I hope you are all well and starting to get excited about the weather improving and daylight savings starting this weekend so we can ride more!! The Jeep 24 hour race is 26/27th Nov at Redesdale Victoria

I have lots of really good news and a little bit of bad news.

The good news is we have designed a new short sleeve Rusty Kranks/ Green Aid Relief jersey specifically for the race. It is yours and free if you compete. The attached picture shows the design. I know some of you have told me your size, so if you havent, I’ll guess!

Also good news, Flemington Cycles have also agreed to help us out! They will be providing a rear red flashing light for all who enter as required by the race rules. Its another expense you dont have to worry about. They will also provide a couple of boxes of gels for instant energy either before or during your lap! If you need bike repairs or service or friendly advice, drop in and see them. They are great guys and always willing to help or even just a chat. 

More good news is Marcel from Ranger Campers is going to bring one or two of his offroad campers for us to use. This will give cooking cooking facilities and maybe a warmer place if the weather turns cold or wet. He’s also bringing some patio heaters which will be welcome in the early hours of the night!

Also – Kon the Fruiterer will be giving us all the fruit and vegies we need!! I’ve suggested a full bunch of Bananas and we can sell of the extras!! Bananas are considered the best energy food for cyclists and are in high demand before big race events.

The bad news is we have not been able to secure a sponsor to cover the entry fee. I was hoping to get it covered so we could all come along and ride together without any financial pressure. This year, the race costs $110 for the 6 man team and an extra $20 for the compulsory racing day licence. The 4 man team is $115. I know this is a bit of money, so this week is your last chance to commit or pull out. I WILL be registering the teams on Friday, so IF you dont pull out before then, you will be up for the full amount. Sorry to be blunt, but the time to commit is now. Hopefully no-one will pull out and we can all ride together with the new jersey! Some have mentioned,they’d rather free entry over a jersey, but unfortunately it hasn’t worked that way.

If anyone knows of a company that may want to be involved, let me know so we can make contact and get their logo on the jersey. Full sponsorship would be $2000, but part sponsorship would be appreciated.

Some people are also coming for the camping and being involved without riding. If you cant ride due to the cost, please talk to me ASAP.

Some upcoming rides are also planned. I’m going to organise a Saturday night ride sometime in Nov, but a weeknight ride at the Youies can also be arranged for October. Either Tues or Thurs are best for me and start time can vary from 6:30-7:30, depending on who wants to come. The aim is not fitness training (you should be doing that yourself) but night riding, so we do a lap in daylight (saving) and then night – WITH NO SERIOUS CRASHES THIS TIME!!! You also need BRIGHT lights and the Gloworm ones are probably the best of the cheapies.

Just a reminder that you have to reply (even if it is again) re the jersey size and commitment!!!! If you know someone who wants to be in, let me know.

Ferg

We leave the park and ride out to the Wombat track on a mix of road and single track. When we reach the Wombat track we ride a small section of it and then back to the town centre via single track most of the way. New tracks are always a great ride.

Let Ferg know if your in. Print out the pic below, put it on the fridge and come along for a great social event and our wives and kids meeting the rest. Woodend is 30 mins from Hillside on the Calder Freeway.

There will be two options for this ride.

 Option 1 will be harder and longer and start at Vaughan Springs and ride to The Chocolate Mill near Hepburn Springs, have a coffee and snack and then return via the same route to Vaughan Springs.  We will leave Ferg’s house at 1pm with the aim to be riding about 2:30. Total distance is about 40km with heaps of single track fun.

Option 2 will start at the Chocolate Mill and join the return ride to Vaughan Springs. The return ride has more descending sections including a 15minute fire road descent. Riders should be ready to ride about 4:30pm after coffee and snacks. A car shuffle from Vaughan Springs back to the start will be organised for these riders. Park outside the Chocolate Mill on the grassed entrance.

On my own, I have ridden option 2 just under 1:20 hours with a 8 minute stop. I’m allowing 1:40 for the “uphill” to the Chocolate Mill and 1:45 for the return (given option 2 will have slower riders). Return to Melb will be about 8pm.

