Summer Season Wrap Part 1

Its been a busy couple of months with events in Nelson Christchurch and Invercargill.

In Nelson I had the 5 day Tour of Vinyards which was more of a training race for me although I got involved in a couple of stages to finish 16th overall. We had two days in the rain. The stage to Takaka hill and the following day. Takaka is very long but not too steep it just goes on forever!! Big ups to Holly my girlfiend for driving the car from Richmond to the bottom of the hill. Her first solo manual car drive after leaning the day before!

From Nelson on New Years eve we headed down to Christchurch for the New Year Carnival. There was some good racing and I came away with the win in the Feature Wheel race

 

 Wheel race Podium

 

 

 From Christchurch Holly and I drove down to Cromwell for a few days with my family as the were finishing there holiday. I raced the Dunstan Challenge whilst I was there and placed third the same as last year. I hit the sprint was too early and ended up giving a couple a good leadout.

Next up was the New Year Carnival in Invercargill comprising of 2 nights track racing, a criterium and the Gore to Invercargill Road Race.

On the Saturday there was also a Road race to browns followed by Grass track racing. I finished third in the road race. The grass was wet but surprisingly grippy with hard ground underneath. I won all 4 grass races which I recommend it to anyone for good safe racing which will definitely improve bike handling skills.

Later that night I won the Points race on the track after taking out 2 sprints by going 2 laps out.

Crit got canned due to the Wet.

In the Gore Invers I felt really strong the whole race. I probably should have waited for the sprint but I felt good to have a couple of digs in the last 2km I lasted till about 300m to go where I got caught.

Thanks for reading,

Brad

 

 

 

 

December Australia trip to Queensland

On the 1st of December I traveled to Queensland and then onto Rockhampton. On the 2nd I started competition in the Rockhampton Cup. Rocky had 2 nights of competition with multiple races on each day. My best results were 1st in Madison with Dylan Kennett, 1st Mystery Distance race, 3rd Elimination, 3rd Scratch race. I made the final in the wheel race handicap but being on the back marks did not reach the front of the race.

After the racing on Saturday night we traveled to Bundaberg and arrived in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The next day we got to have a look at the track for the next weekend. Its was a big outdoor 400m track.
On Tuesday i went for a ride early in the morning with Bill a local rider to be shown town and roads. Dylan didn't quite manage to wake up for the 7am ride. We moved from the motel to stay with Peter and Judy a local couple who put us up for the rest of the week. Peter and Judy own a local Brumbies Cafe and its fair to say we were well looked after to say the least!

Later on that day we went out and rode the only hill in Bundaberg. After being told to "go up the easy side" and "Its really steep" we were laughing all the way up. I went up in the big ring and its safe to say they haven't been to experience what Dunedin has to offer! On the way home we stuck a massive downpour and were absolutely soaked. the one thing that struck me was how the water spray off the wheel was warm, this made for a nice change. Over the next 3 days it didn't stop raining for any longer than an hour. Thankfully by Friday night the worst was over and we were able to get down to some good old fashioned racing for the Bundaberg Cycling Spectacular. The big track tests bike handling skills to the limit especially in madison changes in the bends. It took me a while to get a hang of the track and sort out how to win. Me and Dylan hit the madison fast, a bit too fast for 40km and we payed for it later on although we came good in the very end. On the second night I was looking to have a better one than the night before and I did with results in every race. I really wanted a win and although I got one in a Keirn heat that doesn't count. I also had 2 thirds in the elimination and final scratch race and me and Dylan teamed up with a Queenslander to take 2nd in the Team sprint after setting the fastest time in semi finals.

The next morning we traveled down to Brisbane with Toby Boylan the club president to catch our flights to New Zealand.
Overall a very good week racing over there with some fantastic people.

Big thanks to Bill, Sheldon, Toby and Jase from the Bundaberg Cycling Club and all the sponsors who supported the event.
Cheers,
Brad

Photos