Heffron Park @ 19 Mar - Declan Jones (BiciSport Happy Wheels)
Heffron Park @ 19 Mar - Declan Jones (left) & Rolly Delaytz (right)
Heffron Park @ 19 Mar - Rolly takes the victory
Heffron Park @ 19 Mar - Podium time for Rolly
Muro Di Sormano @ 24 March - Mike Lawson at the top of the Muro di Sormano (Wall of Sormano). This one lane cycle path (no cars permitted) is used in the Tour of Lombardy one day pro Classic in October each year. The average gradient is 17%, with the maximum topping out at a leg snapping 25%.
Muro De Sormano @ 24 March - every 10 metres of this gruesome Muro journey is kindly labelled with the distance travelled from the bottom, and if you think that picture looks steep then that would be right !. The building at the top of the picture is a local cafe doing a brisk Sunday trade.
Milan San Remo Ride @ 23 March - 6.00am start from IL Perlo (L to R) - Mike Lawson, Mike O’Reilly, Marty Wright
MSR Ride Report @ 23 March
An early 6.00am departure out of Bellagio and a 3 hour drive towards Genoa and the Ligurian Coast. Conditions were perfect with 24 degrees forecast and a storming tailwind towards San Remo.
The ride started just outside Genoa at the small village of Voltri. The early part of the ride is easy undulating to pan flat on very good roads, with the last 50k (of the 145k total) being the hilly, difficult section. A succession of headlands puts up a few easy climbs to be greeted by stunning views around the next corner. It was of no consequence for Mike O’R who didn’t get past the 30k mark and pulled the pin courtesy of asthma/sinus (2020 it will need to be). Abject disappointment doesn’t quite describe that DNF.
Alberto Elli led Mike Lawson & Marty Wright through endless seaside villages towards Savona (more a seaport city than a coastal village), then onto the major climbs (called capo) of the day - Capo Berta, Capo Cervo, Capo Mele and the Cipressa climb. The Cipressa itself had pinches of 8% so it is a bona fide effort to the summit. A sharp drop off the Cipressa back down to the coastline and all roads lead towards the Poggio.
Maurizio (our IL Perlo mechanic/driver) was not allowed to park the Perlo team car on the Poggio climb itself, so we parked up at the bottom of the Poggio (a cafe nearby provided food & coffee AND the priceless television pumping out the race live). The BiciSport group simply pedalled up the Poggio to watch the Classic pass by being the last challenge of MSR 19.
Many thanks to IL Perlo at Bellagio for providing a majestic backdrop to all things MSR19. Thank you to Carlo at IL Perlo, Alberto Elli (what a legend & total gentlemen), Como Bikes for providing the two wheel logistics. Can’t wait to do this all again in 2020.
Milan San Remo Ride @ 23 March - Mike Lawson & Marty Wright approaching the Poggio Climb near San Remo
Milan San Remo Ride @ 23 March - Marty Wright approaching the Poggio climb
Milan San Remo 2019 @ 23 March - the professional Classic storms towards the Poggio with just 10k to the finish in San Remo (picture MOR)
Mlan San Remo Ride @ 23 March - time to depart San Remo after a most memorable day
Ferrari @ Maranello @ 22 March - A big boys day trip to the Ducati factory in Bologna followed by the Ferrari Museum at Maranello. Happy to report that both Marty & Mike Lawson drove in the Ferrari race car simulator going around the Monza race circuit … Mike crashed leaving the Monza pits (oops) and Marty crashed twice (oops again). Marty’s right elbow (see above picture) was bloodied by the two crashes such was the realistic movement in the Ferrari race car simulator
Lake Como Ride Report @ 21 March
This day was another 70k around Lake Como with two ferry crossings, but this time it was a northern loop, towards St Moritz and Sondrio and then returning on the Varenna side of Lake Como towards Lecco.
The day started with a ferry ride from Bellagio to Cernabbio (picture above with Mike O’Reilly, Mike Lawson, Alberto Elli & Marty Wright), then the northern loop on generally flat roads with moderate levels of traffic (nothing confronting). Several times we diverted to the ‘old old lakeside road’ which had been converted to a dedicated bike path. Delightful would be an understatement with panoramic views directly to the Alps.
Alberto Elli led the group in single file at a steady rate of 28k average as we headed for Sondrio and coffee after some 35k. Just after coffee we saw a sign that stated ‘St Moritz 70k’ (… not going there today … ). The run back to Varenna was on the ‘old lakeside’ road but the real blessing was the motorway further up the lakeside mountain - our ‘old lakeside’ road was virtually deserted and a cycling delight. A stop at Varenna and a brief ferry ride back to Bellagio nearly finished the day. The final effort was the Ghisallo climb back up to IL Perlo which everybody did much better than yesterday.
IL Perlo Hotel @ Bellagio just after sunrise @ 21 Mar.
Madonna de Ghisallo Church @ 20 Mar - situated at the top of the Ghisallo climb above Lake Como at the Fausto Coppi monument (L to R) - Mike Lawson, Mike O’Reilly & Marty Wright
Italian Cycling Museum @ Ghisallo @ 20 Mar - a short drive from the IL Perlo Hotel is the Italian Cycling Museum with Marty Wright in front of a Giro jersey history wall
IL Perlo Hotel @ 20 Mar - Alberto Elli before the start of the first BiciSport team ride around Lake Como
IL Perlo Hotel @ 20 Mar - before the BiciSport ride start (L to R) - Alberto Elli, Mike Lawson, Mike O’Reilly & Marty Wright
IL Perlo Hotel @ 20 Mar - Mike Lawson heads off up the Ghisallo climb with the IL Perlo Hotel soaked in the afternoon sunshine
IL Perlo Bellagio Ride Report @ 20 March
Day one at IL Perlo on Lake Como dawned fresh but ideal with very little wind. Alberto Elli took the BiciSport group down to Bellagio and we jumped the ferry to the other side of Lake Como (at Argegno). From there Alberto led the group along the lakeside road towards Como - all pretty much flat & fast. After passing the George Clooney mansion (as you do) it was coffee in central Como.
Getting home was tougher as we traced the other side of Lake Como, being somewhat hillier and a few tunnels (all safe). The scenery was nothing short of spectacular with very little traffic. Back past the village of Nesso and it was straight into Bellagio (one very nice little lakeside village). The climb out of Bellagio up the famous Madonna de Ghisallo mountain was nothing short of a real grind with pinches of 14% just to get back to the IL Perlo Hotel above the Lake. Marty Wright (pictured) climbed the Ghisallo and noted “ … its maybe not a good idea to have a 14% climb at your front door !! … “
Ghisallino Restaurant @ Madonna de Ghisallo @ 19 Mar - As usual (for Italy) any good ride report starts with a food report. Having survived the trip to get here, one had to celebrate in style at a delightful Italian restaurant just opposite the Madonna de Ghisallo Church & Cycling Museum.
Eroica Challenge Ride Report @ 10 March
Mike Lawson (BiciSport Master) started the 85k cyclosportive with 5,000 starters.
The course was tough & testing with 21k of white gravel, not dissimilar to a testing West Head Road but the hills were longer and harder than those on West Head. Some of the descents were wild, both road and gravel … try 60kph on gravel with a 90 degree turn at the bottom !. Felt pretty strong all day, with the only incident being a small crash at the first feed zone. Mike finished 5th in his age category. The picture above is the last 16% climb into Siena
Siena Ride Report @ 11 March
Mike Lawson reports … just back from a 3 hour 40 min ride on either side of Siena.
Headed off to ride the Colle Pinzuto & Le Toife white road climbs and by far the steepest and most difficult of all the six sectors in the 86k cyclosportive version of the Eroica. Then did the first part of the course again including the first two gravel sectors, the second being the Grotti (the climb where I watched the pro race). Some good riding around here, but its real hard to find anything flat if you want an easy day. Driving up to Camaiore tomorrow to watch the first stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico pro stage race (the team time trial stage).
Alberto Elli is the IL Perlo Hotel cycling guide for the BiciSport team to see the Milan San Remo pro classic & Bellagio-Lake Como rides. Alberto was the Yellow Jersey holder for four days at the 2000 Tour de France.
Mike Lawson (BiciSport Master) rode the Eroica Challenge Cyclosportive in Siena Italy on 10 March with 5,000 starters & Mike finished 5th in his age category. A full Eroica & Milan San Remo ride report will appear in BiciSport News on 18 March
After the Eroica Challenge on 10 March Mike Lawson & the BiciSport Team head to Bellagio on Lake Como with Milan San Remo on the agenda for 23 March. Alberto Elli (2000 Tour de France Yellow Jersey) is the BiciSport ride guide at Bellagio & the Milan San Remo
Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek @ 10 Mar - Ian Grainger, Raoul Westbrook & Peter Verhoeven
3 Peaks Challenge @ Falls Creek @ 10 Mar - Michael Taylor passing through WTF Corner outside Omeo
Eroica Challenge Cyclosportive @ Siena Italy @ 10 Mar - Mike Lawson finished 5th in his age category. Full report on 18 March in BiciSport News
3 Peaks Challenge @ Falls Creek @ 10 Mar - Michael Taylor competed in 3 Peaks - Michael Taylor competed 3 Peaks in 12 hours.
Tour de Plonk @ Shoalhaven Heads @ 10 Mar - BiciSport had 2 starters (Joc Young & Peter Davis) in the annual Tour de Plonk organised by Waratah Masters. The first 5 days are based out of Shoalhaven Heads, then The Plonk moves to Berrima in the Southern Highlands.
