Tony Reeckman Photography
  • Home
  • Tony's Blog
  • Galleries
    • Corowa Floods 2016
    • Pic of the week
    • Landscape Photography
    • Bird Photography
    • Dance Photography
    • Los Angeles
    • Sport Gallery
    • Cycling Photography >
      • Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
      • Tour Down Under 2015
      • Ian Bullus Memorial
      • Greame Daws Memorial Handicap.
      • Australian Masters Time Trial Championships 2013
      • Masters Cycling Classic-Austria
      • Wagga to Albury Hcp.
      • Australian Road Nationals >
        • Mens U23 ITT
        • Women ITT
        • Elite Men ITT
  • Contact
  • Links

TT Monday

30/10/2012

 
If your looking for something to do on a Monday evening, Alpine Cycling Club  may have your answer. Starting a couple of weeks ago and running through until the Tour of Bright in the first week of December.They're running a TT using the exact same course that is used for the Time Trial in Stage 2 of the Tour of Bright.The first rider starts at 6pm so get there in plenty of time to warm up and let them work out the starting order.
Picture
Warming up before the start of a Time Trial is very important.Dont forget all your fast bits.
A few of us went up from the Wangaratta Cycling Club on Monday for a hit out and I must admit I'd forgotten how tough the course is.The first hill after about 1.5 km is just long enough to really hurt as your already going close to maximum pace.I'd forgotten my cycling glasses and kept getting little insects in my eyes which wasn't ideal but a good lesson learnt.The results each week are posted on Alpine's Website here

Picture
James Boal from Wangaratta in action on the course.This photo is from last years Monday night Time Trials.
Of course for those into Strava there is a segment for the Bright TT course, which is pretty close to the actual Race Day course.I've included the Strava Segment below.To get on the first page you have to be pretty quick,I'm currently in 42nd place from 183 riders.

2013 Mt Buffalo Challenge

24/10/2012

 

2013 Winners Announced.

Matt Clark has once again taken out this years Mt Buffalo Challenge in a record time of 48 mins 4 secs.He has had a wonderful year claiming some very big races and we're all watching Matt's Cycling Career with interest. I think the only way anyone else has a chance to win will be if Matt gets a Pro contract and doesn't have time to get near Mt Buffalo.

On the women's side of the leader board we have a new winner in Clare Dallat. Clare's time of 1 min 10 seconds is the fastest yet by any female in the competition.I'm also reliably informed that in another attempt, she would have gone under the hour mark, but had to get off her bike and walk around a fallen tree over the road.

I'm also excited to announce there is a Perpetual Trophy for the Women being constructed at the moment and I'll be able to present it to Clare soon.


We will start the 2014 edition of the competition after winter.Thanks to everyone who participated.Scroll down to see the winner's times and the full leader board. 
Picture
Mark Newton about 300 metres from "The Gap" ,the end of the climb
Picture
The Perpetual trophy for the fastest overall time would be a good edition to anyones Pool Room.
Picture
Don't forget to let your Spirit Dance whilst dancing on the Pedals.
                                                                   Details of the Competition.
The starting point is at the bottom of the mountain near where the little office/gatehouse used to be. See the stone wall on the LHS for another landmark with the Eurobin Creek Picnic area sign on the RHS.Just start your time when your passing through  this point and you'll be close enough. It will be based on the time it takes to ride from the starting point (see pic below) to the top of the main climb finishing at The Gap.(finish timing your ride when adjacent to "The Gap" sign), see image below.   

Important Statistics. Distance 18.5km, Average Gradient 5.4%, Elevation Gain 1004 metres. 
Picture
The Starting point at the bottom.
Picture
The Finish Point on the top of the main climb.
                                              PLEASE READ THIS PART IN RELATION TO STRAVA. 

It's probably better to be stopped or rolling very slowly at the start so as not to get an unfair advantage by hitting the start line at 40 kmh.The Mt Buffalo segment on Strava is around 10 seconds shorter than the manual timed segment I've created for this competition, so you can use Strava to get your time.I will then add 10 seconds to all Strava times.It's been decided to not make this a Strava only competition as many people want to join in who don't use it.It's pretty easy to time it manually on most bike computers or an iPhone.

