277 riders turned up on Thursday night for the Southern Masters Sandown Crit race.  Blue skies and a temperature of 27 deg meant there were no excuses to be anywhere else!

Andy at Sandown

7 grades covered a range of skills, fitness and experience with large numbers in most.  KAOS riders (and friends of KAOS – ie. people who have joined the shop rides) were scattered throughout the grades with more KAOS kits out there than any other ‘brand’.

The Sandown course offers 3.1kms of smooth traffic light free riding with a ‘hump’ up the back straight, a few great corners to test high speed cornering and a finish straight that has managed to have a wicked head wind most Thursdays.  Normally grades ride for around 50-55 min before getting the last lap bell – which is when things really hot up.

Wak with a winning smile!

B grade included Thomas and Ness on their matching Cannondale CAD10’s (they do look good!).  Thomas had to dig deep into his MTB skills bag late in the race to deal with a deflating rear tyre and the sideways action it served up.  Ness was happy to finish with the group but looked way to comfortable at the end (time to give it a real nudge?).  For the statisticians, the grade averaged 38.4 over the 42k distance in relatively tough wind conditions.

D grade had almost 50 riders with Nick, WAK and Jamie amongst them.  The pace was solid for the conditions and Nick put in a bit too much work around the middle of the race on legs that had already done a morning training session.  Jamie ran solidly throughout the session generally being positioned in the right place for most of the race except the very last (and important) bit.  WAK managed to shake the Bridesmaid reputation at last and graduate to C grade with a win for the first time.  Again for the statisticians, race distance was 34ks, ave 36.7 and the top speed somewhere in the 50’s.

E grade had KAOSJo and Darren from the KAOS family/customer group.  Their group was up to speed very quickly and the early lap pace took it’s toll on Darren who hadn’t had a chance to warm up the legs – and needs to do some Saturday shop rides.  Jo kept her cool throughout the race and was in the right place when it counted - coming home as the first female collecting the kudos and the all important cash!

F grade had the twin ‘pink kit’ KAOS girls Lian and Janine flying the shop colours and putting in a good show for the duration of the race.  In the end they finished well albeit out of the cash with Janine coming in around 6^th and Lian the next girl through.

So, another great night of crit racing at Sandown and a great turnout and results for KAOS riders.

BMC Speedfox 29er hitout.

After a bit of a break after the Anglesea Enduro, in fact I don’t think I’d been on a mountain bike since! It was time to put the race face back on and saddle up for the GMBC Gazebo 3hour Series. Round 1 was to be held on Dec 3 however like most of 2011 the rain saw a change of plans. So after a week’s postponement Round 1 was a goer at Kurrajong area.

I love racing as I get to ride my BMC Fourstroke 01, which I save for racing. However, the Fourstroke was to be rested as Andy offered to let me put the new 2012 BMC Speedfox 29er through its paces.

I had ridden a hardtail 29er years ago and enjoyed it, however I found it less nimble in tight single track. This was a good chance to see how far29er bike handling had come and in particular a dually 29er. 3 hours around Kurrajong with its flowing trails should be an ideal 29er haven.

The race started at a brisk pace, in warm dusty conditions, as the 120+ field headed into the single tracks. The 29er and I soon found a steady tempo and the big wheels noticeably hooked up well through the gravelly corners. The undulating bumps and little jumps were less noticeable as the larger diameter wheels roll over such obstacles with ease. The 29er acceleration out of corners seemed slower out of the tighter corners due to the bigger wheels. However, this is balanced out with the grip and speed that the big wheels carry through flowy and bumpy sections.

Another difference between my BMC Fourstroke and the Speedfox 29er was the SRAM XO 2x10 running gear. This stuff is impressive!! Precision, ease of use, and a much more usable range make this a must have upgrade for my race bike!!

The race pace was as hot as the conditions. The 29er’s big wheels on the open sections allowing me to clock up steady and consistent laps. I forgot to start the Garmin until half way through the first lap, so to pass through transition with seven laps (about 68 km) in the bank at 3.00.02, thus missing out on the chance to start an eighth lap by 2 seconds was a little frustrating.

All in all, I enjoyed the 29er hit out around Kurrajong. I would like to take it for a run around the stockyards at some time, as I feel it would eat up the likes of Boulder Track and Cressy Climb.

