News Shorts - 27 February

Quarter Everesting @ Newport @ 23 Feb over 2212m of climbing - Sam Green (BiciSport Happy Wheeels) recently completed the French climbs of Le Galibier & Alpe D’Huez simulating the steep gradients on a Wahoo Kicker.

Full of tenacity Sam completed the effort in 6 hours. Well done Sam.

Recovery Ward

Tom Green (BiciSport Happy Wheels) was involved in the West Head RR crash in mid February that resulted in a broken collarbone & 5 ribs. Tom goes in for additional shoulder surgery this week. Best wishes Tom.

Ian Grant also had a rubber side up at an Eastern Creek Raceway criterium a few weeks back & should return to racing shortly

Riverina Interclub @ Cobram @ 26 Feb - Peter Budd (BiciSport Happy Wheels) raced at the Cobram handicap on the NSW-Vic border and rode well in the first handicap of the 23 season

BiciSport coffee @ Sandstone Cafe @ 25 Feb - a bumper turn out to Saturday coffee @ 9.30am. Several legends had already departed before this pic was snapped … L to R … Ian Grainger, Ken Edwards, Karl Hoad, Sean Mura, Marty Wright, John Robb & Tony Rabbidge. All welcome to Saturday coffee @ Sandstone @ 9.30am

Oudenaarde dates are now confirmed for the BiciSport trip to the Belgian Spring Classics 2023. See the dates below. Weekly News updates and Facebook posts will be from 15 March starting at the Nokere Kourse near Oudenaarde. Mike Lawson gets the ball rolling at the Strada Bianche in Italy on 4 March

March

4 - Strada Bianche (Italy), 15 - Nokere Kourse (Belgium), 18 - Dwars Vlaanderen Cyclosportive, 19 - Velle Junior Road Race (sponsored by BiciSport)

24 - E3 Classic, 25 - Ghent Wevelgem CycoSportive, 26 - Ghent Wevelgem Classic, 29 - Dwars Vlaanderen Classic

April

1 - Tour of Flanders CycloSportive, 2 - Tour of Flanders Classic, 8 - Paris Roubaix CycloSportive

9 - Paris Roubaix Classic, 12 - Brabant Arrow Classic, 15 - Amstel Gold CycloSportive

16 - Amstel Gold Classic, 19 - Fleche Walloon Classic, 23 - Liege Bastogne Liege Classic

VALE CON TOPARIS

• When you think of the Goulburn cycling community it doesn’t take long before the conversation turns to the Greengrocer Cafe and Con Toparis. Con was the linchpin of the local cycling community & fiercely passionate about just about everything he did … be it the cycling community, good coffee, high quality food and the love of go-karting. Sadly Con was killed on 18 February whilst cycling on the Goulburn-Crookwell Rd in a collision with a motorbike. RIP dear Con as you were much admired

• Con’s funeral will be held in Goulburn on 17 March @ 2pm. Details will be posted on the Goulburn CC Facebook page in due course

THREE PEAKS CHALLENGE 2023 - CANCELLED

• Due to ongoing issues with a road slippage at Bogong near Falls Creek the 2023 event has been cancelled and the next edition will be held on 10 March 2024

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 28 Feb

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 4-5 Mar

  • Tolland (Wagga) Weekend

• 5 Mar

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 28 Feb & Thurs 2 Mar

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 2 Mar

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 4 Mar

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Linda McCartney Foods Pro Team (UK) - 1998-2001

A team based on vegetarianism & Linda McCartney Foods. The team moved from the domestic UK scene onto the UCI World Cup and selected Grand Tours (being the Tour of Italy - where David McKenzie won a stage). Sadly, the team itself had a shelf life less than the foods it was promoting, and eventually the team disbanded due to cost over runs and unpaid wages and less than satisfactory team management.

The team itself was an interesting mix of super talent … be it the Swiss one day Classic specialist in Pascal Richard and Max Sciandri, to the likes of Brad Wiggins, Charly Wegelius (ex Mapei), Chris Lillywhite and the great Aussie trio of David Mckenzie, Allan Iacone and Ben Brooks.

A non event as much as it was a low point in sports governance

News Shorts - 20 February

Victorian Alps (Bright) @ 16 Feb - Marty Wright (left - BiciSport) & Dudley Hoskin (BiciSport) lost in the hidden gems of the Victorian Alps

Victorian Alps (Bright) @ 18 Feb - atop Mt Hotham with Craig Pager (left) and Dudley Hoskin

Victorian Alps (Bright) @ 18 Feb - Steve Holland, Craig Pager, Dudley Hoskin & Marty Wright at Mt Hotham

Grafton Inverell Classic for 2023 - The race promoters have announced a revised G2I Technical Guide for this annual Classic. Details can be found in Special Events in this website.

BiciSport is happy to announce it is sponsoring a 55k Junior road race in the village of Velle near Antwerp in East Flanders in Belgium on 19 March.

BiciSport is also sponsoring an Elite race in August in Velle and co sponsoring the Force Masters Team in Belgium from 2023 for a 3 year period.

Dates are now confirmed for the BiciSport trip to the Belgian Spring Classics 2023. See the dates below. Weekly News updates and Facebook posts will be from 15 March starting at the Nokere Kourse near Oudenaarde. Mike Lawson gets the ball rolling at the Strada Bianche on 4 March

March

4 - Strada Bianche (Italy), 15 - Nokere Kourse (Belgium), 18 - Dwars Vlaanderen Cyclosportive, 19 - Velle Junior Road Race (sponsored by BiciSport)

24 - E3 Classic, 25 - Ghent Wevelgem CycoSportive, 26 - Ghent Wevelgem Classic, 29 - Dwars Vlaanderen Classic

April

1 - Tour of Flanders CycloSportive, 2 - Tour of Flanders Classic, 8 - Paris Roubaix CycloSportive

9 - Paris Roubaix Classic, 12 - Brabant Arrow Classic, 15 - Amstel Gold CycloSportive

16 - Amstel Gold Classic, 19 - Fleche Walloon Classic, 23 - Liege Bastogne Liege Classic

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 21 Feb

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 25-26 Feb

  • Husky Triathlon (Jervis Bay)

• 26 Feb

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 21 Feb & Thurs 23 Feb

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 23 Feb

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

• Sat 25 Feb

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Miguel Poblet on the way to winning a stage in the Tour of Spain for IGNIS Pro Cycling Team

IGNIS Professional Cycling Team (Italy) - 1955-68

Italy (and much of Europe) was addicted to cycling sponsorship in the form of kitchens, home improvements, coffee, cigarettes or alochol. The Italian sponsor in IGNIS was home appliances (fridges, washing machines). The picture above is Ercole Baldani in the World Champions jersey together with Jacques Antiquel (FYNSEC). Team bikes were Frejus.

The team was around for 14 years but getting a handle on team results was limited. The team itself was littered with legends & cycling icons be it Ercole Baldini (1958 World Champion & Giro winner, Italian Road Champion) plus finished 6th in the 1958 Tour de France, Reg Arnold (Aussie track specialist but just for one year), Louis Bobet (French legend), Antonio Maspes (Italian track specialist), Gastone Nencini (won numerous Giro stages), Miguel Poblet (won in Spain regularly plus 3 Giro stages).

Ercole Baldini (IGNIS) in the World Champions jersey

Team IGNIS takes second in a Tour of Italy stage. The IGNIS team won the 1960 Teams Classification at the Tour of Italy. Note the tv camera car between the stage winner and the third place getter just behind.

IGNIS Team Presentation in 1960

News Shorts - 13 February

National MTB Championships @ Thredbo @ 11 Feb - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) on the start line. Eric took a Silver medal in the Masters Short Course and Bronze in the Enduro.

National MTB Championships @ Thredbo @ 11 Feb - Eric Dole

National MTB Championships @ Thredbo @ 11 Feb - Eric Dole on the podium

National MTB Championships @ Thredbo @ 11 Feb - Eric Dole on the Masters podium

West Head Road Race @ 12 Feb - Alex Gardiner (BiciSport Pilu Racing)

West Head Road Race @ 12 Feb - Tom Green (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 7 Feb - Rolly Delaytz (left - BiciSport Happy Wheels) in the action in B grade

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 7 Feb - Rolly Delaytz

2023 will be Peter Sagan’s last World Tour road season, with a focus on the MTB event at the Paris Olympics in 2024. A stellar career by any measure and a job well done.

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 14 Feb

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 9-18 Feb

  • MTB National Championships (Thredbo)

• 17-19 Feb

  • NSW Elite Track Champs (DGV, Bass Hill)

• 18 Feb

  • Ballarat Classic CycloSportive (Vic)

• 19 Feb

  • Eastern Creek Dragway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 14 Feb

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 16 Feb

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 18 Feb

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Bingoal Pauwels Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - 2011 to today

A Belgian team with a strong French bias & developmental focus. As the Flemish Belgian teams are loaded with Flemish speakers then so to is this French based (Wallonie) Belgian team with regional French speakers. Bikes are DeRosa, groupsets are Shimano with 25 riders on the team roster. Sponsors past & present are Wallonie Bruxelles (Regional government), Lotto, Credit Agricole (banking), Pauwels Sauces & Coca Cola. Clothing is from VerMarc

The racing program sits firmly with the Belgian Spring Classics from late February until the end of April. Getting in the “TV break of the day” is something of a fundamental obsession (as podium visits are more of a dream). Team results are somewhat rare (that’s an understatement) with Baptiste Planckaert & Kenny Dehaes the only notable exceptions (and they have a Flemish heritage).

