson defended his National Masters (M8) Championship on the Saturday at the Sam Miranda Winery in the King Valley. Mike challenged his old nemesis from his MTB days as they passed and re-passed each other at least 15 times during the Championship. Mike kicked away in the last 5 minutes to take the win by 23 seconds Mike backed up on the Sunday (in heavy mud after overnight rain) to take out Round 7 of the National Series.

• Calga 100k Handicap @ 11 August - Eric Dole competed in cold & windy conditions in a very tough day in the cycling office at Calga. Numbers were down due to the adverse conditions but A grade was 16 riders strong with several NRS riders on the start list. B grade caught C grade at the 65k mark, with A grade joining the front group at the 75k mark. A grade charged through the field and the peloton exploded as it was carnage with riders dropped everywhere with the majority pulling out at the 82k mark. Eric won the KOM (King of the Mountain prize on lap 2). Vive Le Republic ! !

RACING THIS WEEK

• 16 August - RAW Track @ 7.30pm @ DGV

• 17-18 August - Cootamundra Weekend (CycNSW) - BiciSport starters Conor Tarlington & Peter Budd

• 18 August - Cyclosportive Noosa Classic, West Head Road Race (Manly CC), Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are now HEAVIER with the NSW School Term in session

*  Note -

• Roadworks

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Kimbriki Tip to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced with a completion date of 2022.

Goulburn Liverpool Classic 1988 - A 180k handicap with 250 starters departing Goulburn from 7.30am then onwards down the Old Hume Highway (there was no freeway in those days) then direction Marulan, Bundanoon, Exeter, Moss Vale, Picton, Camden, Campbelltown and finally finishing in the Liverpool main street. L to R … Craig Beddome (South Australia), Peter Frisken, Peter Rowe, Peter Krause & Mike O’Reilly

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 12, 14, 16 August

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

• 13 & 15 August

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

• 14 August

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

  • Dunc Grey Velodrome Winter Training Group @ 7pm @ 160 laps (40k) - Fast & Slow groups

• 15 August

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

  • Chairmans Ride @ Centennial Park @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

• 17 August

  • Cnr Mill Park Street & Walker St Rhodes (at the Cafe) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am

Retro 1967 with a youthful Gianni Motta (Molteni) and Eddy Merckx (Peugeot BP). Motta rode with Campagnolo high flange hubs and Merckx on the “new” low flange hubs. In the picture both riders are using Universal brakes, but Merckx deferred for the team issue Mafac brake calipers.

News Shorts - 5 August

NSW Team Time Trial @ 3 August - L to R … Tom Green, Rhett Hall & Conor Tarlington finished 2nd in the Elite Mens Challenge. Conditions were ideal for the early morning start.

NSW Team Time Trial @ 3 August - Kirsty Flanagan, Melissa Budd, Cat Haines & Ruth Strapp. Melissa had a mechanical at the 5k mark and the team rode well with 3 riders.

NSW Team Time Trial @ 3 August …. Peter Davis, Tony Jones, Bundy McLean & Tony Delgigante. Peter Davis got lost and was last seen riding towards Tamworth ….

NSW Team Time Trial @ 3 August - Dan Merange, Jay Gaffey, Emma Wright & Ben Gaffey. The Project M’s also suffered from getting lost (direction Tamworth). Rumours that they were simply wine tasting are without foundation.

NSW Team Time Trial @ 3 August - Team Griffith led by Tony Delgigante, Roger Thompson-Seagrave, Frank Signor, Tony Sampson, Tony Jones & Steve (Bundy) McLean

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Singleton Team Time Trial @ 3 August

  • BiciSport took two Silver medals in the Singleton Challenge (Elite Men & Mixed), notwithstanding a bizarre 74k effort by Project M, and two Championship Bronze medals (Masters 150+ and Masters 180+.

  • BiciSport finished 5th in the overall Club Teams Pointscore.

  • Race Report

    • A new venue in Singleton offered improvements over Nowra with improved accommodation, better coffee offerings, good restaurants/pubs, easier Freeway access (at least from the Insular Peninsula) and a much better Sunday ride option up the lovely Mirannie Valley. Downsides reminded one of going to a race in the 1960’s - more motor traffic than expected, totally inadequate race signage and close to non existent car parking/facilities (blessings to Shearers Farm). Bring on the 1970’s ….

    • Results

      • Mixed Challenge - Project M defied conventional wisdom to ride 74k in a 30k event then somehow were awarded a Silver medal !!. WTF !!. Am not sure if the extra 44k was a swim-run combo or a diversion to a local winery. A Royal Commission is needed to sort this out, or maybe just some elementary signage and the odd flag marshall ( … some woeful race organisation … just sayin’ ...)

      • Mens Challenge - 3 teams and Oakwood took the Silver @ 4min53secs

      • Masters Women - 10 teams and the Anytime Femmes finished 5th @ 5min29 secs. Melissa Budd having a mechanical

      • Masters 180+ - 7 teams and BiciSport Factor G picked up a Bronze @ 3min 16secs. Peter Verhoeven rode his heart out and Ian Grainger did a blinder

      • Masters 150+ - 17 teams and highly competitive. Happy Wheels led by Computa Campbell took the Bronze just two seconds off Silver. Pilu Racing was 5th @ 3min07secs, BiciSport Frenchies 12th @ 10min16secs, the Anytimes 15th @ 13min03secs & the Riverinas 16th @ 13min21secs

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS

New Special Events added or updated on the BiciSport website now include -

• UCI World Grand Fondo Championships (Poznan, Poland) - 29 Aug-1 Sept

  • BiciSport starters Peter Budd & Ruth Strapp

• Amy Gillet Gran Fondo - September 15 & 16

  • 10 BiciSport riders are doing the Amy Gillett Gran Fondo in September

• Pilu Freshwater-Bear Cottage Charity Ride - October 13

  • Start Finish is at Pilu Freshwater then Church Point & return to Freshwater. Full details shortly.

• Bowral Classic - October 19-20

  • with Stewart Campbell & Team Happy Wheels

NSW Team Time Trial @ 3 August - Gio Pilu, Jordan Reizes, Matt Coy & Richard Bjorkmann

NSW Team Time Trial @ 3 August - Len Groen, Davide van der Browne, Eric Dole (French Housewives Favourite) & Steve Holland. Davide was unlucky to puncture in the first 5k that ended his day.

NSW Team Time Trial @ 3 August - Raoul Westbrook, John Robb, Karl Hoad & Sean Mura

NSW Team Time Trial @ 3 August - Darren Crouchley (BiciSport mechanic) and Bundy McLean at the BiciSport Service Corse at Shearers Farm

NSW Team Time Trial @ 3 August - BiciSport Happy Wheels 150+ category led by Randolph Baral, then Stewart Campbell, Dom Zumbo & Graham Cockerton

NSW Team Time Trial @ 3 August - BiciSport Masters took the Bronze medal in the 180+ category with Peter Verhoeven, Ian Grainger, Peter Budd & Mike Lawson.

NSW Team Time Trial @ 3 August - Bronze medal for the Happy Wheelers in the Masters 150+ with Stewart Campbell, Randolph Baral, Graham Cockerton & Dom Zumbo …. oh so close to a Silver medal by just two seconds !

RACING THIS WEEK

• 9 August - RAW Track @ 7.30pm @ DGV

• 9-11 August - Tour of the Tweed (NSW-Qld border)

• 10-11 August - Noosa Strade Bianche (Cyclosportive) - several Griffith BiciSport going to this retro & dirt Classic

• 11 August - Calga 100k Handicap (Central Coast)

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are now HEAVIER with the NSW School Term in session

*  Note -

• Roadworks

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Kimbriki Tip to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced with a completion date of 2022.

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 5, 7, 9 August

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

• 6 & 8 August

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

• 7 August

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

  • Dunc Grey Velodrome Winter Training Group @ 7pm @ 160 laps (40k) - Fast & Slow groups

• 8 August

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

  • Chairmans Ride @ Centennial Park @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

• 10 August

  • Cnr Mill Park Street & Walker St Rhodes (at the Cafe) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am

NSW Team Time Trial @ 3 August - BiciSport Sunday club ride up the Mirannie Valley to the St Johns Baptist Church. Marty Wright in middle picture (facing the other way) was somewhat in the hurt box after a big day on team management duties.

NSW Team Time Trial @ 4 August - A nicely sized peloton for the Sunday club ride to the Mirannie Valley

NSW Team Time Trial @ 3 August - Alex Simmons & Cheryl Shearer at Shearers Farm on Glendon Rd. A great location to stage the BiciSport Service Corse for the Singleton TTT.

NSW Team Time Trial @ 3 August - the one the only Stewart Campbell (with RVV socks of Ronde Van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) fame

News Shorts - 29 July

BiciSport TTT Training @ Terrey Hills @ 28 July - L to R … Karl Hoad, John Robb, Raoul Westbrook & Sean Mura

BiciSport TTT Training @ Terrey Hills @ 28 July - L to R … Randolph Baral, Dom Zumbo & Graham Cockerton

BiciSport TTT Training @ Terrey Hills @ 28 July - L to R …. Eric Dole, Davide van der Browne, Steve Holland & Peter Verhoeven

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• RAW Track @ DGV - Davide van der Browne has climbed the leaderboard in Division 2 after missing Round 3 with the flu. Davide moved from 8th to equal 3rd after round 5 (with 7 rounds to go).

BICISPORT TEAM TIME TRIAL - START TIMES & TEAMS NOW CONFIRMED

• Start Times

  • 8.02am - PROJECT M

  • 8.18am - CARDIO AMIGOS

  • 8.24am - OAKWOOD LIFESTYLE ADVISERS

  • 9.48am - ANYTIME FEMMES

  • 10.06am - FACTOR G

  • 11.14am - RIVERINAS

  • 11.18am - ANYTIMES

  • 11.28am - FRENCHIES

  • 11.32am - HAPPY WHEELS

  • 11.40am - PILU RACING

• The BiciSport teams to Singleton on 2 August have now been confirmed and detailed in the Special Events page of this website

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS

New Special Events added or updated on the BiciSport website now include -

• Singleton TTT - August 2-4

  • with 10 BiciSport teams on the Singleton TTT start line, including the Project M Team from Kiama

• Amy Gillet Gran Fondo - September 15 & 16

  • 10 BiciSport riders are doing the Amy Gillett Gran Fondo in September

• Pilu Freshwater-Bear Cottage Charity Ride - October 13

  • Start Finish is at Pilu Freshwater then Church Point & return to Freshwater. Full details shortly.

• Bowral Classic - October 19-20

  • with Stewart Campbell & Team Happy Wheels

BiciSport in Belgium @ 27 July - Eddy Ver Hulst sighted in Diksmuide Belgium in 35+ degree heat. Diksmuide was the venue of major confrontations in World War One and the picture was taken in front of one of the many WW1 monuments.

RACING THIS WEEK

• 2 August - RAW Track @ 7.30pm @ DGV

• 3 August - NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton, NSW)

• 4 August - Singleton Criteriums (CycNSW), Tour of the Tropics (Nth Qld), Calga Time Trials (ATTA)

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are now HEAVIER with the NSW School Term in session

*  Note -

• Roadworks

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Kimbriki Tip to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced with a completion date of 2022.

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 29, 31 July, 2 August

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

• 30 July & 1 August

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

• 31 July

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

  • Dunc Grey Velodrome Winter Training Group @ 7pm @ 160 laps (40k) - Fast & Slow groups

• 1 August

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

  • Chairmans Ride @ Centennial Park @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

• 3 August

  • Cnr Mill Park Street & Walker St Rhodes (at the Cafe) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am

• 4 August

  • BiciSport Singleton Team Ride @ depart 8.30am

Master BiciSport Cappuccinos @ Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills @ 27 July - L to R Peter Krause, Paul Worby, Karl Hoad, Nigel (Neo) Smith), Ian Grainger, Eric Dole, Neil Farky, Martin Wright & Ken Edwards

Where were you in 1987 ?

News Shorts - 15 July

Cervelo Masters Round 3 @ Eastern Creek @ 14 July - Ruth Strapp (BiciSport Happy Wheels), Ian Grainger (BiciSport Anytime) & Matt Coy (BiciSport Pilu Racing)

Cervelo Masters Round 3 @ Eastern Creek @ 14 July - Davide van der Browne took 3rd place in the overall Cervelo Series (Division 4)

Cervelo Masters @ Eastern Creek @ 14 July - IL Presidente Ian Grainger took 3rd place in the overall Cervelo Series (Division 5)

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Cervelo Masters @ Eastern Creek @ 14 July - Welcome to 1 degree temperatures at ECR this fine morning. Matt Coy (Pilu Racing) was a peloton finish in Division 1-2, Ruth Strapp & Davide van der Browne both peloton finishers in Division 3-4. Ian Grainger was 4th in Division 5.