Regardless, the BMC Speedfox 29er is an impressive bike as you would expect from BMC. Its impressive rolling speed over rough flowy terrain and its big wheel grip make it an excellent purchase for those in the 29er market.

Thanks to Andy for the chance to quell my 29er curiosity and loan me the Speedfox 29er for the race

After providing solid and reliable service for all my recent riding, the rear Zipp 404 decided it needed a holiday and wanted to head North to Doctor Zipp’s place without me (perhaps it was the nerves of racing?).

Anyway, that left me a little caught out as the bike was waiting at KAOS for the Tuesday shop ride and it needed wheels. Andy provided a great solution -fitting the ENVE carbon tubs to my machine for the week so I had them for the shop ride and then the Sandown crits.

So how did the week of ENVE feel and how did they compare to the Zipps and the Fulcrum Zeros that I also run?

Straight away they showed up as being lighter with the bike (sans bottles and computer but with brackets, pedals and two cages) weighing in at 6.66 kgs – not bad for a monster size 60 frame! I wasn’t so sure about the look compared to the Zipps which have lots of graphics and red tyres – but there is something mean and stealth about the ENVE’s. This showed up on the road with the ENVE’s proving to be much quieter than the Zipps both in rolling noise and in freewheeling. I kinda missed the “I’m Here” soundtrack of the Zipps and rolling behind others freewheeling as long as you can whilst the work their butts off and you sound like a ratchet on heat!

They also feel more compliant vertically, ‘softer’ than my normal set-up but didn’t lack any lateral stiffness and felt like they rolled really well.

I think the biggest difference in terms of performance is that they ‘spin up’ noticeably quicker than anything else I’ve had on the bike. I think they could compare pretty well with lightweight climbing wheels in this regard whilst still being very aero.

At Sandown they felt really sure-footed through the corners and responded well to my demands – ultimately securing a second place in the race.

So my final thoughts are that if you’re looking for light, fast, carbon tubs, with a stealth design and capacity for speed these could be worth a look.

Would I get some? Well I do love my Zipps and don’t think of myself as a ‘Tubby’ person so probably not. But then when I see them on someone else’s bike I’ll now know what quick wheels they have. So if you are in the market for this sort of combo (light, fast, carbon tubs) you should think of adding them to your shopping list. For fellow non-Tubby riders (hope I fit the description) Andy did mention there will be clincher versions out next year and you can get custom colour decals (not that it’s ALL about the look) ;-)

Thanks again Andy and KAOS for fitting them to the bike for me to try.

WAK

A few of us were at Sandown Thursday night flying the KAOS colours _ Ness (Andrew), Jim, Janine and myself. There were also a few of the week day training group with Darren and Jamie.

Wak with the podium smile

This was my third outing and I was still using it as a chance to learn the ropes. Spent a fair while at the front making sure I got a clear run through the corners carrying plenty of speed through and avoiding the surges or the need to use the brakes. At the same time was managing the energy saving plenty for latter.

There was a very strong southerly wind blasting down the front straight so I knew the sprit wasn’t going to be ideal for me. Managed to be at the pointy end for the bell and was about 5th wheel heading on to the back straight. Then I got swamped with riders going down each side of me. For a moment there I though that I was completely boxed in and it was all over but a gap emerged and I cut around the outside of everyone and took off after a 2 person breakaway.

With a clear approach to Dandenong corner I was able to carry lots of speed and then close the gap to the break slotting in behind one, and then moving forward on to the wheel of the leader.

They started to struggle and were looking to hook on to my wheel. I could see the pack surging on us and didn’t want to give anyone a free run to the line so waited till they were on us (and going past faster than expected) with a handful of riders going into the lead.

I gave it a kick and picked off 4th, then 3rd, then 2nd but didn’t quite time it right to get the last one.

Very happy with 2nd in my third ever race.

WAK

My favourite local ride? There are so many great regular ones we do but if I had to pick one around Melbourne, it has to be the almost legendary EBL (Emerald Bakery Loop). I’m almost reluctant to share this ride with others for fear it’s popularity could see the end of getting a seat at the café!

So what makes this ride so good? It has all the critical ingredients for the best cycle feast around. Great hills, beautiful scenery, some nice challenges, fast descents and a café that has the most amazing range of cyclist friendly delights you’ll ever find. Combine that with a handful of friendly KAOS riders on their magic BMC’s and you have the makings of an epic ride experience.

