A Bit of an Update 25/3/04

Hello there Hamilton City Cycling Club people

I thought I would start to send out a regular update via email to keep everyone informed of the goings on in the club and in cycling in general. May as well use the technology!

This will start off as just my solo effort as I would like to get the web site rolling again and keep the dialogue flowing between club members. Feel free to chime in. If you know of any events or gossip let me know. If you don't want to receive this let me know and I'll take you off the list. If I offend any of you with derogatory statements like "Garry Gallagher is a wheelsucker" don't hold your breathe for an apology:)

So what's been happening? Well here is my take on things.

With the finish of daylight savings our Thursday night race series is over - what a shame. I haven't been around for the last two weeks as the surgeons operated on me a week ago to remove this plate out of my shoulder, so I am now plateless, but still stapled together. Hopefully, they will remove the staples (yes, staples) next week and then I should be able to get back on the bike again - yahoo. If anyone has the results of the last two weeks racing let me know and I'll post them on the website.

I guess most of you have heard about the unfortunate crash a couple of Sundays ago down that steep little mother of a hill on the Rotowaro Rd. I haven't heard much more than what is posted on the website but if anyone can give me some more news I'd be grateful. It certainly shook me up as I was riding with that group until the top of the Glen Massey climb. I turned back with some others as it was only my second time out with the group in six months and I was two days away from my op. When Sonnie told me what had happened I went into a cold sweat as I know what broken ribs, a punctured lung and a broken shoulder feel like - not pleasant. That particular section of the road has claimed more than its share of victims over the years - so I urge everyone to be extra cautious going down - let Shane Bullivant win the downhill there - everyone knows he's a lunatic.

I suppose Blyth Andrews is still poncing around with his medals clanging - its alright everyone, he's only a trackie, it doesn't mean anything - once the road curves upwards his big legs will turn to jelly and he'll be out the back trying to keep up with old Grannie Witana.

I guess most of you know that we're busy planning the winter series around Dawson Rd every Saturday. Now if you don't know the circuit it goes something like this: Get on the Horsham Downs Rd and head towards the old Kainui Rd circuit - are you with me? You follow Horsham Downs Rd onto Lake Rd (I think, that is what it is called) and instead of turning left into Kainui Rd, you keep going over a bit of a rise onto a flat section after a km or so turn left into Dawson Rd (I think), its quite straight and flat. At the end of this road you turn left into Kerie Rd and stare straight up a lovely steep little two stage climb - nice one - after you've ground your way up this you come onto Kainui Rd (watch for cars at the intersection here), then you carry on round Kainui Rd back to Lake Rd. I think the start finish is going to be at the tennis club along Kainui Rd. It is about a 12km circuit. Jack Swart (remember Jack, big guy, rides like a maniac, shows no mercy to anyone) wants to run this as a handicap race and increase the distances throughout winter so we can all keep a good level of fitness. If you haven't done handicap racing, don't worry, it's lots of fun and a great way to get fit. It is pretty hard to sit on, because everyone in your group is trying to catch the group in front and stop the people behind catching them - wheelsuckers will lose friends real fast in this sort of event (mind you most of them have no friends anyway). So, it keeps everyone honest. The key is getting the groups right - at worst it may take a couple of weeks to sort out the sitters, but once that is sorted everyone is riding in a group with the same rough ability and level of fitness. We are thinking about not allowing entries on the day as the handicappers need time to sort out the groups. So, we are looking at expecting everyone to enter by the Thursday before. I would love to get your feedback on this.

Jack has also organised a building for us to demolish to raise funds for the club, we'll need lots of volunteers for this, but it is fun. A couple of years ago a bunch of us went around to Dave Mann's house and demolished part of that for some fundraising - we had a great time. I'll let you know more as it comes to hand.

Oh, yes. I got a ring from Roger Leaf the other night. Remember Roger, real hard bastard, no friends, cut your throat as soon as look at you (a real cyclist). Roger is the guy that turns up at Cycletime on sundays and gets real grumpy if the group doesn't leave on the dot of 8am. In fact, he has been known to ride off at 08:00:10 by himself!! Well Roger has also been under the knife to fix up a problem with his back. He tells me he is feeling much better so thinks the op was successful. He is also looking forward to getting back on the bike. I am sure that all of you wish him a speedy recovery and will kick his arse as soon as he ventures out on the bike. Get him when he's down, cause it's the only chance you'll get!

Anyway, that'll do for now. And I repeat, if you have any news or gossip let me know, I can put it on the website in a jif. Don't be concerned about hurting people's feelings we're all cyclists, being a bastard is in the blood.

Regards

Michael

PS: Any opinions expressed here are mine. If they offend you, write to: Don't give a Toss, Buggeroffsville.