A great weekend of racing in Bathurst on the Saturday with Blayney to Bathurst cyclosportive on the Sunday. Details are on the Special Events page of this website.
BiciSport will be again entering several teams into the NSW Teams Champuonships to be held in Nowra over the 19-21 July weekend.
BiciSport will provide team training, paid entry fees, full team assistance, paid Saturday night accommodation (at Greenwell Point) together with a fully supported Sunday training ride.
Nominations are now open and further details are on the Special Events page of this website.
12 Mar - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)
15-17 Mar - Oceania Road Championships (Tasmania)
16-17 Mar - Bathurst Weekend - BiciSport starters listed in Special Events section of this website. Bathurst Criteriums - Rhett Hall & Declan Jones
17 Mar - Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters CC), Ourimbah University Crirerium (Central Coast CC)
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are HEAVIER with the NSW School Term back in full swing
* Note -
Roadworks of note
Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … almost there, well sort of !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction nearly done
Mona Vale Rd (Bahai Temple to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced.
All group rides are cancelled if wet
11 Mar, 13 Mar & 15 Mar
Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)
12 Mar & 14 Mar
Waratah’s Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay & Duffys Forest, then Terrey Hills shops @ 9.00am on the return
13 Mar
Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return
14 Mar
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am
16 Mar
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 7.00am (6x10k loops around SOPA).
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
17 Mar
Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
A special BiciSport in Italy update will feature from Monday 18 March on this BiciSport website in the News section. The update will feature Mike Lawson at the Eroica Challenge on 10 March, then the Milan San Remo experience on 23 March for Mike Lawson, Marty Wright & Mike O’Reilly
Miramare Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills @ 9 Mar - A rather suspect peloton if you ever saw one … (L to R) … Eric Dole, Martini Luigi Wright, Paulo Warby, Ken Edwards & Ian Granger
Kuurne Brussels Kuurne Pro Classic (Belgium) last week …. ok ok, its not Retro Led Zeppelin but the lads gave it a real crack
Kooragang Island Newcastle @ 2 Mar - Ruth Strapp (BiciSport) took the win in the Womens Road Race organised by Newcastle Cycling Club with 14 starters. Ruth broke away with 3.5k to the finish with Olivia Gollan, and Ruth took the victory.
NSW Schools Triathlon Championships @ 28 Feb - Cathie La Rose performed well in amongst some 700 competitors. Congratulations on a fine ride.
The Eroica Challenge is held on the traditional white roads (strade bianche) in and around Siena in Tuscany where toe clips, cloth caps, woolen jerseys, exposed brake cables & steel bikes are the order of the day … you know where you are with chrome …
Racing on Tuscan gravel roads around Siena can come with some challenges
Mike Lawson (BiciSport) pictured above swaps the roads of Paris Roubaix 2018 for Tuscany gravel at the Eroica Challenge near Siena on 9 March
Eroica Challenge (Italy) on 9 March - Mike Lawson takes on the Eroica Challenge around Siena on 9 March. A chance meeting with Italians at the Tour of Flanders in Belgium last year opened up the opportunity for the Eroica participation. The 90k cyclosportive has just over 20k of white gravel.
Speedy Recovery
John Elderfield has returned home to Perth after his serious motor cycle crash & now on the long road to recovery. Get well soon John.
BiciSport President Ian Grainger had a rubber side up on his MTB and suffered a broken nose. Get well soon IL Presidente
BiciSport Committee @ 4 Mar - Peter Budd is a new addition to the BiciSport organising committee
Based out of Shoalhaven Heads (just south of Berry) on Sunday 10 March over 100k on roads used by BiciSport over the Nowra TTT weekend via Nowra, Pyree, Greenwell Point & Currarong Beach. Ride starts & finishes from the TableTalk Cafe in Shoalhaven Heads starting at 8.30am. Details are on the Special Events page of this website.
A great weekend of racing in Bathurst on the Saturday with Blayney to Bathurst cyclosportive on the Sunday. Details are on the Special Events page of this website.
BiciSport will be again entering several teams into the NSW Teams Champuonships to be held in Nowra over the 19-21 July weekend.
BiciSport will provide team training, paid entry fees, full team assistance, paid Saturday night accommodation (at Greenwell Point) together with a fully supported Sunday training ride. The teams selection panel now includes Ian Grainger, Peter Budd & Mike O’Reilly
Nominations are now open and further details are on the Special Events page of this website.
5 Mar - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)
7 Mar - Sutherland Criteriums (Waratah Park)
9 Mar - Strade Bianche (Siena Italy) - BiciSport starter Mike Lawson
8-10 Mar - NSW Elite Track Championships (DGV), Bendigo Madison (Vic)
10 Mar - Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters CC), 3 Peaks Challenge (Falls Creek, Vic) - BiciSport starter Michael Taylor
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are HEAVIER with the NSW School Term back in full swing
* Note -
Roadworks of note
Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … almost there, well sort of !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction nearly done
Mona Vale Rd (Bahai Temple to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced.
All group rides are cancelled if wet
6 Mar
Hills Nursery Car Park Terrey Hills @ 8.00am to Akuna Bay & West Head
4 Mar, 6 Mar & 8 Mar
Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)
5 Mar & 7 Mar
Waratah’s Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay & Duffys Forest, then Terrey Hills shops @ 9.00am on the return
6 Mar
Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return
7 Mar
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am
9 Mar
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 7.00am (6x10k loops around SOPA).
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
10 Mar
Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
Shoalhaven Ronde @ Shoalhaven Heads @ 8.30am
Orange NSW @ 1 Mar - David Cooper and Sonny Boy spotted in Orange before a local training ride last Friday. David was one of the original BiciSport founding fathers from 1995 and now resides in Orange and a Level 1 CyclingNSW Commissaire.
3 Peaks Challenge is on 10 March starting from Falls Creek - the BiciSport starter is Michael Taylor
…. no more fluff & pointless training races in isolated parts of the cycling realm be it in Ballarat, Adelaide or some other obscure Middle Eastern enclave. Welcome to the real deal in Belgium with cobbles, leg warmers, true grit, frites & mayo, and 1,000 varieties of local beer and Het Nieuwsblad & Kuurne Brussels Kuurne …
BiciSport Wisemans Loop @ 24 Feb - before the start outside the Retreat at Wisemans Ferry
BiciSport Wisemans Loop @ 24 Feb - after some 30k into the Loop past St Albans it was the start of the 9k of firmly packed gravel. Ian Grainger leads Marty Wright and Raoul Westbrook
BiciSport Wisemans Loop @ 24 Feb - halfway through the gravel section on the first climb
BiciSport Wisemans Loop @ 24 Feb - Eric Dole leads the charge up the Alpe del la Mangrove Mountain climb
BiciSport Wisemans Loop @ 24 Feb - Randolph Baral (BiciSport Happy Wheels) on the steep 10% section of the Alpe del la Mangrove Mountain climb
Lake Hume Cyclosportive @ Albury @ 23 Feb - BiciSport Griffith cut a fine looking peloton in Albury.
Spotted at Akuna Bay @ 23 Feb - (L to R) … Neil, Andrew ‘Macca’ McLean, Davide Browne, Mike O’Brien & Neil Farquahson. Mike O’Brien being on a brief Aussie sojourn from the UK getting in some secret base training for the upcoming BiciSport Belgian Spring Classics trip with both Mike Lawson & Marty Wright.
Husky Tri @ 24 Feb - Stew Campbell (BiciSport Happy Wheels) took the (team) win
Speedy Recovery - John Elderfield had one almighty rubber side up whilst riding a motorbike in Bangkok and thankfully survived to tell the tale. Get well soon John.
Husky Triathlon @ 24 Feb - Stewart Campbell took another team win at the Husky Tri
Wisemans Loop Ride Report @ 24 Feb - rain & heavy winds during the previous week saw a greatly reduced BiciSport peloton complete the full 115k into Calga. Conditions were surprisingly agreeable on the day, with the 9k of St Albans gravel more like concrete (thanks to all the rain). All agreed that the seemingly “flat” section of road from Wisemans Ferry to Spencer was much more taxing than first thought, and the final push from Peats Ridge into Calga hurt as required. Thanks to Paul Craft (RAW Track) for making it all happen.
Shoalhaven Ronde happens on 10 March. Details on the BiciSport Special Events of this website.
Based out of Shoalhaven Heads (just south of Berry) on Sunday 10 March over 100k on roads used by BiciSport over the Nowra TTT weekend via Nowra, Pyree, Greenwell Point & Currarong Beach. Ride starts & finishes from the TableTalk Cafe in Shoalhaven Heads starting at 8.30am. Details are on the Special Events page of this website.
A great weekend of racing in Bathurst on the Saturday with Blayney to Bathurst cyclosportive on the Sunday. Details are on the Special Events page of this website.
The BiciSport Saturday night dinner will be at the Rydges Hotel (Mountain Straight) at 6.30pm. To confirm a dinner spot please call 0417 403 244
BiciSport is proud to announce it will be a contributor to the first Rouleur Classic in Melbourne from 28-30 November. The show will be held at the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art situated at 111 Sturt Street on Southbank. Details on the Special Events page of this website.
The Rouleur Classic is billed as the world’s finest road cycling exhibition. The show provides an opportunity to enjoy the very pinnacle of cycling in a relaxed but prestigious environment. There will be a stellar line up of guests & pro riders, together with cycling marques, cycling apparel, components, technology & much much more.