Trail conditions should be good as we are mostly ridge riding and this type of terrain dries really quickly. It is small embedded rocks like Castlemaine and nothing like You Yangs Stockyards. The ride will continue regardless of weather. I did it this July when everywhere else was waterlogged and this trail was dusty dry.

Email or text Ferg if you want to come. Bring money for the Chocolate Mill. My garmin log for the ride is here (dont laugh at the low speeds or high heart rate and please note the elevation profile!!!!)

It was an incredible turnout by the guys who were all keen to develop their riding skills. We had a wide stpectrum of riders; from first timers to guys who’ll attack anything.

There were a few starting issues, like a flat tire before we’d even started, however we were soon underway and riding.  Paul took us to key spots on the Wombat Track where we he talked us through the technique and then demonstrated how to do it well. Then the fun really began as each rider got to have a crack at tackling the obstacles.

We worked on descending, cornering, small drop offs and how to clear gaps.  We explored some new areas of the Wombat Track and all in all had a great time.

Paul is starting his own business doing guided MTB tours in the Woodend & Macedon area. We’ll post details of how you can get in touch with him to take advantage of his ridig experience and his great local knowledge of the area in the very near future.

If there is a ride you want to do or we havent been to for a while, email Ferg at fergusona@av.com.au with your suggestions.

Also, some people are riding over Easter. Ferg is doing a beginners ride at You Yangs on Friday arvo, about 1:30pm at Kurrajong. Phil and Ben are going to the Youies on Saturday for those interested. Cristian is keen for early Sat morning rides around Caroline Springs on bike paths and roads. Call Ferg for his number if you want a local ride.

550 people entered the event and four Krankers had a go this year. Tony was going well until a flat tyre saw him drop back into the field. A second flat at the 40km mark saw him retire from the race. Dan Wilson decided that his breakfast was slowing him down, so at the top of the second hill (one we all had to walk up as it was so steep) he decided to lighten the load so to speak. This lack of fuel was to cost him later in the race.

Scott went really well and had no major issues. He “just kept spinning” up the hills and rode like Sam Hill down them. Many people said “who was that fast man?” Ferg had a scary moment as he “Supermanned” over the bars on the very fast descent, but recomposed himself to ride solidly to the end.

Results:

Ferg 157th, 4:07:11

Toll 195th 4:17:37

Dan 323rd 4:55:45

Tony DNF

Next years race is the 19th Feb. Its a great day with lots of fun and stories to be told afterwards. Come down for the fun or the ride and have a day out with mates.

Ferg has arranged for a skills day to be held at the Wombat mtb track near Woodend. The date is 6th March for an 8:30 start. The instructor (Paul) is a member of the club who has previously raced national xc elite races with top 10 finishes and is starting up his own business as coaching. 

We will be riding the track and stopping at obstacles to learn how to do them properly. This course is aimed at anyone who wants to come – from beginners to the most experienced of our group. Lets face, it, we could all learn a thing or two and the price is right – FREE!!!!!!

We will meet at Fergs in the morning and LEAVE his house at 7:30 and drive up. Pleae rsvp to Ferg if you want to come.

I have good news and bad news.

First the good. The jerseys are ordered and nicknames finalised and hopefully they are in production for delivery early Feb!!! We ended up with 23 ordered!!! This should be quite a sight if we all wear them on the same ride!

Now the bad news. Due to the large amount of jerseys being ordered, the sale of the Fat Possum does not go as far as intended. Unfortunately, the cost per jersey for everyone is now $65 instead of $50 as previously mentioned. For those who have already contributed, thanks and, please update the amount asap. For those who havent paid, full payment is due as soon as possible. In the end, the jersey design was decided as the original black and white with red, not the ammended one below. While there was a greater acceptance of the black design with the addition of more red, a few people on the night didn’t like the updated one as much. Even Body Torque didn’t think the ammended version looked as good with the extra red.

I’m really excited about the new jersey and looking forward to wearing them and getting “Rusty Kranks” out into the trails!!!!