Stage 3 Battle Recharged - A day in the Sun

words - Luke Stenner

photo - Harry Dennis

Hot and dry westerly winds swept in across the range this morning as the team arrived to stage 3 in the township of Tyalgum.....a familiar but typically difficult hunting ground for the Cobra's.

The boys were calm and positive after a solid day out yesterday, and DS Prete set out providing the strategy for the day's race. Ensuring all bases were covered, a potential podium was on the cards, and hopefully a stronger result in the teams classification.

From the drop of the flag at around 1km into the race it was ON! With a flurry of attacks.......Liam Nolan was first to pounce and went with an early break of around 8 riders, which got out to around 30sec at one point. Unfortunately Liam had a mechanical which ended his race prematurely.

The race came back together soon after where more attacks were being launched off the front.....Dave Edwards was in most of these from what we could see from the car....but at this stage, the peloton wears not letting anything get too far ahead.

Nearing the end of the 1st lap with the weather already starting to take its toll, and the climbs beginning, the elastic finally broke and a single rider from Olivers Racing (the eventual winner by 6min!) broke free, solo with approx 19 riders chasing and in pursuit. From this group of 19 riders, Olly broke clear with Kane Richards (McDonald's) and they then spent the next 60kms or so chopping off into the searing heat and brutal cross and head winds. 

With the Olivers racing rider gradually taking more time from Ollie and Kane, and from the chasing bunches,.....a smaller group of 5 riders bridged across to Ollie with approx 25km to go. Olly managed to grit his teeth, drink one more coke, and take one more gel and hang on with this group until the last KOM.....just losing contact at the top coming in a very respectable 6th, moving himself into 5th on overall GC. Jono Butler had another consistent day finishing in the first chasing bunch in 14th and holds his GC position in 15th. Mitch, Josh and Tim all rode strong in the peloton, finishing in various bunches on the road. The Team now sit in 4th on GC....a huge result!

An equally big day and kudos to all the support today.....with the weather so brutal....and with various mechanicals and breaks everyone was stretched and had to push hard for a excellent team result.

Now back at our digs for a icy cold refreshing ale, showers and some rest before another hot and windy day in the hills around Tyalgum tomorrow.

Big thanks to Luke for generating some content after today's stage.  All the guys were pretty shattered and getting creative can be trying.  Cheers mate.

Battle Recharge Day 1 Wrap

Huge day for our strong(est) squad on the Tweed.  Day 1 included a 21 km Road Bike Team Time Trial and an afternoon 1 hour Criterium.

The TTT was an eventful affair with 4 of the squad holding the form to the finish line with the boys coming in 5th only 1:57 down on the powerful Isowhey squad.  

The afternoon crit was typically brutal with half of the field finishing and the remainder having an early shower.  Jono Butler came across the line 8th after repeated attacks by Dave and Olly didn't manage to come off.

All in all, a good day out.  We asked the chaps for some quotes after the criterium.  The feedback was the usual candid colour we have come to expect from the guys.

"Fantastic" - Josh Prete

"That was harder then 'Nam" Mitch Neumann

"F@ck you looked strong Mitch!" - Josh Beikoff

"See you at the pub" - Dave Edwards

"Beer and Strawberry tastes like Butthole" - Anon

Some very impressive riding from Jono Butler and Olly Smith to animate the crit.  Mitch and Dave did what they needed to ensure they will be a force tomorrow.  Liam, Josh and Tim rode strongly and will again be ready to get the job done over the next few days.

Tomorrows road stage is lumpy and you can expect there to be some huge time gaps by then end.  The support crew will be on hand to keep you informed all day via our Facebook Live Feed. Luke, Josh, Brett and Ben were superb all day keeping those interested updated.  Harry Dennis again took care of the visuals with a superb collection of shots.

Stage 1

TTT 21.7km 

1. Isowhey 28:27:05

2. Mobius Future Racing +1:15

3. NSWIS +1:16

4. Olivers Real Food Racing +1:28

5. Cobra9 Intebuild Racing +1:57

6 - 15 .......