There are many ways to submit a time for the competition and one way is to contact me via email. I'm also on Twitter so feel free to tweet a time in too.The 2012 results sheet can be seen below the current 2013 results for comparison.I will also need the date the ride was completed,your name and racing category or age so that information can be added too. 
Feel free to leave some comments below too spice up the competition. 

                                                                   IMPORTANT NOTE.
I also think it's fair to the leaders of the competition, that anybody submitting a winning time be able to verify their time either on strava,taking a photo of your bike computer displaying the recorded time or have somebody else that witnessed the ride. 
Picture
Don't forget to look at the fantastic views whilst riding up.
Picture
Shane Miller enjoying the view from the top of Mt Buffalo.
Picture
Mt Buffalo Challenge winner Matt Clark on his way to winning A Grade in the recent Baw Baw Classic Road Race.
Picture
Women's Mt Buffalo challenge winner Clare Dallat (on the front) in action during the Women's National Road Race Championships held in Buninyong this year.I'm currently in the process of making a Women's perpetual trophy.

2013 Mt Buffalo Challenge Results.

Picture

2012 Mt Buffalo Challenge Results

Picture

Watermarks, Do I need one? 

17/10/2012

 
I've been tinkering with the idea of watermarking the images I put on the web from now on.I've had a few suggestions with many different ideas.Some say keep it discreet whilst others want more boldness to make it harder for the watermark to be removed.I personally like the more discreet option and if people are that keen they want to get rid of the watermark,good luck to them.Below are 3 options I've tried to date,I'm not a fan of the large watermark on the bottom image.Placement of the smaller one seems to be more important so it's visible without ruining the image. 
Picture
Not obvious enough?
Picture
Same as above but in a different location.
Picture
Bigger and bolder but I reckon it spoils the image.

Brief Roundup and the Hume Veterans Benalla Handicap

16/10/2012

 
Apologies for my lack of blog entries of late but for some reason,there has been other things taking precedence. It's interesting writing a blog and sometimes getting stressed because you've not been posting anything, then wondering does anybody really care anyway?

I could probably write a novel on the last few weeks,but I will spare you from that, which included a trip to the Goulburn area to compete in the Australian Masters Time Trial Championships.Whilst reasonably pleased with my ride from a personal point of view there is plenty of work to be done if I'm going to be competitive at the pointy end of that competition. I placed 15th from the 23 riders who started in my category, Masters 4. Special thanks to Tully Lyster who was my travel companion and competed strongly to finish 6th in Masters 2.We also were given help and support by Shane Miller ,who blitzed Masters 1 and also claimed fastest time of the day,his Fiance Von Micich who finished 3rd in WMasters 1 and Stephen Lane ,2nd in Masters 1.

Returning from the Masters the dust had hardly settled and it was time to line up for the Keith Esson Memorial Road Race.This race is run by Shepparton Cycling Club is 147km long, starting and finishing in Dookie.Riding well in the C Grade bunch I was involved in a crash on the second major climb and came down heavily on my LHS.I was pretty gutted afterwards and without the help of Laurie Lyster, who towed me most of the way back to Dookie I would probably have abandoned the race.

So last week I couldn't get interested in riding and decided, with the advice of others, to have a few days off the bike.
Coming into the weekend I could feel the urge to jump back into it and with the Tour of Bright on the horizon,I didn't want to miss a weekends racing. On Saturday. the Wangaratta Cycling Club's Spring series continued and was a great hit out with 2 climbs over Taminick Gap.I was unable to sprint past Dr. Gav on the line and had to be content with second place in B Grade.


   
Picture
The back of my Hilux loaded with lots of gear for our Goulburn Trip.
Picture
(L-R) John Kent (A), Dave Webb (C), Seamus Lane (D), Gav Frawley (B)