Bingoal Pauwels Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - a nicely presented team car

Bingoal Pauwels Pro Cycling Team (Belgium) - the team presentation in 2022 with the distinctive fluro team clothing

News Shorts - 6 February

Eastern Creek Dragway Criterium @ 5 Feb - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) in the A2 grade criterium

Eastern Creek Dragway Criterium @ 5 Feb - Eric Dole leads the A2 peloton with David Cooper (right) getting in on the action

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 31 Jan - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) before the start

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 31 Jan - Rolly Delaytz before the start

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 31 Jan - Rolly Delaytz exiting the “squarcircle’

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 31 Jan - Rolly Delaytz exiting the “squarcircle’

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 31 Jan - Rolly Delaytz exiting the “squarcircle’

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 31 Jan - Rolly Delaytz approaching the finish line with 6 laps to go

Goulburn Track Open @ 28 Jan - Davide Browne took second at the Goulburn Wheelrace Final

Tom Boonen @ Maarkedal Belgium @ 25 Jan - Yes, Belgium is crazy about cycling (that is a given). There are monuments to numerous past champions - Merckx, Schotte & Wijnendaele (who organised the early editions of the Tour of Flanders). Along comes the bronzed legs only of Tom Boonen - Tom is pictured just to the right of the twin pins monument.

Tom Boonen @ Maarkedal Belgium @ 25 Jan - yes Tom … this really sounded like a great idea when first proposed and we really have to make something of this going forward. Every cyclist will now get a picture at the Taainberg climb near Oudenaarde … am currently figuring out how to squeeze BiciSport leg warmers & matching overshoes over this lot !

Tom Boonen @ Maarkedal Belgium @ 25 Jan - Tom Boonen still looking somewhat baffled by the bronzed outcome

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 7 Feb

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 9-18 Feb

  • MTB National Championships (Thredbo)

    • BiciSport starter Eric Dole

• 12 Feb

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

  • West Head Road Race (Manly)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 7 Feb

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 9 Feb

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 11 Feb

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Okay Whisky Pro Team (Belgium) - 1966-77

Okay Whisky started in 1966, and stayed as the primary sponsor until 1970 when it changed alcoholic beverages to Geens Watney (1970), then Watney Maes Pils (1973-74) and finally just Maes Pils (1975-77). Yes, it was all about the whisky or the beer sponsorship - heck it beats the “sports washing” by undemocratic & failed foreign countries which is commonplace these days. Original 1966 groupsets were firstly French Mafac but then moved onto Italian Campagnolo. Bikes were either Diamant or Groene Leeuw (both Belgian of course).

The team started in 1966 with just 5 riders, but in 1967 it jumped up to 34 riders and again up to 38 riders in 1968. The team was strictly Flemish and no French speakers sighted on any team listing. Team information and results are pretty sparse but riders included Alfons De Bal, Marcel Kubacki (a great sprinter who won numerous Belgian races but whose great career goes largely ignored), Frans Verbeek (Classics specialist), then the legendary Flemish triple crown of Herman Van Springel, Ward Sels & Rik Van Looy.

Okay Whisky - a very talented start line with far left Herman Van Springel, Ward Sels (3rd from right) & Rik Van Looy (far right).

Frans Verbeek wins for Watney Geens in 1970 … let the beer flow

Frans Verbeek wins again for Watney beer. Verbeek went on to establish the VerMarc Belgian cycle clothing organisation.

Okay Whisky Team Presentation outside the sponsors factory in 1966. Apologies for the picture quality.

News Shorts - 30 January

Goulburn Track Open @ 28 Jan - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) on the Goulburn velodrome fence had a cracker of a night - two wins, second in the Goulburn Wheelrace final and another third in the Kierin sprint. Event entries were very good and an altogether enjoyable promotion.

Goulburn Track Open @ 28 Jan - Davide Browne

Goulburn Track Open @ 28 Jan - Davide Browne wins the 2 lap sprint

Goulburn Track Open @ 28 Jan - Davide Browne in the Goulburn Wheelrace heat. Davide would finish second in the final

Goulburn Track Open @ 28 Jan - Davide Browne

Lansdowne Park Criterium @ Waratah Masters @ 29 Jan - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) takes podium spot # 2 in A2 grade

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 24 Jan - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) with Lachlan Morton (EF EasyPost).

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 24 Jan - Rolly Delaytz on the start line

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 24 Jan - Rolly Delaytz climbing the Heffron Pimple with the finishing straight in the background

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 24 Jan - Rolly Delaytz after the finish

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 24 Jan - making Rolly look pretty

Cadel Evans CycloSportive @ Geelong @ 28 Jan - start line with Eric Dole & Peter Budd

Cadel Evans CycloSportive @ Geelong @ 28 Jan - L to R … Tony Jones, Dom Piromalli & Albert Ravanello (BiciSport) at the Geelong start

Cadel Evans CycloSportive @ Geelong @ 28 Jan - Eric Dole

Cadel Evans CycloSportive @ Geelong @ 28 Jan - Eric Dole (centre) & Peter Budd (right)

VALE RICHARD SPINKS

• Very sad to report the recent passing of Richard Spinks (Northern Sydney CC). Known & admired by many across the cycling spectrum - be it Northern Sydney, Caravello, Waratahs, Manly & BiciSport. Richard was seen regularly on all of the local rides and won many friends and medals at Masters Championships. RIP Richard, you will be missed by many.

• Funeral arrangements are to be a private family service

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 31 Jan

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 4 Feb

  • Melbourne to Warnambool Classic (Vic)

• 5 Feb

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Every Mon/Wed/Fri Mornings

  • Centennial Park Masters @ Centennial Park

    • Meet at the corner of Parkes Drive/Grand Drive at 8.30am and do CP laps until 9.30am then coffee at Spruce Goose Cafe

• Tues 24 Jan

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 26 Jan

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 28 Jan

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Zundert Continental Elite Team (Netherlands) - 1978-97

Ever wondered where the idea of the big professional cycling team bus came from ?.

Prior to 1986 it was common for professional team riders to arrive/depart in the standard team cars. All very primitive even back then but it made for great viewing for spectators. The picture above is the original Zundert cycling team car (before the team bus concept was created)

Along came Frans Siemons who supported the local Zundert cycling team near the Dutch-Belgian border and had three sons that raced (Jan, Ruud and Maurice). They wanted something better than just a small & cramped team car …. so the team bus idea was devised by Frans. Frans purchased a very old & second hand fire engine red London bus and had it fitted out for enhanced rider comfort.

The idea caught on quickly and the Zundert team bus concept was then copied by the Dutch PDM Professional team in 1986 and the rest is now history as team buses are the order of the day. Some Italian professional teams even hired the Zundert bus in 1993 & 94 when Mario Cipollini was a member of the MG-TechnoGym professional team. The Zundert team bus regularly featured at the Tour de France until 1997 and was a regular on the Alpe d’Huez climb at the famous Turn 13 (Turn 13 was nicknamed the Dutch Corner).

Zundert Team bus at the 1994 Tour de France with Johan Museeuw (left) & Patrick Lefevere (centre)

The original English fire engine red coloured Diana team bus at the Tour de France. Later bus versions were also in blue

Zundert Cycling Team Presentation @ Zundert on the Dutch-Belge border with the blue version of the team bus in the background’

News Shorts - 23 January

MTB National Series Round 1 @ ACT @ 21 Jan - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) before the start

MTB National Series Round 1 @ ACT @ 21 Jan - Eric Dole

MTB National Series Round 1 @ ACT @ 21 Jan - Eric Dole

MTB National Series Round 1 @ ACT @ 21 Jan - Eric Dole takes the victory

Mt Buffalo Victoria @ 15 Jan - Craig Pager (BiciSport Happy Wheels) sighted at Lake Catani at the top of Mt Buffalo

Goulburn Track Open @ 28 Jan - Best wishes to Davide Browne as he returns to the Goulburn Track Open next Saturday looking for victory in the Goulburn Wheelrace

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 24 Jan

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 28-29 Jan

  • Goulburn & Bowral Track Opens

    • BiciSport - Davide Browne

• 28-29 Jan

  • Alpine Classic CycloSportive (Bright, Vic)

  • Cadel Evans CycloSportive (Geelong, Vic)

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 24 Jan

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 26 Jan

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 28 Jan

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Vittorio Adorni (Italy) - 1937-2022 (passed away 24 Dec 22)

Vittorio raced for several teams since his career started in 1962 with Philco, then moved on to Cynar, Salvarani (1964-66), Salamini (1967), Faema (1968), then finally SCIC (1969-70). As was typical of the time the popular sponsors were either coffee machines (Faema) or kitchens (Del Tongo, SCIC and Salvarani).

His career started in 1962, then won the Tour of Italy in 1965 (he went on to win 11 Giro stages). Other stage race victories included Romandie, Belgium & Switzerland.

Single day victories were seemingly rare but they were big - won the World Pro Road Championships at Imola Italy by a massive 10 minutes when Eddy Merckx refused to chase Adorni (a close Faema team mate & personal friend) and the close knit Italian team did the rest at Imola. Adorni also won an Italian National Road Championship in 1969.

Adorni was also a Salvarani Team Director, President of the Italian Riders Association, Italian TV cycling commentator plus a UCI Executive member. Elegant, faithful team mate, talented, a champion.

