VELO 99 NEWSLETTER No. 6.

The first race is nearly upon us. As I write it is less than two weeks to Colin’s promotion. For those of you who live in the southern part of our area it may seem a long way to Barton upon Humber. Please do remember that this is the sort of distance that quite a number of riders travel to most of the races so do give the event your support.

Please note – the event starts at 2.00PM not 10.00am as stated on the entry form.

Directions. Approach Barton upon Humber on the A15. Watch for the slip road that leads to the A1077 and Barton upon Humber. (DO NOT MISS THIS. It is the last turn off before the Humber Bridge and two lots of tolls are expensive!!) Turn right at the large road island following the signs for Barton. Go down the hill and at the bottom turn right at the mini road island. The headquarters are about 200m on the left hand side in an old style chapel.

While we are thinking about the first race it reminds me that the Velo99 training camp has been taking place in Spain. Terry Sullivan, Colin Abdy, John Flear and Rod Forster have spent varying amounts of time in the sun getting their legs finely tuned. No doubt some of the fine tuning has been reversed by the copious consumption of coarse, cheap red wine. All will be revealed on the 15^th!

SAVE THE SERIES

The Merit Team which has provided marshals for most of the Velo99 races has been disbanded. This means that most of our race organisers are without marshals and at the present time many races in the series are in danger of being cancelled. In order that the race series may continue we are asking riders to give up a race and marshal in one event. To protect the riders standing in the series marshals will be awarded 50 points and travelling expenses will be given up to a maximum of £7.00

It is hoped that volunteers will fill the gap and the series will be saved.

Another option is open to the organisers. Marshalling one race could be made a condition of entry. This is not ideal as some of our riders travel a very long way and it is not reasonable to expect them to travel a very long distance just to marshal. If we then allow a distance exemption it can cause a degree of dissatisfaction to those that are just outside the exemption zone.

The ideal solution would be for a team of permanent marshals to be formed. This is a good way for a club or charity to raise some money quite easily. Velo99 paid Merit £7.00 per corner. At five corners per race and a ten race series this means £350 into club or charity funds. Obviously we would want responsible and reliable adults to fill this role. Our safety depends on them and organisers do not want to find themselves short of marshals on the day.

Should you wish to volunteer, form a permanent team or have any other ideas please contact Brian Newton as soon as possible.

THIS IS A PROBLEM WE HAVE TO SOLVE IF THE SERIES IS TO CONTINUE.

Those of you who are members of the LVRC will have read a letter from Velo99 rider, Dave Orford. In it he states, “ Velo99 is catering very successfully indeed for a group of riders who otherwise be literally left behind.” This is true and it is a tribute to the success of Velo99 that Dave should state publicly that this is a way of providing good racing for the “strugglers”. Some people reading Dave’s letter may get the impression that Velo99 is made up entirely of strugglers which many of us know only too well that this is not the case. Looking through last week’s Cycling Weekly I noticed that Jason Rozee had finished tenth in the Coalville Wheelers 25. He is obviously in good form, something that should be reflected in the handicapping on the 15^th. We also have “old” John Flear who for the last two years has won the over 55 class in the Crecy Cyclosportive at the ages of 68 and 69. Certainly plenty of struggling was involved but no being left behind by the over 55s. Another rider who certainly was not left behind last year was Derek Smith. We did not see much of him because of the clashes with LVRC. To be racing at over 70 is an achievement for anyone; I have no doubt that there was plenty of struggling but what results.

Having had a very good year in 2001, with 10 firsts and three National Championships ( Road, Criterium and Track) Velo99 member Derek Smith didn’t think 2002 would be a good year as he had obviously peaked and was now over the top. It was no surprise that there was a slow start to 2002 but as the training and racing progressed he started to prepare fore the UCI World Masters Track Championships at Manchester Velodrome. Having ridden the championships on five previous occasions and missing out on a medal everytime Derek was thinking at turned seventy he had left it too late and was riding for the shear hell of it as it certainly gives one a great buzz riding at international level.

Derek was unfortunate being first off in the first event, the flying 200m. He should have been reasonably confident as he had practised starts and done it many times in both training and competition but nerves took over. He rode round in a daze and didn’t race. It was a total disaster and Derek came off the track dejected. After talking to Andrea Ingham, Derek calmed down, some generous officials gave him a re-run and on he went, into the heats and through to the final. Derek was confident in the final but took no risks. The result, the 70+ World Championship Jersey was his.

When it came to the pursuit, (2000m, 8 laps) it was a mix of 65 and 70+. Derek came second last year to the Aussie, Harry Shaw. Derek was not happy with his ride as it was outside his best training target time. He was convinced that another GB or Johnny Foreigner would beat it so he took little interest in the event. Later in the day he was told that he had won the event and was now a double World Champion. Derek is now the proud owner of two rainbow jerseys but sadly no medals. The UCI, in their infinite wisdom, do not give medals to the over seventies. Whatever their reason is, to my mind, it is certainly wrong and should be rectified.

When it was suggested to Derek that he should go to the World Masters Games in Australia it did not take him long to say “Yes”. The thought of a three-week cycling holiday was very attractive but as arrangements progressed it was made very clear that this was going to be no holiday,. They were going for medals.

The first event was a “hotdog criterium” down on the dockside. Hotdog meaning only two turns one at either end. This was real eye-opener for Derek. Having never ridden with more that six over seventies in England it was somewhat of a shock to find forty over seventies assembled at the start.

On the final lap Derek was on the front down the back straight and lined up for the final bend and then all hell was let loose for the final 200m with Derek finishing 7^th.

The next four days were spent at the Vodaphone Arena Track, which is very similar to Manchester but not as wide. Twenty-seven seventy plus riders were entered for the pursuit (5^th), time trial (10^th), sprint (out in repechange) and the scratch. Derek felt that he stood a good chance in the scratch race and he really wanted a medal. With bags of confidence and no nerves things were going very well right up to the last lap when he ran out of steam and finished a very disappointing fifth. There was still the road race to come, which was to be held at Yaragon about 60 miles east of Melbourne. The circuit was undulating with a big ring climb. The 37 starters, all seventy plus included riders from Poland, New Zealand, India, Japan and Joe Linden from Scotland. The rest were tough riding Aussies.

Joe and Derek led up the hill the first time round and then the attacks started and the race became the survival of the fittest. The second time up the hill Joe and Derek attacked over the top of the hill and got a small gap but this was to be short lived as they were caught on a severe right hand bend. At the crossroads 5km from the finish everyone was very nervous and jumpy. The small hill required a gear change and the inevitable happened. A third of the riders hit the deck. Luck was on Derek’s side being able to avoid the fallen riders and continue to the finish. As the action started Derek managed to get Harry Shaw’s wheel and he could not have been in a better position but at 300m to go Derek’s luck ran out. Harry put his hand in the air and yelled “Puncture”. Derek could not get round him and for what seemed an eternity, riders streamed past him. Eventually he got clear and gave it everything finishing a very creditable 8^th, but still no medal.

The cycling was over and the holiday began with a 1000km drive to Sydney that was everything that Derek had imagined. While there were no medals there are many photos and memories to look back on. The next Masters Games are in Edmonton, Alberta in 2005. Derek hopes to be there along with some other Velo99 riders so keep pedalling, you do not know what the future holds.

I am sure that all Velo99 members would like to offer Derek their congratulations for his achievements this year. To be the best in world is an achievement at any age but to be there at over seventy is something very special. I’m sure all Velo99 members will wish Derek well in the defence of his titles.