A series of eight graded scratch road races on a variety of courses throughout the south east of Melbourne.
A series of eight graded scratch road races on a variety of courses throughout the south east of Melbourne.
There will be one Series race per month, held on a Sunday morning at 9am (usually on the 3rd Sunday of the month). The individual races are:
hrough the south east of Melbourne, including some of the most challenging and picturesque regions to have confronted Melbourne’s bike riders and racers. The series will provide tests and challenges on flattish sprint type courses, rolling up and down country roads and slower, hilly courses where both weight and power count.
All the courses are on open roads and you’re able to ride any of them whenever you like. To see the courses and potentially load to your phone or bike computer, go to the smcc website events page https://smcc.net.au/index.php/openEvents and click on ‘Map’.
We’re also really pleased to say that Fulgaz, our major sponsor, will make each of the courses available on their virtual riding platform prior to each race so that you’ll know the course ahead of time. For further information go to https://fulgaz.com/smcc-road-race-courses-released/
The race distance will vary depending on which grade you race in, however, expect to be racing for roughly 2 hours so, with a 9am start, you’ll generally be finishing at approximately 11am.
The races vary, some are flat, some undulating and some hilly, although none of them will be more than 1,000m of climbing or have any super-steep pitches so everyone will be able to ride them. Have a look at the ‘when and where are the races?’ FAQ to see the actual elevations. Remember though, you may be doing multiple laps! +at roughly the same time through the south east of Melbourne, including some of the most challenging and picturesque regions to have confronted Melbourne’s bike riders and racers. The series will provide tests and challenges on flattish sprint type courses, rolling up and down country roads and slower, hilly courses where both weight and power count.
All races are ‘graded, scratch races’ which means that you will be racing in a bunch with riders, male and female, of the same ability. There will be 6 grades, A-F. If you don’t already know which grade you should race in, have a chat with us and we will assign an appropriate grade.
There will be prize money for each race in the Series. Prize money will be paid for 1st to 3rd and for the first Woman. There will also be a ‘First over the Mountain’ at three of the 8 Series races (Drouin, Ripplebrook and Main Ridge) and an Intermediate Sprint prize at three of the flatter races (Crib Point x2 and Somers).
You need either an Auscycling ‘All Discipline’ race licence or you are also able to get a 4 week free trial licence (as long as you have not held a race licence in the last 3 years). Note: if you want to use a 4 week trial licence, purchase it on the day of the first race and you will be able to use it for the next race as well. To obtain a licence go to https://www.auscycling.org.au/membership
No. Series entries open for SMCC members ahead of non-members but all licenced riders are very welcome to race with us.
A standard UCI-compliant road bike. Disc brakes are allowed however no special aero equipment such as tri-bars are allowed. Front and rear lights are required for all races, The front light should be flashing and the rear light solid. Your lights must have sufficient power to last the duration of the race, ie. Approx.. 2 hours.
You should also carry a telephone, repair kit and spares so that you are self-sufficient. There is no sag wagon, however, the officials will do their best to assist you as time allows. When racing, neither your bike or you should cross any double lines. In fact you must not cross any double lines. If you do the entire grade could be disqualified. In which case you will probably need a bike with a very big motor!
Any road bike rider who has competed in a race organised by a recognised bicycle club or who has raced their friends down Beach Road or up the 1 in 20 or their bike computer around their local course is able to race with us, as long as they are also:
A female over 15 or a male 30+ with a current Auscycling All Disciplines race license or a 4 week free trial license. Note: NRS registered riders are not eligible to compete because the series is for the “weekend warriors”.
See the Series website for specific points allocations https://results.auscycling.org.au/Road/2021/smcc/rules.html
You will need to start a minimum of 2 races to qualify.
Points from all races will count. Note that you will not be disadvantaged in the Series points as a result of volunteering as you will be awarded an average of your points from your other races for the race that you miss. You will also receive a $20 refund or a race credit for your missed race.
You will not accumulate any points for missed races, other than if you miss the race due to volunteering, in which case you will be awarded an average of your points from your other races for the race that you miss. You will also receive a $20 refund or a race credit for your missed race.
If you are moved up a grade, you will take 50% of the points you have accumulated to that point with you into your new grade. If you are moved down a grade, you will take 100% of your points (on the assumption that if you are going down, you won’t have many!)
TBC
Yes and No. You will be allowed to race, however, you will not be eligible for any Series points or prizes and you will certainly not be entering into the spirit of the Series. The Series is run entirely by volunteers and each rider is expected to volunteer for duty at one or more of the Series races. You will not be disadvantaged in the Series points as a result of volunteering as you will be awarded an average of your points from your other races for the race that you miss. You will also receive a $20 refund or a race credit for your missed race.
No. You will not be disadvantaged in the Series points as a result of volunteering as you will be awarded an average of your points from your other races for the race that you miss. You will also receive a $20 refund or a race credit for your missed race.
There will be some single race entries available, however, the vast majority of entries will be taken up by Series entrants.
Single race entries will be made available via the Southern Masters Team App Store https://southernmasterscyclingclub.teamapp.com/store?_list=v1. These entries will open at midday on the Saturday one week before the race and will close at midday on Thursday the week of the race, if not sold out prior. Single race entries are $25 per race.
