Vets cycling gearing up

THE Central Victorian Veteran Cycling Club is experiencing a busy return to normal scheduling.

On Saturday at 1pm, the group will host its Harry’s Handicap 60-kilometre race starting and finishing at Melville Caves.

“We hope to get 30 odd riders, it’s open to everyone but it’s more of a club event than an open event,” Central Victorian Veterans Cycling Club president Brett Williams said.

The club holds 15 sponsored events throughout the year varying from 35 to 65 kilometres across Central Victoria including in Emu Creek, Newbridge, Castlemaine, with its main clubrooms in Woodstock-on-Loddon.

Membership numbers vary between 80 and 120 members a year and Mr Williams said COVID has convince people that have never cycled before to take up the sport.

The club uses handicaps, where less experienced or older riders can start races up to 45 minutes earlier, with the quicker riders challenged to catch up to them before crossing the finish line.

The club’s premier event, the 65-kilometre Profound Civil Contracting Classic was held in March with prizemoney of $3000.

Mr Williams said they had several cycling greats, including Olympic cycling coach Tim Decker and UCI cyclist Robbie Hucker compete.

The club’s rich history has also seen Olympian cyclists Phillip Sawyer, Jack Tricker and Scott McGrory compete.

But Mr Williams said what the club is really about is “the everyday bike hacker or café racer who just wants to come out and enjoy an hour or so out on the bike and have that competitive spirit”.

“We do have our very experienced cyclists, I’ve been doing it for 47 years, and we do offer plenty of help to anybody that wants to take it up, either setting up their bikes or short training programs or anything like that to help them get started,” he said.