Felice Gimondi (left) and Vittorio Adorni. Loyal team mates and the best of friends.

Vittorio (left) & Felice riding the 1966 Barachi Trophy two rider time trial for Salvarani.

Adorni takes a rare sprint victory in 1968 for Faema

Team Faema in 1968 with Adorni (second left) and Merckx (third left)

The best of friends - Gimondi, Adorni, Merckx at the 1968 Tour of Italy

1969 Tour of Italy and Adorni had moved onto the SCIC team from Faema but the close friendship remained

Tour of Italy 1963 with Adorni riding for the Cynar team on the Dolomites gravel

Adorni wins the 1968 Worlds at Imola by a staggering 10 minutes when the Italian team put the block in and Merckx wouldn’t chase a close friend

Adorni in 1969 riding for the SCIC team in the World’s jersey

CYNAR circa 1963 and Adorni … 4th from the left

Adorni racing for Team Philco at the 1962 Tour of Italy

Team Philco presentation at the 1962 Tour of Italy (Adorni being far left)

News Shorts - 9 January

Tumut Classic Cyclosportive @ 8 Jan - Melissa & Peter Budd on the Tumut start line

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park Criterium @ 8 Jan - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) in A2 grade rode aggresively all day and finished in the top 5. Lansdowne continues to attract good sized pelotons in each category.

Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Criterium @ 8 Jan - Peter Verhoeven returned to Masters racing after a back injury & a dose of Covid 19. Peter rode C grade as a comeback effort with a target of returning to A2 grade in the immediate term.

HART Criteriums @ St Ives @ 1 Jan - Ian Grant on the narrow climb at the St Ives Driver Training School circuit

Noosa Hinterland @ 1 Jan - Klayton Smith (BiciSport Happy Wheels) with the 2045 Happy Wheels Team Time Trial squad

BiciSport Belgium @ 1 Jan - Koen VerHulst on a damp gravel ride along the Schelde River in East Flanders

BiciSport Belgium @ 1 Jan - Olivia VerHulst

Happy Wheels @ Khancoban in the Snowy Mountains @ 6 Jan - Stew Campbell and the team

BiciSport Terrey Hills @ Sandstone Cafe @ 1 Jan - Ian Grainger, Eric Dole, Marty Wright, Richard Mulberry & Nigel Smith

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 6-10 Jan

  • National Road Championships (Ballarat, Vic)

• 15 Jan

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

• 17 Jan

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 10 Jan

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 12 Jan

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 14 Jan

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Malvor Bottecchia Pro Cycling Team (Italy) - 1978-90

Numerous sponsors across 12 years with Malvor (womens cosmetics), Bottecchia (bikes), Colnago (bikes - for one year only), Hoonved (washing machines), Mavic (components), Sidi (cycling shoes). A team that existed over 10 years but wins were solely in Grand Tours. At the Tour of Italy they won 13 stages, France (x 2) and Spain (x 2).

The lead riders were Giuseppe Saronni (pictured above), then Lech Piasecki (Poland), Roberto Pagnin, Mario Beccia (single day specialist), Acacio De Silva (Portugal) and Daniel Gisiger (Swiss). They won their usual Giro stage which kept the team dream alive for over a decade but it was generally slim pickings in single day races where victories were few & very far between.

Roberto Pagnin

Mario Beccia (left) & Acacio De Silva (right)

News Shorts - 2 January

BiciSport in Flanders in 2023 - BiciSport is proud to announce collaboration with the Force Cycling Team based at Nieuwkerken in East Flanders Belgium for a three year period.

BiciSport will join Force Cycling as a sub sponsor with the name ‘BiciSport Australia’ along both sides of the jersey collarbone/shoulders. The Belgian sponsors are Sack, IT Figures, De Wilde, Bofi Boon, Zelfbouw, BiciSport Australia & Get Up Nutrition. The Belgian Team Principal is Nick Felix and the clothing manufacturer is BioRacer. The release of the 2023 Force Cycling team jersey (front & rear) is above/below.

The collaboration presents BiciSport riders with a unique opportunity to develop future contacts in Belgium should they wish to race in the heartland of Belgian cycling.

Sydney Christmas Track Carnivals @ 28-30 Dec - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) took 4th place overall in B grade at the Sydney Track Carnivals

BiciSport Belgium & 31 Dec @ St Niklaas Belgium - Koen VerHulst avoiding the harsh Belgian winter wishing his Aussie friends a Happy New Year.

BiciSport Belgium & 31 Dec @ St Niklaas Belgium - Koen VerHulst somewhere in the “Italian Alps”

Wallers Arenberg Forest cobbles @ 19 Dec - The Arenberg Forest is famous as “the” cobbled section in the Paris Roubaix Classic. The picture above was taken on 19 December with a dusting of winter snow. The Arenberg cobbles look somewhat ‘sleepy’

Wallers Arenberg Forest cobbles - Marty Wright & Mike Lawson (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) on the same Arenberg Forest cobbles when the snow has disappeared

Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

National Road Championships are in Ballarat from 6-10 January

RACe ENTRIES SLIDE POST COVID AND HITS ECR & WEST HEAD

• Race entries obviously were put on hold during the pandemic with numerous races cancelled. Post pandemic and restrictions have eased but race entries have most certainly not recovered.

• Waratah Masters recently announced that Masters A grade is now open to any rider over 19+ years (a 6 month trial commences in January 2023). This switch relates to just A grade and not the lower grades that remain Masters only. Times they are a changing and Waratahs have a monopoly on Masters only racing yet this isn’t enough.

• These trends are replicated at other races around Sydney, including those at West Head where the recent Wall Handicap saw a marked drop off in race entries (from pre Covid versus post Covid)

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 6-10 Jan

  • National Road Championships (Ballarat, Vic)

• 8 Jan

  • Landsowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

  • Tumut Classic Cyclosportive

• 10 Jan

  • Presentation Tour of Spain 2023

• 17 Jan

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 3 Jan

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 5 Jan

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 7 Jan

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Gerben Karstens racing the Paris Tours Classic on a single speed bike.

Gerben Karstens at the finish of the 1965 Paris Tours Classic. Karsetens rode for the dutch Televizier Professional Cycling Team. Televizier was a dutch TV magazine.

In 1965 something unusual and no longer repeated happened in the classic Paris-Tours Classic

The controversy alive at that time related to the course profile being completely flat and there were those who defended it as adequate evidence to the "sprinters" - who were entitled to have a race on the professional calendar as proof of their single ability to just sprint.

The organization decided to take an unusual step - no gears but riders could only use a single freewheel that could be changed mid race (but no gear could be changed whilst still riding).

In this way the choice of the single gear ratio became fundamental (that’s an understatement).

Jacques Anquetil chose a 52 front chainwheel & a 16 single rear cog, Raymond Poulidor chose 51 x 17 at the start and then changed to 49 x 13 and then finally to 51 x 15. Gerben Karstens opted for 53 x 16, which would be replaced by 53 x 15 for the final sprint 25 km from the finish.

The race was furious but the escape that succeeded was that of the Dutchman Gerben Karstens. Karstens attacked with vigour and nothing could overcome it. Gerben Karstens was able to accomplish the feat of 246 km at an average of 45,029 km/h - setting a new record of the race (the current record belongs to the Ukrainian cyclist Andreï Tchmil - recorded 47.,539 km/h in 1997). The unusual experience of using single gears was not repeated again

Gerben Karstens (now riding for the then TI Raleigh team)

Gerben Karstens (right) passed away in October 2022. RIP Karstens.

News Shorts - 26 December

Bathurst Interclub road race @ 18 Dec - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) took the top spot at the Bathurst Interclub. Ian has been a regular visitor to the podiums in several interclubs, State & National Masters Road Championships. Congratulations Ian on a great 2022 and we look forward to 2023.

Darren Benson in France @ Dec 22 - Best wishes Darren for a new start in rural France

Gent 6 Day @ t’Kuipe Velodrome in Gent - Iljo Keisee pulls a nice wheelie at 65kph behind the motorised derny … don’t try this at home

Cafe De Karper @ Gent Belgium - a simple matter of 400m down the road from t’Kuipe Velodrome is the Cafe De Karper owned by the father (Ronnie) of Iljo Keisse. Its flemish cycling to the core

Covid 19 …. that little treasure is the gift that keeps on giving with several BiciSport riders down at present. Speedy recovery to all.

Rest in Peace the admired Vittorio Adorni who passed away on 24 December 22. Picture above was winning the World Pro Road Championships at Imola in 1966. Class, elegance, sportsmanship, a gentleman.

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 28-30 Dec

  • Sydney Christmas Track Carnivals (various Sydney Velodromes)

• 6-10 Jan

  • National Road Championships (Ballarat, Vic)

• 8 Jan

  • Landsowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

  • Tumut Classic Cyclosportive

• 10 Jan

  • Presentation for the Tour of Spain 2023

• 17 Jan

  • Oh no …. there is no Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums until 17 Jan

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 27 Dec

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 29 Dec

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 31 Dec

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Eddy Merckx presents the Pope with a Molteni team bike at the 1975 Tour of Italy

The close relationships with Popes and cycling are well known. Pope Pius X (1903-14) perceived cycling “as a virtuous practice”. Pope Pius X11 (1939-58) took cycling to a whole new dimension with a small chapel built in 1948 on the Ghisallo Pass near Bellagio on Lake Como. Pope Paul V1 (1963-78) was a fervent advocate for physical exercise … “sports are the symbol of spiritual reality”. Finally, Pope Francis blessed the Tour of Italy Pink Jersey in 2013

The Ghisallo Church was commissioned in 1948 by Pope Pius X11 and is dedicated to all cyclists.

