Another enthusiastic group of riders signed up for the Fitzsimons Builders sponsored 40km handicap race at Rimu on Saturday.
Great to see some new riders joining in and a few visitors who were here for the track carnival. Pleasing numbers in the junior ranks as well with a few having a crack with the big boys.
The first handicap race of the season was a bit of a lottery for our poor old "handicapper," with very few previous races to go by definitely something to work on.
Groups of five to seven riders set off on the "out and back" track spread out over - what he thought could be a fair time break of 19 minutes. Turning at the half way mark the two front groups had joined up and appeared to be working well together. Five minutes back the mid groups had also linked up and looked like they may have been able to catch. Scratch group Hamish Beadle, Josh Haggerty and Corbin Strong had taken almost half the time difference out of the front but they had issues with punctures on the way home and failed to catch.
Not sure what happened to the mid group who had the fire power to catch but they failed to deliver - they too suffered some punctures (maybe a timely reminder to everyone to check for worn tyres).
It was the big hard-working group of 2nd and 3rd limit who kept the pace on and held off the chasers.
The race was won by returning ex-bike racer Mike Dunn first across the line with Sam Kopae 2nd (1st Female) and Tony Ragget for 3rd. Fastest time went to Josh Haggerty.
Report courtesy race manager Waine Harding