Hume Veterans Handicap

Picture
This race was held over a course I'd never ridden and was basically 1 lap of a 44km circuit and then 1 lap of a 22 km circuit.Pretty much flat as a tack with the only incline the freeway overpass.Not my preferred terrain but you have to work with what your given.My bunch contained 3 other riders I'd ridden with before in handicaps and I knew we would have a good group.My group,Block,were given 5 minutes start on a well credentialled four man scratch group with 15 minutes to the middle markers and the two out marker groups, 20 and 27 minutes.
Before the completion of the large loop scratch has lost Grealy due to a mechanical which reduced their fire power but the group had reduced the 5 minutes deficit to just over 2.
My Block group managed to catch the 15 min group just nearing the end of the first lap, which increased our strength, but were still 8 minutes behind the leaders with just 22 kms to go.
Next to be caught, the 20 minutes group as they turned into Emu Bridge road, but scratch were making no impression on us now, with our reinforced strong, 11 man/woman bunch.
Turning back onto Kilfeera Road with 8 kms to the finish we were still 4 minutes down from the limit group and the race was really on, trying to hold scratch at bay and also catching the limit pair who were travelling strongly.
I put my head down and pulled some really solid turns along Kilfeera Road nearly popping  myself in the process.I knew the pace had to be lifted if there was any chance of catching limit.We could see them in the distance but were starting to run out of road.
The freeway overpass is about 600 metres from the finish and it was just after this when limit succumbed and had to watch the race lead get snatched from them.I'd found myself on the front with around 300 metres left in the race with no other choice than to lead out the sprint.At around 150m to go I hit out for the line with every ounce of energy that was left in my body, expecting to be swamped on the line by the following riders.It seemed to take an eternity to ride that last 50 metres and Dr Gav came through right on the line.Neither of us could be sure of the verdict, with the line judges initially giving Dr Gav the victory.However the camera revealed that it was 15 cms that separated us and getting the judges verdict was me with Morley a bike length back for 3rd in one the most trilling sprint finishes the Club has seen for a while. Strang sprinted in well for 4th just ahead of Davison with limit man Lea home in 6th place and the other limit rider Cathie held on for 8th spot.

Scratch, who’s firepower was reduced still did exceptionally well but didn’t make any more ground on the eventual winning group in the last 12 kms finishing just on 2 minutes down with visiting Northern Vets rider Simon Welsh (Team Kosdown) taking out the Fastest Time honours at an average speed just under 40kph.
Picture
A photo of the photo finish.
Picture
L-R.Ian Strang 4th.Gavin Frawley 2nd,Geoff Morley 3rd,Myself,Graham Davison 5th and Simon Welsh Fastest Time

Australian Masters Championships ITT Gallery

8/10/2012

 
Last week I attended the Masters Championships Time Trial near Goulburn NSW. Before and after my own ride I managed to fire off a few photos of other competitors.There is a small gallery here.  
Picture
Stephen Lane about 500 metres from the finish.Stephen was second in Masters 1.

    Tony Reeckman

     

    Archives

    October 2016
    January 2015
    October 2014
    May 2014
    January 2014
    October 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010

    Categories

    All
    2013 Mt Buffalo Challenge
    2014 Mt Buffalo Challenge
    2015 Mt Buffalo Challenge
    Adelaide
    Agriculture
    Alpine Cycling
    Baw Baw Classic
    Beechworth
    Benalla
    Bike Fitting
    Bike Maintenance
    Birds
    Bright
    Christmas
    Coffee
    Coffee Stops
    Coffee Stops
    Cooking
    Corowa
    Corowa Floods 2016
    Cycling
    Cycling Calendar
    Cycling Training
    Cycling Training
    Dance Photography
    Dji
    Domestic Racing
    Floods
    Floods 2016
    For Sale
    Gellie Custom
    Gellie Custom
    General
    Gran Fondo
    Greenedge
    House Renovations
    House Renovations2999b04abe
    Hume Veterans
    Ian Bullus
    Local Races
    Local Rides
    Local Rides
    Los Angeles
    Major Victorian Races
    Masters Racing
    Mt Buffalo
    Mt Buffalo Challenge
    Mt Buffalo Club
    Murray River
    National Championships
    North East Victoria
    NSW
    Photography
    Poetry
    Professional Races
    Professional Racing
    Race Calendar
    Recreational Rides
    Recreational Rides
    Rutherglen
    Rutherglen Cycling
    Rutherglen Cycling
    Rutherglen Wine Bottle
    Signs
    Speedplay Pedals
    Strava
    Surfing
    Sydney
    The Captains Crew
    Time Trial
    Tour Down Under
    Tour Of Bright
    Track Racing
    Travel Bike
    Veteran Racing
    Wahgunyah
    Wangaratta Cycling Club
    Wildlife
    YouTube

    Follow @TonyReeckman
    Tweet

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.