The Pope greets Felice Gimondi (right) and Eddy Merckx at the 1975 Tour of Italy

Pope Francis blesses the Tour of Italy leaders jersey in 2013

The Pope greets a beaming Felice Gimondi (Bianchi Campagnolo) at the start of the Tour of Italy 1974

Being Christmas nothing can top the Tour of Italy team presentation with the Pope kindly gracing the opening celebrations. Popes over the ages have been presented with several team bikes

Peter Sagan presents a Vatican inspired team bike to Pope Francis

The Pope receives his own Colnago

News Shorts - 19 December

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - The final contest of 2022 with an A grade Trophy Race (over 20 laps) plus the B-C grade handicap (over 15 laps). B grade really was not that committed to catching C grade and C grade comfortably took the podium with Stew Campbell (BiciSport Happy Wheels) putting in a great finish

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - Stew Campbell takes second at the finish

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - Rolly Delaytz rode well in B grade

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - Rolly Delaytz

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - Caleb Ewen was a stand out in a high octane A grade Trophy Race

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - Rolly Delaytz on the B grade start line

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - Stew Campbell on the C grade start line

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 13 Dec - Rolly Delaytz getting “pinned up”

St Ives HART Criterium @ 16 Dec - Sam Green (BiciSport Happy Wheels) finished 2nd in D grade

Sydney ‘1000’ Tempe Open @ 10 Dec - Davide Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Sydney ‘1000’ Tempe Open @ 10 Dec - Davide Browne on a charge

Sydney ‘1000’ Tempe Open @ 10 Dec - Davide Browne raced the tandem with Lizanne Willmott

Sydney ‘1000’ Tempe Open @ 10 Dec - Davide & Lizanne on the Tempe Velodrome banking

ACT XCO Championships @ 11 Dec - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes the Silver medal. A challenging technical MTB course at its best. Rocky, dusty, tree roots, steep climbs and fast challenging downhill. Eric finished just 27 seconds behind the Gold medal.

ACT XCO Championships @ 11 Dec - Eric Dole

ACT XCO Championships @ 11 Dec - Eric Dole

BiciSport Christmas Coffee @ Taste Buds @ 17 Dec - L to R … The BiciSport Grupetto consisted of Herve, Ian, Mike, Marty, Suzy, Tom, Sean, Karl, John, Tony & Raoul

C’mon Santa …. do the right thing … I have been good all year

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 17 Jan

  • Oh no …. there is no Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums until 17 Jan

• 28-30 Dec

  • Sydney Christmas Track Carnivals (various Sydney Velodromes)

• 6-10 Jan

  • National Road Championships (Ballarat, Vic)

• 8 Jan

  • Landsowne Park Criteriums (Waratah Masters)

  • Tumut Classic Cyclosportive

• 10 Jan

  • Presentation Tour of Spain 2023

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 20 Dec

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 22 Dec

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 24 Dec

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Felice Gimondi - 1942 to 2019

One of the greatest Italian cyclists ever. If any competitive cyclist deserves the highest accolade for performance, grace & integrity then Felice is the man. Sadly passed away suddenly in 2019 (from a heart attack) when he still had an enormous presence across all sections of Italian & World cycling. Pictured above in a filthy Paris Roubaix Classic.

Felice was only the second cyclist to win all three Grand Tours (Spain - ‘68, Italy - ‘67, ‘69, ‘76, France - ‘65) and graced a Grand Tour podium some 12 times. Sponsor of choice was Salvarani (Italian kitchens) or Bianchi (bikes). Single day Classic victories were numerous - World Championships, National Champion, Lombardy x 2, Roubaix, San Remo, Paris Brussels. Team management also included looking after Marco Pantani.

Felice wins the Tour of Lombardy on the Como Velodrome. The tifosi goes crazy !

Felice wins the Milan San Remo Classic 1974 in a solo breakaway. The tifosi goes crazy again !

Felice wins the World Road Championships in Barcelona 1973.

A Championship full of intrigue, scandal and bribery as behind the scenes Freddy Maertens (Belgium) was on Shimano, and Freddy accused his team mate in Eddy Merckx of riding for the Campagnolo sponsored Gimondi. Maertens finished second & Merckx was fourth. Nothing beats a good scandal !

Gimondi @ Le Tour in 1965 riding for the Salvarani team. Note the front pockets on the jerseys.

Gimondi @ Le Tour 1965 with front pockets buttoned up.

Gimondi climbing in the Stelvio snow @ Giro riding for the Bianchi Campagnolo team

Gimondi @ Giro 1969

Eddy Merckx (left) & Felice Gimondi were the best of friends

Salvarini Team Presentation 1972 … Salvarini made high quality Italian kitchens (lots of them)

News Shorts - 12 December

West Head Road Race @ 12 Dec - Anthony Lowes (BiciSport Pilu Racing) at the start in the latest Pilu Racing team kit for 2023

West Head Road Race @ 12 Dec - Anthony Lowes

West Head Road Race @ 12 Dec - Anthony Lowes

West Head Road Race @ 12 Dec - Anthony Lowes

Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek Dragway @ 11 Dec - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) on the attack

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 6 Dec - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) on the right

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 6 Dec - Rolly Delaytz going over the Col del la Heffron

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 6 Dec - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) was a rare DNF in a super quick criterium … but what a night with Caleb Ewan in town

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 6 Dec

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 6 Dec

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 6 Dec - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport) receives his latest issue Happy Wheels team kit from Champion Systems Manager Kim Taranto

BiciSport Christmas Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills on Saturday 17 December @ 9.30am. All welcome.

Tour of Bright @ 4 Dec - a nice pedal late on the Sunday afternoon with BiciSport team mates & supporters out towards Tawonga Gap

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 13 Dec

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 17 Dec

  • BiciSport Christmas Coffee Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills @ 9.30am

• 18 Dec

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

  • Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (Northern Sydney)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 13 Dec

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 15 Dec

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 17 Dec

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Gitane Campagnolo Pro Team (France) - 1969-77

Gitane Campagnolo team was the forerunner to the more well known Renault Gitane team. A bike industry sponsored group with Gitane (frames) and Campagnolo the groupsets. The jersey is a retro icon

The team itself was loaded with super talent - a rising Bernard Hinault (eventually won 5 Tours de France), Liege, Paris Roubaix, Ghent Wevelgem, Grand Prix de Nations, World Pro Road Championships and a whole lot more.

Lucien Van Impe was a class act (Tour KOM jersey holder plus Tour winner as well) as was Gerben Karstens (classy sprinter) ably assisted by Roland Berland, Andre Chalmel, Robert Mintkiewicz, Willy Tierlinck (Belgium), Jacques Bossis & Bernard Quilfen. They won often and in every terrain. Gerben Karstens did “win” a Tour of Lombardy classic but failed the subsequent dope test - oops.

Lucien Van Impe in the KOM jersey at the Tour de France

Paris Roubaix Classic looked more like cyclo cross in Belgium

Gerben Karstens (Netherlands) wins the Amstel Gold Classic for Gitane

Bernard Hinault (Gitane Campagnolo) riding the 1979 World Road Championships in the Netherlands

News Shorts - 5 December

Tour of Bright 2022 - Great weather & congratulations to the local Alpine race organisers, promoters and the BiciSport team of Peter Budd, Ian Grant, Klayton Smith and Craig Pager. A fine team ride

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec- On the stage 1 start line in Bright with Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) and Peter Budd (BiciSport Happy Wheels). Conditions were somewhat chilly for a 7.15am start but warmed up nicely for the afternoon Individual Time Trial in the Wandiligong Valley

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Klayton Smith & Craig Pager (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Ian Grant at the forefront of the Masters 6+ category going through the township of Bright at the start

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Peter Budd in the M6+ race going through the township of Bright at the start

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Craig Pager in Masters C grade going through the township of Bright

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Ian Grant on the Tawonga Gap climb approaching the finish on Stage 1

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Ian Grant at the stage 1 finish line after an aggressive ride in the early section of Stage 1

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Peter Budd is a noted sprinter but is prepping for the Masters World Road Championships in St Johann Austria in 2023. Fine job Peter for supporting the team and putting in for the St Johann project.

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Peter Budd crosses the finish line in stage 1 at Tawonga Gap

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Klayton Smith crosses the finish line in stage 1 at Tawonga Gap

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Klayton Smith after the Stage 1 finish

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Craig Pager crosses the finish line at the end of Stage 1

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Craig Pager after the Stage 1 finish

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Craig Pager in the Wandiligong Individual Time Trial

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Peter Budd on an ITT start ramp is such a rare offering it had to be posted

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Peter Budd coming to grips with descending down the ITT ramp.

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Peter Budd (having survived the hazards of the ITT ramp) … it was time for the Wandiligong Individual Time Trial

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Klayton Smith in the Wandiligong Individual Time Trial

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 29 Dec - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) can be sighted second on the right (orange socks) in the final sprint

HART Criteriums @ St Ives @ 2 Dec - Sam Green (BiciSport Happy Wheels) went 2nd at HART Criteriums

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 6 Dec

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 9 Dec

  • Sprint Grand Prix (DGV Velodrome)

• 10 Dec

  • Sydney ‘1000’ @ Tempe Velodrome

• 11 Dec

  • Eastern Creek Dragway (Waratah Masters)

  • West Head Road Race (The Wall Handicap)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 6 Dec

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 8 Dec

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 10 Dec

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Tour of Bright 22 @ 4 Dec - Ian Grant at the top of Mt Buffalo on the Sunday stage.