• Recovery Ward - Best wishes to Stephen Brown (ex Narrabeen Cycles) who suffered a broken collarbone along Booralie Rd Duffys Forest after a collision with a kangaroo.

BiciSport TTT Championships at Singleton on 3 August - Thank You Very Much … Ben Gaffey (Project M Team) has solicited special assistance over the 30k TTT distance

BICISPORT TEAM TIME TRIAL TEAMS - NOW CONFIRMED

• The next BiciSport TTT training session is 28 July from Hills Nursery Terrey Hills car park. Meet at 7.30am & depart at 8.00am for Booralie Rd (x 3 laps). Coffee is at Hills Nursery at 9.15am.

• The BiciSport teams to Singleton on 2 August have now been (largely) confirmed and detailed in the Special Events page of this website

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS

• New Special Events added or updated on the BiciSport website now include -

  • Tour de France Dinner - Saturday 27 July

    • Sandstone Cafe (Miramare Gardens) Myoora Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.00pm arrive, dinner @ 7.30pm

    • ALL WELCOME … RSVP to Mike O’Reilly on sms 0417 403 244

  • Singleton TTT Training Sunday 28 July

    • See Special Events page

  • Singleton TTT - August 2-4

    • with 11 BiciSport teams on the Singleton TTT start line, including the Project M Team from Kiama

  • Amy Gillet Gran Fondo - September 15 & 16

    • 10 BiciSport riders are doing the Amy Gillett Gran Fondo in 2019

  • Pilu Freshwater-Bear Cottage Charity Ride - October 13

    • Start Finish at Pilu Freshwater then Church Point & return

  • Bowral Classic - October 19-20

    • with Stew Campbell & Team Happy Wheels

BiciSport Tour de France Dinner @ 27 July @ Sandstone Cafe - Seinfield may have the infamous Soup Nazi character but we have our own Tour de France dinner host in Little Vinnie.

RACING THIS WEEK

• 19 July - RAW Track @ 7.30pm @ DGV

• 19-21 July - Cyclosportive Velothon Sunshine Coast (Qld)

• 21 July - Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters), Calga Road Race (Central Coast CC), Ken Dinnerville Handicap (Gunning NSW), Beaumont Rd Criteriums (Northern Sydney CC)

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are now LIGHTER with the NSW School Holidays

*  Note -

• Roadworks

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Kimbriki Tip to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced with a completion date of 2022.

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 15, 17, 19 July

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

• 16 & 18 July

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

• 17 July

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

  • Dunc Grey Velodrome Winter Training Group @ 7pm @ 160 laps (40k) - Fast & Slow groups

• 18 July

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

  • Chairmans Ride @ Centennial Park @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

• 20 July

  • Cnr Mill Park Street & Walker St Rhodes (at the Cafe) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am

Penrith Lakes @ 6 July - Graham Cockerton in action

Penrith Lakes @ 6 July - Eric Dole (left), Dom Zumbo & Peter Budd (right)

No reason to post this other than it being a great picture of Cadel Evans in Le Tour

News Shorts - 8 July

Metropolitan Championships @ Penrith Lakes @ 6 July - Many thanks to Karl Hoad and Anytime Fitness for providing the new AF gazebo at Penrith Lakes with Davide van der Browne in session for the Ghent 6 Day in November on the rollers

Metropolitan Championships @ Penrith Lakes @ 6 July - M2 category and Jeremy Hopson (BiciSport Pilu Racing) leads the M2 peloton

Metropolitan Championships @ Penrith Lakes @ 6 July - M4 category and Davide van der Browne probably had a day he’d prefer to forget. A heavy night at RAW Track the night before weighed on poor Davide on the Saturday morning. Davide subsequently gave his front wheel to BiciSport team mate Graham Cockerton who had punctured and Cockertone repaid the kind gesture and rejoined the peloton to contest the sprint finish. A thoroughly nice unselfish act by Davide. Davide rides traditional 42 width Cinelli Criterium handelbars (very rounded and in the Roger De Vlaeminck style from the 1970’s) … yes, 42 is THE answer

Metropolitan Championships @ Penrith Lakes @ 6 July - M6 category start with Matt Coy (BiciSport Pilu Racing). Matt took the Bronze medal in the M6 category sprint finish.

Metropolitan Championships @ Penrith Lakes @ 6 July - M6 category start with (L to R) Eric Dole, Graham Cockerton & Dom Zumbo

Metropolitan Championships @ Penrith Lakes @ 6 July - M6 category mid race action with Dom Zumbo forcing the pace (in blue overshoes) from Eric Dole (in white helmet), Matt Coy (centre, white helmet) and Peter Budd (yellow fluoro shoes). Conditions were damp & tricky.

Metropoltian Championships @ Penrith Lakes @ 6 July - M6 peloton leading into the finishing straight with Matt Coy (Pilu Racing) and Peter Budd (Happy Wheels) in third wheel

Metropolitan Championships @ Penrith Lakes @ 6 July - With French tv motorbikes soon to arrive the French Housewives Favourite (that will be Eric Dole) leads the M6 peloton from Dom Zumbo (third wheel)

Metropolitan Championships @ Penrith Lakes @ 6 July - Dom Zumbo in the M6 peloton into the finishing straight.

Metropolitan Championships @ Penrith Lakes @ 6 July - At the M6 finish line and Matt Coy may have already taken the M6 Bronze Medal but close on his heels was the BiciSport sprint train of Graham Cockerton, Peter Budd & Eric Dole

Metropolitan Championships @ Penrith Lakes @ 6 July - M6 Bronze medallist Matt Coy (BiciSport Pilu Racing) with BiciSport IL Presidente Ian Grainger

Metropolitan Championships @ Penrith Lakes @ 6 July - W4 category and Ruth Strapp (BiciSport Happy Wheels) chasing the racing miles in preparation for the UCI World Masters Road Championships in Poland in September 2019.

Metropolitan Championships @ Penrith Lakes @ 6 July - M8 podium and Ian Grainger takes the Bronze medal …. BiciSport’s own Il Presdente, Communications Director, Mr Motivation & General Mr Nice Guy

Get your own Tour de France Feed Zone at the BiciSport Le Tour dinner on Saturday 27 July @ Sandstone Cafe @ Miramare Gardens from 6.30pm. All Welcome. Details in Special Events section of this website

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS - NEW EVENTS ADDED, OTHERS UPDATED

• New Special Events added or updated on the BiciSport website now include -

  • Tour de France Dinner - Saturday July 27

    • Sandstone Cafe (Miramare Gardens) Myoora Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.00pm

    • ALL WELCOME

  • Singleton TTT - August 2-4

    • with 11 BiciSport teams on the Singleton TTT start line, including the Project M Team

  • Amy Gillet Gran Fondo - September 15 & 16

    • 10 BiciSport riders are doing the Amy Gillett Gran Fondo in 2019

  • Bowral Classic - October 19-20

    • with Stew Campbell & Team Happy Wheels

RACING THIS WEEK

• 12 July - RAW Track @ 7.30pm @ DGV

• 14 July - Cervelo Masters Round # 3 (CycNSW), Heffron Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are now LIGHTER with the NSW School Holidays

*  Note -

• Roadworks

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Kimbriki Tip to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced with a completion date of 2022.

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 8, 10, 12 July

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

• 9 & 11 July

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

• 10 July

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

  • Dunc Grey Velodrome Winter Training Group @ 7pm @ 160 laps (40k) - Fast & Slow groups

• 11 July

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

  • Chairmans Ride @ Centennial Park @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

• 13 July

  • Cnr Mill Park Street & Walker St Rhodes (at the Cafe) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am

BiciSport @ DGV RAW Track @ 28 June - Davide van der Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

BiciSport @ RAW Track @ DGV @ 28 June - Damien Bottero (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) awaits the start

BiciSport @ Hills Nursery Terrey Hills @ 28 June - Peter Davis, Noel La Rose (81 years young), Georgie Whitehouse & Conor Tarlington (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

News Shorts - 1 July

BiciSport TTT Training @ Terrey Hills @ 30 June - Jordan Reizes leads the Pilu Racing Team

BiciSport TTT Training @ Terrey Hills @ 30 June - Sean Mura leads Eric Dole & Tom Green

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• State Cross Series @ Central Coast @ 30 June - Mike Lawson report too come

• Rememberance Cup @ Western Sydney Dragway @ 29 June - Division 6 - Ian Grainger finished 6th in a bunch gallop

The new Anytime Fitness gazebo will feature at the Metropolitian Championships at Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre on Saturday 6 July from 7.30am. Look forward to seeing you there. Full details in the Special Events page of this website.

BiciSport Tour de France dinner is on Saturday 27 July at the Sandstone Cafe (Miramare Gardens) at Terrey Hills @ 6.30pm. All welcome. Details on Special Events page on this website.

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS - NEW EVENTS ADDED, OTHERS UPDATED

• New Special Events added or updated on the BiciSport website now include -

  • Sydney Metropolitan Championships (Penrith Lakes) - July 6

    • BiciSport starters include

      • M4 @ 8.10am - Davide van der Browne

      • M6 @ 8.12am - Matt Coy, Graham Cockerton, Dom Zumbo, Peter Budd & Eric Dole

      • M2 @ 9.25am - Jeremy Hopson

      • W4 @ 10.30am - Ruth Strapp

      • M9 @ 10.34am - Ian Grainger

  • Tour de France Dinner - Saturday July 27

    • Sandstone Cafe (Miramare Gardens) Myoora Rd Terrey Hills @ 6.30pm

  • Singleton TTT - August 2-4

    • 10 BiciSport teams on the Singleton TTT start line, including the Project M Team

  • Amy Gillet Gran Fondo - September 15 & 16

    • 10 BiciSport riders are doing the Amy Gillett Gran Fondo in 2019

  • Bowral Classic - October 19-20

• with Stewart Campbell & Team Happy Wheels

BICISPORT ASSISTING PROJECT M WOMENS TEAM AT SINGLETON TTT

• Project M Womens Team is from Nathan Miller’s club on the South Coast near Kiama. Team leader Jay Gaffey had heard about Nowra TTT in 2018 and decided to give it a go. The Singleton TTT is an opportunity for the Project M women’s team to develop their cycling skill set and overall strength and seeing how the NSW TTT Championships operate.

• BiciSport will be assisting the Project M Womens Team throughout the Singleton TTT weekend.

• Full BiciSport team details (accommodation, dinner & club ride details) are now posted on the Special Events page of this website.

BiciSport will be assisting the Project M Womens Team from Kiama at Singleton TTT in early August

RACING THIS WEEK

• 5 July - RAW Track @ 7.30pm @ DGV

• 6 July - Metropolitan Road Championships @ Penrith Lakes from 8.00am

  • BiciSport starters - Matt Coy, Graham Cockerton, Dom Zumbo, Peter Budd, Melissa Budd, Eric Dole, Ian Grainger, Peter Verhoeven, Jeremy Hopson, Ruth Strapp, Davide van der Browne

• 7 July - West Head Road Race (Manly CC), Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters), Calga ITT (ATTA)

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are now LIGHTER with the NSW School Holidays

*  Note -

• Roadworks

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Kimbriki Tip to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced with a completion date of 2022.

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 1, 3, 5 July

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

• 2 July - M7 Cyclepath over 70k @ Bella Vista start @ 7.30am

• 2 & 4 July

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

• 3 July

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

  • Dunc Grey Velodrome Winter Training Group @ 7pm @ 160 laps (40k) - Fast & Slow groups

• 4 July

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

  • Chairmans Ride @ Centennial Park @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

• 5 July

  • Taren Point to Kurnell & return @ 9.30am @ towards South Cronulla

• 6 July

  • Cnr Mill Park Street & Walker St Rhodes (at the Cafe) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am

Steve Dixon (BiciSport Master) has spent the last 4 weeks working through “technical issues” with the Tour de France team car. Steve is the undoubted doyen of sorting out technical issues with classic Peugeot’s.

Like any classic motor car from the Seventies it takes a long view on getting issues assessed and then resolved. The 504 Peugeot is now well sorted and will make an appearance at the Penrith Lakes Regatta Centre on 6 June together with the Anytime Fitness gazebo

World Professional Road Race Champion 1965-66 - Tom Simpson (Peugeot BP Team). Note the bidon on the handelbars and the French Mafac Centre Pull brakes

Sandstone Cafe @ 29 June @ Terrey Hills - Marty Wright & Eric Dole

News Shorts - 24 June

National Cyclo Cross Series Rounds 3 & 4 @ Ballarat @ 22-23 June - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) takes 2 wins in 2 days. Well done Mike.