BiciSport will be providing a restored Peugeot 504 Tour de France team car to the Classic together with a recently restored Sydney Olympic derny
26 Feb - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)
1 Mar - Sutherland Criteriums (Waratah Park)
1-2 Mar - Wagga Weekend (Tolland CC)
3 Mar - Western Sydney Dragway (Waratah Masters CC), Calga ITT (ATTA), Fred Icke Road Race (VRS - Creswick Vic)
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are HEAVIER with the NSW School Term back in full swing
* Note -
Roadworks of note
Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … almost there, well sort of !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction nearly done
Mona Vale Rd (Bahai Temple to Mona Vale) … road widening has commenced.
All group rides are cancelled if wet
25 Feb, 27 Feb
Hills Nursery CarPark Terrey Hills @ 7.30am to Akuna Bay & West Head
25 Feb, 27 Feb & 1 Mar
Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)
26 Feb & 28 Feb
Waratah’s Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay & Duffys Forest, then Terrey Hills shops @ 9.00am on the return
27 Feb
Wise Monkey Cafe Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return
28 Feb
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am
2 Mar
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 7.00am (6x10k loops around SOPA).
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
3 Mar
Piemonte Cafe Car Park Terrey Hills @ 7.30am for Akuna Bay-West Head
Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
BiciSport Wisemans Loop @ 24 Feb - Marty Wright leads Raoul Westbrook past the Muskoka Farm willows outside Spencer towards the Central Mangrove climb
BiciSport Wisemans Loop @ 24 Feb - after the Alpe del la Mangrove Mountain climb and just 25k to the Calga finish
Sprint Grand Prix #3 @ DGV @ 16 Feb - Damien Bottero (BiciSport) departs the start line
Sprint Grand Prix #3 @ DGV @ 16 Feb - Damien Bottero takes a win
Waratah Masters @ ECR @ 17 Feb - Ian Grainger (BiciSport Master) picks up yet another 5th place in C grade.
Italy-Belgium 2019 - Mike Lawson (BiciSport Master) pictured on the Carrefour De L’Arbre cobbles outside Roubaix in April 2018.
Mike returns to the Holy Land of cycling for the Strade Bianche Cyclosportive in Seina (Italy) on 10 March, followed by three weeks in Belgium with cyclosportives in Wevelgem, Flanders & Roubaix and a raft of Belgian Spring Classics.
Il Perlo Hotel @ Bellagio on Lake Como plays host to BiciSport in Italy in March 2019. The picture above features the Tour of Lombardy pro race passing by in clear & sunny conditions.
Lets hope Mike Lawson & Marty Wright pack their winter team kit … this picture was taken only last week from the same IL Perlo Hotel, this time facing up the steep Madonna de Ghissalo climb used in the same Tour of Lombardy pro race
Recovery Ward - Conor Tarlington resumes training on the home trainer this week after his hernia operation.
Sprint Grand Prix @ DGV @ 16 Feb - Damien Bottero continues to see building form towards the coming Masters Championships at the Sprint Grand Prix Round 3 at the DGV.
Sad to report the recent passing of Frans Van Eyck in Temse, Belgium. Frans was a great supporter of numerous BiciSport cyclists who have made the trip to Flanders over the years. Frans was 92 years young.
Conor Tarlington heads of to Belgium in mid June with a racing program packed solid with 80k ‘kermesse’ style races all over Flanders. The team stays at the Kokerelle B&B (www.kokerelle.be) just outside Oudenaarde. The Flanders stay includes 3 stages of the 2019 Tour de France (Stages 1-3) which pass through Belgium. There are two spots still available at Kokerelle and if you’re interested please email bicisport1@gmail.com
June - 15 - Retro Tour of Flanders, 21 - Zomergem, 22 - Aardenberg, Retro Dwars Door Hageland, 23 - Eindhout, 25 - Wachtebeke, 28 - Lommel, 29 - St Amandsberg, 30 - Dikkelvenne
July - 3 - Ursel, 7 - Sinaai, 7 - Zottegem, Tour de France Stage 1 (Geraadsbergen) 8 - Adegem, Tour de France Stage 2 (Brussels Team Time Trial) 9 Tour de France Stage 3 (Binche start) 10 - Ursel, 13 - Vogelnaarde (NL), 14 - Merelbeke, 16 - Clinge (NL), 17 - Ursel, 20 - Laarne, 21 - Herne, 24 - Ursel, 26 - Beveren Waas, 28 - Duffel
The BiciSport Wisemans Ferry Loop on Sunday 24 February offers 4 ride options (41k, 92k, 115k & 115k). Details are on the Special Events page of this website.
BiciSport is hosting a training ride from Wisemans Ferry on Sunday 24 February with full car support. Ride starts from the Wisemans Ferry Bowling Club @ 8.00am (meet at 7.30am). Details are on the Special Events page of this website
A volunteer is needed to drive the Happy Wheels Subaru to follow the ride. Please email bicisport1@gmail.com if you can assist
Wisemans Ferry Loop just out of St Albans offers some great cycling country
Based out of Shoalhaven Heads (just south of Berry) on Sunday 10 March over 100k on roads used by BiciSport over the Nowra TTT weekend via Nowra, Pyree, Greenwell Point & Currarong Beach. Ride starts & finishes from the TableTalk Cafe in Shoalhaven Heads starting at 8.30am. Details are on the Special Events page of this website.
A great weekend of racing in Bathurst on the Saturday with Blayney to Bathurst cyclosportive on the Sunday. Details are on the Special Events page of this website.
The B2B Weekend clashes with a major basketball competition in Bathurst, and accommodation bookings over that weekend will be tight
19 Feb - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)
22 Feb - Sutherland Criteriums (Waratah Park)
23 Feb - Lake Hume Cyclosportive (Albury/Wodonga) - BiciSport starters Team Griffith
24 Feb - Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters CC)
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are HEAVIER with the NSW School Term back in full swing
* Note -
Roadworks of note
Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … almost there, well sort of !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction nearly done
All group rides are cancelled if wet
19 Feb, 22 Feb
Hills Nursery CarPark Terrey Hills @ 7.30am to Akuna Bay & West Head
18 Feb, 20 Feb, 22 Feb
Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)
19 Feb & 21 Feb
Waratah’s Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay & Duffys Forest, then Terrey Hills shops @ 9.00am on the return
20 Feb
Wise Monkey Gruppetto @ Berowra Railway Station @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return
21 Feb
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am
23 Feb
Hills Nursery Car Park Terrey Hills @ 7.00am for Akuna Bay & West Head
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 7.00am (6x10k loops around SOPA).
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
24 Feb
Wisemans Ferry Ride @ 8.00am (meet up at 7.30am) - See Special Events page
Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
Sandstone Cafe @ Miramare Terrey Hills @ 16 Feb - Miramare staff led by Vinney (The 11 Cog) Panetta make for a great Saturday morning coffee @ 9.30am. All welcome.
Sandstone Cafe @ Miramare Terrey Hills @ 16 Feb - Eric Dole & Marty Wright
Mirror Sprint magazine from July 1967 features the Paris Roubaix Classic.
Jan Janssen (Pelforth Sauvage) and Raymond Poulidor (Mercier) were the leading riders of the day. The bikes of the era all featured MAFAC centre pull brakes, high flange hubs and pedal toe clips.
Dubbo Track Open @ 9 Feb - Damien Bottero (BiciSport Master) rode well on the somewhat flat Dubbo Velodrome
Dubbo Track Open @ 9 Feb - Damien Bottero (BiciSport Master)
Conor Tarlington (BiciSport Elite) is set for a return to Flanders and the Koppenberg in June & July 2019. His Belgian race calendar is listed below.
Waratah Masters @ 10 Feb - Both Peter Verhoeven & Ian Grainger rode well
Dubbo Track Open @ 9 Feb - Damien Bottero rode competitively at the Dubbo Track Open having to come to grips with the special features of a flattish country velodrome. Damien continues this coming week at the Sprint GP Round 3 at the DGV at Bass Hill.
Conor Tarlington heads of to Belgium in mid June with a racing program packed solid with 80k ‘kermesse’ style races all over Flanders. The team stays at the Kokerelle B&B (www.kokerelle.be) just outside Oudenaarde. The Flanders stay includes 3 stages of the 2019 Tour de France (Stages 1-3) which pass through Belgium. There are two spots still available at Kokerelle and if you’re interested please email bicisport1@gmail.com
June - 15 - Retro Tour of Flanders, 21 - Zomergem, 22 - Aardenberg, Retro Dwars Door Hageland, 23 - Eindhout, 25 - Wachtebeke, 28 - Lommel, 29 - St Amandsberg, 30 - Dikkelvenne
July - 3 - Ursel, 7 - Sinaai, 7 - Zottegem, Tour de France Stage 1 (Geraadsbergen) 8 - Adegem, Tour de France Stage 2 (Brussels Team Time Trial) 9 Tour de France Stage 3 (Binche start) 10 - Ursel, 13 - Vogelnaarde (NL), 14 - Merelbeke, 16 - Clinge (NL), 17 - Ursel, 20 - Laarne, 21 - Herne, 24 - Ursel, 26 - Beveren Waas, 28 - Duffel
BiciSport is hosting a training ride from Wisemans Ferry on Sunday 24 February with full car support. Ride starts from the Wisemans Ferry Bowling Club @ 8.00am (meet at 7.30am). Details are on the Special Events page of this website.
Based out of Shoalhaven Heads (just south of Berry) on Sunday 10 March over 100k on roads used by BiciSport over the Nowra TTT weekend via Nowra, Pyree, Greenwell Point & Currarong Beach. Ride starts & finishes from the TableTalk Cafe in Shoalhaven Heads starting at 8.30am. Details are on the Special Events page of this website.