Tour of Bright 22 @ 4 Dec - Klayton Smith was the best BiciSport performer on the Sunday with 4th in Masters B grade (3rd in the bunch gallop)

Tour of Bright 22 @ 4 Dec - Craig Pager at Mt Buffalo

Tour of Bright 22 @ 4 Dec - a great training block accomplished for Peter Budd with sights set on St Johann in August 2023

Tour of Bright 22 @ 4 Dec - After the Mt Buffalo finish … a smiling duo of Peter Budd & Ian Grant

Tour of Bright 22 @ 4 Dec - Ian Grant getting cleaned up after the Mt Buffalo stage finish

Tour of Bright 22 @ 4 Dec - Peter Budd took 3rd in the M6+ category Sprint Classification

Tour of Bright 22 @ 3 Dec - Steve Holland wasn’t racing but seriously put in with a ride to Mt Hotham & return

Tour of Bright 22 @ 2 Dec - John Robb put in some valuable training k’s and visited Mt Buffallo

RIP Davide Rebellin

News Shorts - 28 November

Tuesday Night Heffron Criteriums @ 22 Nov - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) in the thick of the B grade action.

The 22 Nov criterium was the best yet - B grade caught C grade with 4 laps to go & A grade latched onto the back of B grade as they approached the finish but B grade took the overall victory. Rolly rode his heart out and gave it 100%. and took 3rd place in B grade

Tuesday Night Heffron Criteriums @ 22 Nov - Rolly Delaytz

Tuesday Night Heffron Criteriums @ 22 Nov - Rolly Delaytz (left) approaches the B grade finish and takes 3rd in B grade

Tuesday Night Heffron Criteriums @ 22 Nov - Rolly Delaytz after the finish

Happy Wheels Waterloo - a case of where life mimics art

BiciSport Griffith @ 26 Nov - Peter Budd (BiciSport) hits the Spruce Goose Cafe at Centennial Park in Sydney. The Park was that busy on a lovely Saturday morning it was far from being a Park and more like a “loved to death” sporting facility.

BiciSport Griffith @ 26 Nov - A nice cockpit shot courtesy of Peter Budd on the way home from a Sunday training ride in Centennial Park

BiciSport to Paris Roubaix 2023

Entries are now open for the Paris Roubaix Challenge 2023… the Challenge is held the day before the professional race. If you are interested in seeing the Belgian Spring Classics & the Paris Roubaix Weekend (Challenge + Pro race) then contact Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 29 Nov

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 3-4 Dec

  • Tour of Bright

    • Details in BiciSport Special Events page on this website

    • BiciSport starters - Klayton Smith, Peter Budd, Craig Pager, Ian Grant, Steve Holland

• 3 Dec

  • Heffron Park Retro Show + Criterium (Randwick CC)

  • Bathurst/Orange Track Open (AusCyclingNSW)

  • Gundy Gravel (near Scone)

• 4 Dec

  • Eastern Creek Dragway (Waratah Masters)

  • Hodgson Memorial Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (Northern Sydney)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 29 Nov

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 1 Dec

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 3 Dec

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Tour of Bright 2022 - Floods, bushfires, Covid 19 but the ToB is back bigger and better than ever in 2022. BiciSport is starting a solid team in Peter Budd, Craig Pager, Ian Grant, Steve Holland & Klayton Smith.

Stage 1 is Gaps Loop on the Saturday morning (finishing on top of the Tawonga Gap). Stage 2 is a 16k individual time trial in the afternoon along the Wandiligong Valley just outside Bright and Stage 3 (the Sunday) is “only” 36k but straight up to the top of Mt Buffalo (the climb is some 27k).

Stage 1 - pan flat out of Bright along the Ovens Valley, turning right direction the Rosewhite Gap climb for the first shake out. The stage finishes at the top of the Tawonga Gap

Stage 3 - its not that long @ 36k but its 27k of climbing to the top of Mt Buffalo

Molteni Pro Team (Italy) - a brief pictorial featuring Michelle Dancelli (pictured above) and the Molteni team. Michelle won numerous professional races and was notorious for forcing a late breakaway and taking the victory.

Dancelli on the late attack in Milan San Remo Classic on the Poggio climb and duly took the Classic victory.

Most certainly NOT members of the Molteni Pro Team but a happy gruppeto of Italian Molteni supporters outside the Madonna de Ghissalo Church high above Lake Como.

Most definitely the real deal Molteni team led by Rudi Altig as World Professional Road Champion

News Shorts - 21 November

Road alert on McCarrs Creek Rd @ 19 Nov - Its rare to commence a BiciSport News with a road alert but this one is important. Not that far from Church Point is an insanely dangerous road plate on a semi blind sharp corner. Several cyclists have crashed here in recent days. Extreme caution is required.

Heffron Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 15 Nov - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) before the start

Heffron Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 15 Nov - Rolly put in in the B grade bunch and B grade caught C grade with some 4 laps to go, but they themselves were caught by A grade on the bell lap. Game over.

Heffron Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 15 Nov - Rolly Delaytz

Heffron Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 15 Nov - Getting Rolly Delaytz looking pretty

Eastern Creek Dragway Criterium @ 20 Nov - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels)

Belgian CycloCross Report from Mike Lawson (BiciSport) - Zottegem (pictured left above on the start line) was a course that suited me better than the usual speedways - plenty of turns, little pinch hills, plus a bit of mud and an extra two soft sand pits. Similar finish to 2019 for me with 14th and a couple of good battles along the way.

Sunday 6 Nov was Arendonk - higher quality & increased number of entrants. The course was the infield of a car RallyCross circuit with turns, overpasses and long hard pedalling straights - then out onto single track with tree roots on a loop through the forest. Finished 22nd in the 55+ age category (6th in the 65+ age category).

Belgian CycloCross - the Belgian sandpit with a few jumps thrown in

Belgian CycloCross - sand sand and more sand

Belgian CycloCross - Mike van der Lawson

Belgian CycloCross - Mike van der Lawson on a sharp soggy descent

Belgian CycloCross - Mike van der Lawson

Belgian CycloCross - whilst in Oudenaarde in East Flanders … Mike Lawson met the current World Champion in Zoe Backstedt

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 22 Nov

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 23-27 Nov

  • Tour of Tasmania (AusCycling)

• 26 Nov

  • NSW Team Time Trial Championships (Singleton)

• 27 Nov

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 22 Nov

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 24 Nov

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 26 Nov

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

The Gent 6 Day is in full swing and this picture was taken at the t’Kuipe Velodrome in Gent. Freddy Maertens (left) in deep discussion with the Gent 6 Day Race Director Patrick Sercu. Both riders were undoubtedly legends of the sport. Sadly dear Patrick is no longer with us but left a remarkable legacy at the Gent 6.

Gent 6 Day @ t’Kuipe Velodrome in Gent - there is no atmosphere like it at any velodrome on the planet

Gent 6 Day @ t’Kuipe Velodrome in Gent - the spectator mosh pit inside the velodrome is not for the faint hearted.

Gent is a university town and the students come to the Gent 6 on Thursday night & party pretty well (they escape Gent on a Friday night and return home to the country and homely comfort of dear mum & dad). You maybe don’t see this race action at the DGV Velodrome in Sydney.

Preben Van Hecke

TopSport Vlaanderen Pro Team (Belgium) - 1994 to today

If any team typifies Flemish Belgium, then this is it. Primarily designed to develop Belgian riders to subsequently go into World Tour teams, but some riders (like Kenny De Ketele, who won a World Track Championship) did very nicely here without going on to the World Tour. All team members are hard core Belgian (meaning Flemish) and it means everything to have ‘van der’ in your surname. If you hadn’t guessed it by now being French Belgian won’t get you voted onto the island.

Sponsorship is primarily from TopSport Vlaanderen (being State funded) but considerable financial support comes from Baloise (insurance). Bikes were/are/will be Eddy Merckx (this is Belgium we are talking about), and groupsets are Campagnolo. The team gets selected invites to certain World Tour races (especially in Belgium). Team management is again from the mothership in Christophe Sercu, Roger Swerts & Walter Planckaert (all three are Belgian racing legends in their own right)

Biggest wins ? … as you’d expect being a development team these are few & far between. Nico Eeckhout won a Belgian Pro Road Championship (in Antwerp in 2006) and Preben Van Hecke did likewise in 2015. Other wins are rare but that’s not the point - its development development development. A great team with a great culture & attitude.

Some names above that transitioned out of this great feeder team to bigger and better things … Sep Vanmarcke, Kenny De Ketele, Ben Hermans, Jens Debusschere, Jan Bakelants & Preben Van Hecke

Bicisport magazine for November 22

News Shorts - 14 November

AusCycling NSW MTB State Champs @ Nowra @ 12 Nov - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes the M7 category victory

AusCycling NSW MTB State Champs @ Nowra @ 12 Nov - Eric Dole

West Head Road Race @ 13 Nov - Anthony Lowes (BiciSport Pilu Racing) takes 3rd in the Masters A category. Congratulations to Pilu Racing on their new 2023 team kit pictured above

West Head Road Race @ 13 Nov - Anthony Lowes

West Head Road Race @ 13 Nov - Tom Green (BiciSport Happy Wheels) was promoted to B grade and sampled the West Head “hurt box”

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 8 Nov - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) was all smiles on the B grade start line. A grade & C grade were super motivated but B grade just wasn’t “in the zone” and A grade easily took the win.

