Heres the article from Bicycling Australia (if anyone cares
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Fat Mans Wheelrace
They say cycling is the new golf. While this may be the case, in terms of its newfound popularity, or its place as the new executive pastime and networking medium there is however one shortfall in the golf analogy. Watch any golf tournament and, if you can stay awake long enough, you will notice that not all the pros fit the “athlete” mould. TV cameras often cut away from a player having a cigarette as he walks the fairway, and I doubt too many of them spend a lot of time worrying about their diet. So if cycling is truly to be considered the new golf it is only fitting that there is a race for the Craig Parry’s and John Daly’s of cycling.
Cycling, at is most competitive, is a sport for those with body fat percentages in the single digits. I have often thought cyclists wore bright lycra so we could tell the race winners from the podium girls come presentation time. Even Kate Moss would probably suggest Michael Rasmussen could do with a decent feed. The fact that a guy like Thor Hushovd is considered one of the big guys yet only weighs a smidge over 80kgs pretty much says it all. For most of us, however, vital statistics like those of pro riders seem virtually unachievable without significant lifestyle modification if possible at all. Generally that cruel hand of genetic fate leaves the larger weekend racer resigned to making up numbers and contributing to the prize pool as you are forever being left for dead by a bunch of whippets whenever the road heads upwards.
Track cycling can be a bit more forgiving on the larger participant. Guys like our own Sean Eadie or Chris Hoy are hardly waif like, however it is still a sport where power to weight ratio rules and the power is the dominant part of that equation. So what if that equation was turned on its head, where the larger weight number becomes the critical factor for participation.
Well, come out of the steam room put down that salad and enter “The Fat Mans Wheelrace”. The Fat Mans Wheelrace is a race idea that was devised, as with most great ideas, over a few post race refreshments. The Fat Mans Wheelrace is part of Paul Crafts R.A.W. (Racing All Winter) track series, a series that has proven extremely popular in Sydney. Held at the Dunc Grey velodrome on Friday nights, the series has something for riders of all levels. RAW Track is a fun and competitive environment in which to learn the art of track cycling or for those already versed in the skill, the opportunity to compete in graded racing from novice to going head to head against state, national or world champions. A great part of the fun of the night is Paul’s witty and insightful commentary, where nothing and no one is sacred but entertainment is guaranteed. If you are blessed with an unusual riding style or ,like me, a different sense of fashion you will no doubt come in for extra attention from Paul, which is all in good fun and all taken in the spirit in which it is intended of course. RAW track also gives those who don’t normally move in elite circles the opportunity to do the races generally reserved for championship meets. It is like a sampler of track racing with flying 200’s , kierens, handicaps, Italians, and of course the Fat Mans wheelrace.
The Fat Man is a much anticipated race, hotly contested amongst the big men, and one of the highlights of the season’s calendar. It is a race where only a select few are able to participate. In order to eliminate any pretenders BMI is used as the qualifying criteria. Riders are required to weigh in and be measured up pre race. The challenge is taken very seriously, some riders even mentioned stopping off for a quick takeaway feed on the way to the track to ensure qualification. At the weigh in area many riders appeared to be showing signs of discomfort similar to a child in the back seat of a car on a long trip, and they disappeared to the men’s room immediately post weigh in.
Dignity is thrown out the window as big numbers are greeted with a whoop of excitement. BMI’s are calculated and announced over the velodromes PA system, often accompanied with some additional “dietary and lifestyle advice” from Mr Craft. The ten highest BMI’s are then selected from those brave enough to step up on the scales.
Regardless of the fact that inclusion means you are one of the ten fattest riders on the night, many riders are genuinely disappointed not to make the cut for this prestigious event. One rider was heard to exclaim “Damn, I’ve lost two kilos!” as he mounted the scales. When was the last time you heard a heavy cyclist being disappointed with weight loss?
The impending arrival of the Fat Mans wheelrace brings, for the larger athlete, an interesting conundrum. As is usual with any race, the best chance for success is to train appropriately. Unfortunately, with a race such as this, training properly may have the unfortunate consequence of putting yourself in a position whereby you may no longer qualify for the race you are training for. It becomes a delicate balance of training and weight “management”. Not only is the title of Fat Man champion on offer for winning the Fat Mans race, the winners name is emblazoned on the perpetual Fat Mans “wonky saddle” trophy, and more importantly the opportunity to take home your body weight in $1 coins. Now don’t be mistaken, the athletes racing here aren’t all girth and no go. There is a mix of riders toeing the line for the Fat Mans race. Some are experienced track riders carrying a little extra winter weight, some are novices new to the sport who could do with a little more conditioning, and some are just big guys who enjoy track racing and like the opportunity to have their own moment in the spotlight.
Handicaps are allocated according to weight with the less large athletes going off scratch and the larger athletes , in tonight’s instance a BMI of 40.9 and tipping the scales at 136.9kg’s, leaving off a mark of 160m. A sturdy pair of hands, or two in some cases, is then recruited to hold the athletes on their marks and on the starters call, the hallowed boards of the Olympic velodrome groan slightly and the riders try to overcome quite a few laws of physics. For the next furious kilometre the light-hearted japery gives way to a serious and hotly contested race. The size of the riders is no longer the issue; this is a race like any other. While one kilometre may not sound like a long way to those who often clock up centuries as their regular long rides, one kilometre at maximal effort from a standing start will put any rider well into their red zone.
The race itself was won in a hard fought finish, with former triathlete and a rider known for going out on long and futile breakaway attempts at RAW track racing, George Lowe taking out the 2011 title. George is a good endurance rider however 1km doesn’t leave a lot of time to get into a rhythm. He was just able to squeeze past Stelio Pappas in the shadows of the finish line saving the organisers quite a few dollars as Stelio was the limit marker and would have cost them $136.00. Tonight’s winner, George, weighed in with a BMI of 29.5 and tipped the scales at 92kgs so took home the princely sum of 92 $1.00 coins for his trouble and his name will be forever etched in history as the fastest Fat Man in Sydney winter track racing for 2011.
If you have ever thought of taking up track racing then the RAW winter series is a great fun environment in which to dip your toe in the water, and if your weight has ever been a stumbling block to the thought of competing, then they may just have the race for you. You never know you just may surprise yourself and be too skinny to get a run.
Now if we could just get the other states to run a similar event we could work towards having a national Fat Mans championship.