A great weekend of racing in Bathurst on the Saturday with Blayney to Bathurst cyclosportive on the Sunday. Details are on the Special Events page of this website.
The B2B Weekend clashes with a major basketball competition in Bathurst, and accommodation bookings over that weekend will be tight
A volunteer is needed to drive the Happy Wheels Subaru from Bathurst to the Blayney start on the day. If you can assist then emails to bicisport1@gmail.com
12 Feb - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)
15 Feb - Sutherland Criteriums (Waratah Park)
16 Feb - Sprint GP # 3 (DGV-CyclingNSW) - BiciSport starter Damien Bottero, Melbourne to Warnambool Classic (NRS)
17 Feb - Eastern Creek (Waratah Masters CC), Mt Ku Ring Gai Criterium (Northern Sydney CC)
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are HEAVIER with the NSW School Term back in full swing
* Note -
Roadworks of note
Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to resolve than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … almost there, well sort of !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction nearly done
All group rides are cancelled if wet
12 Feb, 13 Feb, 15 Feb
Hills Nursery CarPark Terrey Hills @ 7.30am to Akuna Bay & West Head
11 Feb, 13 Feb, 15 Feb
Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)
12 Feb & 14 Feb
Waratah’s Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay & Duffys Forest, then Terrey Hills shops @ 9.00am on the return
13 Feb
Berowra Railway Station Gruppetto @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return
14 Feb
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am
16 Feb
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 7.00am (6x10k loops around SOPA).
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
17 Feb
Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
Steve Stannard was an outstanding Elite cyclist who shot to fame in 1993 at the Commonwealth Bank Cycle Classic from Coffs Harbour to Canberra. Steve finished top 10 on General Classification and took on the might of the AIS National Team (and several European pro teams) which included the likes of Matt White (now a Mitchelton Scott DS) and Henk Vogels.
The Northern Sydney CC club team was sponsored by Australian Bananas and you couldn’t miss them in their flamboyant orange & yellow knicks (something of a radical fashion statement at the time). Team members - Ian Brindley, Mike O’Reilly (DS), Steve Stannard, Ben Litchfield, Bart Hickson, Mark Rowling (mechanic) & Phil Chapman
In 1994 and the White Pages Tour @ Bundanoon to Canberra Stage Race - Northern Sydney CC team was sponsored by Clancys Foodstores & Abrokiss (hence the red lips) with both a womens & mens team that included Rachel Appleton, Steve Stannard (front), Phil Chapman, Laurie Vignes, Ben Litchfield, Rhonda Craigie, Nadia Frischkneckt, Lucy Lykke, Bruce Boulton (masseuse), Catherine Dawson (front) & Mike O’Reilly (DS)
Herald Sun Tour 2019 - it was like old times meeting a youthful Steve Stannard (right) at the last stage of the HST19 in Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens. Robert Stannard (son) rode an outstanding HST 19.
Herald Sun Tour 2019 - the early stages and Team Sky were riding very well, but seemed locked out by the duo of Michael Woods & Ritchie Porte. Dylan Van Baarle (pictured left after the earlier Churchill stage finish) rode a brilliant race into Arthurs Seat and took the HST overall win in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens
Herald Sun Tour 2019 - the SRAM team offered full professional support to the HST led by Rob Eva (far left)
BiciSport to Flanders 2019 - the above picture was taken at the Kokerelle B&B near Oudenaarde only last week with temperatures of minus 3 and heavy snow. BiciSport has a small group going over in late March for the Milan San Remo & Belgian Spring Classics, and again for a 5 week racing stint with Conor Tarlington (BiciSport Elite) from 19 June until 28 July.
There are a couple of vacant spots still going for the June July Belgian trip and if you’d like a few weeks cycling around Flanders then please email bicisport1@gmail.com. Conor’s Belgian racing program has been confirmed and will be detailed next week.
A reminder that the B2B Weekend clashes with a major basketball competition in Bathurst, and accommodation bookings over that weekend will be tight
A volunteer is needed to drive the Happy Wheels Subaru from Bathurst to the Blayney start on the day. Emails please to bicisport1@gmail.com
Recovery Ward - Conor Tarlington is recovering after a hernia which has him off the bike for a few weeks. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne @ 3 Feb - Ian Grainger was a C grade peloton finish
The draft CyclingNSW 2019 Racing Calender was recently published and this has been uploaded onto this website, as has the BiciSport Special Events calendar dates
A new CyclingNSW open road race in 2019 is the Ferry to the Mountain 110k road race in May 2019. BiciSport has got behind this exciting new road event and supporting Paul Craft (of RAW Track fame).
BiciSport will be hosting a training ride over the circuit on Sunday 24 February with full car support. Ride starts from the Wisemans Ferry Bowling Club @ 8.00am (meet at 7.30am). Details of the Wisemans Ferry-Wisemans Ferry Loop training ride are on the Special Events page of this website.
A volunteer is needed to drive the Happy Wheels Subaru on 24 February. Emails please to bicisport1@gmail.com
5 Feb - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)
8 Feb - Sutherland Criteriums (Waratah Park)
7-9 Feb - Pro 3 Day Track Race (DISC Velodrome, Melbourne)
9 Feb - Dubbo Track Open - BiciSport starter Damien Bottero
10 Feb - Eastern Creek (Waratah Masters CC), West Head Road Race (Manly CC)
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are HEAVIER with the NSW School back in full swing
* Note -
Roadworks of note
Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to fix than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … almost there, sort of !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction
All group rides are cancelled if wet
4 Feb, 6 Feb, 8 Feb
Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)
5 Feb & 7 Feb
Waratah’s Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay & Duffys Forest, then Terrey Hills shops @ 9.00am on the return leg
6 Feb
M7 Cyclepath @ 75k @ Bella Vista end @ 7.30am
Berowra Railway Station Gruppetto @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return
7 Feb
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am
8 Feb
Hills Nursery Terrey Hills carpark @ 6.30am for West Head
9 Feb
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 7.00am (6x10k loops around SOPA).
Hills Nursery Terrey Hills @ 7.45am for Akuna Bay, Church Point & return
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
10 Feb
M7 Cyclepath @ BP Service Centre @ Wallgrove Rd @ 6.30am
Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
BiciSport 130k ride around Griffith @ 27 Jan - Melissa Budd, Peter Budd, Frank Signor & Michael Taylor
Stuart O’Grady & Wallers Arenberg Forest @ Paris Roubaix
Herald Sun Tour 2019 - Michael Woods (left) & Ritchie Porte (centre) animated the HST 19 but it was all blue Sky after the Arthurs Seat ambush.
Welcome to the Herald Sun Tour daily diary for 2019 and a pictorial snapshot from each day. Tuesday was “bump in” day at San Remo near Phillip Island, Wednesday the Phillip Island Circuit Race, Thursday Wonthaggi to Churchill, Friday Sale to Warragul, Saturday Arthurs Seat Circuit Race & Sunday the Melbourne City Circuit Race. Alex Simmons (BiciSport) was driving the Chief Commissaire & Mike O’Reilly (BiciSport) was driving Commissaire 4.
HST 19 @ Sunday @ Melbourne Botanical Gardens - Team Sky were simply outstanding … they won everything but the chook raffle
HST 19 @ Sunday @ Melbourne Botanical Gardens - Dylan Van Baarle (Team Sky) after the finish
HST 19 @ Sunday @ Melbourne Botanical Gardens - the HST driving team in front of the Lead Car
HST 19 @ Saturday @ Arthurs Seat finish - Damien Howson (Mitchelton Scott) after a dramatic days racing in sweltering conditions. Team Sky turned the race on its head and went yellow
HST 19 @ Saturday @ Port Melbourne Service Corse after the Arthurs Seat finish - Michele Primaro has done 22 editions of the Herald Sun Tour and this year is the Education First Team mechanic.
It was great chatting to Michele as the auto electrician kindly fitted a new key to the Happy Wheels Subaru ( … having got to the Service Corse after the auto electrician had arrived early to fix the Subaru, only to discover he’d broken into the wrong car … Oops !! … thanks mate, but its the car next door …)
HST 19 @ Saturday @ Cape Schank Lighthouse start - Mike O’Reilly & Alex Simmons (BiciSport)
HST 19 @ Friday @ Warragul finish - Owain Doull (Team Sky) took the stage win over a tough 160k in Warragul
HST 19 @ Friday @ Sale start - the Team Sky Dogma F10 is a very very pretty looking rig
HST 19 @ Friday @ Warragul finish - a seemingly pensive Michael Woods had a lot to smile about after an outstanding 160k stage into Warragul.
HST 19 @ Friday @ Sale start - a flock of idle Drapac team Cannondales before the stage start
HST 19 @ Friday @ Warragul - Alex Simmons (BiciSport) on his 5th Herald Sun Tour and acknowledged as the premier convoy driver in the country
HST 19 @ Thursday @ the Wonthaggi start
HST 19 @ Thursday @ Churchill finish - Team Sky with Dylan Van Baarle (left) who went on to take the Yellow Jersey in Melbourne
HST 19 @ Thursday @ Churchill finish - Team Mitchelton Scott
HST 19 @ Thursday @ Churchill finish - a Trek peloton
HST 19 @ Thursday @ Churchill - Michael Woods (Team EF) took the stage win and the Yellow Jersey.