Cervelo Masters Super Series @ Calga @ 23 June - L to R … Matt Coy (BiciSport Pilu Racing), Eric Dole (BiciSport Anytime Fitness), Davide Browne & Ruth Strapp (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Cervelo Masters Super Series @ Calga @ 23 June - Despite Eric Dole being the French Housewives Favourite (no pressure !) it was up to fellow team mate & ace bunch sprinter Davide van der Browne who took the Division 4 victory (Mario Cipolini eat your heart out !). Eric took the KOM on Blood Hill & Davide did the rest. Davide was heard muttering something about the Ghent 6 in November and how good he was sprinting ….

Cervelo Masters Super Series @ HEZ @ 16 June - Jordan Reizes (BiciSport Pilu Racing) far right in the Division 2 breakaway. Matt Coy is obscured just in front of Jordan.

Caravello in Sicily @ 23 June - Jock Young (BiciSport) far right in Sicily clocking up over 100k per day

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• National Cyclo Cross Series @ Ballarat @ 22-23 June - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Master) took the wins at both Round 3 & 4 of the National Cyclocross Series

• Cervelo Masters Super Series @ Calga @ 23 June - Freezing conditions greeted Cervelo Round 2 in leafy Calga. Division 2 - Matt Coy finished 8th, Division 3 - Ruth Strapp crashed (was unhurt) and a DNF, Division 4 - Davide Browne took the victory and Eric Dole 7th & KOM award. Division 5 - Ian Grainger finished 6th & KOM award

• Caravello Group in Italy - Jock Young (BiciSport) is currently in Sicily with team Caravello clocking up 100k per day

• Happy Wheels Sponsored Group - Declan Jones has transferred out of the Happy Wheels sponsored group

CYCNSW CALENDAR CHANGES - DINNERVILLE NOW TO GUNNING ON 21 JULY

• The Ken Dinnerville 100k handicap is usually run on a circuit near Dapto. However, ongoing roadworks has necessitated a venue change to Gunning (near Goulburn)

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS - NEW EVENTS ADDED, OTHERS UPDATED

• New Special Events added or updated on the BiciSport website now include -

  • Sydney Metropolitan Championships (Penrith Lakes) - July 6

    • a full compliment of BiciSport riders will compete across all Divisions. Start times are now listed. BiciSport will provide all day support at Penrith Lakes.

  • Tour de France Dinner - Saturday July 27

    • Sandstone Cafe (Miramare Gardens) Myoora Rd Terrey Hills @ 6.30pm

  • Singleton TTT - August 2-4

    • with 10 BiciSport teams on the Singleton TTT start line, including the Project M Womens Team

  • Goulburn Weekend - September 7 & 8

    • with Ian Grainger & Conor Tarlington

  • Amy Gillet Gran Fondo - September 15 & 16

    • 10 BiciSport riders are doing the Amy Gillett Gran Fondo in 2019

  • NSW Masters Road Championships (Coffs Harbour) - September 21 & 22

    • with Ian Grainger

  • CA Masters Road Championships (Adelaide) - October 3-6

    • with Ian Grainger

BiciSport is assisting the Project M Womens TTT team to tackle the Singleton State TTT on 3 August with Jay Gaffey, Emma Wright, Steph Jackson & Clarinda Sheeley

BICISPORT ASSISTING PROJECT M WOMENS TEAM AT SINGLETON TTT

• Project M Womens Team is from Nathan Miller’s club on the South Coast near Kiama. Team leader Jay Gaffey had heard about Nowra TTT in 2018 and decided to give it a go. The Singleton TTT is an opportunity for the Project M women’s team to develop their cycling skill set and overall strength and seeing how the NSW TTT Championships operate.

• BiciSport will be assisting the Project M Womens Team throughout the Singleton TTT weekend.

NSW TEAM TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - NEXT BICISPORT TRAINING SESSION IS AT TERREY HILLS ON SUNDAY 30 JUNE

• Next BiciSport TTT training session is set for Sunday 30 June @ Terrey Hills - See the Special Events page of this website

• Full BiciSport team details (accommodation, dinner & club ride details) are now posted on the Special Events page of this website.

RACING THIS WEEK

• 28 June - RAW Track Season commences @ 7.30pm @ DGV

• 29 June - Rememberance Cup @ Eastern Creek Raceway

• 30 June - Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters), Melburn Roobaix Cyclosportive @ Melbourne

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are now HEAVIER with the NSW School Term in full swing

*  Note -

• Roadworks

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Kimbriki Tip to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced with a completion date of 2022.

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 24, 26, 28 June

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

• 25, 27 June

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

• 26 June

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

  • Dunc Grey Velodrome Winter Training Group @ 7pm @ 160 laps (40k) - Fast & Slow groups

• 27 June

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

  • Chairmans Ride @ Centennial Park @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

• 28 June

  • Taren Point to Kurnell & return @ 9.30am @ towards South Cronulla

• 29 June

  • Cnr Mill Park Street & Walker St Rhodes (at the Cafe) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am

• 30 June

  • BiciSport TTT training session @ Hills Nursery Terrey Hills carpark @ 7.30am, depart 8.00am for Duffys Forest. Coffee at Hills Nursery from 9.15am (All Welcome)

28 June @ RAW Track starts at the DGV from 7.30pm

29 June @ Eastern Creek Raceway

30 June @ Northcote Velodrome Melbourne

News Shorts - 17 June

Gunnedah Tamworth Road Race @ 16 June - before the start with Conor Tarlington, Rhett Hall & Ruth Strapp

Gunnedah Tamworth Road Race @ 16 June - Division 2 start line with Rhett Hall & Conor Tarlington

Gunnedah Tamworth Road Race @ 16 May - Ruth Strapp lines up on a Specialised Venge at the Division 4 start line in Gunnedah

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Gunnedah Tamworth Road Race @ 16 June - Staying in Quirindi on the Saturday night looked like a masterstroke with a great new motel & excellent food nearby …. but lets talk about the endless ! ! coal trains that shuffle through the centre of town ALL through the night and the friendly train driver who hits the horn twice (once is more than enough to wake up the whole town but rules are rules). The weather dawned close to perfect with clear skies and little wind with 9am temperatures hovering just on 9 degrees. The course went due south towards Quirindi, veering left to Werris Creek, then left again into Tamworth. Rhett Hall & Conor Tarlington both rode really well in Division 2 for a peloton finish and ditto for Ruth Strapp in Division 4. The weekend was well organised save for the Quirindi coal trains !.

• Recovery Ward - Speedy recovery to Peter Holyfield who had a nasty early early morning training accident riding to the lighthouse at South West West Rocks due to a confrontation with a local wallaby. Peter landed heavily and broke a pelvis. Get well soon Peter. Eric Dole & Ian Grainger have recently had near misses with wallabies on the West Head Road

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS - NEW EVENTS ADDED, OTHERS UPDATED

• New Special Events added or updated on the BiciSport website now include -

  • Cervelo Masters Series - June 23 (Calga) & July 14 (Western Sydney Dragway)

  • Sydney Metropolitan Championships (Penrith Lakes) - July 6

    • a full compliment of BiciSport riders will compete across all Divisions. Start times are now listed. BiciSport will provide all day support at Penrith Lakes.

  • Singleton TTT - August 2-4

    • with 10 BiciSport teams on the Singleton TTT start line, including the Project M Womens Team

  • Goulburn Weekend - September 7 & 8

    • with Ian Grainger & Conor Tarlington

  • Amy Gillet Gran Fondo - September 15 & 16

    • 10 BiciSport riders are doing the Amy Gillett Gran Fondo in 2019

  • NSW Masters Road Championships (Coffs Harbour) - September 21 & 22

    • with Ian Grainger

  • CA Masters Road Championships (Adelaide) - October 3-6

    • with Ian Grainger

NSW TEAM TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - NEXT BICISPORT TRAINING SESSION IS AT TERREY HILLS ON SUNDAY 30 JUNE

• Next BiciSport TTT training session is set for Sunday 30 June @ Terrey Hills - See the Special Events page of this website

• Full BiciSport team details (accommodation, dinner & club ride details) are now posted on the Special Events page of this website.

RACING THIS WEEK

• 23 June - Cervelo Masters Super Series # 2 (Calga), Western Sydney Dragway (Waratah Masters)

Gunnedah Tamworth Road Race @ 16 June - Conor Tarlington after the finish

Gunnedah Tamworth Road Race @ 16 June - Rhett Hall after the finish

Gunnedah Tamworth Road Race @ 16 June - another great result by Ruth Strapp as she crosses the line in Division 4

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are now HEAVIER with the NSW School Term in full swing

*  Note -

• Roadworks

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Kimbriki Tip to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced with a completion date of 2022.

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 17, 19, 21 June

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

• 18, 20 June

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

• 19 June

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

  • Dunc Grey Velodrome Winter Training Group @ 7pm @ 160 laps (40k) - Fast & Slow groups

• 20 June

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

  • Chairmans Ride @ Centennial Park @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

• 22 June

  • Cnr Mill Park Street & Walker St Rhodes (at the Cafe) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am

BICILEAKS - Prologue Edition

• As the first draft of BiciLeaks Prologue Edition was mildly libelous and had to be more heavily redacted than the Fake News Mueller Report, it will be held over until next week

The next round of the Cervelo Masters Super Series is 23 June at Calga. Entries are via CyclingNSW.

Held in Melbourne on 30 June featuring numerous cobbled sections in and around Melbourne in the spirit of Paris Roubaix with a traditional finish at the Northcote Velodrome

Held at Eastern Creek Raceway on Saturday 29 June with entries via CyclingNSW

News Shorts - 10 June

Cairns Ironman @ 9 June - Great effort by Gio Pilu (BiciSport Pilu Racing)

Cervelo Masters Super Series @ Kurri Kurri @ 10 June - Jordan Reizes & Matt Coy

Cervelo Masters Super Series @ Kurri Kurri @ 10 June - Jordan Reizes (BiciSport Pilu Racing) took 3rd in Division 2

Cervelo Masters Super Series @ Kurri Kurri @ 10 June - Raoul Westbrook, Ruth Strapp & Mike O’Reilly

Cervelo Masters Super Series @ Kurri Kurri @ 10 June - Ruth Strapp facing the Division 3 start line

Cervelo Masters Super Series @ Kurri Kurri @ 10 June - Davide Brown & Ian Grainger

BICISPORT WEBSITE HITS UP 15%

• Pleasing to report that BiciSport website hits are showing a strong growth over the last 12 months. Thank you to all who have contributed & keep your results and pictures coming in.

WARATAH TUES & THURS TRAINING BUNCH TIMES BACK 15 MINUTES

• See details below as the Waratah’s Masters Tuesday & Thursday rides now pass through Terrey Hills at 8.05am on route to Akuna Bay. This has been done to avoid school drop off traffic peaks along Booralie Rd towards Duffys Forest

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Cervelo Masters Super Series @ HEZ Kurri Kurri @ 10 June - Great rides by Jordan Reizes (3rd in Div 2), Matt Coy (7th in Div 2) - both featured in a 9 rider breakaway that formed on lap 2 of 5 laps that stayed away. Ruth Strapp (Div 3 - 10th @ 2nd female) Raoul Westbrook & Davide Browne (Div 4 - 4th) & Ian Grainger (Div 5 - 11th in a peloton finish).

• Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 2 June - Jeremy Hopson (BiciSport Pilu Racing) took another A Grade win at Heffron Park

BICiLEAKS - PROLOGUE EDITION

At a recent Keepers of the Cog dinner at the Sandstone Cafe at Terrey Hills it was suggested (by the Bellingen Bandit no less) that the old “In the 11 Cog” fake news blog on the original BiciSport website should be rebirthed as BiciLeaks … sort of a cycling fake news, at times reality web blog, or a trashy gossip column with a hint of bad taste & lycra clad sarcasm … sort of a cycling facebook without the pointless pictures of food or your latest overseas cycling trip that nobody really cares about. In the old days it was taking a cheap swipe at the Click to Cart Credit Card Cycling Club when there are now far more interesting discussion topics to be had. Lets begin the chatter from next week.

