I'm officially a cycle-racing God!

[Fab Foodie]

Well...
Had a call from one of our club guys to inform me I've won the Points Trophy for the 2008 Aussie pursuit season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Me name's going to be engraved for posterity

Quite how this has happened, I'm not sure, maybe I got lucky with the handicapping this year, though turning-up for the early races and when it's pissing-down is also a good tactic.

Frankly, it's a weird happening, but I'm kinda chuffed, I've never won anything sporting-wise so I'm gonna dine-out on this 'till I die.

Autograph collectors form an orderly queue... While I sign an equipment deal with Cervelo...

 

[longers]

Well done

You're the man to beat next year.

What's an Aussie pursuit though?

 

[Aperitif]

Well done

You're the man to beat next year.

What's an Aussie pursuit though?

You have to race a series of koalifying stages.

 

[postman]

Well done

You're the man to beat next year.

What's an Aussie pursuit though?

Is it brace yourself Sheila.?

 

[postman]

Well done

You're the man to beat next year.

What's an Aussie pursuit though?

Skippy says it's "tut,tut,tut,tut,tut.

So now we know.

 

[tdr1nka]

Shouldn't that read 'koalafying' or am I going to roo the day I said that?

Congrats FF!

 

[roadiewill]

well done!

 

[Night Train]

Well done FF!

 

[Aperitif]

Shouldn't that read 'koalafying' or am I going to roo the day I said that?

Congrats FF!

We need an 'Ab' original here - but he's left...and yes. Congratulations Fab. Make sure you swap the Marmite for Vegemite and drink VB instead of something tasty...

 

[Fab Foodie]

Well done

You're the man to beat next year.

What's an Aussie pursuit though?

Oh, I'm easily beaten as you're about to see...

An Australian pursuit is a handicapped group race.
We race 2 laps of an 11 mile road circuit in small groups sorted according to ability. I tend to be in the slow/newbies group or the next fastest depending on who turns up.
So, the slowest group goes off firts and say 2 mins later the next fastest group goes off and so on. The fast boys go off some 15 to 20 minutes behind the slowest group. Each group rides a pace-line of sorts.
If the Handicap works out then all the groups should join-up fclose to the finish line. Points are awarded for first and second accross the line in each group. In that way everybody gets a shot at points regardless of how fast or slow. Often slower groups get passed on the route which gives riders a chance to jump into the faster group and try and hang-on for grim death... sometimes they hang-on to the back end of the group all the way to the finish-line, but if you've been dragged-round it's bad form to contest the sprint (I usually use my last grunt to lead-out somebody). If you fall-out of a group then (unless you're in the last group) there's always a slower-one coming along to mop you up....

My group usually averages 19-20mph on a good day. So I'm not fast, but I had some consistency in finishes in my group, but as stated, turning-up for the cold early races and when it's tipping down means that sometimes you're only competeing against the clock.
Still, everybody has a chance and this year I guess my luck came good!

BTW, Aperitif, your puns are of a particularly high quality of late... Chapeau!

 

[Crackle]

Gud on ya mate.

We need a picture of the trophy I think.

 

[dellzeqq]

Well done! We look forward to seeing the pics of you holding the trophy aloft, being kissed on the cheek by a podium girl!

 

[Dave5N]

You have to race a series of koalifying stages.

Very good.

 

[Panter]

Well done Sir, top effort

 

[fossyant]

Well done fella..