HST 19 @ Wednesday @ Phillip Island - Australian National Womens Team at the start
HST 19 @ Wednesday @ Phillip Island - Womens Cipolini Team
HST 19 @ Wednesday @ Phillip Island - the Sky Team car presents well
HST 19 @ Wednesday @ Phillip Island - Ritchie Porte in the media huddle before the start
HST 19 @ Wednesday @ Phillip Island - Ritchie Porte after the stage finish
HST 19 @ Tuesday @ Silverwater Resort @ San Remo - the HST clan gathers for the annual reunion. Alex Simmons BiciSport (left) leads the drivers team in discussion
David Cooper (BiciSport Master) @ the Marconi Tuesday night criterium (in B grade) @ 22 Jan
David Cooper @ Eastern Creek Raceway @ 22 Jan
Adelaide Tour Down Under 19 @ Roller Frenzy - Lise Benjamin giving it all
The Alpine Classic @ 27 Jan - the event is now owned by the new Fairfax-Nine News media conglomerate and the future is equally Bright
The Alpine Classic @ 27 Jan @ Bright (Vic) offered numerous ride options to Dingo Dell (top of Mt Buffalo), a Falls Creek Ski Station & return option, or the Omeo loop (with an overnight stay in Omeo).
A reminder that the B2B Weekend clashes with a major basketball competition in Bathurst, and accommodation bookings over that weekend will be tight
Newcastle Australia Day Criterium @ 28 Jan - Rhett Hall took the B grade win (only to be relegated after going around a cone passing another grade)
Waratah Masters @ ECR @ 27 Jan - Ian Grainger collected another 5th in the M9-10 age category race, with Raoul Westbrook competing in the M7-8
Orange Track Open @ 27 Jan - Davide Browne placed in the Orange wheelrace final.
Alpine Classic @ Bright (Vic) @ 27 Jan - 42 degrees on the Friday, 38 degrees on the Saturday, followed by steady rain, fog & 23 degrees on the Alpine Classic day itself. The organisation was first class with Ian Garrity & Mike O’Reilly both sighted.
The draft CyclingNSW 2019 Racing Calender was recently published and this has been uploaded onto this website, as has the BiciSport Special Events calendar dates
A new CyclingNSW open road race in 2019 is the Ferry to the Mountain 110k road race in May 2019. BiciSport has got behind this exciting new road event and supporting Paul Craft (of RAW Track fame).
BiciSport will be hosting a training ride over the circuit on Sunday 24 February with full car support. Ride starts from the Wisemans Ferry Bowling Club @ 8.00am (meet at 7.30am). Details of the Wisemans Ferry-Wisemans Ferry Loop training ride are on the Special Events page of this website.
The Herald Sun Tour fires up from this Wednesday, starting at the Phillip Island Motor Racing circuit in Gippsland and concluding in Melbourne on 3 February. There with will be a daily HST diary posted every day on this website in the News section.
29 Jan - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)
30 Jan-3 Feb - Herald Sun Tour (Gippsland, Vic) - Refer separate HST diary on this website featuring Alex Simmons & Mike O’Reilly
1 Feb - Sutherland Criteriums (Waratah Park)
2 Feb - Goulburn Track Open
3 Feb - Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters CC)
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are HEAVIER with the NSW School back in full swing
* Note -
Roadworks of note
Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to fix than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … almost there, sort of !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction
All group rides are cancelled if wet
28 Jan, 30 Jan, 1 Feb
Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)
29 Jan & 31 Jan
Waratah’s Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay & Duffys Forest, then Terrey Hills shops @ 9.00am on the return leg
30 Jan - Berowra Railway Station Gruppetto @ 7.30am for 60k to Calga & return
31 Jan
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am
2 Feb
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (4x10k loops around SOPA).
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
3 Feb
Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
The Camperdown Velodrome was located just off Parramatta Road (near Bridge Road). The velodrome was steep, bumpy, and facilities somewhat rudimentary, but it hosted some outstanding track racing before it was closed down. Gordon Johnson had ridden well at the 1970 Commonwealth Games for Australia, then turned professional and immediately won a World Sprint Championship and started a great battle with Giordano Turrini from Italy. Both featured in some classic sprint events at Camperdown. Gordon now owns the hotel at Mount Macedon outside Melbourne.
Gordon leads Giordano at Camperdown. Professional sprinters of the day never wore socks !
Gordon Johnson attacks in the back straight of the Camperdown Velodrome in Sydney’s inner west
Classic professional sprinting was not dissimilar to WWF … it included the odd elbow, a solid shoulder or a heavy head butt to make things all the more interesting. Whoever won the first round, narrowly lost the second (gee, that was unlucky), which made the third round a total thriller.
Mark Preston (BiciSport Master) climbing Mt Wellington (12k @ 7%) outside Hobart on 16 January. Mark was touring Tasmania with the support of Velo Tours Australia
Vinney (The 11 Cog) Panetta hosts the BiciSport Saturday coffee peloton on 19 January at the Miramare Gardens cafe off Myoora Rd Terrey Hills from 9.30am.
Pilu Racing Team @ the Tour DownUnder 2019
Waratah Masters @ Lansdowne Park @ 20 Jan - Ian Grainger took another 5th in C grade
Condolences go out to one of our Griffith BiciSport members Frank Signor and his wife Maryann on the passing of her mother (Mrs Norbiato) on the weekend. The BiciSport club sends our deepest sympathy.
Recovery Ward - Speedy recovery to Peter Stupka (a regular on the Distinguished Gentlemen’s Ride) with a new stent
Bright (Vic) - Sighted in Bright this week is both Conor & Brett Tarlington
The draft CyclingNSW 2019 Racing Calender was recently published and this has been uploaded onto this website, as has the BiciSport Special Events calendar dates
A new CyclingNSW road race in 2019 is the Ferry to the Mountain 110k road race in May 2019. BiciSport has got behind this exciting new road event and supporting Paul Craft (of RAW Track fame). Mike O’Reilly (BiciSport) will be the Race Director on the day.
BiciSport will be hosting a training ride over the circuit on Sunday 24 February with full car support. Ride starts from the Wisemans Ferry Bowling Club @ 8.00am. Details of the Wisemans Ferry-Wisemans Ferry Loop training ride are on the Special Events page of this website.
22 Jan - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)
24-27 Jan - Cadel Evans Road Races (Geelong, Vic)
26-27 Jan - Orange Track & Bathurst Criteriums
27 Jan - Eastern Creek (Waratah Masters CC), Alpine Audax Classic (Bright, Vic) with BiciSport starters Mike O’Reilly
28 Jan (Mon) - Eastern Creek (Waratah Masters CC)
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are getting HEAVIER with the NSW School holidays soon to end
* Note -
Roadworks of note
Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to fix than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … almost there, sort of !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction
All group rides are cancelled if wet
21 Jan, 23 Jan, 25 Jan
Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)
22 & 24 Jan
Waratah’s Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay & Duffys Forest, then Terrey Hills shops @ 9.00am on the return leg
24 Jan
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am
26 Jan
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (4x10k loops around SOPA).
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
27 Jan
Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
BiciSport coffee stop of choice is every Saturday morning @ Miramare Cafe Myoora Rd Terrey Hills from 9.30am. All BiciSport members & friends most welcome
(by Mike O’Reilly)
Digital Disruption is everywhere to see. Be it the demise of the Nokia mobile phone (we all had one at some point), dropping the Kodak film off to a local chemist (really, we did that ?), to wearing a wrist watch (no way !) and try buying a new car with a CD player (good luck !!), or even buy a CD for that matter. How we all communicate & socialize has changed like no other time in recent human history.
Cycling is no different when it comes to digital disruption - be it the demise of the local bike shop with the growth of internet shopping (all that took was easy to understand overseas cycling websites, confidence to give your credit card details to a computer screen & overseas courier delivery in just 5 days). Ditto for glossy cycling magazines as excellent publications have simply closed, never to be seen again (some have successfully diversified but genuine success stories are very very rare).
In the face of retail & social change cycling (in general) has boomed. Place yourself on McCarrs Creek Road at Terrey Hills on any given Saturday morning and you’ll be astounded at the numerous social cycling bunches enjoying the local ride. Likewise, enter a well organised cyclosportive or gran fondo (events at Bowral or Jindabyne come to mind) and in all likelihood you’ll see excellent patronage at a very well organised event. However when it comes to cycle racing things couldn’t be in more contrast. If the start numbers at your local club race or State event are on the rise then take a bow, as your event is a rare treat. Entry numbers at most races (be it velodrome or road, local or State) are in serious decline, and the shift in club membership trends either show negative growth or for members that do rejoin they are switching from ‘race’ to ‘ride it’ memberships. The many reasons for local cycle racing being on the slide may be a combination of demographic, social or financial issues but the decline is there for all to see. For sure, if Saturday morning along McCarrs Creek Road is a guide more people than ever are cycling but fewer people are now buying a cycle racing licence, and racing participation levels are generally on a negative trend.
The biggest challenge to the local club racing scene may soon come from within. The current national cycling membership model has been in existence for nearly 100 years, whereby members join a local club in the first instance, under the auspices of Cycling Australia. Its a miracle that the current membership model has lasted this long, but be in no doubt, if that model changes and local clubs are excluded from the membership process, then watch this space.
Bright (Victoria) plays host to the Audax Alpine Classic on Sunday 27 January with the climbs of Tawonga Gap, Falls Creek & Mt Buffalo
The Herald Sun Tour starts on 30 January on Phillip Island & concludes in Melbourne on 3 February. Ritchie Porte & Team Sky are on the start line.
Not the recommended way to clean your bike !!