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS - NEW EVENTS ADDED, OTHERS UPDATED

• New Special Events added or updated on the BiciSport website now include -

  • Singleton Recce (Sat) & Gunnedah Tamworth Road Race (Sun) - June 15 & 16

    • with Conor Tarlington, Ruth Strapp & Rhett Hall

  • Cervelo Masters Series - June 23 & July 14

  • Sydney Metropolitan Championships (Penrith Lakes) - July 6

    • a full compliment of BiciSport riders will compete across all Divisions

  • Goulburn Weekend - September 7 & 8

    • with Ian Grainger & Conor Tarlington

  • Amy Gillet Gran Fondo - September 15 & 16

    • in excess of 10 BiciSport riders are doing the Amy Gillett in 2019

  • NSW Masters Road Championships (Coffs Harbour) - September 21 & 22

    • with Ian Grainger

  • CA Masters Road Championships (Adelaide) - October 3-6

    • with Ian Grainger

  • Sam Miranda Weekend (Wangaratta, Vic ) - October 11-13

    • with Conor Tarlington

• NSW TEAM TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - NEXT BICISPORT TRAINING SESSION IS AT TERREY HILLS ON SUNDAY 30 JUNE

  • Next BiciSport TTT training session is set for Sunday 30 June @ Terrey Hills - See the Special Events page of this website

  • BiciSport will be again entering several teams into the NSW Teams Championships to be held over the 3-4 August weekend in Singleton.

  • Full BiciSport team details (accommodation, dinner & club ride details) are now posted on the Special Events page of this website.

  • If you enjoyed the Greenwell Point-Nowra experience then Singleton will come as a real surprise with a great circuit, improved accommodation & better dinner venues and a Sunday BiciSport club ride on traffic free roads. A weekend not to be missed & hope to see you there.

RACING THIS WEEK

• Note - Club racing has now returned to Calga after delays with Police approvals. Well organised by Central Coast Club these club races are now monthly, on a Sunday morning from Sunday 21 July

• 15-16 June - Gunnedah Weekend - BiciSport starters Ruth Strapp, Rhett Hall & Conor Tarlington

• 16 June - Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are now HEAVIER with the NSW School Term in full swing

*  Note -

• Avoid Central Sydney

  • Due to the Vivid light show in central Sydney City all traffic conditions are heavy until June 15

• Roadworks

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Bahai Temple to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced with a completion date of 2022.

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 10, 12, 14 June

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

• 11, 13 June

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.05am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.40am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.15am then to St Ives for coffee

• 12 June

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

  • Dunc Grey Velodrome Winter Training Group @ 7pm @ 160 laps (40k) - Fast & Slow groups

• 13 June

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

  • Chairmans Ride @ Centennial Park @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

• 15 June

  • Cnr Mill Park Street & Walker St Rhodes (at the Cafe) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am

Madonna Del Ghissalo Church @ Lake Como Italy @ 6 June - Sarah & Derek Culey

Madonna Del Ghissalo Church @ Lake Como Italy @ 6 June - the church features numerous donations from champion cyclists across the ages

News Shorts - 3 June

Sandstone Cafe @ Miramare Gardens Terrey Hills @ 1 June - Big Vinnie delivers the “Birthday Hug” to Ian Grainger (BiciSport President) on his 70th birthday. The birthday cake of a single friand + single sparkler was a delicate touch with Paul Warby still trying to figure it all out … .

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• ATTA ITT @ Calga @ 2 June - Over 25k option Matt Coy 16th (from 77 starters) @ 38min 34secs, Ian Grainger 52nd @ 43min 54 secs, Raoul Westbrook 58th @ 45min 06secs.

• National Cyclo Cross Series - Mike Lawson continues to ride the National Series

CYCLING NSW GETS A NEW CHAIRMAN - Glenn Vigar

• Congratulations to Glenn Vigar (St George CC) on becoming the new Cycling NSW Board Chairman. Glenn has been a life long supporter of NSW & Australian cycling and is regularly seen as the Chief Commissaire at numerous NSW & National Championships. Glenn’s elevation to the top job comes at a most important time with cycle sport facing significant challenges.

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS - NEW EVENTS ADDED, OTHERS UPDATED

• New Special Events added or updated on the BiciSport website now include -

  • Singleton Recce & Gunnedah Tamworth Road Race - June 15 & 16

    • with Conor Tarlington, Ruth Strapp & Rhett Hall

  • Cervelo Masters Series - June 10 & 23, July 14

  • Sydney Metropolitan Championships (Penrith Lakes) - July 6

    • a full compliment of BiciSport riders will compete across all Divisions

  • Goulburn Weekend - September 7 & 8

    • with Ian Grainger & Conor Tarlington

  • NSW Masters Road Championships (Coffs Harbour) - September 21 & 22

    • with Ian Grainger

  • CA Masters Road Championships (Adelaide) - October 3-6

    • with Ian Grainger

  • Sam Miranda Weekend (Wangaratta, Vic ) - October 11-13

    • with Conor Tarlington

• NSW TEAM TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - NEXT BICISPORT TRAINING SESSION IS SUNDAY 7 JULY

  • Next BiciSport TTT training session is set for Sunday 30 June @ Terrey Hills - See the Special Events page of this website

  • BiciSport will be again entering several teams into the NSW Teams Championships to be held over the 3-4 August weekend in Singleton.

  • Full BiciSport team details (accommodation, dinner & club ride details) are now posted on the Special Events page of this website.

  • If you enjoyed the Greenwell Point-Nowra experience then Singleton will come as a real surprise with a great circuit, improved accommodation & better dinner venues and a Sunday BiciSport club ride on traffic free roads. A weekend not to be missed & hope to see you there.

RACING THIS WEEK

• 9 June - Western Sydney Dragway @ Eastern Creek (Waratah Masters), Calga Road Race (Central Coast)

• 10 June - Cervelo Masters Super Series (HEZ Industrial Zone @ Kurri Kurri) - BiciSport starters Ruth Strapp, Ian Grainger, Jordan Reizes, Rhett Hall & Raoul Westbrook

  • Div 5 - 8.30am, Div 3 - 9.00am, Div 4 - 9.01am, Div 1 - 10.50am, Div 2 - 10.51am

BiciSport Saturday coffee is at @ Sandstone Cafe at Miramare Gardens on Myoora Rd at Terrey Hills. Meet up time is from 9.30am and concluded by 10.15am

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are now HEAVIER with the NSW School Term in full swing

*  Note -

• Avoid Central Sydney

  • Due to the Vivid light show in central Sydney City all traffic conditions are heavy until June 15

• Roadworks

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Bahai Temple to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced with a completion date of 2022.

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 3, 5, 7 June

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

• 4, 6 June

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.25am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.00am then to St Ives for coffee

• 5 June

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

  • Dunc Grey Velodrome Winter Training Group @ 7pm @ 160 laps (40k) - Fast & Slow groups

• 6 June

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

  • Chairmans Ride @ Centennial Park @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

• 8 June

  • Cnr Mill Park Street & Walker St Rhodes (at the Cafe) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am

For Sale - Fondriest (Italian) 52cm loaded with Campagnolo 11 speed groupset @ $1,500 ono . In immaculate condition, never crashed, “only ridden to Church Point on a Sunday” says current owner Ken Edwards. Feel free to contact Ken on 0412 261 422.

Akuna Bay @ West Head Rd Intersection @ 25 May - a favourite northside cycling spot offering great cycling in traffic free conditions. Picture taken by Nigel Smith (BiciSport).

News Shorts - 27 May

BiciSport TTT Training @ Terrey Hills @ 26 May - Stewart Campbell with the Green Beast

BiciSport TTT training @ Terrey Hills @ 26 May - L to R … Stewart Campbell, Graham Cockerton & Eric Dole (hidden is Randolph Baral behind Eric)

BiciSport TTT training @ Terrey Hills @ 26 May - Jordan Reizes leads Pilu Racing

BiciSport TTT training @ Terrey Hills @ 26 May - today was full of highlights … sitting on Booralie Rd watching the BiciSport teams fly past just after 8am & I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Ray Blackett who owns the somewhat unique Bash Car. That was sooo much fun & what a character & gentleman. Mike O’R

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• HEZ Industrial Estate @ Kurri Kurri @ 25 May - A good quality field of 140 starters took the start. A grade - Rhett Hall finished in the main peloton. C grade - Ruth Strapp finished 6th in C grade.

• UCI Gran Fondo World Championships @ Poland @ September - Ruth Strapp is joining Peter & Melissa Budd in the Poland this year after qualifying at the B2B in Bathurst in March.

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS - NEW EVENTS NOW ADDED, OTHERS UPDATED

• New Special Events added or updated on the BiciSport website now include -

  • Singleton Recce & Gunnedah Tamworth Road Race - June 15 & 16

    • with Conor Tarlington, Ruth Strapp & Rhett Hall

  • Cervelo Masters Series - June 10 & 23, July 14

  • Sydney Metropolitan Championships (Penrith Lakes) - July 6

    • a full compliment of BiciSport riders will compete across all Divisions

  • Goulburn Weekend - September 7 & 8

    • with Ian Grainger & Conor Tarlington

  • NSW Masters Road Championships (Coffs Harbour) - September 21 & 22

    • with Ian Grainger

  • CA Masters Road Championships (Adelaide) - October 3-6

    • with Ian Grainger

  • Sam Miranda Weekend (Wangaratta, Vic ) - October 11-13

    • with Conor Tarlington
      

• NSW TEAM TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - NEXT TRAINING SESSION IS 2 JUNE AT CALGA

  • Next BiciSport TTT training session is set for Sunday 2 June @ ATTA Calga from 8.30am onwards. All welcome

  • BiciSport will be again entering several teams into the NSW Teams Championships to be held over the 3-4 August weekend in Singleton.

  • Full BiciSport team details (accommodation, dinner & club ride details) are now posted on the Special Events page of this website.

  • If you enjoyed the Greenwell Point-Nowra experience then Singleton will come as a real surprise with a great circuit, improved accommodation & better dinner venues and a Sunday BiciSport club ride on traffic free roads. A weekend not to be missed & hope to see you there.

RACING THIS WEEK

• 2 June - Western Sydney Dragway @ Eastern Creek (Waratah Masters)

• 2 June - ATTA Individual Time Trial @ Calga (includes BiciSport teams for Singleton)

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are now HEAVIER with the NSW School Term in full swing

*  Note -

• Avoid central City

  • Due to the Vivid light show in central Sydney City all traffic conditions are heavy until June 15

• Roadworks

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Bahai Temple to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced with a completion date of 2022.

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 27 & 29 & 31 May

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

• 28 May

  • Hills Nursery Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay & West Head

• 28 & 30 May

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.25am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.00am then to St Ives for coffee

• 29 May

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• 30 May

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

  • Centennial Park Ride @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

• 1 June

  • Cnr Mill Park Street & Walker St Rhodes (at the Cafe) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am 

• 2 June

  • BiciSport Team Time Trial Training @ Calga ATTA from 8.30am @ Jones Rd

BICISPORT BIKES IN THE PELOTON - NIGEL SMITH SPECIALISED TARMAC

Miramare Gardens @ 25 May - Nigel Smith (BiciSport) with his Specialised Tarmac

I have been cycling with Mike O’Reilly for the best part of 30 years, and count myself very fortunate to have enjoyed a life long friendship & heavily influenced passion for cycling from a young age. I am flattered that my latest bike build has made the club website with a great mates endorsement .

In more recent years as my career has progressed, training time decreased, while financial means increased. This shifted my perspective on what I enjoyed about cycling and how it motivates me. I was less fussed about performance gains (I was never going to be a pro) and more appreciative of the time I had to enjoy the experience of riding that lead to a new motivation to research & build up various bike projects. Needless to say I have learned lots of home mechanic skills, hacks, & tips along the way, and a big thank you to watching expert builds on YouTube. However the road bike industry is changing faster than I can keep up with both technically & financially. Seems that 2015 is now retro, and newly released top spec bikes cost more than my wife’s car - how did that happen? $17K for a cobble specific, disk only, etap bike - are you kidding? These marginal gains - all aero - micro segment analysis stats is a bit lost on me, when in actual fact I want the ride to last longer, not get through a training ride as quickly as possible. Time on the bike enjoying the experience of cycling (and coffee with mates) was more important than my time uploaded to Garmin.

So with that in mind, this is the backstory to my “old school passion project” before disk brakes & proprietary frame integration take over the world. With a garage full of tools, spare parts and wheels accumulated over the years, I did not want to see these personal investments (& memories) made redundant for an old school rider who still enjoys box rims, quick release skewers, classic racing frames with round tubes, and mechanical shifting, on builds that I can tinker with at home and source parts as a hobby.

The bike in the photo is my latest project, and probably last build for a while (n+1 no more).

The specs :

* Speciialized Tarmac S Works SL4 size 54cm, in rare BOB colourway.