So where does the ride go? Well you need to get yourself to the Basin at the start of the 1:20. My choice is the Mountain Hwy as it has a steady climb that will warm your legs for the main event. You can ride there from all over Melbourne or park your car at Bayswater Park at the intersection of Bayswater Road and the Mountain Hwy.

When you head off from the Basin start your lap timer at the 60kph sign and you’ll be able to record your climb time on this famous timed training ride – and use it to gauge how you compare to others or to measure your improvements next time. For newbies a time in the lower 20 minute mark is very respectable and for the more seasoned riders getting well under 20 minutes brings great satisfaction. Try not to be disillusioned by the record time which is in the 13’s!

Look for the false flat half way up the climb which on a good day will see you big ringing it into the mid 30’s and getting great satisfaction passing other unsuspecting cyclists. The timing stops at the speed limit sign just as you come into Sassafras and at the intersection you turn left and head up to Olinda.

The scenery continues to take your mind off the hill and before you know it you’ve arrived in Olinda and are recovering well. Here take the right turn to Monbulk and prepare for a fast run down the famous ‘Wall’. Give a friendly ‘nod’ to the cyclists slogging their way back up the hill and watch out for a repaired section of road and the tricky joins about half way down. There’s also a tricky right hander soon after that section which you can be approaching at around 75 clicks so take extra care there.

At the bottom you veer left and head into Monbulk going straight through the first roundabout along the main street and turning right at the second roundabout on the Emerald Monbulk Rd. This is one of the most amazing valleys in the ‘Nongs and a very special place to be in Autumn. It’s also one of the coldest places in the hills so watch for frost and ice and bring those booties.

You stay on this road for 10ks eventually climbing up into Emerald where you turn right on to the Belgrave Gembrook Rd at the roundabout next to the new Woolworths store. Straight through the next roundabout which is 200m up the road and into Emerald where you turn left at the next roundabout and look for the Emerald Bakery on the right at the pedestrian crossing.

There is space at the front, inside and out the back via the pedestrian alley so plenty of cyclist friendly options. When you get inside you’ll discover a world of choices to temp the fussiest people and help you refuel for the remainder of the ride. They also have plenty of water to top up your supplies.

Back on the bike roll back down to the Belgrave Gembrook Rd and turn left heading west. You’ll cross Puffing Billy’s tracks and might even see the train as you head off. A few km’s along is yet again another roundabout (at the Paradise Hotel) and you turn right here heading for Menzies Creek and the famous little St Cuthbert’s Wedding Chapel. Along the way you’ll get to jump the train line again and then head up to Hermons Corner and the Hankcock’s Daffodils farm which can be a blaze of colour at the right time of the year.

Turn right at this roundabout and up Grantulla Rd. A short way up you look over your left shoulder and have a great view of the bay and the city in the distance. You can also marvel at the slope of the land and wonder how the farmers manage to work on it. A little further on it’s a mini forest and then views to your right out towards Silvan.

About 5 ks on you’ll reach a ‘T’ intersection with the Kallista Emerald Road and here you turn left and head into Kallista. Straight through the Kallista roundabout and up Sherbrook Road for a short nasty ferny climb that probably hits 18% and can make your legs burn and your heart explode.

From here you continue through the magnificent Sherbrook Forest up to the Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd. Turn right at the Tourist Road for your last short climb of the loop as you head back to Sassafras. There is one last fabulous constant-radius left hand bend that leads into Sassafras and before you know it you’re back at the top of the 1:20 and ready for your fast down hill run home.

All up its about a 70 k loop if you start at Bayswater park at the intersection of Bayswater Road and the Mountain Hwy.

This ride is spectacular, rewarding great raining and has a balance of hills that feels like you’ve had a fair share of descents for the amount of climbing. But above all else it has the Emerald Bakery – and it doesn’t get better than that!

If you want to add an extra challenge you can turn right at The Crescent, just before Sassafras and then do the climb back up Perrins Creek Road. This will meet the Tourist Rd and you can turn left for the 1:20 decent or right to take on Sky High.

You can also do the whole ride in reverse as the REBL.

So many choices!

Happy riding.

WAK