Stage 2. Criterium 1 hour + 2 laps 

1st Cameron Bailey

8th Jono Butler +10

27th Olly Smith ST

45th Mitch Neumann ST

50th Dave Edwards +25

The Pedaler Hit Squad

Tomorrow sees the launch of a new Queensland Racing Entity simply called, The Pedaler.  This 10 man squad will race the elite Queensland Road Team Series in conjunction with our existing Cobra9 Intebuild Racing Team.  With the reduction in high level domestic racing available locally in Australia, we have taken the opportunity to provide a platform for some of South East Queensland's strongest riders from across multiple NRS teams to race together and enjoy the benefits of solid hard racing under the singular Pedaler Banner.  

This new team will be lead by road Captain Jordan Kerby and feature some immensely talented youngsters including Ryan Thomas, Kaden Groves and Mitch Neumann racing under the same banner for the first time.  We hope that by injecting this calibre of talent into QRTS, we will see a return to the glory days of the competition where routinely Australia's best riders would grace the roads of South East Queensland.

The team is based out of The Pedaler and 4064 cafe and supported in kind by our mates from Attaquer and POC sports.  The team will be managed by Joshua Prete.

Team Riders                         

David Edwards  (Cobra9 Intebuild Racing)

Jordan Kerby  (Cobra9 Intebuild Racing)

Daniel Fitter (NSWIS)

Kaden Groves  (St George Merida)

Ryan Cavanagh  (NSWIS)

Mitch Neumann  (Cobra9 Intebuild Racing)

Ryan Thomas (Olivers Real Food Racing)

Nick Woods  (Cobra9 Intebuild Racing)

Jonothan Butler (The Pedaler) 

DS Josh Prete

Alongside The Pedaler Squad, the QRTS version of the Cobra9 Intebuild Racing Team will feature a mix of experience and youth.  The core of our team since 2012 will remain (apart from the talisman Rups who is having a year building his new business) and Dugs who is also having a sabbatical. They will be joined by a few of our Elite B riders who are coming through the ranks and a couple of very talented Masters riders.  

Cobra9 Intebuild Racing Elite Team

Adam White

Brad Hamblett

Callum O'Sullivan

Timothy O'Brien

Timothy Lofthouse

Matthew Zaranski

Nathan White

Jerry Van De Pol

Kurtis Brent

Hadleigh Milligan

DS Luke Stenner

Squads Mechanic - Taylah McLennan

Teams Manager - Adrian Duffy

Soigneur - Harry Dennis

That's a wrap. QRTS 16 winds up on the Sunny Coast.

It has been an unusual Queensland Road Team Series (QRTS) in 2016 with the event under a cloud until early in the year.  Just when the spectre of a year without elite team's racing looked to be on the cards, a shorter format four round event heavily shaped towards crit racing was presented. Gone were the back to back road stages of previous years, replaced with Team Time Trials and multiple criteriums with heats and finals.  It seemed on paper to be a year where the series has taken a small step backwards.   On a personal level, I also missed visiting the country towns this year such as Kingaroy and Gympie where the locals seem more enthused about the event and the benefit to the local tourist trade that it brings.

Despite the shift the series has taken this year, the racing was still intense and consistently enjoyable.  Our squad was our most age diverse ever with 24 years separating our youngest to oldest rider.  The new faces in our team lifted the overall strength of the squad although the varied approach to training and racing still provides a nice touch of reality.

Our stand out rider for the entire series was Mitch Neumann who has been a model of consistency across the entire event.  His Individual Time Trial win up Montville in round 4 was most definitely the highlight, with the overall round honours also a huge bonus.  I could spend many paragraphs regaling the merits of his endeavours for us in 2016 but those who know Mitch, know this would make him uncomfortable.  7th overall for the series was a fine tribute though and one we would like to build on for 2017 (if he indeed can survive another year at Cobra9 Intebuild Racing).

The other members of the team have also put out credible and in many cases, career best efforts in 2016.  The ageless Kurty seems to find another level each year alongside Adam who also has stepped it up despite the advancing years.  Josh Prete who arrived in our team, and at The Pedaler in 2016 has been a great influence on all the lads and especially on our attitude towards our racing.  Rather then concerning ourselves with sitting in and surviving till the pointy end of the race, the approach has shifted towards trying to win or get a result, even if that means losing.  

