Self Righteous Cyclist

A field of 54 gathered at the Kyneton Showgrounds for the final event of the Northern Combine 2023 road race series to contest the St Kilda Trophy Race on the Pastoria circuit.  Under clear skies and a prevailing north westerly wind, Chief Commissaire David Cutajar was clear in his pre-race briefing, watch out for the potholes. Upon closer inspection, that's not a pothole, it looked more like a shallow grave.  Don't say you weren't warned.  So today, let's pay homage to country singer Joey Holiday, who summed up the situation best when he sang  Where's the Pothole Patrol ?   The feature climb of the 19km rolling Pastoria circuit is Mt St Mary, 2.36km at an average of 4.6% is more like a set of stairs than a climb, with its repetitious inclines and false flats, which made it difficult for the pure climbers to exploit.  More of a course for the puncheurs, rather than the climbers.   A Grade  saw only 2 riders, Dean Madden and last week’s Alf Walker Hcp winner Jame

Balliang, loved by some and despised by many for its crosswinds and filthy weather was the destination for the Northern Combine, Alf Walker Handicap 09/09/23, hosted by the Brunswick Cycling Club.  Given the number of times I have to explain where it is, it's probably one of the least known locations in Victoria.  It was my turn to volunteer, so I packed the car, picked up my Brunswick mate Fergus also volunteering and set the GPS for Balliang Hall.  My task for the day was to be the lead car at the race.  Unlike the Pearl Jam song, Rear View Mirror alluding to running away, this was the day you wanted to be in my rear view mirror.                        32 riders , 5 juniors and 27 open age riders (minus a few late scratchings) gathered on a pretty good day by Balliang standards.  Head wind on the start/finish straight, followed by a cross-head wind on Staughton Vale Rd, a tail wind on Granite road and a cross-tail wind on Box Forrest - Lees Rd   Great to see new riders, Jacob Erl