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 8 Nov - with the strong easterly blowing it was all right gutter down the Heffron Park finishing straight. Rolly (left) was sitting comfortably in the B grade echelon

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 8 Nov - Rolly climbing the Mur de Heffron climb before A grade caught B grade & put B grade to the sword

Southern Cross Criterium @ 6 Nov - Craig Pager (BiciSport Happy Wheels) rode well in B grade

Belgium CycloCross Report from Mike Lawson (BiciSport) will be featured in next weeks BiciSport News.

Darren Benson has been a great asset to the BiciSport racing team in recent years and has returned to live in the south of France. Safe travels Darren, we’ll miss you.

BiciSport Griffith @ 6 Nov - “ …. what do you think ? …. No Frank. Which way to coffee ? … “

BiciSport Griffith @ 6 Nov - Melissa Budd … We are going no where Frank … that’s a wrap.

BiciSport Griffith @ 6 Nov - Frank Signor giving it the “I am pretty sick of this, my lovely Pinarello is now getting dirty … “

NSW TEAM TIME TRIAL CHAMPS ANNOUNCED FOR SINGLETON ON 26 NOVEMBER

• AusCycling NSW announced this flood delayed promotion on 21 October.

• In previous years BiciSport has taken anything up to 6-8 teams to this weekend. However, due to the late notification this comprehensive weekend is not possible & overnight accommodation cannot be provided.

• If you wish to nominate for a BiciSport team please contact Mike O’Reilly asap on 0417 403 244

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 15 Nov

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 19 Nov

  • Tamworth Track Open

• 20 Nov

  • Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (Northern Sydney)

  • Eastern Creek Dragway (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 15 Nov

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 17 Nov

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 19 Nov

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

The Gent 6 Day starts soon on the 166m per lap t’Kuipe Velodrome in Gent … there is nothing like it - great Belgian beer, loud music, happy fans, a crowded moshpit in the centre of the track and if anybody notices an exciting bike race.

The Gent 6 Day … where fans can get up close

Solo Superia Pro Team (Belgium) - 1961-66

Sponsors were Solo (margarine), Superia (Belgian bikes), groupsets were a mixture with Italian Universal (brakes) & Campagnolo the rest of the groupset. Several riders used Campy handlebar gear levers (very fashionable at the time).

The Solo Superia team were called the “Red Guard” - the first team to develop the fashionable “sprint train” concept that is what we see today in most professional races.

The Solo Superia team ran from 1961 and Rik Van Looy (pictured above) had just left the Faema team after a string of mega victories including the World Road Championship. Van Looy won a staggering 379 races including Flanders, San Remo, Lombardy, Roubaix, Wevelgem, Paris Brussells, Tour of Spain (18 stages), Giro (12 stages) and France (7 stages). Van Looy was maybe just past his very best in the Solo years but Rik still won the Paris Roubaix classic in 1965. Rik Van Looy was King of the Classics.

Other team members were on an upward trajectory including Patrick Sercu & Eddy Merckx. Merckx in particular sat uncomfortably with Van Looy as a team mate (Merckx on the way up was a poor fit with Van Looy on the way down the team hierachy). A special mention for Ward Sels who was a class act and Ward won 35 races - twice Belgian National Champion, won the Tour of Flanders, Tour de France stages (won 7) and wore the Tour de France Yellow jersey at the 1964 Tour.

Solo Superia Pro Team - a youthful Patrick Sercu (left) & Eddy Merckx

Solo Superia Pro Team - Eddy Merckx (left), Rik Van Looy (centre) and Ward Sels. Note that all riders have gear changers on the end of the handelbars.

Solo Superia Pro Team - Ward Sels was one tough Flandrien wearing the Belgian National Champions jersey at the Tour de France

A good picture of what handlebar gear changers looked like

Solo Superia Pro Team - Rik Van Looy (note the Solo rider on the left has front chest pockets with buttons)

Rik Van Looy doing what he did best at Solo Superia - winning a bunch gallop

Solo Superia at the Tour de France presentation with Rik Van Looy in the Belgian National Champions jersey (far right)

News Shorts - 7 November

Lanterne Rouge Broome to Esperance Ride - Motivation, planning, and the desire to get there. Congratulations to Marty Wright (BiciSport), Jeremy Lowes, Alf Picello, Boon Yeo, Peter Rau, Mark McCorkindale & Loz McCorkindale (for the driver support).

Lanterne Rouge Broome to Esperance Ride - Marty Wright

Lanterne Rouge Broome to Esperance Ride

HART Criterium @ St Ives @ 4 Nov - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) took 5th in C grade (from 25 starters)

HART Criterium @ St Ives @ 4 Nov - Sam Green (BiciSport Anytime fitness) took the win in the Junior criterium

Return of the BiciSport Jedi Knight @ 28 Oct - Mike O’Brien spotted at a Freshwater cafe before returning to the UK after a brief holiday in Sydney. Great to see MOB looking well

BiciSport Griffith @ 3 Nov - Before it all got a bit wet …..

BiciSport Griffith @ 3 Nov - Great to see Melissa Budd & Francesco Signor (both BiciSport) diversifying their training skills with some intense aqua aerobic work outs in downtown Griffith. Who needs a helmet when only a snorkel and SES Rescue boat is required ….

NSW TEAM TIME TRIAL CHAMPS ANNOUNCED FOR SINGLETON ON 26 NOVEMBER

• AusCycling NSW announced this flood delayed promotion on 21 October.

• In previous years BiciSport has taken anything up to 6-8 teams to this weekend. However, due to the late notification this comprehensive weekend is not possible & overnight accommodation cannot be provided.

• If you wish to nominate for a BiciSport team please contact Mike O’Reilly asap on 0417 403 244

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 8 Nov

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 9 Nov

  • CyclingNSW Special General Meeting

• 12-13 Nov

  • NSW MTB Championships (Nowra)

    • BiciSport starter Eric Dole

• 13 Nov

  • West Head ITT (Manly)

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 8 Nov

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 10 Nov

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 12 Nov

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

NSW MTB Championships @ Nowra @ 12-13 November - Eric Dole (BiciSport Happy Wheels) is a starter in Nowra

From the retro vault with a steel Colnago Arabesque & a gold anodized Campagnolo groupset. Sometimes the nice clean lines of an elegantly styled steel Colnago can nicely sit with Campagnolo Delta brakes. The Campagnolo Delta brakes (all four versions) were universally renowned for not working but they looked great.

News Shorts - 31 October

Cape to Cape MTB race @ Western Australia @ 19-23 Oct - David Cooper (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) put in four grueling days in WA

Lanterne Rouge Peloton Broome to Esperance Epic @ 25 Oct - Marty Wright (BiciSport) and his trusty steed with views over Albany (WA) and getting ever closer to Esperance with the finish this weekend. A full report next week.

HART Criterium @ St Ives @ 28 Oct - Tom Green (BiciSport Happy Wheels) took third

Southern Cross Criteriums @ Sutherland @ 30 Oct - Craig Pager (BiciSport Happy Wheels) took 3rd place on the podium

Heffron Park Intercub @ 22 Oct - Craig Pager crosses the finish line for 11th

Heffron Park Intercub @ 22 Oct - Craig Pager (left) tops the Mur de Heffron climb

BiciSport Belgium @ 31 October - Briek Ver Hulst on the Flanders cobbles on his Belgian Ridley learning the technique of riding cobbled roads (maybe the Tour of Flanders in 2040 perhaps ?). Briek was named after the famous Belgian cyclist (Briek Schotte) who won both the Tour of Flanders & World Pro Road Championships.

BiciSport Belgium @ 31 October - Briek Ver Hulst

Tuesday Night Heffron Park with Stew - spotted recently at Heffron was Stew Campbell (BiciSport Happy Wheels) with the Wout Van Aert autographed Cervelo on the front forks. That is one delightful bike

Sydney Classic Bicycle Show @ Lidcombe Oval @ 30 Oct - a good crowd turned up to enjoy all things retro, where steel is real & chrome is the currency of choice. Many thanks to Eddy Verbust (Belgium) for supplying the Peugeot material in the BiciSport 504 Peugeot

NSW TEAM TIME TRIAL CHAMPS ANNOUNCED FOR SINGLETON ON 26 NOVEMBER

• AusCycling NSW announced this flood delayed promotion on 21 October.

• In previous years BiciSport has taken anything up to 6-8 teams to this weekend. However, due to the late notification this comprehensive weekend is not possible & overnight accommodation cannot be provided.

• If you wish to nominate for a BiciSport team please contact Mike O’Reilly asap on 0417 403 244

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• 1 Nov

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 5 Nov

  • Bass Coast CycloSportive (Inverloch, Vic)

  • Belgian CycloCross - Zottegem (BiciSport starter Mike Lawson)

• 6 Nov

  • Gong Ride Community Ride (Sydney to W’gong)

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

  • Belgian CycloCross - Arendonk (BiciSport starter Mike Lawson)

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 1 Nov

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 3 Nov

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 5 Nov

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Nikon - Van Schilt - Elro Snacks Pro Team (Netherlands) - 1985-86

The picture above features Lomme Driessens (left, Nikon manager), Freddy Maertens (centre) and legendary rider & manager Peter Post (won the Paris Roubaix & managed the Panasonic team)

Most times when you review a team there is a clear focus for the team - be it the Classics, cobbles and the semi Classics, possibly Grand Tour stage wins or maybe even a the Grand Tour general classification (its ok to dream). No such luck here.