A few member of the team staff need to be singled out for high praise.  Brett from Megabake again has been a huge supporter and all round good guy.  He adds so much to the atmosphere around the team at races, and his Cobra9 TV episodes (seen only by the closed group sorry) are as famous as his taste for the rum.  

Adrian Duffy QC is another supporter who adds mirth and depth of personal experience to the whole team.  I'd like to provide an element of insight into his musings however doing so may end his professional career.  He loves the team, the boys and the Cobra9 mentality and we love having him at races.  His chosen nightcap trends towards the reds.

Luke Stenner is another famous part of the Cobra9 Intebuild fabric who is essentially behind the entire race weekend operation.  Notoriously detailed run sheets and time tables are his strength.  The rum though, may be his weakness.  That and white shirts.  His role gets bigger every year and despite a crowded work/life schedule, he keeps getting it done.  It has been a pleasure being 'beside' you all year mate.

The last sneaky member who always flies under the radar is Dugs Macarthur.  I spell his name wrong more often then any other rider yet he keeps showing up.  Dugs essentially runs the team for us away from races and makes all the tough decisions.  He also races and has some of the best calf muscles known to South East Queensland.  We are already working on the 2017 team and race calendar and the team simply wouldn't exist without him.  I probably should pay him.

This year we also had a quality bunch of Sponsors.  Intebuild and Cobra9 again provided essential funding support alongside a family of riders who follow the team week in and week out.  This family has been running strong for over 10 years and the Elite Racing component is a babe in arms compared to the established originals.  The Intebuild founding group has a vast amount of experience and business acumen that has been wonderful for the younger riders to experience.  Hopefully the period of time the new members spend riding with our team will leave them better for the experience.

Attaquer again has backed us to the hilt with clothing.  The quality of the kit is remarkable and the feel and ride comfort is unsurpassed.  For a brand that earned their stripes with cutting designs and edgy motifs, the functionality and durability of the garments is impressive.  We can't wait to unveil the design with Attaquer for next season.

POC again has provided safety gear which is visually appealing while still being at the cutting edge of design.  We have now racked up 6 broken Octal MIPS for 2016 without a single concussion or neck injury.  We also get to look bling in the varied eye wear offerings, time trial overshoes and assorted wet weather kit.

2016 marked our emergence with Colnago as well.  Whilst organising a fleet of top end Nagos was a risk, the bikes are just superb.  It is very rare that every rider on the team is enamoured with their rig.  The C60s are immense machines, and the V1rs have proven to be wonderful race weapons.  The diverse range of colours has snapped many necks at the brew shops of Brisbane. Hopefully we can maintain the rage with the Italian Stallions in 2017.  Obviously, The Pedaler will do its bit providing the underlying Service Course for the Squad again in 2017.

4Shaw again has maintained our sock game in 2016.  While the focus from Dion has moved a little into the world of the Barbershop at the moment, there is no questioning the quality and styling of his socks.  He is also a Tassie legend through and through.

Megabake and Brett Ledger are more then sponsors but it would be remiss not to describe the virtues of their products.  The Megabake bar range has been the staple race diet of every rider for the entire year and has proven again to the perfect race fuel.   The quality, individually sourced ingredients paired with Brett's OCD regarding his recipes guarantees a certain quality.  A new product to the line, the Megabake Museli will be one to watch in 2017.

Finally, Wurkstand.  Almost everyone knows the melancholic footnote to our season has been the loss of the founder to this local company.  Steve Small will always be in our corner, and every C9 kit produced going forward will honour the big man.  We also lost team rider JJ to depression this year and these pair of tragedies has coloured the 2016 season for all involved.  

Despite these equally horrific happenings, the members of Cobra9 Intebuild racing have soldiered on all year.  No one has forgotten these team members.  We talk and laugh regularly at the antics of both of these special guys when on bunch rides or at events away from home.  Indeed it would seem that on occasion, they are both still with us and I hope that this remains the case well into the future.  As long as their memory lives on, then they live on.

