VICTORIAN MASTERS ITT CHAMPIONSHIP Para-Cycling Saturday 16 August 2014 It was a rather cool and foggy morning when Greg Maren and I departed Springvale bound for Lang Lang in South Gippsland. We arrived ahead of time at the venue for the Victorian Masters Road Championships and ITT (Individual Time Trial). Barry Bailey arrived just before the starting time and met up with his pilot Steven Green who was Barry’s pilot on Barrys red Duet for this event. This was Steven’s first ride with Barry and also his first tandem bike race. Greg and I were the first Para-Cycling tandem team to tee off and as soon as we arrived at the start line at 11:00 am, we were given the countdown and it was away we went on the 22 km journey. It was almost perfect conditions for cycling with no wind to speak of and the sun was breaking through while we were making our way around the course. We made good time for most of the race and were lucky enough to finish in 1st place in a time of 38:12 minutes. Steven and Barry approached the starting line and there was a loud bang which was unfortunately, not the starters’ gun but one of Barry’s tyres blowing out. So after fitting a new tube they lined up again and headed off around the course on a flying lap. We packed up and took off home before Steven and Barry had made it back to the finish line so we did not know how they got on. However, we later found out that they finished in 2nd position in a time of +1:18.839.31.5. This was an outstanding performance for their first race and ride together as a tandem bike team. Congratulations Guys. There was also a Para-Cyclist on a hand cycle in this event and he finished in 3rd place in a time of +1:45.839:58.4. Not too shabby at all. Greg and I are beginning to get it together on the Cannondale tandem which is beginning to show in our performance during the race. My heart goes out to Barry Bailey because he has had to endure a few dramas before starting his first race. First of all, Justin Shaw who was going to pilot his tandem in this event had an accident which prevented him from taking part in this race. However, I was lucky to find Steven through Nick Grainger to fill Justin’s position in the pilot’s seat on Barry’s tandem. Secondly, he was a bit late getting to the venue because of the fog and then he got a tyre blow out on the starting line. Thank you very much Greg and Steven for volunteering to pilot a tandem bike for Barry and I in this event. It would not be possible for us to compete in Para-Cycling races without awesome volunteers like you guys.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 08:51:35 +0000