Tumut Cycle Classic @ 13 January
BiciSport starters at the Tumut Cycle Classic @ 13 January - L to R .. Michael Taylor, Melissa Budd, Peter Budd & Mike O’Reilly
Waratah Masters @ Eastern Creek @ 13 Jan - Ian Grainger finished 5th in C grade
The Tumut Cycle Classic is something of a hidden gem. 400 riders lined up for the 100k or 70k options on delightful back roads outside Tumut totally devoid of any motor traffic (save for the odd wallaby) and spectacular scenery. Weather conditions were hot with little wind of any note. The TCC organisation was excellent (course was well sign posted and numerous drink stations) and the course design second to none. The course itself had plenty of climbing and similar to say an Akuna Bay or a West Head for climbing difficulty, but the absence of any traffic made it a great day out. See you in 2020. BiciSport had four starters in Michael Taylor, Melissa & Peter Budd & Mike O’Reilly
Waratah Masters @ 13 Jan - Ian Grainger finished 5th from 42 starters in C grade
Sponsored Groups now renew contracts from 1 January each year - A reminder to all BiciSport riders that sponsored group contracts are now to be renewed from 1 January 2019.
Happy Wheels BiciSport Team renews for 2019 - The Happy Wheels team for 2019 includes Conor Tarlington, Declan Jones, Stewart & Mirielle Campbell, Randolph Baral, David Browne, Rolly Delaytz, Peter Budd, Ben Elliott & Ruth Strapp. In 2019 the HW team remains sponsored by Happy Wheels Waterloo, Kask helmets, Lazer sunglasses & S-Phyre shoes
The draft CyclingNSW 2019 Racing Calender was recently published and this has been uploaded onto this website, as has the BiciSport Special Events calendar dates
A new CyclingNSW road race in 2019 is the Ferry to the Mountain 110k road race in May 2019. BiciSport has got behind this exciting new road event and supporting Paul Craft (of RAW Track fame). Mike O’Reilly (BiciSport) will be the Race Director on the day.
BiciSport will be hosting a training ride over the circuit on Sunday 24 February with full car support. Ride starts from the Wisemans Ferry Bowling Club @ 7.30am. Details of the Wisemans Ferry-Wisemans Ferry Loop training ride are on the Special Events page of this website.
15 Jan - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra)
15-20 Jan - TourDownUnder (Adelaide SA)
19 Jan - Gosford Track Open (Central Coast)
20 Jan - Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters CC), Ourimbah University Criteriums (Central Coast)
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are getting HEAVIER with the NSW School holidays soon to end
* Note -
Roadworks of note
Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to fix than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … almost there, sort of !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction
All group rides are cancelled if wet
14 Jan, 16 Jan, 18 Jan
Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)
15 Jan
Hills Nursery Terrey Hills @ 7.45am for Akuna Bay/West Head
15 & 17 Jan
Waratah’s Peloton @ pass the corner of Yulong Ave & McCarrs Creek Rd Terrey Hills @ 7.50am for Akuna Bay & Duffys Forest
17 Jan
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 9.30am
19 Jan
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (4x10k loops around SOPA).
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
21 Jan
Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
BiciSport Special Event @ Sunday 24 February - The Wisemans Ferry Loop is a fully supported ride with a following car to assist. Details are on the Special Events page on this website.
Peter Sagan @ Paris Roubaix 2018 - the greatest cyclist of the current generation on the way to a famous Roubaix victory. Sagan starts his 2019 season at the Tour Down Under (15-20 January)
Eddy Merckx @ Rouleur Magazine Christmas function in London @ December 2018 - the greatest cyclist across all generations
Eddy Merckx @ Tour of Italy @ 1970 leading Felice Gimondi (in Salvarani Blue)
CA National Elite Road Championships @ Ballarat @ 5 Jan - Alex Simmons & Robin Tiffo frame the National Championship Lead Car before the start of the Championships at Buningyong
BiciSport Distinguished Gentlemans Ride @ Centennial Park @ 3 January - a decidedly motley crew formed up the DGR peloton last week and Ivan Sher led the DGR peloton on the last lap to claim the stage victory.
L to R - Ivan Sher, Martin Renwick, John Crouchley, Peter Stupka (with a very nice Pinarello), Glenn Vigar, Ian Grainger, John Robb, Marty Wright & Mike O’Reilly. All cyclists are welcome to this Thursday morning ride starting from the Spruce Goose Cafe in the centre of Centennial Park at 9.30am during January (going back to 10.30am in February).
Jindabyne Training Camp @ 5 Jan - Stewart & Mireille Campbell
Hunter Valley Masters @ Kooragang @ 6 Jan - Ruth Strapp finished 6th in B grade. Rhett Hall rode A grade
Cycling Australia National Championships @ Ballarat @ 4-6 Jan - Alex Simmons was sighted driving the Chief Commissaires car during the Ballarat Nationals. Alex is acknowledged as the premier race convoy driver currently behind the wheel. It takes a high degree of skill & concentration to place a motor vehicle deep inside a professional peloton at full speed & Alex does an outstanding job. Alex’s next role is the Chief Commissaires convoy driver at the Herald Sun Tour from 30 Jan-3 Feb (HST stage details below), a race that features Ritchie Porte & Team Sky.
Sponsored Groups now renew contracts from 1 January each year - A reminder to all BiciSport riders that sponsored group contracts are now to be renewed from 1 January 2019.
Happy Wheels BiciSport Team renews for 2019 - The Happy Wheels team for 2019 includes Conor Tarlington, Declan Jones, Stewart & Mirielle Campbell, Randolph Baral, David Browne, Rolly Delaytz, Peter Budd, Ben Elliott & Ruth Strapp. In 2019 the HW team remains sponsored by Happy Wheels Waterloo, Kask helmets, Lazer sunglasses & S-Phyre shoes
The draft CyclingNSW 2019 Racing Calender was recently published and this has been uploaded onto this website, as has the BiciSport Special Events calendar
Details of the Tumut Cycle Classic are on the Special Events page of this website.
Peter Budd (BiciSport Master) & friends are attending and if you need further information check out the webpage.
13 Jan - Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters CC), Tumut Cycle Classic Cyclosportive (Tumut, NSW), Peoples Choice Classic TDU (Adelaide, SA), Ourimbah University Criteriums (Central Coast)
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are now EASIER with the NSW School holidays in full swing
* Note -
Roadworks of note
Forest Way (at Forestville) … taking longer to fix than the Operation Puerto cycling drug bust !
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … almost there !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction
All group rides are cancelled if wet
7 Jan, 9 Jan, 11 Jan - Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 7.30am (to 9.30am)
9 Jan - Hills Nursery Car Park Terrey Hills @ 7.30am for Akuna Bay, West Head & return
10 Jan (Thurs) -
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels bike shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 9.30am
12 Jan -
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (4x10k loops around SOPA).
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
13 Jan
Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
BiciSport Fashionista Marty Wright sighted on McCarrs Creek Rd last week near Church Point in the new BiciSport white-blue summer training kit. Orders are now being taken for the next clothing delivery in just 4 weeks - simply email bicisport1@gmail.com
Tumut Cycle Classic circuit over 100k & climbing profile
The 2019 Herald Sun Tour this year is based in Gippsland with a start on Phillip Island, with stage finishes at Churchill, Warragul & Arthurs Seat. The final 90k criterium is in central Melbourne. The HST features Ritchie Porte & Team Sky.
BiciSport IL Presidente Ian Grainger wishes you a very happy New Year and safe cycling in 2019
Happy New Year from the Happy Wheels Waterloo team & safe cycling in 2019
Waratah Masters @ 30 Dec - Jeremy Hopson finished 4th in A grade (in another breakaway) & Ian Grainger was a peloton finish in C grade
Cycling Australia National Road Championships @ Ballarat - Alex Simmons (BiciSport Master) will be the Chief Commissaires convoy driver at Ballarat Nationals.
Sponsored Groups now renew contracts from 1 January each year - A reminder to all BiciSport riders that sponsored group contracts are now to be renewed from 1 January 2019.
Happy Wheels BiciSport Team renews for 2019 - The Happy Wheels team for 2019 includes Conor Tarlington, Declan Jones, Stewart & Mirielle Campbell, Randolph Baral, David Browne, Rolly Delaytz, Peter Budd, Ben Elliott & Ruth Strapp
Sydney Christmas Carnivals @ DGV @ Dec 2018 - David Browne
Sydney Christmas Carnivals @ DGV @ Dec 18 - Lise Benjamin
Friday 4 Jan - Ballarat Criteriums - U19 Women; U19 Men; U23 Men; U23 Women; Elite Women; Elite Men
Saturday 5 Jan – Buninyong Road Races - Para all categories; U19 Women, U19 Men; U23 Men, CA Gran Fondo Championships
Sunday 6 Jan – Buninyong Road Races - U23 Women; Elite Women; Elite Men
Monday 7 Jan – Buninyong Time Trials - Para all categories; U19 Women; U19 Men
Tuesday 8 Jan – Buninyong Time Trials - U23 Men; U23 Women; Elite Women; Elite Men
The draft CyclingNSW 2019 racing calender was recently published and this has been uploaded onto this website, as has the BiciSport Special Events calendar
Details of the Tumut Cycle Classic are on the Special Events page of this website.
Peter Budd (BiciSport Master) & friends are attending and if you need further information check out the webpage.
