Self Righteous Cyclist

After a near blanket finish at the Combine’s last handicap at Broadford for the Jack Wood Memorial it was time to get back to Balliang, the spiritual home of the Northern Combine.   54 riders from 16 clubs signed on for the 3 events, the Junior Handicap, the combined Alf Walker and the Pop Stewart Handicap, honouring a couple of Brunswick Cycling club legends. Significantly, Brunswick CC riders were best represented with 20 entrants. However, signing up and turning up and two different things and one look at the weather in Melbourne on Saturday morning suggested that it would probably be worse out at Balliang.   But there’s only one way to find out, and that’s to go and see for yourself, which 40 brave men, women and children did in a display of true grit and they were not disappointed. 18min bunch Riders were greeted with wet roads and drizzle at the start.   If not for some dry wood, the open fire place in the hall, would have been the place to be, but fortunately for ...

Dirty Deeds CX Report, with apologies to Banjo Patterson and his poem Mulga Bill's Bicycle 'Twas a self righteous cyclist, that caught the CX craze; He found a second hand steed, hoping it would serve him many days; He dressed himself in Brunswick kit, resplendent to be seen; He then hurried off to Entry Boss, although his skills were a little green; And as he rolled in to the velodrome, with air of lordly pride, The grinning Mr Pink said, "Excuse me, can you ride?" "See here, Mr Pink," said the self righteous cyclist, "from Brunswick to the sea, From Tawonga Gap to Omeo, there's none can ride like me. I'm pretty average at everything, as everybody knows, Although I'm not the one to talk - I hate a man that blows. But CX is my special gift, my childhood delight; Just ask a wild duck can it swim, a wildcat can it fight. There's nothing clothed in lycra, or built of flesh or steel, There's nothing walks or jumps, or r...