* Ceramic Speed headset & bottom bracket bearings

* S Works FACT carbon seatpost

* Full Dura Ace 9000 group with 39 x 53 chainset (no longer standard spec these days), & 11 x 28 11 speed cassette

* Deda 42cm bars, 110mm stem & Deda bar tape

* Fast Forward F2A alloy clinchers with DT Swiss 240s hubs (hand built) & swiss stop blue brake pads (very worthy upgrade over standard pads)

* Conti 5000 GP tyres with latex tubes (transforms any wheels I put them on - what a discovery)

* Prologo Scratch2 Nack Saddle - personal fav

* Look Keo Blade pedals

* Garmin 130 computer

* Tacx Teo cage & bottle

* Weight = 6.85kg as pictured

Having owned a number of Specialized S Works bikes since 2010 (they tend to breed in the garage over the winter months), this SL4 Tarmac edition is the most refined ride and classic stage racing bike I have experienced, and makes you want to stay out that extra hour longer. The main highlights are the very low weight, surprising smoothness of the entire package (take a bow DT Swiss hubs, Conti tyres, and 9000 Dura Ace), the BB stiffness with a short wheelbase that translates directly into super confident handling & scalpel sharp cornering on tight turns & switchbacks. This bike absolutely flatters the rider, and is a much better bike than I am as the rider. I couldn’t push this bike to its limits with our surpassing my own, however it’s great seeing it piloted by the best pros in the world when competing in grand tours over all sorts of stages & terrain. It’s all the bike I’ll ever need & a great looking silhouette on a sunny day. The natural high from riding such a great bike stays with you long after ride is over.

It has been a pleasure building this bike in my garage (with not too many tools required), with equal parts of planning the process, sourcing the exact parts I wanted to spec, and dialling it all in to my personal preferences of years spent riding.

These projects do not have to cost a lot if you are prepared to look for closeout deals & be patient when on line looking for bits that pop up on bikeexchange.com.au or eBay. Another tip is to search Pinterest for ideas and colour ways of finishing kit.

As I said at the start, this was a passion project not to be rushed but enjoyed as a process, an outlet for stress, a motivator, and all the more satisfying when riding the end result - that is a unique classic build a personal "time stamp" to be remembered for years to come.

Hope you enjoy these personal insights - happy riding.

Cheers, Nige

Giro D’Italia 2019 - the Gavia Pass last week is looking somewhat snowbound. Lets hope it opens for the grand stage on Tuesday but chances now look slim.

Giro D’Italia 2019 - work continued on the Gavia Pass last week to clear the snow

News Shorts - 20 May

Dean Carter Interclub @ Griffith @ 19 May - Frank Signor on the start line

Dean Carter Interclub @ Griffith @ 19 May - Peter Budd at the start line

Dean Carter Interclub @ Griffith @ 19 May - Frank Signor giving it full gas in the Riverina Interclub handicap

Dean Carter Interclub @ Griffith @ 19 May - Frank Signor tops the KOM in the big chainwheel no less with just 7k to the finish

Dean Carter Interclub @ Griffith @ 19 May - Peter Budd takes 6th place overall

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Waratah Masters @ Heffrion Park @ 19 May - Raoul Westbrook took 4th place in D grade

• Dean Carter Interclub Handicap @ Griffith @ 19 May - Frank Signor was in a storming mood at the Dean Carter (getting in the hard yards for the Singleton Team Time Trial). Peter Budd took 6th overall.

Akuna Bay @ 19 May - Len Groen, Dom Zumbo & Tom Green in heavy fog at Akuna Bay. Picture Graham Cockerton

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS - NEW EVENTS NOW ADDED, OTHERS UPDATED

• New Special Events added or updated on the BiciSport website now include -

  • Singleton Recce & Gunnedah Tamworth Road Race - June 15 & 16

  • Cervelo Masters Series - June 10 & 23, July 14

  • Sydney Metropolitan Championships (Penrith Lakes) - July 6

  • Goulburn Weekend - September 7 & 8

  • NSW Masters Road Championships (Coffs Harbour) - September 21 & 22

  • CA Masters Road Championships (Adelaide) - October 3-6

  • Sam Miranda Weekend (Wangaratta, Vic ) - October 11-13
    

• NSW TEAM TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - NEXT TRAINING SESSION IS 26 MAY AT TERREY HILLS

  • Next BiciSport TTT training session is set for Sunday 26 May @ Hills Nursery Terrey Hills Car Park @ 7.30am and depart @ 8.00am for 3-4 laps of Duffys Forest. Coffee is back @ Miramare Cafe Terrey Hills @ 9.15am. All welcome

  • BiciSport will be again entering several teams into the NSW Teams Championships to be held over the 3-4 August weekend in Singleton.

  • Full BiciSport team details (accommodation, dinner & club ride details) are now posted on the Special Events page of this website.

  • If you enjoyed the Greenwell Point-Nowra experience then Singleton will come as a real surprise with a great circuit, improved accommodation & better dinner venues and a Sunday BiciSport club ride on traffic free roads. A weekend not to be missed & hope to see you there.

• RACING THIS WEEK

  • 26 May - Ken Dinnerville Handicap @ Dapto POSTPONED due to local roadworks

  • 26 May - Western Sydney Dragway @ Eastern Creek (Waratah Masters)

  BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

  *  Motor traffic conditions are now HEAVIER with the start of the NSW School Term

  *  Note -

  • Roadworks of note

    • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

    • Mona Vale Rd (Bahai Temple to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced with a completion date of 2022.

  All group rides are cancelled if wet

  • 20 & 22 & 24 May

    • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

  • 21 May

    • Hills Nursery Terrey Hills @ 8.00am for Akuna Bay & West Head

  • 21 & 23 May

    • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.25am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.00am then to St Ives for coffee

  • 22 May

    • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

  • 23 May

    • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

    • Centennial Park Ride @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

  • 25 May

    • Cnr Mill Park Street & Walker St Rhodes (at the Cafe) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

    • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am 

  • 26 May

    • BiciSport Team Time Trial Training @ Hills Nursery Carpark Terrey Hills. Meet @ 7.30am & depart @ 8.00am for Booralie Rd Duffys Forest x 3 laps

    • Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)

Giro D’Italia & Andy Hampsten on the snowy Gavia Pass in 1988 in a total blizzard. The Giro returns to the Gavia this year.

News Shorts - 13 May

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 10 May - Declan Jones (BiciSport Happy Wheels) the day before the race in Grafton in sunny & warm conditions.

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 11 May - Before the 7.30am start on the Saturday in Grafton and conditions were windy & freezing. The forecast was barely 10 degrees at the Gibraltar Range summit.

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 11 May - Declan Jones rides a nice Scott Foil loaded on Ultegra Di2, with chainwheels of 39x53 against 11x28 on the rear.

Grafton Inverell Classic @ 11 May - a typical view in the Grafton Inverell Classic outside Glen Innes from the front seat of the Happy Wheels Doctor’s car

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Grafton to Inverell Classic @ 11 May

  • Declan Jones faced his first Grafton Inverell Classic over 228k in cold & windy conditions. The wind was from the south west meaning left to right crosswinds all day. For Declan in Division 2 what lay ahead was a lumpy ride to the bottom of the Gibraltar Range, then a 13k climb to the Gibraltar summit. Grafton Inverell is a most difficult learning experience and things didn’t go quite to plan and Declan was a DNF at the Mount Marshall Feed Zone @ 120k. It was a tough day.

  • Alex Simmons drove the Division 3 event as a Commissaire & Mike O’Reilly drove the Happy Wheels Subaru as the NRS Division 1 Doctors Car.

• Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne @ 12 May - Jeremy Hopson (BiciSport Pilu Racing) took the A grade victory, and Ian Grainger a peloton finish in C grade

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS

• NSW TEAM TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - COURSE RECCE COMPLETED ON 29 APRIL

  • Next BiciSport TTT training session is set for Sunday 26 May @ Hills Nursery Terrey Hills Car Park @ 7.30am and depart @ 8.00am for 3-4 laps of Duffys Forest. Coffee is back @ Miramare Cafe Terrey Hills @ 9.15am. All welcome

  • BiciSport will be again entering several teams into the NSW Teams Championships to be held over the 3-4 August weekend in Singleton.

  • Full BiciSport team details (accommodation, dinner & club ride details) are now posted on the Special Events page of this website.

  • If you enjoyed the Greenwell Point-Nowra experience then Singleton will come as a real surprise with a great circuit, improved accommodation & better dinner venues and a Sunday BiciSport club ride on traffic free roads. A weekend not to be missed & hope to see you there.

  RACING THIS WEEK

  • 14 May - CyclingNSW Annual General Meeting @ Bankstown Sports Club

  • 19 May - Heffron Park (Waratah Masters)

  BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

  *  Motor traffic conditions are now HEAVIER with the start of the NSW School Term

  *  Note -

  • Roadworks of note

    • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

    • Mona Vale Rd (Bahai Temple to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced with a completion date of 2022.

  All group rides are cancelled if wet

  • 13 & 15 & 17 May

    • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

  • 14 May

    • M7 Cyclepath over 70k @ 7.30am @ starting finishing at Bella Vista Shops

  • 14 & 16 May

    • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.25am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.00am then to St Ives for coffee

  • 15 May

    • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

  • 16 May

    • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

    • Centennial Park Ride @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

  • 17 May

    • Cnr Mill Park Street & Walker St Rhodes (at the Cafe) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

    • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am 

  • 18 May

    • Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)

Hills Nursery Terry Hills @ 8 May - Rod Comish (BiciSport) with Herve the 404 Peugeot

Melburn Roobaix is held in Melbourne on 30 June in and around the local suburbs & includes numerous sections of local pave with a finish at the Northcote Velodrome

Melburn Roobaix @ Sunday 30 June - its quirky, its different, its very enjoyable, its Hell of the Northcote. The best bike party of the year in Victoria.

The Giro d’Italia starts this week.

A Bologna start then its south to San Giovanni Rotondo, then north to a Verona finish.

News Shorts - 6 May

NSW Riverina Interclub @ Albury @ 28 Apr - Peter Budd on the start line

NSW Riverina Interclub @ Albury @ 28 Apr - Peter Budd

ATTA ITT @ Calga @ 5 May - Mike Foster (BiciSport Pilu Racing) . Photo MOR.

ATTA ITT @ Calga @ 5 May - Mike Foster & Matt Coy

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• Riverina Interclub @ 28 Apr - Peter Budd reports

  • The Riverina Interclub handicap was held in Albury over 65k. The wind was seemingly always in your face or a crosswind where gutter riding was the order of the day. It was a tough day where the front (handicap) groups took the honours. A good opportunity to test the legs with good race speed.

• ATTA Time Trials @ 5 May @ Calga

  • ATTA attracted a good turn out in windy conditions with a slight chill in the air. Good rides by Mike Foster (5th from 69 starters), Jeremy Hopson (11th) & Matt Coy (21st), Tom Green (24th), Mike Lawson (42nd) & Ian Grainger (43rd).

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS

• GRAFTON TO INVERELL CLASSIC - 11 MAY

  • Declan Jones (BiciSport Happy Wheels) lines up for the full G2I Classic over 240k on Saturday 11 May

  • Alex Simmons will be assisting as a CyclingNSW race commissaire

• NSW TEAM TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - COURSE RECCE COMPLETED on 29 APRIL

  • Next BiciSport TTT training session is set for Sunday 26 May @ Hills Nursery Terrey Hills Car Park @ 7.30am and depart @ 8.00am for 3-4 laps of Duffys Forest. Coffee is back @ Hills Nursery Cafe @ 9.15am. All welcome

  • BiciSport will be again entering several teams into the NSW Teams Championships to be held over the 3-4 August weekend in Singleton.

  • Full BiciSport team details (accommodation, dinner & club ride details) are now posted on the Special Events page of this website.

  • If you enjoyed the Greenwell Point-Nowra experience then Singleton will come as a real surprise with a great circuit, improved accommodation & better dinner venues and a Sunday BiciSport club ride on traffic free roads. A weekend not to be missed & hope to see you there.

  • A circuit recce was conducted on 29 April and the new circuit report is detailed in Special Events.

ATTA ITT @ Calga @ 5 May - David Browne (BiciSport) is the ATTA starter out of the ITT ramp, with Ian Grainger a study of concentration

ATTA ITT @ Calga @ 5 May - Tom Green (BiciSport) exits the ATTA start ramp. Thanks to Mike Lawson for supplying a new rear wheel to Tom (who punctured in the warm up)

RACING THIS WEEK

• 11 May - Grafton to Inverell Classic - BiciSport starters (Declan Jones), and Commissaire Alex Simmons

• 12 May - Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are now HEAVIER with the start of the NSW School Term

*  Note -

• Roadworks of note

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Bahai Temple to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced.