1-3 Jan - Bay Classic Criteriums (Geelong & Melbourne)
4-8 Jan - Cycling Australia National Championships (Ballarat, Vic)
6 Jan - Heffron Park (Waratah Masters CC)
Ballarat host the CA National Road Championships from 4-8 January
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are now EASIER with the NSW School holidays in full swing
* Note -
Major roadworks
Forest Way (at Forestville) … its just never ending
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … so is this !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction
All group rides are cancelled if wet
31 Dec, 2 Jan, 4 Jan - Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 8.00am (to 9.30am)
3 Jan (Thurs) -
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 9.00am
5 Jan -
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (4x10k loops around SOPA).
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
6 Jan
Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
Hills Nursery Terrey Hills @ 7.30am for Akuna Bay & West Head
Best wishes for 2019 from the the famous Everton Bus Shelter near Bright (Victoria). The locals are well known for going all out on the festive decoration on the local bus shelter (every bus shelter needs a lounge, various teddy bears, old style phones, Christmas hamper & cushions)
Eddy Verbust (Ghent 6 Day organiser) has been a great supporter to numerous BiciSport riders who have raced in Belgium over the years. Eddy (left) is pictured with Kenny De Ketele at the Ghent Velodrome with the steep velodrome banking in the background. David Browne (BiciSport Master) & fellow BiciSport velodrome tragics are headed for the Ghent 6 in November 2019.
Tumut Cycle Classic on 13 January - Route details & climbing profile (event details in BiciSport Special Events)
Noel La Rose (BiciSport Master) turned 81 years young and celebrated with an 81k ride around the Homebush-Rhodes precinct. L to R - Dom Caravello, John Lee, Joc Young, Noel La Rose, Peter Davis & Lyle Baird
The steep bankings at the Ghent 6 velodrome has the riders going as horizontal as possible for 6 days
The t’Kuipe track at the Ghent 6 is only 166 metres per lap, so the action is close & tight
Waratah Masters @ Heffron Park @ 23 Dec - Jeremy Hopson finished 3rd in A grade in a small breakaway. Ian Grainger was a peloton finish in C grade.
Ghent 6 Day @ November 2019 - David Browne (BiciSport Master) in a rare feat of endurance has taken up the challenge of attending the Ghent 6 Day each night in November 2019. The first test of super human endurance was getting the tickets online as the whole event sold out in just 5 days (David has never sprinted so fast across a keyboard in his life). David will be joined by Steve Hamilton & Mike O’Reilly
Happy Wheels BiciSport Team renews for 2019 - The Happy Wheels team for 2019 includes Conor Tarlington, Declan Jones, Stewart & Mirielle Campbell, Randolph Baral, David Browne, Rolly Delaytz, Peter Budd, Ben Elliott & Ruth Strapp
27-30 Dec - Victorian Track Christmas Carnivals
27-31 Dec - Sydney Track Christmas Carnivals (Hurstville, Tempe, Lidcombe, DGV)
30 Dec - Lansdowne Park (Waratah Masters CC)
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are now EASIER with the NSW School holidays
* Note -
Major roadworks
Forest Way (at Forestville) … its just never ending
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … so is this !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction
All group rides are cancelled if wet
24, 26, 28 Dec - Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 8.00am (to 9.30am)
27 Dec (Thurs) -
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am
29 Dec -
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (4x10k loops around SOPA).
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
30 Dec
Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
For Sale - new BiciSport team bike, surplus to team requirements. New Stevens (German brand) 50cm (small) full carbon frame & new Ultegra groupset, 170mm cranks, 40cm h’bars, Shimano 105 pedals, gearing is 12x28 & 36x52, total weight at just over 7.0kgs. A delightful ride for the smaller rider. $2700 ono. Contact Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244 or bicisport1@gmail.com
The regular Saturday BiciSport coffee house is now the Sandstone Cafe at Miramare Gardens (off Myoora Rd at Terrey Hills) from 9.30am every Saturday. All BiciSport members & friends are most welcome.
Go Santa !!
The Centennial Park Distinguished Gentlemens Ride always attracts 8-12 riders enjoying Centennial Park on any given Thursday. The ride starts from the Spruce Goose Cafe in the centre of Centennial Park (near the Lake) @ 10.30am. Last Thursday featured BiciSport riders (L to R) John Crouchley, Mike O’Reilly, little Axel, Ian Grainger & Peter Davis.
The Herald Sun Tour 2019 features Ritchie Porte riding for Trek Segafredo and is based through the Gippsland region of eastern Victoria - starting on Phillip Island and finishing with a criterium in Melbourne
Herald Sun Tour News @ 30 Jan to 2 Feb 2019 - Alex Simmons & Mike O’Reilly are again doing Commissaire driving duties at the HST 19. In 2019 the HST starts at Phillip Island, then goes into Gippsland via Churchill, Warragul, Sale, Arthurs Seat with a final criterium in Melbourne. The headline act is Ritchie Porte riding for Trek Segafredo.
18 Dec - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra) from 6.00pm-7.00pm
23 Dec - Heffron Park (Waratah Masters CC)
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are now EASIER with the NSW School holidays
* Note -
Major roadworks
Forest Way (at Forestville) … its just never ending
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … so is this !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction
All group rides are cancelled if wet
17, 19, 21 Dec - Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 8.00am (to 9.30am)
19 Dec - Berowra Gruppetto @ 7.30am @ opposite Berowra Railway Station (to Calga & return for 65k)
20 Dec (Thurs) -
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am
21 Dec - Noel La Rose 81st Birthday Celebration Ride - meet corner Shorelink Drive & Walker St Rhodes Point (near Moorebank Bridge) @ 7.00am for SOPA Loops
22 Dec -
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (4x10k loops around SOPA).
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
23 Dec
Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
For Sale - New Stevens Road Carbon Frame + new Ultegra Groupset, loaded on stunning Zipp Wheels with 12-28 rear block on 36x52 chainset + Shimano 105 pedals + 40cm h’bars. Frame size is small (50cm). This new BiciSport team bike is surplus to BiciSport team requirements & priced to sell at just $2700. Contact Mike O’Reilly on 0417 403 244 or bicisport1@gmail.com
Photo of 2018 by Peter Budd (BiciSport Master) … driving through Switzerland on a “public road + cycle path” when along comes a Swiss Air Force plane taxing into a nearby underground hangar. Nice bike path !
BiciSport Happy Wheels Waterloo Christmas Party @ 7 Dec - Karl Hoad, Ruth Strapp & Sean Mura
BiciSport Happy Wheels Waterloo Christmas Party @ 7 Dec
Sydney Cup on Wheels @ DGV @ 9 Dec - David Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) had a great Sydney Cup carnival at DGV.
A big thankyou to Stewart & Mirielle Campbell for hosting the BiciSport Happy Wheels Christmas Party on 7 December. A great night was had by all & best wishes for Christmas.
Sydney Cup on Wheels @ DGV @ 8 Dec - David Browne (BiciSport Happy Wheels) had a big night at the Sydney Cup at DGV with 2nd in the Wheelrace heat, 4th in the Sydney Cup final, 1st in the divisional Keirin, 4th in the Lighting H’cap, then Bronze medal in the State Tempo Championship. Graham Cockerton & Lise Benjamin also rode well to make the Sydney Cup final.
Waratah Masters @ ECR @ 9 Dec - Ian Grainger was a peloton finish in C grade
11 Dec - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra) from 6.00pm-7.00pm
14 Dec - HART Criteriums St Ives (Manly CC), Waratah Park Sutherland Criteriums (Sutherland CC)
15 Dec - Austral Wheelrace & National Madison Championships (DISC Velodrome, Melbourne)
16 Dec - Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters CC), Mt Ku Ring Gai Criteriums (Northern Sydney CC), Ourimbah University Criterium (Central Coast CC)
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are HEAVIER with the NSW School term (which finishes soon).
* Note -
Major roadworks
Forest Way (at Forestville) … its just never ending
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … so is this !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction
All group rides are cancelled if wet
10, 12, 14 Dec - Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 8.00am (to 9.30am)
12 Dec - Berowra Gruppetto @ 7.30am @ opposite Berowra Railway Station (to Calga & return for 65k)
13 Dec (Thurs) -
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am
15 Dec -
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (4x10k loops around SOPA).
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
16 Dec
Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
(by Mike O’Reilly)
Much has been written about the recent passing of Paul Sherwen (pictured below). Everybody has a Paul Sherwen story to tell and they all reflect an honesty, a sincerity & unlimited professionalism from a person who gave the cycling world a delightful warmth. You couldn’t help but feel better for being in his presence.
Rob Hadley & Glenn Vigar were good mates with Paul through the Tour Down Under in Adelaide as Rob & Glenn had driven the Shimano neutral spares car at the TDU for some 15 years. The three of us were in Flanders in 2014 watching the Belgian Spring Classics and the opportunity came up to have dinner with both Phil Liggett & Paul at the Lille Casino the night before the Paris Roubaix professional classic. It was a great night & Paul will be sadly missed.
Paul Sherwen (right) @ Lille Casino dinner just before the Paris Roubaix professional classic @ April 2014
Tour Down Under Legends Dinner - featured Paul’s 1983 La Redoute-Motobecane team bike with Paul admiring the thoughtful team bike restoration
Tour of Flanders 1983 - Paul Sherwen on the deck on the steep Koppenberg climb near Oudenaarde
Tour of Flanders 1983 - Paul Sherwin riding for the La Redoute Motobecane professional team
L’Etape 18 @ Jindabyne @ 1 Dec - Tom Green & Graham Cockerton (BiciSport Anytime Fitness) at the start
Tour of Bright 18 @ 30 Nov - Declan Jones (BiciSport Happy Wheels) during the ITT warm up at Porepunkah
Tour of Bright 18 @ 30 Nov - Declan Jones off the ITT ramp at Porepunkah
Tour of Bright 18 @ 30 Nov - Conor Tarlington off the ITT ramp at Porepunkah
Tour of Bright 18 @ 1 Dec - Conor Tarlington near the summit of the Tawonga Gap climb
Tour of Bright 18 @ 1 Dec - Declan Jones near the summit of the Tawonga Gap climb
Tour of Bright 18 @ 1 Dec - Before the start of the Tawonga Gap stage with Peter Budd, Conor Tarlington, Declan Jones & Mike O’Reilly.
