The Chaff

AllCost Invitational

Here's hoping we have more days like the 28th Nov just passed , sure I lost but there was a lot to like about the whole deal .

Firstly the interest generated was great and has gone some way to rekindling the bike riding culture at Manildra after the recent upheavals .

So for starters we have a new Yellow Jersey . He was that good ! 

Ben Allcorn has stepped up and the previous holder of the Jersey is looking over his shoulder .

Here he is as cool as a cucumber just after the finish line . It's kind of bittersweet , I hate him for beating me but I'm rapt we have a gun rider for the MMRT . 

As for the rest of the team , I am privileged to ride with Chris Gue  , he is a very selfless person who gave of himself to both the participants . He trained with both of us and was a great sounding board for same . 

Roland Gruneis from Austria brought his bike with him to Australia . His bike is a Bianchi which means white in Italian . He is already a true Man In White , he really helped bring me up to speed (nearly) for the race . He actually came out to Manildra twice to ride the route with me as well as several training rides round Orange .

Here is Roland with Paul Potter who sacrificed some of his Saturday to drive behind us and protect us from the traffic . He did a great job but he wouldn't have been happy watching me go down . He is my Lead Miller and Man In White . Thanks for the effort Paul and I promise I'll work extra hard Monday morning . 

The heavy dudes ponder the result . Look guys I did my best .........!

You'll be back on the Packers next week Paddy !

Joe Raso was there . He came out at 9am rode the route in I hour 20 and then watched us race . He had beers with us afterwards . He is a true member of the MMRT . 

About the race itself , I was confident I felt I was a real chance . I had done the work .

I knew Ben would kill me over the first ten kays so I set out to limit my losses . It looked dire but I caught him at Cudal and I was now hopeful everything was on track . We turned the monument together and I made my move , I whizzed past him and went for it .

Ben changed up and stuck with me , I think from that point on I was gone .

The vanquished has one request . Please Ben make an AllCost trophy , make it a good one . 

Done And Dusted

Bens favourite phrase recently has been " done and dusted " , as in never in doubt . He would be the winner , the only question was the distance of the winning margin . Indeed .

So it is the Inaugural AllCost Invitational has been taken out by Ben Allcorn . Yes it hurts , of course it does , but luckily I'm a good loser and also Ben was a gracious winner .

I have copped a bit of stick from the punters who backed me and no doubt Monday morning will be an interesting day . The Men in White are filthy and I might be cleaning out a silo that day .  

But the real pain was felt on the way home to Orange after the race/pub , I was spruiking my personal best time to my wife as she drove , I told her of my supreme effort , my aching muscles , the age difference . 

" He flogged you " she laughed . 

That's pain !

Tracy Middleton is also hurting as she watches me vainly trying to catch up . For her it's Reschs refreshes as it is for Muldoon . Sorry Guys !

If it's any consolation I have never ridden as fast as I did today in the Inaugural AllCost Invitational . My name will not be on the trophy but it is partly named after me . For myself I take victory in that I have never ridden faster than 27km/h on that route but on the day I was over 31km/h .

You know when Olympic athletes console themselves after a loss with the fact they have just performed a PB ?  Well that's me !

To Ben Allcorn go the spoils and deservedly so . He actually backed off at the end so we could go over the line together but I waved him on . I was never close enough to him to justify that gesture but I appreciated it anyway . 

And yeah that's right it's Reschs refreshes for me too . Candy from a baby ...........

 

The Race Day Approaches

The race is on and Renee has won . A baby daughter is the prize and The Chaff wishes the best for Pippa and the new parents . 

It's been a while for me now but I do recall sleepless nights and the rest , every new parent goes through this . I hope Ben experiences this fully and really appreciates this time in his life . No doubt he will be great support to Renee . No time for anything else really .

Of course family and wellwishers will be around to celebrate this momentous occasion and Ben shouldn't hold back . Embrace the moment have a few beers , whisky champagne anything . It's not everyday one has a baby and if you see Ben at the pub , buy him a beer or two . 

From my part , I realize has Bens' commitments right now and for that reason , I have decided to ride my own bike in the race . Relieve the pressure on him you know . That way he can concentrate on the baby knowing I'm going to be riding my jalopy . No need to train anymore DAD . 

Truth is Brendans bike is way too sophisticated for me , I can't do justice to it in such a short time and anyway some guys have hinted to me that perhaps I am cheating riding the flash bike . Nigel in particular lived up to his nickname in pointing this out to me . 

So this leaves the race finely poised , Ben and I had a bit of a trial run a week or so ago , he surprised me with his strength and climbing ability . It was a bit cat and mouse but I probably just shaded him on fitness but I reckon there is nothing in it . It will come down to who handles the day better .

The tactics will be interesting on the day , will Ben take off ? Will I manage to stay with him for the first brutal climb ? If we are neck and neck at the end will Ben have enough to keep me at bay ? These questions and more will be answered this Saturday 28th Nov 2009 . The first AllCost Invitational . 

11am we take off from the railway crossing near the Bowlo ride to Cudal and then the Monument and back to Manildra to  finish at the second 60km sign before the roadworks . We will then have a couple of beers at the pub . This will be about 12.30pm . 

 

The System Works

Like I said before , the system works . This has been a long drawn saga but we have got there . 

This has been a full on year , there is no denying . All sorts of issues have contributed to the delay in creating this EBA . But at the end of the day , we are triumphant ! 