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 6 & 8 & 10 May

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

• 7 May

  • M7 Cyclepath over 70k @ 7.30am @ starting finishing at Bella Vista Shops

• 7 & 9 May

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.25am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.00am then to St Ives for coffee

• 8 May

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• 9 May

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

  • Centennial Park Ride @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

• 10 May

  • Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 7.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramare Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am 

• 11 May

  • Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)

Welcome to some great Giro d’Italia racing starting soon ….

News Shorts - 29 April

BiciSport TTT training @ Terrey Hills @ 28 April - BiciSport Pilu Racing

BiciSport TTT training @ Terrey Hills @ 28 April - L to R … Graeme Cocks, Raoul Westbrook & Ian Grainger

BiciSport TTT training @ Terrey Hills @ 28 April - L to R … Len Groen, Randolph Baral, Eric Dole, Dom Zumbo & Graham Cockerton

BiciSport TTT training @ Terrey Hills @ 28 April - L to R … John Robb, Mike Lawson, Eric Dole & Peter Verhoeven

BICISPORT MEMBER NEWS

• BicSport TTT training @ 28 Apr - An excellent first up roll up at Terrey Hills with four teams circulating in near perfect weather conditions. Future training sessions are listed in the Special Events section of this website

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS

• GRAFTON to INVERELL CLASSIC - 11 May

  • Declan Jones (BiciSport Happy Wheels) lines up for the full G2I Classic over 240k on Saturday 11 May

• WISEMANS FERRY TO THE MOUNTAIN - NOVEMBER 19

  • Originally set down for mid May 19, this promotion has been moved to November 19

• NSW TEAM TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - NEW DATE NEW VENUE SAME GREAT WEEKEND - 3 & 4 AUGUST

  • BiciSport will be again entering several teams into the NSW Teams Championships to be held over the 3-4 August weekend in Singleton.

  • Full BiciSport team details (accommodation, dinner & ride details) are now posted on the Special Events page of this website.

RACING THIS WEEK

• 4-5 May - Cootamundra Weekend (CyclingNSW)

• 5 May - Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters), West Head Road Race (Manly CC)

Springbrook climb behind the Gold Coast @ 19 April - Peter Davis (BiciSport Happy Wheels) at the summit

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are now HEAVIER with the start of the NSW School Term

*  Note -

• Roadworks of note

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Bahai Temple to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced.

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 20 Apr, 1 May & 3 May

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

• 30 Apr & 2 May

  • Waratah’s Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.25am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.00am then to St Ives for coffee

• 1 May

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• 2 May

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

  • Centennial Park Ride @ 10.30am @ Spruce Goose Cafe

• 4 May

  • Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 7.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am 

• 5 May

  • Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)

• BiciSport Team Time Trial Training - see you at ATTA Calga on Sunday 5 May for the first ATTA hit out for BiciSport teams. Team & individual start times to be confirmed. For further information contact Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

Vale Patrick Sercu - The Ghent 6 Day in tribute to the memory of Patrick Sercu

News Shorts - 22 April

National Masters Track Championships 2019 - Lise Benjamin (BiciSport W7) was awarded the W7 Champion of Champions Jersey

Cycling Australia Masters Track Championship (BRISBANE)

BICISPORT ReSULTS

Individual Pursuit - M2 … Jeremy Hopson 4th, M5 … Randolph Baral 5th (just one second off a Bronze medal), M7 … Peter Verhoeven 5th

Sprint - W7 … Lise Benjamin Gold

Time Trial - W7 … Lise Benjamin Gold, M2 … Jeremy Hopson Bronze

Points - W7 … Lise Benjamin Gold, M7 … Peter Verhoeven Silver

Scratch - W7 … Lise Benjamin Gold, M7 … Peter Verhoeven Bronze

Team Sprint - W85+ … Lise Benjamin Bronze (with Cath Hooton), M2 … Jeremy Hopson 4th

Champion of Champions - W7 … Lise Benjamin + Broke World Record in flying 200m qualifying

BICISPORT SPECIAL EVENTS NEWS

• GRAFTON to INVERELL CLASSIC

  • Declan Jones (BiciSport Happy Wheels) lines up for the full G2I Classic over 240k on Saturday 11 May

• WISEMANS FERRY TO THE MOUNTAIN

  • Originally set down for mid May 19, this promotion has been moved to November 19

• NSW TEAM TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - NEW DATE NEW VENUE SAME GREAT WEEKEND

  • BiciSport will be again entering several teams into the NSW Teams Championships to be held over the 3-4 August weekend.

  • BiciSport will provide team training, paid entry fees, comprehensive team assistance, fully paid Saturday night accommodation together with a fully supported Sunday training ride.

  • Nominations are now open and further details are on the Special Events page of this website.

RACING THIS WEEK

• 27 Apr - Otway Classic Cyclosportive (Torquay, Vic)

• 27-28 Apr - NSW Criterium Championships & Snow Wilson Criteriums (Heffron Park)

• 22 & 28 Apr - Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters CC)

Eric Mather Cup Eastern Creek @ 22 Apr - Graham Cockerton, Ian Grainger & Dom Zumbo

BiciSport Happy Wheels does Griffith @ 19 Apr - Melissa Budd and Frank Signor at Griffith

BICISPORT GROUP RIDES THIS WEEK - For further details please contact 0417 403 244  

*  Motor traffic conditions are LIGHTER with the NSW School Holidays on at present

*  Note -

• Roadworks of note

  • Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !

  • Mona Vale Rd (Bahai Temple to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced.

All group rides are cancelled if wet

• 22 Apr, 24 Apr & 26 Apr

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)  

• 23 & 25 Apr

  • Waratah’s Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay, top of McCarrs Creek Rd climb at 8.25am, then direction Duffys Forest, then return Terrey Hills shops @ 9.00am then to St Ives for coffee

• 24 Apr

  • Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return

• 25 Apr

  • Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo. 

• 27 Apr

  • Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 7.00am (6 x 10k loops around SOPA). 

  • BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am 

• 28 Apr

  • Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)

• BiciSport Team Time Trial Training - see you at the Hills Nursery carpark at Terrey Hills on Sunday 28 April for the first hit out for the BiciSport teams. Arrive Hills Nursery Carpark @ 7.30am and depart 8.00am for Booralie Rd Loops. For further information contact Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

BiciSport Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 20 Apr - L to R. Chris Turner, Eric Dole, Maarten van den Wright (Mapei), Neil Farqy, Raoul Westbrook, Ian Grainger & Kenny Edwards. The “10k to Finish” sign is courtesy of the 2019 Milan San Remo professional race somewhat “procured” after the pro race went through on the day and duly autographed by Alberto Elli.

Paris Roubaix Challenge Cyclosportive @ 13 April

BiciSport in Flanders 2019

Paris Roubaix Report @ 14 April.

Watching PR live was one thing, but working on it took matters to another level. The three Mike’s agreed that MO’R would do the driving and both ML & MO’B would run the wheels and the bidons. The Delko Sports Director had given the BiciSport team something like six meeting points for the race. Technically we were not allowed to drive on the race course inside the race envelope (that was a big no no), so it was … cut across country driving like an idiot and get in front of the race for the next pass point. Shit, how does this work …

The start from Compiegne at 11.00am was simple enough, and up through Cambrai into deep rural France, first stop being the Quivey/Viesly cobbles (Sectors 28/25). The break of the day had already happened, so all good.

Second feeding stop was at the Maing cobbles, and that was where the driving got really interesting with numerous support teams all doing the same thing (driving with purpose and vigor, others may choose to call it speeding). Through the villages of St Python (no Monty there !), we blasted through Haussy in a heartbeat, and straight into Maing nice and early. Geez, that was fun and all a blur. By the time the bike race got to Maing the proverbial had hit the fan … the peloton was now in four groups, the hurt box wide open and doing a good trade. Brenton Jones had a mechanical problem and was in group four. The bike race looked like a grenade had gone off and we were a fair distance still to Wallers Arenberg.

Next stop on the PR magical mystery tour was supposed to be the Wallers Arenberg Forest, but … sorting out Brenton had meant a rethink as we were now way behind schedule. Going to Wallers was dropped and we headed to the Templeuve cobbles (Sector 8). Mike Lawson serviced the leading Delko rider, but then we were in a bind as to what to do now. Trouble was you couldn’t drive within the race envelope. What now ?.

We cut across country & hurtled (with purpose) down the A23 freeway towards Lille then decided to see if we could find the race one last time near Hem. Chances were zero at best.

Mike O’Brien is the Human Google Maps … with a short cut off the A23, through the industrial suburb of Fretlin (who knows where that is !), left, right, dirt road, left again. Somehow we popped out of a tiny rural side street straight into the PR race ! !. Crikey MO’B you’re a xxxxing genius. We’d gone from 10 minutes behind the leaders to 5 minutes in front & no idea how we just did it … nice job Mike O’Brien.

Crowds were huge waiting for the leaders and here we were in a rented VW van (with the all important accreditation sticker on the VW windscreen) and somehow in disbelief we’d landed in front of the Roubaix classic. Still smiling we parked up at the Hem cobbles (10k from the finish) and waited for Phil Gilbert to do the deed.

Thanks to Chris Jones for giving us the opportunity & the Delko Marseille team (and Brenton Jones) for being such inspiring individuals.

This is the last BiciSport in Flanders blog. Hope you enjoyed the ride.

Mike O’R

Paris Roubaix @ 14 April - Peter Sagan on the way to the Compiegne start. Photo MOR

Paris Roubaix @ 14 April - Quivey Feed Zone (Zone 26) for the breakaway of the day. Photo MOR.

Paris Roubaix @ 14 April - Brenton Jones having a mechanical that ruined his day

Paris Roubaix @ 14 April - Just after the Maing cobbles with a shredded main peloton. Photo MOR

Paris Roubaix @ 14 April - Peter Sagan exits the Templeuve cobbles in the lead group. Photo MOR

Paris Roubaix @ 14 April - The Templeuve cobbles. Photo MOR

Paris Roubaix @ 14 April - Phil Gilbert heads for victory just after the Hem cobbles with 10k to the finish in the Roubaix Velodrome.. Photo MOR.

Delko Team @ 13 April - Look team bikes prepared for Sunday. Photo MOR

Delko Team @ 13 April - Inside the Delko mechanic’s cave. Photo MOR.

Delko Team @ 13 April - All aboard the Delko team bus with Brenton Jones, Mike Lawson & Mike O’Brien. Photo MOR.

Paris Roubaix Cyclosportive @ 13 April - Starting outside the Roubaix Velodrome with the temperature sitting on 0 degrees with Mike(s) Lawson, O’Brien & O’Reilly

Paris Roubaix Cyclosportive Ride Report @ 13 April

The weather was delightful with no rain, no wind and starting temperatures of 0 degrees (the day maxed out at 9 degrees). Yes, it was chilly but blue sky promised a great day.

The early kilometers were straightforward enough on flat & good bitumen roads. The first feed zone came after 40k and immediately afterwards it was cobble time. The story goes like this - Templeuve (you’re joking, it wasn’t even a road !), Cysiong (ok, not bad), Bourghelles (maybe not ok, but we got there), Camphin en Pevele (what is the French word for crap ?), Carrefour De L’Arbre (bad as advertised, but not as bad as remembered), Gruson (simple enough) & Hem (that was total shit, awful, you can’t be serious).

The final run into Roubaix from Hem carried more Saturday traffic than expected but the reward was the ceremonial lap around the classic Roubaix Velodrome. Do it all again in 2020 ? … in a heartbeat.

Paris Roubaix Cyclosportive @ 13 April - Just before the start outside the Roubaix Velodrome. Photo MOR.

Paris Roubaix Cyclosportive @ 13 April - After the conclusion of the 70k PR Cyclosportive on the historic Roubaix Velodrome. The race finish line is in the background near the grandstand.

Roubaix Cyclosportive Registration @ Roubaix Velodrome @ 12 April - The Specialized promotional zone at the Roubaix Velodrome had the actual Peter Sagan winning bike (plus frame number) from 2018. Very very tidy. Photo MOR.

Roubaix Cyclosportive Registration @ Roubaix Velodrome @ 12 April - Mike O’Brien at the Roubaix Velodrome

Koppenberg Loop @ 11 April - Koen Verhulst, Mike Lawson, Mike O’Brien & Eddy Verhulst started the ride at the Kokerelle B&B at Oudenaarde.

Koppenberg Loop Ride Report @ 11 April

An easy start to the day from Kokerelle, with a flat tailwind cycle down along the Schelde River cycle path for Koen, Eddy and 3 x Mikes towards Roubaix. Then a simple turn left into the Flemish bergs at Kluisbergen. First challenge was the Old Kwaremont cobbles, then shortly afterwards onto the Patersberg cobbles (where Mike O’R crashed on the steep cobbles - unhurt). Shortly afterwards it was the turn of the Koppenberg cobbles (where Eddy V crashed on the steep cobbles - unhurt). MO’R bailed out early going back into Oudenaarde (to get his damaged prescription glasses repaired). The others finished the cobbled merry go round via the Taainenberg, Berg Ten Houte, Eikenberg & Biogneberg climbs.