Tour of Bright 18 @ 2 Dec - Conor Tarlington on top of Mount Hotham
Tour of Bright 18 @ 2 Dec - Declan Jones with a glimpse of the Mount Hotham summit
Tour of Bright 18 @ 2 Dec - Declan Jones approaching the Mount Hotham summit
BiciSport Happy Wheels Christmas Party on Friday 7 December is hosted by Stewart & Mirielle Campbell at Happy Wheels Waterloo from 5.30pm. All members & friends welcome with food & drinks supplied.
Don’t forget this coming weekend with the BiciSport Happy Wheels Christmas Party on Friday 7 December from 5.30pm at Happy Wheels Waterloo. Music, food & drink will be supplied and it’ll be a great night. Look forward to seeing you there.
L’Etape @ 1 Dec @ Jindabyne - Graham Cockerton Tom Green, James Thornton & Dom Zumbo all rode well at the L’Etape.
30 Nov - Porepunkah Individual Time Trial @ 14k. A brisk wind greeted the peloton along the Ovens River from Bright towards Porepunkah & return.
A grade - Conor Tarlington finished 75th from 90 starters in 20min 25secs (@ 3-28)
B grade - Declan Jones finished 31st from 41 starters in 20min 27secs (@ 2-48)
1 Dec - Bright to Tawonga Gap Summit Road Race @ 100k. A difficult day in the cycling office with very warm conditions, another brisk tailwind out towards Myrtleford, then a right turn out over the Rosewhite climb towards the Kiewa Valley and onto the Tawonga Gap climb.
A grade - Conor was in the peloton to the 90k mark at the first pass through Tawonga, but was unshipped (along with numerous others) to the climb to Bogong then caught the autobus to the Tawonga finish.
B grade - Declan got in the early break of the day & picked up some handy sprint classification points, then joined the autobus to the finish up Tawonga Gap .
2 Dec - Bright to Mount Hotham Summit Road Race @ 55k. The stage started cloudy & wet with a flat ride towards Harrietville then up the 30k Mount Hotham climb.
A grade - Conor rode well then joined the autobus after The Meg wall
B grade - Declan again went hunting for Sprint classification points into Harrietville then joined the autobus for the Mount Hotham summit.
4 Dec - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra) from 6.00pm-7.00pm
7 Dec - HART Criteriums St Ives (Manly CC), Waratah Park Sutherland Criteriums (Sutherland CC)
8 Dec - Melbourne Cup on Wheels (DISC Velodrome), Sydney Cup on Wheels (DGV)
9 Dec - Eastern Creek Raceway (Waratah Masters CC), West Head Road Race (Manly CC)
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are HEAVIER with the NSW School term in full swing.
* Note -
Major roadworks
Forest Way (at Forestville) … its just never ending
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … so is this !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction
All group rides are cancelled if wet
3, 5 & 7 Dec - Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 8.00am (to 9.15am)
5 Dec - Berowra Gruppetto @ 7.30am @ opposite Berowra Railway Station (to Calga & return for 65k)
6 Dec (Thurs) -
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am
8 Dec -
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (4x10k loops around SOPA).
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
9 Dec
Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
Tour of Bright 18 @ 30 Nov - Declan Jones during the ITT warm up in Porepunkah
Tour of Bright 18 @ 2 Dec - Conor Tarlington with BiciSport Team Manager Peter Budd on Mount Hotham
Heffron Park @ 20 Oct - Conor Tarlington in Division 2
Heffron Park @ 20 Oct - Conor Tarlington in the thick of the Heffron Park peloton
BiciSport Happy Wheels Christmas Party is on Friday 7 December @ 5.30pm at Happy Wheels Waterloo. Free food & drink provided & all welcome. Hope to see you there.
27 Nov - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra) from 6.00pm-7.00pm
30 Nov - HART Criteriums St Ives (Manly CC), Waratah Park Sutherland Criteriums (Sutherland CC)
29 Nov-2 Dec - Tour of Bright (Vic) with BiciSport starters Conor Tarlington & Declan Jones
1 Dec - L’Etape Cyclosportive (Jindabyne) with BiciSport starters Graham Cockerton & Dom Zumbo, Sprint Grand Prix (DGV)
2 Dec - Western Sydney Dragway (Waratah Masters CC)
Conor Tarlington & Declan Jones line up for one of the most popular tours on the Victorian racing calendar. So what to expect … Friday is a short, flat 13.5k time trial around Porepunkah which is just long enough to give a guide to overall general classification intentions. Saturday things get interesting over 100k, with a flat ride out along the Ovens Valley towards Myrtleford, then a right hand turn over the relatively easy Rosewhite Climb towards the Kiewa Valley. The finish is up the difficult Tawonga Gap which will shred the general classification. Sunday is the queen stage from Bright over just 55k, the flat run in towards Harrietville, then the finish atop the super tough Mt Hotham ski station.
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are HEAVIER with the NSW School term resuming 15 October.
* Note -
Major roadworks
Forest Way (at Forestville) … its just never ending
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … so is this !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction
All group rides are cancelled if wet
26, 28 & 30 Nov - Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 8.00am (to 9.15am)
28 Nov - Berowra Gruppetto @ 7.30am @ opposite Berowra Railway Station (to Calga & return for 65k)
29 Nov (Thurs) -
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am
1 Dec -
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (4x10k loops around SOPA).
HART St Ives-Hornsby-Bobbin Head-Miramare Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills - departs outside HART St Ives at 7.10am.
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
2 Dec - Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
New BiciSport summer training jersey - orders close Monday night (26 Nov) for the all blue or all white summer team kit. Please email bicisport1@gmail.com if you want one.
White Bay 18 @ 17 Oct - Conor Tarlington during the warm up
White Bay 18 @ 17 Oct - Conor Tarlington & Declan Jones in the action with a nice Sydney City backdrop
White Bay 18 @ 17 Oct - Conor Tarlington with a tug boat for company
White Bay 18 @ 17 Oct - Declan Jones rode very well in Division 2
White Bay 18 @ 17 Oct - Declan Jones at the front of the Division 2 peloton
White Bay 18 @ 17 Oct - after the finish with Conor Tarlington, Mike O’Reilly & Declan Jones
Stewart Campbell will welcome you to the BiciSport Happy Wheels Waterloo Christmas Party to be held on Friday 7 December from 5.30pm. Free food & drinks supplied and it’ll be a great night. Make it a date.
White Bay Criteriums @ 17 Nov - Both Conor Tarlington & Declan Jones rode the Division 2 criterium on the Sydney Harbour foreshores. Action was fast & furious on a sharp 600m metre hot dog circuit. Declan Jones rode an excellent criterium supported by Conor Tarlington.
HART Criteriums @ St Ives @ 16 Nov - Declan Jones rode well in A grade
Tour of Tasmania @ 14-18 Nov - Alex Simmons enjoyed his Commissaire #2 drive at the ToT.
20 Nov - Heffron Park Criteriums (Maroubra) from 6.00pm
23 Nov - HART Criteriums St Ives (Manly CC), Waratah Park Sutherland Criteriums (Sutherland CC)
24-25 Nov - Giro Della Donna NRS + Cyclosportive (Warburton Vic) featuring Alberto Contador as a special guest
24 Nov - Illawarra Track Open (Dapto)
25 Nov - Western Sydney Dragway (Waratah Masters CC)
For further details please contact 0417 403 244
* Motor traffic conditions are HEAVIER with the NSW School term resuming 15 October.
* Note -
Major roadworks
Forest Way (at Forestville) … its just never ending
Warringah Rd (at Allambie Heights) … so is this !
Military Rd (Cremorne to Neutral Bay) with center lane reconstruction
All group rides are cancelled if wet
19, 21 & 23 Nov - Centennial Park Lower Loop @ 8.00am (to 9.15am)
21 Nov - Berowra Gruppetto @ 7.30am @ opposite Berowra Railway Station (to Calga & return for 65k)
22 Nov (Thurs) -
Happy Wheels Waterloo Ride @ 6.00am @ Happy Wheels shop at Waterloo.
Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride @ Centennial Park Spruce Goose Cafe @ 10.30am
24 Nov -
Bennelong Bridge (East Side) @ Rhodes @ 8.00am (4x10k loops around SOPA).
HART St Ives-Hornsby-Bobbin Head-Miramare Sandstone Cafe Terrey Hills - departs outside HART St Ives at 7.10am.
BiciSport Coffee at Miramire Sandstone Cafe (enter off Myoora Rd) @ 9.30am
25 Nov - Sydney Olympic Park @ Hill St Wharf @ 7.00am (for SOPA Loops until 8.15am)
Conor Tarlington with the new summer style all blue BiciSport jersey
BiciSport has retained the well known black-blue racing kit, but now offers special summer weight training options in lighter colours (either all blue or a white-blue combination). Champion Systems remain the manufacturer of choice. If you’d like to place an order please contact Mike O’Reilly on bicisport1@gmail.com or 0417 403 244
