Casey Fields

In the absence of any rider’s reports for today’s racing please accept this communiqué as the race report.

Riders participating today at Casey were greeted with mild and temperate weather conditions. The race format used today was a conceptual innovation, simple in essence but due to the vagarious nature of the concept, presented major interpolation of the previous standards.

At the start line several of the slightly built competitors were having difficulty remaining upright, the chief commissaire rectified this by the addition of lead weights to their racing jersey pockets.

The race briefing was foreshortened due to the complexities mentioned previously. Racing was underway with one neutral lap, an ad hoc decision reached whilst this lap was underway not to sound a whistle to start the race in earnest. The commissaries on the panel considered this whistle may complicate matters.

After several laps into a slight headwind, the grades assumed the expected running order, although there were several riders performing well above their normal grading.

Although the handicapper was unable to attend, these notable exceptions will be passed on.

The race ebbed and flowed as much as the water in the swale drains. Riders are reminded that stopping to catch yabbies and fish does not constitute a racing incident and as such the no laps out rule applies.

As the mystery time coincided precisely with the mystery distance the race was declared finished.

At the time of writing, the mystery age and grade handicaps were being collated and tabulated, the official results are yet to be decided and the club may need to bring in independents to achieve a suitable result.

Outstanding ride of day has to go Gus Gollings. Gus rode from Fitzroy to Casey, raced and then rode home to Fitzroy.

Congratulations to everyone who made the effort and came to race, we commend your dedication and support.

Whilst every effort has been made to present this report as true reflection of events that took place at Casey, there has been some editorial licence used in the compilation of this report.

We need more Commissaires to run races.

Are you interested in becoming a cycling Official/ Commissaire? Cycling Australia has a committment to support and encourage you in developing and contributing to our sport whether it be at a Club, State, National or International level.

To become an accredited Official/ Commissaire you will need to complete an education and training program to provide you the skills and knowledge to enable you to officiate as a cycling Commissaire.  Below is a brief outline of how you become a Commissaire.

Cycling Australia is the recognised peak body for the competitive cycling disciplines of road, track, mountain bike and BMX cycling within Australia.

There are three levels of officiating accreditation:

Officiating courses are delivered under the guidelines of the National Officiating Accreditation Scheme (NOAS), an Australian Sports Commission (ASC) program, managed by the ASC's Coaching & Officiating Unit.

There are two components to the officiating programs:

1. A rules and knowledge test.  Candidates are supplied a manual and a workbook to complete and return.
2. Practical assessment.  Once a candidate has passed the rules test, a qualified assessor must assess them as they officiate at an event to ensure they know the rules and can apply them appropriately in competition.

All accredited cycling officials are recognised as having met the standards under the NOAS, recognised by the Commonwealth and State/Territory governments. 

For further information on getting started as a Commissaire, contact your State Association or Cycling Australia, Rob Ingall

Level 1- a course specifically targeted at the official who desires to assist in the conduct of club racing. The course requires candidates to complete and submit a workbook and then be assessed on the practical aspects of the course by an accredited assessor.  For information on Level 1 courses contact your State Association 

Level 2 - a course for the official who assists club and state level calendar events. This course deals more with the technical aspects of each discipline. After completing this level you will be qualified to officiate at State events. The course is conducted by State Associations.

Level 3 - an advanced course for officials who want to officiate at National events and championships. The course is conducted in conjunction with National Championships and  provides training and information on the finer points of officiating at the elite level.  To sit the course you must have had at least two years experience as an active Level 2 commissaire and be nominated by your State Association. The course is conducted by Cycling Australia, further details can be obtained from Rob Ingall, Cycling Australia Officiating Development Coordinator, rob.ingall@cycling.org.au or phone 02 9339 5800.

See John Fox or Bill Upston first.

WRONG HELMET MEANS NO INSURANCE !!!!

If you have entered the AUST MASTERS CHAMPS, your helmet WILL be checked.

You can be checked twice, at check in and on the line in case you have swapped to an illegal helmet.

AUSTRALIAN STANDARD AS/NZ 2063 - Bicycle Helmets

The helmet regulation was introduced as a result of cyclists having to comply with the Australian Road Rules.  The basic rule is that in all Australian events on the road and track an approved helmet with the Australian Standard sticker (AS2063) must be worn. 

The only events where this may not apply are noted in Rule 3.5.02 and are explained as follows:

a) TRACK - Individual Pursuits and Individual Time Trials only. In these events aerodynamic helmets may be worn but must carry stickers confirming UCI approval, eg, ANSI, SNELL or EN.   This exemption does not apply to the Team Pursuit.  In Team Pursuits only an AS/NZ 2063 regulation helmet may be worn. 

b) ROAD - UCI calendar events, including the Australian Open Road Championships not Masters, and subject to the granting of an exemption from this aspect of the Australian Road Rules by local authorities. Again, all helmets worn must carry a sticker confirming approval in accord with UCI regulations.