Koppenberg Loop @ 11 April - The Schelde River cycle path riding towards Roubaix with Kluisbergen on the left of picture. Photo Mike O’Brien

Koers Cycling Museum @ Roeselare @ 9 April - The Team Quick Step photo exhibition was on the ground floor. The Quick Step presentation highlighted all of the QS Team members together with all notable victories from 2018 into early 2019. Photo MOR.

The Koers Cycling Museum (www.koersmuseum.be) is the latest cycling museum to open in Flanders situated in the city of Roeselare in East Flanders. There are 3 levels of exhibitions, jersey & bike displays, video presentations, a John Pierre Monsere Memorial wall plus a well appointed cafe.

Koers Cycling Museum @ Roeselare @ 9 April - Team Quick Step photo exhibition on the ground floor featured a 2019 QS team member involved in a major off. Photo MOR

Koers Cycling Museum @ Roeselare @ 9 April - Jersey display room on Level 1 of the museum. Photo MOR.

Koers Cycling Museum @ Roeselare @ 9 April - Jersey display room on Level 1 of the museum. Photo MOR

Koers Cycling Museum @ Roeselare @ 9 April - Jersey display room on Level 1 of the museum. Photo MOR

Koers Cycling Museum @ Roeselare @ 9 April - The bike display was on Level 2 of the museum. The immediate level was for current public display whilst the bikes on the higher level are rotated down for display purposes at other times. Photo MOR.

Triosvilles Wallers @ 8 April - Mike O’Brien & Mike Lawson before the start in sleepy rural Troisvilles

Troisvilles Wallers Ride Report @ 8 April

The BiciSport group had previously ridden the cobbles from Wallers Arenberg towards the finish at the Roubaix Velodrome. Today it was agreed that we’d ride the earlier sections of cobbles from the sleepy village of Troisvilles and finish the ride at Wallers Arenberg. The Paris Roubaix route signs were now up, so it greatly reduced any chance of getting lost.

Troisvilles is deep in rural France & sleepy doesn’t do it justice. The Troisvilles cobbles (Sector 29) were simple enough, but things began to get increasingly difficult through Briastre/Viesly/Quively/Fontaine (Sectors 28, 27, 26, 25). The Michael Goolaerts Memorial in Sector 27 was very moving (Michael sadly died of a heart attack at the Paris Roubaix Classic in 2018).

The cobbled sections just kept on coming, and you began to loose sense of it all, they were all long and difficult … Escallion (Sector 24), Queranang (Sector 23), Maing cobbles (Sectors 22, 21) all a bit of a cobbled misery. Things turned a bit complicated at the Maing cobbles when MO’R got lost due to the roadworks blockage (see picture below) … the group lost each other and a few frantic mobile phone calls later led to a regrouping near the Wallers Arenberg cobbles (that was exciting !!). Getting lost in deepest, darkest northern France isn’t worth contemplating.

The day concluded with an inspection of the Wallers Arenberg cobbles. As Mike O’Brien nicely put it “ … they can’t be serious … “. Next Sunday they most definitely will be.

Troisvilles Wallers @ 8 April - Paris Roubaix route signage was up, so you can’t get lost, until Sector 21 …

Troisvilles Wallers @ 8 April - Troisvilles cobbles (Sector 29) were both short & relatively straightforward

Troisvilles Wallers @ 8 April - Michael Goolaerts Memorial at the Briastre Cobbles (Sector 28/27)

Troisvilles Wallers @ 8 April - Viesly cobbles (Sector 26) includes a World War 1 German concrete bunker

Troisvilles Wallers @ 8 April - Mike O’Brien made the comment after Sector 25 (“ … that was bullshit … “)

Troisvilles Wallers @ 8 April - Mike Lawson

Troisvilles Wallers @ 8 April - Mike O’Brien

Troisvilles Wallers @ 8 April - Maing Cobbles (Sector 22/21) … the “road” (yeah right) was blocked and things went very pear shaped soon afterwards …

Troisvilles Wallers @ 8 April - Wallers Arenberg cobbles with Mike O’Brien & Mike O’Reilly

Troisvilles Wallers @ 8 April - Wallers Arenberg and the Cofidis Team Car turned up for a pre recce inspection

RVV (Tour of Flanders) @ 7 April - Mike Lawson as the Womens RVV peloton starts from central Oudenaarde

RVV Report @ 7 April

The Ronde defines Belgium is many ways and what a joy to be in this country on this classic day.

The BiciSport group (joined by Peter Tomlinson & Ted Anderson from the NSW Southern Highlands Club) headed off the see the Womens Ronde start in Oudenaarde at 11.00am. From there it was a short pedal to the Koppenberg Cafe at Melden, the Kortekeer climb with the pro peloton somewhat asleep, watched the Womens RVV scream off the Patersberg climb, a final peak of Peter Sagan at the base of the Old Kwaremont, then finally a Belgian beer at the Lentrecote Restaurant (thank you to Lucrese Willeart for letting the BiciSport peloton invade your restaurant and watch the live tv finish). The Italians won the day in both races which meant it was a very subdued flemish crowd at the end of a classic day.

RVV @ 7 April - Peter Tomlinson (UCI & CycNSW Commissaire) at the Koppenberg cobbles

RVV @ 7 April - Alej Valverde passes the Koppenberg Cafe. Photo MO’R

RVV @ 7 April - The Koppenberg Cafe at Melden is a Flemish institution on the Ronde day (all the inhabitants may end up in an institution at some point). Its brash, its rustic, its old, its crowded, its smelly, beer is the universal currency of choice, and its all things Flemish cycling. The BiciSport group arrived just before 12noon, and the local lads were already gassed up on the local brew and the day had just begun. The BiciSport group escaped to the Kortekeer climb shortly afterwards..

RVV @ 7 April - Eddy Merckx hasn’t retired and lives on at the Koppenberg Cafe. Flanders flags are everywhere.

RVV @ 7 April - Alex Kristoff (UAE, red helmet) climbs the Kortekeer climb. Photo MO’R

RVV @ 7 April - The Womens RVV speed off the Patersburg climb towards the Oudenaarde finish. Photo MO’R

RVV @ 7 April - Alej Valverde on the approach to the Koppenberg cobbles. Photo MO’R

RVV @ 7 April - Michael Matthews (Sunweb) leads Peter Sagan (Bora) on the approach to the Koppenberg cobbles. Photo MO’R

RVV @ 7 April - Peter Sagan (right) approaches the Old Kwaremont cobbles with 25k to the finish. Photo MO’R

Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders Cyclosportive) @ 6 April - At the start with Mike van der O’Reilly, Mike van der O’Brien & Mike van der Lawson.

Coincidentally, just after the above picture was taken the national Sporza tv crew (left in the picture) realized we were a group of Aussies and interviewed MO’R and the interview was aired that night on the national Sporza tv program.

Ride Report @ 6 April

Maarten van der Wright had returned to the Muur van Dee Why, and the BiciSport team was bolstered by the arrival of Mike van der O’Brien from the UK.

Another nice weather day greeted the 17,000 RVV cyclosportive riders - it was raining lycra in Oudenaarde on the Saturday morning for the 9.00am start. Mike O’R did the 75k option which for MO’R was a long walk up the Koppenberg (oh the shame) but a better effort on the Kruisberg (near Ronse) and the Old Kwaremont. Mike O’Brien & Lawson did the 135k RVV option which included nearly every cobbled berg of note - Kerkgate cobbles, Molenberg, Paddestraat cobbles, Haaghoek cobbles, Valkenberg, Eikenberg (near Kokerelle B&B), Koppenberg, Taainberg, Old Kwaremont & Patersberg. There was over 1,700m of climbing in the 135k cyclosportive.

Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders Cyclosportive) @ 6 April - at the post cyclosportive function in Oudenaarde with Johan Museeuw. Johan won the UCI World Cup (1995, 96), World Champion (1996), triple Ronde winner (1993, 95 & 98), four times Paris Roubaix winner (1993, 96, 2000 & 2002) and Belgian National Champion (1992 & 96).

Sven Nys Cycling Centre @ Hageland @ 4 April - Mike Lawson

Ride Report @ 4 April

What Sven Nys is for cyclo cross is equally Eddy Merckx for road cycling - both are Belgian and both are the greatest of all time in their respective disciplines.

Sven recently retired and has established a specialist cyclo cross centre at Balenberg in the Hageland region (on the Belgian-Dutch border) . There is an expansive cyclo cross museum, bike rental facilities, a challenging circuit coupled with a very respectable restaurant/cafe. Mike Lawson rode the cyclo cross circuit and his smile said it all. Fun was had.

After Balenberg it was a 45 minute drive towards the Dutch border direction Lommel & Mol (home of Tom Boonen) for an inspection of the World Masters Championship Cyclo Cross circuit in December 2019 at the Zilvermeer Water Park (sort of a Belgian version of Sydney’s Wet & Wild).

Sven Nys Cycling Centre @ Hageland @ 4 April - Mike Lawson

Sven Nys Cycling Centre @ Hageland @ 4 April - Mike O’Reilly with the race winning bike from the 2009 World Cyclo Cross Championships ridden by Niels Albert

Sven Nys Cycling Centre @ Hageland @ 4 April - Mike Lawson walking the Sven Nys cyclo cross circuit at Balenberg

Zilvermeer Water Park @ 4 April - Mike Lawson inspects the World Masters Championships Cyclo Cross 2019 course which includes large sections of running in the sand beside the Zilvermeer Lake.

Dwars door Vlaanderen (Straight across Flanders) @ 3 April - The peloton approaches Oudenaarde. Photo MOR

Dwars Ride Report @ 3 April

The Ronde is only 4 days away and the buzz is everywhere. This is the last chance to see the professionals and the Dwars goes over several of the climbs used in the Ronde on Sunday. Having said that the Dwars is not an easy race to follow with all the action coming in the last 60k and little opportunity to leapfrog ahead of the race. So we decided to do what we could by bike and see the Dwars twice then back to our Kokerelle B&B for the live tv feed.

First pass was just outside Oudenaarde (picture above) then a 15 minute pedal to the Berg Ten Houte cobbled climb. The Berg Ten Houte was an insignificant & poorly surfaced bitumen road that hadn’t been used for cycle racing in years. Similiarly to what happened at the Patersberg …. the road was recently fully rebuilt with brand new cobbles !!. Heck, why not cobbles as it is Flanders after all. The Berg Ten Houte climb is a cobbled delight - short, sharp and an instant Flandrien success story.

Dwars door Vlaanderen @ 3 April - the ‘new’ Berg Ten Houte cobbled climb with Valverde. Photo MOR

Dwars door Vlaanderen @ 3 April - Berg Ten Houte cobbled climb. Photo MOR

Dwars door Vlaanderen @ 3 April - up close and personal on the Berg Ten Houte cobbled climb. Photo MOR

Dwars door Vlaanderen @ 3 April - the steep corner at Berg Ten Houte cobbled climb. Photo MOR

Muur (Wall) of Geraadsbergen @ 1 April - Marty Wright climbs the Kapel Muur (Chapel Wall) cobbles

Muur Ride Report @ 1 April

A 70k ride was on the menu with small Flemish back lanes towards Brakel, where we joined the official Tour of Flanders race route and simply followed the race route signs already posted for next weekends Flanders Classic. Then it was through Brakel and on towards the cobbled Muur of Geraadsbergen. As cobbled climbs go the Muur maybe is the most famous but is neither the steepest nor the most difficult (Patersberg is much more uncomfortable) and everybody got to the Muur summit comfortably.

Muur (Wall) of Geraadsbergen @ 1 April - outside the Geraadsbergen Church at the cobbled summit of the Muur

Velle WAOD Masters Race @ 31 March - Mike Lawson had local media obligations before the start

Velle WAOD Masters Race Report @ 31 March

Velle is a small village 20k outside Antwerp and plays host to numerous cycle races during the year. The Tour of Flanders pro classic passes down the main street next Sunday. WAOD is one of several ‘racing leagues’ in Belgium and is somewhere between NSW Open racing & club level standards. There is usually 6 or 7 races on offer for all age groups and in high summer it’s possible to race up to 4 or 5 times per week.

Mike Lawson’s race had some 20 starters and the winning break formed at the end of lap 2 (of 8 laps in total), never to be seen again. Mike rode well in the chasing peloton.

It was great to catch up with the Ver Hulst family who organised the Velle WAOD event. The Ver Hulst’s have kindly hosted several BiciSport riders at local Flanders races over the years.

