Port Adelaide CC held its second cyclo-cross race for Winter 2020 and with the Covid-19 restrictions easing, the small but enthusiastic crowd, heckles, and the Trott Park BBQ were back and in force at the Adelaide Superdrome and Forester's Forest Grounds.
Port Adelaide CC held the second cyclo-cross race in the southern hemisphere post Covid-19 shutdown under modified conditions (the first was Cyclo-Cross Hawke's Bay in New Zealand a week earlier). The venue was what's now known as 'Goon Bag Reserve' in Port Adelaide.
After a long cyclo-cross hiatus we had a 'cross event uninterrupted by extreme weather or apocalyptic bushfire smoke, and we returned to the ever-changing John E Brown Park in North Adelaide. What was a mudfest for us in September was a delightfully changing dusty short course with myriad different corner grips and geometry that took advantage of some of the park's mulchy, grassy and dusty features. There were some spectacular starts and finishes across all grades with over 100 riders enjoying mild but sunny conditions.
After a season interrupted by an unscheduled cruise ship, a crash and some mixed up weather, the final round of the 2019-20 Zero Friction Time Trial went to plan on Sunday morning.
The rain cleared up like the forecast said, for a mild morning at Outer Harbor this morning with winds getting stronger as the race progressed.
Weather Observations @ 7:30am
Temperature: 15.8 (Feels like 14.2), Humidity 69% (Recorded at Kent Town)
Wind: 13km/h NE, Wind Gusts: 17km/h (Recorded at Outer Harbor)
Fine, clear conditions
Unfortunately due to a rider crashing on the course yesterday, many people's races were affected. Thanks to the riders who stopped immediately after the crash and rendered assistance to the riders involved. Some riders were stopped to avoid further riders riding past the crash site, once emergency services vehicles were called and/or were in attendance. All riders who started yesterday's race behind Rider #29 are therefore shown in the results as 'Not Placed (NP), as are riders who stopped to assist.
Age adjusted results are being wrangled and will be available at: https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/zfc-patt/
For the purposes of the Zero Fiction TT Series, the best 3 of 4 rounds (must ride at 3 rounds) will count towards the Zero Friction Cycling series prizes. Riders who starting yesterday's event but awarded a 'Not Placed' due to the race crash will still have that ride count towards the series, your % race average will be taken on your other rounds completed (eg best two or three as appropriate).
Thanks to the many people who showed concern to the injured rider, Kat Chung-Orr yesterday and asking after her today. She did suffer a lower body fracture and we and the Chung-Orr family thank everyone for their kind concern.
PACC (and SAPOL) reminds all riders it’s the law in South Australia that riders/drivers are required to travel at 25km/h when riding through an emergency service speed zone.
The 25km/h Emergency Service Speed Zone applies on an area of road:
We marked the first day of summer and our first time trial of the series with unseasonably cold, windy and drizzly weather. Despite the BOM showing expected winds of 39 - 44 km/h and rain of 3mm during the event, it was quite mild and reasonably dry from start to finish. A number of those who had entered chose to stay in bed, but some riders who toughed it out were rewarded with PBs.
Skid city! It started out as a pretty fine day with maximum grip on most of the course, but during the tail end of the B-Grade mens race, conditions turned 'epic' with a 2mm dumping of rain falling within about a 15min period.
Congratulations to the many new State Champions crowned on a new course in Foresters Forest, Gepps Cross!
Another fantastic new venue in our club's traditional heartland - a waterfront course in Port Adelaide with a variety of surfaces and challenges including sand, random shopping trolleys and some slippery off camber corners. We'll be back!