The CA Board amended rule 3.5.04 to permit all competitors to wear internationally approved helmets, if an Australian Road Rules exemption is granted. This is of particular relevance in the road time trial as it removes the requirement by commissaires to determine between international and domestic riders as well as providing fairness to all competitors in being able to wear an approved aerodynamic helmet.

Please note: there are now some aero-styled helmets with the AS/NZ 2063 approval available in Australia!  Rudy Project's 'Syton Super-Comp' and Limar's 'Crono 05' and 'Crono Speed Demon' are available with the Australian Standards-approved sticker.

For the full list of Australian Standards approved helmets go to

CA Technical Regulation 3.5 is reprinted hereafter for your information: 

3.5 HELMETS

3.5.01. An approved helmet shall be worn at all times during competition, warming up for an event or when riding on the road at a race meeting

3.5.02. In all road & track cycling events with the exception of international UCI events, the individual pursuit and track time trials, an Australian Standards approved (AS 2063) helmet shall be worn

3.5.03. A helmet must carry the relevant approval sticker confirming approval and certification to AS/NZ 2063 before a cyclist is permitted to start in any cycling event.

3.5.04. For UCI Road Calendar events where exemption from the Australian Road Rules has been granted by the respective State authority, competitors may wear a helmet that has been approved by the UCI.

3.5.05. To obtain such approval (ref 3.5.04 above), the promoter must apply to conduct the event under an exemption permitting the wearing of non-Australian Standard helmets. Such an application must be made under the special events legislation of the respective State in which the event is being conducted.

The events for which such an application may be sought include, but may not be limited to;

• UCI Road World Cups (Men and Women)
• One-day Road Races or multi-stage Tours which have been approved for inclusion on the UCI calendar.
• The Australian Open Road Championships or similar event, where overseas or professionally contracted riders with a UCI registered team are competing and the results contribute to UCI ranking points.

3.5.06. For the individual pursuit and track time trials approved helmets shall bear either AS/NZ 2063, ANSI, Snell or EN bicycle helmet approval.

3.5.07. Any modification to an approved helmet is strictly prohibited, including; swapping or tampering with stickers; structural or aerodynamic modification.

3.5.08. Failure to comply with this regulation will result in the rider being withdrawn from the event in addition to any other penalty that may be applied by the race official.

Great news with our John Fox (Southern's President) being appointed the Driver of Commissaire Two for the upcoming World Championships. A very specific role and wanted by all commissaires.

Coms 2 sits at the front of the race, starting the big event and always following the breaks, a brand new SKODA vehicle has been on order for the event, it is one of 80 cars being supplied.

John has been quoted as saying, "you put in so much time as a volunteer and eventually something great comes along, it then makes it all worth while".

The following information may be of interest to members.

Lionel Cox and Russell Mockridge Remembered

At the 1952 Helsinki Olympics Russell and Lionel won the gold medal in the Tandem Sprint. It was a remarkable victory, as prior to arriving just three days before the first heats, they had never ridden a tandem together. Russell had only raced on a tandem once before in his life, further they didn’t even own a tandem and had to borrow one.

At the same Games, Lionel was second in the Individual Sprint to Enzio Sacchi, then world champion and on the same day as the Tandem Final, Russell won the 1000 metre Time Trial. Lionel was the fastest man in NSW in the 1950’s - multiple State and Australian Sprint Champion; Russell was simply our greatest ever. 

Russell was tragically killed in a race accident on September 13, 1958 before reaching his peak. Lionel passed away earlier this year aged eighty after a lifetimes dedication to our sport. 

Members of this forum attended a memorial ride for the 50th anniversary of Russell’s death in 2008. It was a fine affair and also a rare gathering in Melbourne of old racers and fans, many on period racing bikes.

On September 12 this year, a few old fans and racers will remember this magnificent pair at a very informal morning ride at the Packer Velodrome, Melbourne. It is hoped that a number of old ‘Stars’ from the Maillot Jaune organization will attend and many period racing bikes both track and road will be there.   Russell’s only known surviving track bike will be there.

These memories and champions belong to us so all are welcome to come and remember them. Bring your old racer, do a couple of laps, or just be there.

The Packer Velodrome is the home of the Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club located in Leila Rd Carnegie - Mel ways reference 68 J8.

 This track is 386 metres long and shallow banked. Slow riders should travel above the blue line and please remember if you are on a road bike respect the rider on a fixed wheel and don’t apply your brakes suddenly.  We may use the track from nine am until noon and there is no cost or formal organisation so please take anything you bring away with you. 

The Club and the Glen Eire Council must be thanked for allowing this track to be used.