Yes, you will, subject to performing a volunteer duty (see the ‘Can I race the Series if I don’t do a volunteer duty?’ FAQ).
Single race entries will open at midday on the Saturday one week before the race and will close at midday on Thursday the week of the race, if not sold out prior. Single race entries will be made available via the Southern Masters Team App Store https://southernmasterscyclingclub.teamapp.com/store?_list=v1.
No, once you’ve entered the Series you will automatically be entered into each race.
Wherever it is safe and practical to do so, we will look to go ahead with the races.
If at 9.00 pm on the Saturday night before the scheduled day of the race https://rainfall.willyweather.com.au/ indicates that there is more than a 75% chance of more than 10mm of rain between 8 a.m and midday on the Sunday, the event will be cancelled.
Notice of the cancellation will be posted on the Southern Masters Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SouthernMastersCC, the Southern Masters Team App site https://southernmasterscyclingclub.teamapp.com/?_webpage=v1 (with notification, assuming you have that enabled on your phone) and on the SMCC web-site.
Please be sure to check.
To ensure all the preparation does not go to waste though, if a race is cancelled, a "no points" version of the race will be run by Fulgaz at the scheduled time on the same virtual course at 9.00 am as scheduled.
The only difference, apart from it being a virtual race, will be that the start will be grouped by age rather than grade.
Single race entrants will be refunded if a race is cancelled.
History tells us that over 8 races we’ll probably get at least one race cancelled due to bad weather so we discounted Series entry tickets in comparison to single race entries to ensure Series entrants were no worse off if one race was cancelled.
However, if more than one Series race is cancelled, Series entrants will receive a $20 refund for each additional cancellation.
No refunds will be made to Series entrants for missing an individual race, however, if you are unable to compete in the Series overall, due to serious injury or change in circumstances, please contact us either via Facebook message or via email (martynh256@gmail.com) to discuss.
Refunds will be made to single race entrants if we are notified at least 48 hours prior to the event.
All races will start at 9am. Please arrive at approx. 8am to get parked, sign on and warm up.
hat varies of course, however, Drouin is the furthest from Melbourne at approx. 95km whilst the average is roughly 75km.
Yes, all of the venues have decent and separate male and female facilities.
At most venues we have hired the local hall or clubhouse. We are currently still negotiating the use of the hall at Crib Point.
All of the venues have a reasonable amount of parking, however, if everyone drives separately there will be a lot of cars so we suggest if you want to make sure of getting a decent park, arrive by 8am.
At Race 1 you will need to show your race licence to pick up your race envelope that will contain your race bib, pins, a transponder and cable ties to affix the transponder to your front fork (left or right).
The transponder will need to be returned at the end of the race. Cutters will be available at the finish to remove the transponder from your bike.
PLEASE KEEP YOUR RACE BIB as it will be used for the entire Series.
If you lose or forget your race bib at subsequent races we will need to print a new one at race start once registrations close which will hold you up significantly.
No, each grade starts separately, a few minutes apart. Generally, A grade will leave first, followed by B etc. However, this may change depending on the course.
Be at the start before 9am to listen out for specific instructions
Bunch sizes will vary but tend to be larger for the higher grades than the lower ones. A, B and C will likely be approx.35. D, E and F will be between 5 and 25.
No problem, you won’t be pulled from the race if you don’t want to be.
Try to get back on to the group, work together with others if possible. If you are dropped, it’s likely others will be too.
Plenty of people get dropped, work to get back on and finish strongly.
On most of the courses you will ride multiple laps of the course so if you really don’t want or are unable to keep going you can pull out at the end of that lap.
If you don’t finish one race you can still do the other events.
Check out these sites for more information about road racing https://cyclingtips.com/2018/02/the-golden-rules-of-road-racing/ and https://totalwomenscycling.com/road-cycling/technique/10-tips-riders-thinking-racing-year
Can I ride with another grade if they catch me or I catch them? No, you cannot obtain any advantage from riders of any other grade.
Yes. The transponders are hired for each race so there will be a $75 fee for any transponders not returned after a race.
YES! Please keep your race bib as it will be needed for the entire Series.
If you lose or forget your race bib we will need to print a new one at race start once registrations close and this will hold you and others up significantly.
We intend to arrange for a coffee cart and we will have cold drinks available, however, at this stage we do not anticipate having a food van at the start/finish.
Most venues have a small town nearby with a store or café or two. We’ll provide more information for each race individually.
If you want to eat or drink during a race make sure you come prepared with your preferred food and drinks such as banana’s and bidon’s.
And please don’t leave any mess or energy bar wrappers around the course because .. well it’s obvious why not.
There will be presentations as soon as possible after all grades finish.
There will be prize money for 1st to 3rd in each grade, 1st Woman in each grade and, where applicable, first over the Mountain or Sprint winners in each grade.
We may also have some random giveaways.
We would love help with some roles on the day and in the lead-up. Please contact our Secretary: Bill Upston at mailto:wupston@bigpond.net.au
Please contact our Secretary: Bill Upston at mailto:wupston@bigpond.net.au
We are also on Facebook and the WWW at https://smcc.net.au/index.php