Velle WAOD Masters Race @ 31 March - Mike Lawson enters the finishing straight on lap 2 (of 8 laps). Conditions were fresh with a sharp Flanders breeze on the nose. Each lap had numerous corners along narrow Flemish laneways with two climbs (being man made Antwerp-Paris freeway overpasses).

Velle WAOD Masters Race @ 31 March - Mike Lawson at the head of the chasing peloton in the Velle Masters

Velle WAOD Masters Race @ 31 March - after the finish of the Velle Masters with Maarten & Koen Ver Hulst

Velle WAOD Masters Race @ 31 March - after the conclusion of the Velle Masters it was a retreat into a 1970’s time warp at the ‘The Falcon’ Pub (a well known local den of ill repute with a somewhat circumspect history) for some local Belgian beer (just 1,475 beers to go) with the Gent Wevelgem professional Classic live on Belgian tv.

Reprise @ E3 Grand Prix @ 29 March - The E3 GP circuit passes the Kokerelle B&B and the owner (Kathy Sante) snapped the one & only Peter Sagan on the way through

Gent Wevelgem Cyclosportive Ride Report @ 30 March

The professional Classic is held on the Sunday with the Cyclosportive conducted the day before. The cyclo starts and finishes in Wevelgem (where the professional race finishes). Weather conditions on the Saturday were balmy @ 20 degrees.

Leaving Wevelgem in a good sized peloton and within 5 minutes we were on tiny Flemish laneways darting around the rural countryside. The cycling was simply stunning with numerous left-right turns through the rural Flanders Fields. Enjoyable doesn’t begin to describe how much fun these rural Flemish laneways can be on the bike.

On towards Ieper and the Ieper Salient (of World War 1 fame) and under the Menin Gate on the outskirts of Ieper. From Ieper after just 40k it was off towards the cobbled Kemmelberg. One minute Mike & Marty were in a nice sized peloton but the Aussies missed a turn and were soon very solo and very much lost (oops !). We could see the Kemmelberg in the distance so we cut through the village of Dikkebus to see if we could find the cyclosportive peloton again.

The village of Kemmel (and the Casino Cafe) offered a great coffee and we rejoined our cyclosportive brothers on the other side of the Kemmelberg. The next challenge was the gravel roads at Ploegsteert (full of WW 1 history & dotted with respectful Commonwealth War Graves). The gravel was more like concrete and no issues were encountered.

The final run into Wevelgem from Ploegsteert was aided by a strong tailwind along the Leie River Bike Path towards the Wevelgem finish. Mike & Marty completed the 90k at an average speed of 28kph & Mike Lawson completed the 140k easily.

Gent Wevelgem Cyclosportive @ 30 Mar - Mike O’Reilly & Marty Wright before the Wevelgem start

Gent Wevelgem Cyclosportive @ 30 Mar - Marty & Mike at the Menin Gate in Ieper. At the Menin Gate each night the Ieper Fire Bridge conduct the Last Post Ceremony in respect of the fallen soldiers from WW1.

Gent Wevelgem Cyclosportive @ 30 Mar @ Ieper Feed Zone outside the Ieper Cloth Hall

Gent Wevelgem Cyclosportive @ 30 Mar @ Kemmelberg Cafe - Mike & Marty at the Casino Cafe in Kemmel

E3 Grand Prix @ 29 Mar - The main E3 peloton passes intact over the Holleweg Cobbles. Photo MOR

E3 Grand Prix Report @ 29 Mar

One cannot doubt that Global Warming is alive & well when Belgium in March is blue sky, no wind, no fog and no rain. Refunds are due as it was more like Bellingen in NSW than Brakel in Flanders. Mike Lawson, Marty Wright & Mike O’Reilly started the E3 day at the Holleweg cobbles just 2k from the Kokerelle B&B. From there an easy 15 minute drive to the top of the Kortekeer climb (no cobbles) near Ronse. The peloton was still comfortably intact at this point. Only 45 minutes later and the E3 peloton returned to the same intersection from the opposite direction, but this time the E3 peloton was now very very ragged with the majority living in the Flanders hurt box (clearly a cobbled grenade had gone off in the intervening 45 minutes).

The fourth viewing of the E3 Grand Prix was at the Avelgem cobbles near Kluisbergen. Rob Jungels & Quick Step were in complete control & Peter Sagan was in the third group and deep in the hurt box (good money is still on Sagan for another Roubaix victory in two weeks time). Just around the corner from the Avelgem cobbles was the Kerkhove Pub with the mandatory Flemish tv pumping out the E3 finish, and only 1,492 Belgian beers to go …

E3 Grand Prix @ 29 Mar @ Kortekeer Climb Feed Zone - Marty Wright and the QS team car with the accompanying Specialised Venge swarm. Photo MOR

E3 Grand Prix @ 29 Mar @ Kortekeer Climb Feed Zone - only one thing better than a single Specialised Venge with Rovals … is a ‘Specialised Venge swarm’ atop the QS team car. Photo MOR.

E3 Grand Prix @ 29 Mar @ Kortekeer Climb Feed Zone - Peter Sagan (white jersey, far left). Photo MOR.

E3 Grand Prix @ 29 Mar @ Kortekeer Climb Feed Zone - Greg Van Avermatt 2016 Olympic Road Race Champion (Team CCC). Photo MOR.

E3 Grand Prix @ 29 Mar @ Kortekeer Climb (second pass) - Peter Sagan (Bora) in the thick of the E3 Grand Prix peloton. Photo MOR.

E3 Grand Prix @ 29 Mar @ Avelgem Cobbles - Bob Jungels and Quick Step were simply outstanding. Photo MOR.

E3 Grand Prix @ 29 Mar @ Avelgem Cobbles - Peter Sagan was not on a great day but remains a hot favourite for Paris Roubaix in two weeks time. Photo MOR

Roubaix Recon Ride @ 28 Mar - Mike Lawson & Marty Wright at the Arenberg Forest cobbles

Roubaix Recon Ride Report @ 28 Mar

Barely an hour’s drive from the Kokerelle B&B in Oudenaarde, down through Tournai and across the Belgian-French border at Saint-Amand les-Eaux to the Arenberg Forest cobbles. Marty Wright neatly summed it up … ”Well, the Arenberg Forest cobbles, that was total bullshit ! !” …

The next cobbled sector came almost immediately at Wallers for the Gibus Pont (Sector 18). Somehow the lads completely missed Sector 17 (not sure how that happened), but cobbled hostilities were quickly resumed at both Warlaing & Brillon (Sectors 16 & 15). Both were hard & uncomfortable. Again we somehow inadvertently missed Sector 14 (what happened there ?) and leapfrogged straight onto Orchies at Sector 13. After Orchies the bikes were packed into the truck & we headed straight for the Roubaix Velodrome and a chance for Marty to do a few free laps around an iconic velodrome.

Roubaix Recon Ride @ 28 Mar - Arenberg Forest cobbles (Sector 19) with Martin Wright & Mike Lawson

Roubaix Recon Ride @ 28 Mar - at the Gibus Pont (Gibus Bridge) cobbles (Sector 18 of the Paris Roubaix Classic)

Roubaix Recon Ride @ 28 Mar - at the Warlaing cobbles (Sector 16)

Roubaix Recon Ride @ 28 Mar - Mike Lawson at the Orchies cobbles (Sector 13)

Roubaix Recon Ride @ 28 Mar - Marty Wright outside the team rooms of Velo Club Roubaix at the Roubaix Velodrome with his own piece of Paris Roubaix history

Bruges - De Panne Classic @ 27 Mar - Martin Wright (second from left) at the top of the Kemmelberg climb as the breakaway passes with a 4 minute lead over the main peloton

Haaghoek & Molenberg Ride Report @ 27 Mar

An earlier start to the day at 8.00am as we needed to be at the Kemmelberg by 1.30pm for the De Panne pro race. The first cobbles of the day was at the Haaghoek, followed by the short Leberg climb (both used in Tour of Flanders pro race on 7 April). A simple wrong turn off the top of the Leberg climb resulted in maybe 1 kilometre of dirt riding which somehow looped us back onto the Haaghoek cobbles again (oops, sorry lads). From there a short run on to the Molenberg cobbled climb towards the Schelde River, then along the Schelde River bike path back into Oudenaarde. Mike Lawson & Marty finished the day with the climb of the Eikenberg cobbles near the Kokerelle B&B.

A short drive from Kokerelle B&B to the Kemmelberg climb in West Flanders was rewarded with a beer at the Kemmelberg Hotel (only 1,497 beers to go).

Bruges - De Panne Classic @ 27 Mar - Martin Wright (left) as the main peloton passes the top of the Kemmelberg climb

Bruges - De Panne Classic @ 27 Mar - the live tv coverage from the top of the Kemmelberg climb

De Carillion Bar @ Oudenaarde @ 26 Mar - somewhat typical Belgian bar to be found anywhere in Flanders. The only thing missing is the cigar smoke, but it has the usual dose of retro wooden furniture, everything is a shade of brown (maybe its the nicotene ?), decor from WW2 (or earlier) and a supply of local bar flys dotted along each wall. Naturally Martin van der Wright was spotted at the De Carillon giving it the Patrick Swayze look of complete approval. Belgium has 1,500 beers … just 1,498 to go …

Tour of Flanders Museum Oudenaarde @ 26 Mar - Teisj Benoit (Lotto Soudal) won the Eroica Pro Race in 2017, and his mud covered Ridley (plus frame race number) is currently on show at the Flanders Museum. The bike itself has been permanently air brushed with varnish to preserve all of the grime & dirt, so it cannot be removed.

Karel van Wijnedaele Monument @ 26 Mar - Marty Wright & Mike Lawson

Koppenberg Loop Ride Report @ 26 Mar

The day dawned sunny & crisp (maximum 10 degrees) with very little wind for a 45k loop through Oudenaarde, then onto the Schelde River bike path towards the Roubaix Velodrome (only 35k away). After 15k at Kluisbergen it was Marty Wright’s first taste of Belgian cobbles at the Old Kwaremont. The end result being BiciSport 3 Old Kwaremont 0. The stones were dry & benign and it was off to the Wijnedaele Monument (Karel was the founder of the Tour of Flanders Pro Race).

Next stop was the much steeper Patersberg where Mike Lawson took the solo honours at the top. BiciSport 1 Patersberg 2. From the Patersberg it was a brief effort direction Koppenberg, where again the cobbles looked almost inviting (being dry). If golf is “a good walk ruined” then the Koppenberg is potentially in a similar category. Mike Lawson again took the solo honours … BiciSport 1 Koppenberg 2. The overall Berg Pointscore went something like BiciSport 5 Belgian Killer Bergs 4. A win is a win ! !

The ride finished with a coffee & cake at the Ronde Van Vlaanderen Cafe at the RVV Museum in central Oudenaarde.

Koppenberg @ 26 Mar - Marty Wright, Mike Lawson & Mike O’Reilly

Koppenberg @ 26 Mar - on the lower slopes of the Koppenberg Climb (aka the Black Beast), Mike Lawson, Mike O’Reilly & Marty Wright

Koppenberg @ 26 Mar - Mike Lawson approaches the Black Beast

Koppenberg @ 26 Mar - Marty Wright approaches the Black Beast

The BiciSport team of Marty Wright plus the three Mikes (O’Brien, Lawson & O’Reilly) assume the cobbled position at the Kokerelle B&B (www.kokerelle.be) just outside Oudenaarde in central Flanders from 25 March.

The BiciSport in Flanders program being -

27 Mar - Bruges De Panne Pro Race 29 Mar - E3 Harelbeke Grand Prix Pro Race 30 Mar - Gent Wevelgem Cyclosportive, Mar 31 - Johan Museeuw Cyclosportive, Gent-Wevelgem Classic Pro Race, Velle Antwerp Retro Race

3 Apr - Dwars Vlaanderen Pro Race, 6 Apr - Tour of Flanders Cyclosportive, 7 Apr - Tour of Flanders Pro Classic

10 Apr - Schelde Prijs Antwerp Pro Race, 11 Apr - Roubaix Recce Ride from Wallers Arenberg to Roubaix Velodrome 13 Apr - Paris Roubaix Cyclosportive, 14 Apr - Paris Roubaix Pro Classic

News Shorts - 25 March

ROLLY DELAYTZ (BICISPORT HAPPY WHEELS) TAKES A HEFFRON TUESDAY

Heffron Park @ 19 Mar - Declan Jones (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Heffron Park @ 19 Mar - Declan Jones (left) & Rolly Delaytz (right)

Heffron Park @ 19 Mar - Rolly takes the victory

Heffron Park @ 19 Mar - Podium time for Rolly