What's next?  Well, a few extra kilograms and schooners of beer in the short term.  2017 promises a lot although with the underlying structure around elite racing in Australia still uncertain, it looks like another year where hedging your bets may prove important.  Nationals in January will again be the kick start to the season and then on it goes.  We'll keep you posted.

Battle on the Border is getting close. Be sure to give your race rig the 'once over'.

With the annual stage race Battle on the Border less then 2 weeks away, now is the time to ensure your machine is ready to roll.  There is nothing worse than training for an event only to be let down by your equipment.  Here is a list of the crucial points worth checking.

1. Tyre Wear - Check your tyres thoroughly for any cuts, or signs of degradation. Degradation usually shows itself by the tread of the tyre starting to crack. 

2. Chain Wear - A stretched chain means gear slip, you don't want this. If you are running Campagnolo, and have a vernier at your disposal, it is quite easy to check your chain for wear. Count out 6 links and measure the length of the chain, if it is over 132.6mm your chain is worn. A new campag chain will measure 132.2mm.  If you do not have a specific chain checker for Shimano and Sram chains, a simple way to check wear is to shift the chain into the big ring on the front and the lowest gear on the back (ie 25 or 28t). When the chain is in this position, attempt to lift the chain off the front chain ring. There should be no give in the chain in this position.  If there is it would suggest that your chain is worn out. (Again, if you run Campy, then be sure to have it fixed and race ready before you head to remote race locations as the likelihood of finding spare parts is poor).

3. Cassette and chain ring wear - If you have a worn chain, you may also have worn out your cassette and chain rings. The teeth on your cassette and chain rings should look slightly squared off on the top, if you notice that they are starting to look like sharks teeth then they are worn out. On the cassette an easy way to do this is look at the middle gears, and compare this to the 11 or 12 tooth cog, typically most people will be riding in the middle of their cassette for the majority of their rides, so these are the cogs that will show wear first.

4. Cable wear - Deterioration of cables is the unseen destroyer on race day. If you are running a mechanical groupset, a fraying cable can creep up on you and suddenly snap when it is under load. It would be a good idea to completely remove your cables and check for any kinks, or frayed sections. If you have internal cables make sure you pull a sleeve through from the exit point to the entry point near the lever before removing the cables, otherwise you may spend more time than necessary trying to reroute your cables. Also be sure that your cables are not crossed inside the frame. It is amazing how easily this can happen.  It is not always obvious when cabling a bike, but the shifting will turn very bad, very quickly if you accidentally do this. When pulling cables through a frame, make sure to check that they don't pull on each other before tensioning them to the derailleur. 

5. Brake pad wear - This is an easy one, as most brake pads have wear indicators. Make sure you have enough meat on your brake pads, and of course if you are swapping to carbon wheels chuck in your carbon specific brake pads. 

6. Bartape - This is purely aesthetic, but getting to the start line with crisp new bar tape always makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. 

Words by: Joshua Prete
                  Wurkshop Manager

The Pedaler presents - Cobra9 Intebuild NRS Team for Grafton to Inverell 2016

The Pedaler is proud to present the 2016 Cobra9 Intebuild Racing team for Grafton to Inverell. The lads will head down Friday morning to take on the nations best domestic riders in a arguably Australia's toughest one day classic.  With a few well noted hiccups to the NRS schedule, Grafton will be the first race to kick off the NRS season for 2016.  

Keep an eye on the Cobra9 Intebuild Racing Page and Instagram feed for live updates on the day including plenty of candid content.

NRS Team

Mitch Neumann (HPRW)

Joshua Prete (Tablelands CC)

Adam White (Uni)

Dugald Macurthar (MBCC)

Nathan White (Cyc'd)

Elliot Kippen (Uni)

Callum O'Sullivan (HPRW)

Huge thanks to our sponsors and support crew

COBRA9 Cycling Orthotics / Intebuild Building Solutions / Attaquer / POC / The Odyssey Project Coffee Roasters / Colnago Bikes / Megabake Nutrition / Wurkstand / Featherlight Wheels / The Pedaler Cyclery