Sponsors were Nikon (cameras), Van Schilt (transport) & Elro Snacks (fast food). Essentially this motley crew could take good pictures of themselves, ride nice bikes and eat fast food (it was probably as close to fast as they ever got). Bikes were Colnago, team cars were Mitsubishi, team clothing was Decca. Team manager was the legendary Lomme Driessens (who managed Eddy Merckx at his prime).

In 1985 its fair to say Freddy Maertens was way past his best but a legend nevertheless. As for the rest (see the team listing below) then Ad Tak, Theo Smit & Jan Jonkers were a value add but Fred Rompelberg was more famous for setting a land speed record on a bicycle when drafting a racing car (says it all really). If you’ve already forgotten who this team was its totally understandable.

News Shorts - 24 October

Heffron Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 18 Oct - Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) takes the win in Round 4 with a super sprint effort. In the race itself B grade caught C grade with 5 laps to go after C grade couldn’t “get their act together” and A grade seemingly just didnt have their mojo. Rolly popped out from the bunch sprint with 300m to go for a comfortable victory.

Heffron Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 18 Oct - Rolly Delaytz takes a comfortable victory # 1

Heffron Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 18 Oct - Rolly Delaytz takes a comfortable victory # 2

Heffron Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 18 Oct - Rolly Delaytz with The King (John Sunde)

Heffron Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 18 Oct - Rolly looking comfortable in B grade on the Mur de Heffron

Heffron Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 18 Oct - Rolly … “does my butt look big in these knicks ?” … reply “no mate, but it would if I was wearing them … “

Heffron Interclub @ 22 Oct - Craig Pager (BiciSport Happy Wheels) rode well in Division 3 with several attacks and was a peloton finish in 11th

BiciSport Belgium CycloCross @ Bossuit @ 23 Oct - Koen VerHulst (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) on his way to 19th (Mike Lawson finished 13th in his category)

BiciSport Belgium CycloCross @ Bossuit @ 23 Oct - Koen VerHulst

BiciSport Belgium CycloCross @ Bossuit @ 23 Oct - Koen VerHulst

BiciSport Belgium CycloCross with Mike Lawson @ Ardooie (mud, mud and more Flanders mud)

Mike Lawson Report

Three races done with mixed results. After the opening weekend at Zele, my next race was at Veurne, near the coast. A much better race at Veurne with a few more passing opportunities (Zele was really narrow & tight).- fast & flowing course with the only difficulties being two half meter ditches that had to be crossed each lap. With enough speed you could bunny hop them but once I started getting tired I didn’t trust my co-ordination. So after hitting my rear wheel pretty hard on one crossing I decided to run & jump them like half the rest of the field was doing. Slower, but safer. Ended up 9th at Veurne.

Next race was at Deinze-Astene and what a contrast to everything else. This was as wide as a freeway and dead flat with long hard pedalling sections. The only features were four ditch crossings, a real “strong mans” course. Had a mediocre start, made it into the top 10 but finished up 15th.

Next race was at Huesden-Zolder and a higher category Cycling Vlaanderen event & also the Limberg regional Championships, so knew it would be a tough one. Great course with a bit of everything - switch back turns on grippy grass, long sand sections which were ridden with a narrow hard packed line, flowing single track through the forest, then stairs followed by barriers, a flyover ramp and a couple of short paved sections. Was in a five man fight for 12th but was losing time over the barriers and one tight uphill section with tree roots. That took its toll and I finished 16th. But I won 5 Euro for my troubles - so like any commited Pro I went straight out and spent it on frites (with Mayo) of course, and a beer chaser.

Next races are at Ardooie & Bossuit (see pictures above) then with 4 races in 8 days. Will check in again soon

Mike Lawson (BiciSport)

Lanterne Rouge Epic Ride Broome to Esperance @ 24 Oct - Marty Wright (BiciSport) at the Southern Forests at Manjimup

Lanterne Rouge Epic Ride Broome to Esperance @ 24 Oct - its been an epic journey

Oudenaarde Belgium @ 16 Oct - Phil Dixon was in BiciSport a few years ago and has since relocated out of chaotic Sydney and settled into a sleepy village in central Australia (called Adelaide). Phil is now the AusCycling Para Team mechanic and assisted at the recent Para World Track Championships in Ghent Belgium.

Phil diverted out to Oudenaarde and the Tour of Flanders Museum in Oudenaarde. Phil is a retro Peugeot car fan and enjoyed the Peugeot 404 team car featured at the Flanders Museum.

Sydney Classic Bicycle Show is on again @ Lidcombe Oval @ Sunday 30 October from 10am

NSW TEAM TIME TRIAL CHAMPS ANNOUNCED FOR SINGLETON ON 26 NOVEMBER

• AusCycling NSW announced this flood delayed promotion on 21 October.

• In previous years BiciSport has taken anything up to 6-8 teams to this weekend. However, due to the late notification this comprehensive weekend is not possible & overnight accommodation cannot be provided.

• If you wish to nominate for a BiciSport team please contact Mike O’Reilly asap on 0417 403 244

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• From 25 October (into Week Seven of the Great Trek South towards Esperance)

  • Lanterne Rouge - Broome to Esperance with Marty Wright (BiciSport)

• 26 Oct

  • Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 6pm

• 29 Oct

  • Belgian CycloCross - Alsemberg (BiciSport starter Mike Lawson)

  • 24 Hour Enduro-4 Rider Teams (Eastern Creek Raceway)

  • Sprint Grand Prix # 1 (Dunc Gray Velodrome) - cancelled

• 30 Oct

  • Belgian CycloCross - Wortgem (BiciSport starter Mike Lawson)

  • Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters)

  • Fitzs Challenge Cyclosportive (Canberra, ACT)

  • Classic Bike & Car Show (Lidcombe Oval) from 10am

BICISPORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 25 Oct

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 27 Oct

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 29 Oct

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Lampre Professional Team (Italy) - 1990 until now

Started life in 1990 as Lampre (pre coated steel products) then onto UAE from 2017. This review is the Lampre years. Additional sponsors are many - Polti, ISD, Lamifer, Daikin, Caffita (Saeco) & Fondital. Team bikes have been Colnago, Merida, Fondriest, Wilier Trestina and now back with Colnago. Campagnolo the groupset but switches to Shimano in 2023. Team manager is Guiseppe Saronni.

The team itself has attracted considerable talent with equal success and some serious controversy through the EPO era. Simoni & Cunego had glorious careers at both the Giro and Tour of Lombardy, Camenzind (World Pro Road Champion), Mohoric, Ulissi, Rumsas, Fondriest (won Milan San Remo), Costa & Ballan. At times you weren’t sure what you were looking at as some were fueled by more than just water but a great team nevertheless.

News Shorts - 17 October

Around the Bay in a Day @ 9 Oct - Tom Green (BiciSport Happy Wheels) reports it was a good ride, absolutely freezing in the first couple of hours, and the Geelong Motorway shoulder from Westgate Bridge to Geelong was no fun, but after Geelong it was beautiful. Tom arrived at the Queenscliff ferry wharf at 9.00am, then a short ferry ride to Sorrento. The first 200k was “easy” but the last 75k along Beach Road back to Melbourne “hurt”.

Around the Bay in a Day @ 9 Oct - all aboard the Queenscliff ferry to Sorrento

Around the Bay in a Day @ 9 Oct - Tom Green amused himself during the 300k ride thinking he was doing the Milan San Remo Classic (at 300k). The Bay profile is quiet similar to Milan San Remo, except the long flat section is after the “Poggio” climb instead of before the Capi (other climbs) … the Milan San Remo would finish at about the St Kilda Pier, which certainly felt like the MSR finish to Tom.

Around the Bay in a Day @ 9 Oct - Congratulations to Tom Green for completing the 300k marathon in just over 11 hours

Belgian Cyclo Cross Series @ Dienze @ 15 Oct - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) in the thick of the action

Belgian Cyclo Cross Series @ Dienze @ 15 Oct - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Anytime Fitness)

Belgian Cyclo Cross Series @ Dienze @ 15 Oct - Koen VerHulst (BiciSport Belgium)

Heffron Park Tuesday Night Criteriums @ 11 Oct - Rolly Delaytz (left - BiciSport Happy Wheels) rode well on Tuesday but A grade took the podium.

Bathurst Interclub @ 16 Oct - Ian Grant (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) on a charge at Bathurst in cold conditions

Lanterne Rouge Peloton @ Broome to Esperance Epic Ride @ 10 Oct

Report by Marty Wright (BiciSport)

The team is in now in Mandurah after riding the excellent cycle path south from Perth. Since the team left Broome in the Kimberley region in early September they have ridden 3300 kilometres through the Pilbura, Gascoyne, Mid West and the Wheatbelt - all are somewhat unique.

The Kimberley is ruggedly beautiful with a lot of tourists travelling the roads. The Pilbara is a 24/7 mining workplace crossed all day & night by 60 metre long road trains. The Gascoyne features the Ningaloo Reef & Shark Bay where the team swam with Mantra Rays and a Tiger Shark. When you ride through the Mid West and enter the Wheatbelt the well watered agricultural fields stretch to each horizion.