No I'm actually joking because that's not how it feels . No victory dances here , just a quiet satisfaction that we stuck together in a civilized way to obtain our due . What we perceived to be our due ! 

Perception is everything , and this EBA has been a watershed for the employees at Manildra . I think that Management made a mistake and misread the mood of the workforce . The ensuing fall out resulted in increased Union membership and significant support from the NUW .

I suspect never again will we be fractured like in the past . 

One of our delegates mentioned " playing the game " and unfortunately he is right , Management negotiated by the tried and tested ways of the past when this time a more nuanced response was required .

It was not forthcoming and for the future the bosses are going to be saddled with an organized and united workforce . 

Having said that , I must point out that Brunners and Chillers were polite and civil throughout , even sometimes in the face of hotheadedness from our side . So fair go , they played the game even perhaps when they were not calling the shots .

Another unintended consequence has been the renewal of the Delegate ranks where we have a nicely balanced team . Special mention to Spence for his commitment , Muldoon for his drive and courage , Mick Gibbo for his smarts and organizational ability . 

Bob Kizana has put in a long innings as delegate and has bowed out . Many many employees have benefitted from his time as delegate , including me ! Thanks Bob .

There are a couple of things to iron out before the EBA is bedded down , including an important meeting where we officially vote on the four per cent . Last meeting we voted but that doesn't count , Garry Cripps will be present on the 9th Dec for a proper vote .

We need everyone to come along because the number of votes is officially recorded by Fairwork Australia . Even though we have a result , please come and vote . It's quite important .

Also every employee should get a copy of the EBA around that time . The idea is that everyone reads it before the document becomes official on the 14th . Any concerns or clarification please let us know .

This is a great thing . Believe me the previous EBA was hard to get a copy of . 

Now we have a new era and congratulations to the workforce at Manildra . In spite of the longevity of the process we have just endured , it has been to our immense benefit .  

 

Bigger than Ben Hur

Ben Allcorn is doing my head in . 

He's going to pay on the 28th Nov . The first AllCost Invitational .

So named because one must win at all costs . 

I propose a regular event because the interest in this race is enormous . The winner to take on another challenger within three months . 

To those who are punting on me , whoa , that's a big responsibility . Steady on . I don't want to put people out of pocket .

On second thoughts put your house on it . 

I can't believe how competitive Allcorn is . He is a freak . Hats off to him I respect that . 

Really though , who did he think he was challenging ?  Some person who was going to roll over ?  

I'm not Jenny Craig . He can lose weight the hard way , eating my dust .

Admittedly when I accepted the challenge I didn't expect this level of intensity but it's bringing out the best in me and thank you to Ben for making me take the next step in my riding experience .

To those who are backing me , I don't promise to win ! But I will give it my best shot . I will leave nothing on the route or the bike . Yes the bike .........well I didn't expect Brendan to say yes , perhaps I put him on the spot . I don't know but it is a most generous gesture and I intend to take advantage of it .

You see it's serious , win at all cost because that is how Ben has framed it and that is how I'm going to respond . I've arranged for a sniper to shoot Ben in the leg as we pass the Monument , that's when I'm going to make my move .

That's my strategy , Carrera and Winchester !

Also before I forget , I have a message for Mrs Allcorn . 

Renee don't you think you need more support around the house at the moment ? Isn't Ben spending way too much time on his bike at the moment ? 

The thing is I'm worried about Mrs Allcorn all alone at home , fully pregnant , while the father of the story rides around like a maniac .  She should put a stop to it !

There are some things more important than a stupid bike race . I'm hearing you Renee . 

Garry Cripps

We have a meeting 11th November with Management . Everybody is looking forward to it .

I'm certain everything will be resolved on this date otherwise it's going to interfere with my cycling training . 

Actually thank you Garry Cripps for giving me something else to think about , apart from Big Bike .

So for all those anxiously waiting for something to happen , it's going to be the 11th when Management give us the 4% . Or their latest offer !

Really though , you wouldn't imagine there is going to be any more fucking about . The last Union meeting produced a vote that left nothing in doubt . Democracy spoke and it was unanimous . The only person who didn't put their hand up shouldn't have been there in the first place .

It was very good to have Garry address the troops and on behalf of the membership here , let me thank Garry for his effort . His plate was full anyway but he undertook many trips from Sydney to nut this out .

I thought his visits to Gunnedah and Nerrandera were courteous and important . They are our brothers in all of this and we thank them for their support .

Regardless what happens on the 11th , the new EBA is an improved version of what has become before and gives us something solid to work with for the next negotiation . We start that one the day after we finish this one . Just kidding but that's how it's going to feel .

Manildra wanted a two year agreement and we are prepared to give them that as long as we get the ............ you  know ! We all bloody know . Let's just do it .

On a tangent slightly , my best friend in the whole world , is an extremely talented artist , his computer skills can be seen on such films as Happy Feet , 300 , The Matrix and many more . You would think he earns more than me wouldn't you ? 

Actually he earns less and when he is brought in on a tight deadline to do seven sixteen hour shifts in a row . He doesn't get a cracker extra .

The reason ?  No Union you see . We are privileged to have the benefit of who have become before us in the struggle between workers and bosses . And Garry is part of that process as is the NUW . Thanks to them for their support . 

I haven't forgotten Nigel Livingstone either , a really good bloke who I hope to welcome back soon . The delegates are vitally important , the time they put in is their own .  

With help from Manildra also , they facilitate the Union process . So the system works , well done to all .

So bring on the 11th .