The roads throughout are fantastic with rarely a pothole to be seen. The telecommunications infrastructure is everywhere. Optus coverage seems to be the broadest. WA is known to stand for “Windy Always” and the team have experienced it working both for & against. In the whole trip they have experienced only 20 minutes of rain. It’s gotta be one of the best places to ride a bike.

Lanterne Rouge Peloton @ Broome to Esperance Epic Ride @ 10 Oct - Perth to Mandurah cycle path # 1

Lanterne Rouge Peloton @ Broome to Esperance Epic Ride @ 10 Oct - Perth to Mandurah cycle path # 2

Lanterne Rouge Peloton @ Broome to Esperance Epic Ride @ 10 Oct

Lanterne Rouge Peloton @ Broome to Esperance Epic Ride @ 10 Oct - a nice example of cycling street art # 1

Lanterne Rouge Peloton @ Broome to Esperance Epic Ride @ 10 Oct - a nice example of cycling street art # 2 - gravel bike owner in Marty Wright (BiciSport)

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• From 17 October (into Week Six of the Great Trek South towards Mandurah and beyond)

  • Lanterne Rouge - Broome to Esperance with Marty Wright (BiciSport)

• 20 Oct

  • Belgian CycloCross - Ardooie (BiciSport starter Mike Lawson)

• 22 Oct

  • Dubbo Track Open

• 23 Oct

  • Belgian CycloCross - Zolder (BiciSport starter Mike Lawson)

  • Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters)

BICISORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 18 Oct

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 20 Oct

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 22 Oct

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Phillipe Gilbert (Belgium) has finally closed a great career. The master of the late breakaway and not uncommon to attack fearlessly with 50k to go and risk it all. A champion of the highest order.

The teams - FDJ, Lotto, BMC, QuickStep and finally back at Lotto.

The victories - Phil Gil won every Monument except the Milan San Remo Classic but the others were numerous with victories in Het Volk (x 2), Strade Bianche, Piemonte, World Road Championship, National Champion (x 2), Paris Tours (x 2), Tour of Lombardy (x 2), Amstel Gold (x 4), San Sebastian, Flanders, Roubaix, Giro stages (x 3), Tour de France (x 1), Tour of Spain (x 7). Nothing but a class act who gave it 100%.

Phillipe Gilbert heading for victory at the Tour of Flanders in the Belgian National Champions jersey.

Phillipe Gilbert takes victory at the Tour of Flanders

Phillipe Gilbert takes victory as a World Road Champion

Remco Evenepol & Phillipe Gilbert

News Shorts - 10 October

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 4 Oct - the first Heffron Park Tuesday night of the summer season and B grade holds off A grade & takes the win with Rolly Delaytz (BiciSport Happy Wheels) on the podium for second

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 4 Oct - great finish throw by Rolly Delaytz # 1

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 4 Oct - great finish throw by Rolly Delaytz # 2

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 4 Oct - Rolly Delaytz on a charge

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 4 Oct - Rolly Delaytz getting pinned up

Heffron Park Tuesday Criteriums @ 4 Oct - The Voice (Paul Craft) meets The King (John Sunde)

BiciSport Belgium @ 9 Oct - L to R … Koen VerHulst, Mike VerHulst (aka Mike Lawson) & Lies Van Uytvanck at the town of Diksmuide. The BiciSport team rode from the coastal town of Middelkirke to inland Diksmuide. Mike Lawson continues with the Belgian Cyclocross Series with races at Dienze on 15 Oct and Zolder on 16 Oct.

Lanterne Rouge Epic Ride Broome to Esperance @ 6 Oct - … looks more like a Hollywood movie set with Tom Cruise in the wings

Lanterne Rouge Epic Ride Broome to Esperance @ 6 Oct - the epic journey continues with the team arriving in Perth on 9 October.

Lanterne Rouge Epic Ride Broome to Esperance @ 6 Oct - the Lanterne Rouge peloton are hero’s all based on dedication, determination and true grit. Marty Wright (BiciSport) is third from the right

This week the feature is the bikes of the Lanterne Rouge peloton - how do these crusty old dudes keep upright in outback WA ?

Jeremy Lowes - Titanium Bossi T1 frame, Pirelli 32mm slick tyres @ 50 psi

Alf Picello - BMC URS carbon frame, tyres 35mm @ 50 psi

Boon Yeo - Mason alloy frame, tyres 32mm Continental 5000 tubeless @ 40psi

Peter Rau - Giant Revolt carbon frame, tyres 35mm Pirelli on Ali Hunt wheels

Mark McCorkindale - Ribble GCR - Ti frame with Shimano GRX 810, tyres Maxxis Refuse 40mm for first 2,000k but blistered when tubeless. Now on Specialised Sawtooth 38c, tubeless. Wheels are Mavic Allroad 700c, Shoes are Shimano sandals supported by Derm-Aid butt cream (way too much info !)

Marty Wright (BiciSport) - BMC URS One gravel bike. Groupset is SRAM Red Bluetooth 12 speed. Front single chainwheel is 38 with 52-10 rear cog range. Wheels are ENVE G23 with hookless rims Tyres are 32mm Michelin Power tubeless @ 50psi

Lanterne Rouge Epic Ride Broome to Esperance @ 6 Oct - another panoramic shot of very happy campers on a deserted sand dune out the middle of somewhere …

Lanterne Rouge Epic Ride Broome to Esperance @ 6 Oct - ok ok ok … we get it … you are a long way from home lads, nobody loves you, but this is a family show ….

BiciSport is taking a group to the Tour of Bright over 3-4 December. Details are in the Special Events section of this website and we’d like to see you there

NSW TEAMS TIME TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS - VENUE & DATE TO BE CONFIRMED 16 OCTOBER

• It most certainly won’t be in Singleton (on 8 October) but a suggestion now is it will move to 26 November but both venue & date remains uncertain and both are confirmed on 16 October (subject to roadworks). Our sports administrators used to be indecisive, but now they are not so sure, and to be sure this club administrator is rapidly losing interest. …

RACE SEEKER - THIS WEEK

• From 10 October (into Week Five of the Great Trek South are now in Perth)

  • Lanterne Rouge - Broome to Esperance with Marty Wright (BiciSport)

• 15 Oct

  • Bowral Classic Criteriums

  • Belgian CycloCross - Dienze (BiciSport starter Mike Lawson)

• 16 Oct

  • Belgian CycloCross - Zolder (BiciSport starter Mike Lawson)

  • Cyclosportive - Bowral Classic

  • Community Ride - Sydney Spring Cycle

  • Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (Northern Sydney)

BICISORT TRAINING RIDES

• Tues 11 Oct

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

  • Centennial Park Lower Loop from 5.30am to 7.45am

• Thurs 13 Oct

  • Belgian Waffle Ride @ Centennial Park @ Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am for Park laps

  • Waratah Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 8.00am 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

• Sat 15 Oct

  • Coffee @ Sandstone Cafe Miramare Gardens @ 9.30am

Splendor Pro Cycling Team - Belgium (1936, 1945 …. then 1975-89)

An absolute mega team in Belgium … yes, the team existed in 1936 & 1945 (single years only) then from 1975 to 1985 it was Splendor then flipped to Hitachi sponsorship from 1985 to 1989. This review is the Splendor years only up to the end of 1984. Splendor was bikes and other associated sponsors were Wickes, Bouwmarkt, Euro Soap, Europ Decor (home furnishings), Euro Shop, Marc and Admiral (tv’s). The team jersey (see below) was made by Decca and Campagnolo the groupset of choice.

The team … geez …. every Belgian cycling legend worth a Duvel beer & frites got a start with this classy lot. Team focus being single day Classics & stage wins at major Tours. They won numerous races all over Europe. The team roster was just endless … Sean Kelly for starters (wow), then Claude Criquielion (only got better in the Hitachi years), Michel Pollentier (outright legend), Johan de Muynck (won the Giro), Etienne De Wilde (sprinter & 6 day track star), Ronan Onghena, Eddy & Walter Planckaert (legends again), Marc De Meyer (won Paris Roubaix), Rudy Dhaenens (future World Road Champion), Rudy Rogiers (cobbles specialist), Jean Marie Wampers (more cobbles), Dirk De Mol (future winner of Paris Roubaix), Freddy Maertens (another all time legend), Jean Phillip Van den Brande (best domestique on the planet & ultimate Belgian hard man) & Patrick Versluys (ditto hard man). If any team sharpened their teeth or fingernails on Belgian cobbles this was it.

Michel Pollentier (Splendor, right) another outright Belgian legend leads Jan Raas (World Road Champion, left) and Francesco Moser. Pollentier had a bent out of shape style on a bike (a pronounced side ways bias on the seat) and carried “The Crab” nickname.

Michel Pollentier (right) at the Tour of East Flanders (for Under 23 riders) in 2017.

At the Tour of East Flanders assisting BiciSport’s Peter Livingstone and the weather was cold and pouring with rain (utterly miserable). Am sitting on a brick fence freezing to death and along comes the one the only legend Michel P …. the inspiring conversation goes something like this ….

Are you Michel Pollentier ? … am a long time fan, am from Australia, you had a great career … (Michel - heavy blank stare … absolutely no comment, just stares at me) …. Michel, can I take a photo (again no comment - so took a photo anyway). Michel just walked off quietly into the pouring rain. Cheers mate, have a good day ! … gee, that went well …

A pensive Freddy Maertens on the start line … who nearly always looked like he wanted to be somewhere else than perched on top of a Splendor bike trying to make a living