2 December 2024
Winning the gravity enduro and landing fourth in downhill had Chief Petty Officer Cameron Schmid awarded overall gravity champion at the ADF National Cycling Carnival south of Melbourne in November.
However, he missed out on defending the cross-country title due to his flight being delayed.
While Chief Petty Officer Schmid couldn’t practise in the You Yangs, he felt primed after competing in the AUSCycling Mountain Bike National Series the week before in Perth, placing 10th despite a broken chain.
The association’s XC representative cherished the new location, finding the granite sand easier compared to Perth’s pea-gravel tracks.
“Most people found it quite slippery, if they’re east-coast riders. I would have liked it to rain more as the granite rock would have been easy to grip,” Chief Petty Officer Schmid said.
Hitting the red line for nearly 60 seconds while concentrating on technique, passing and breathing to avoid feeling ‘gassed’ before the finish, is the intensity of BMX racing.
The association’s BMX representative Leading Seaman Andrew Pye said it was a crowd favourite and had become more competitive in the past three years.
With about 40 competitors at the Wyndham track, the last race of the day was the decider.
Tied with Leading Aircraftman Lachlan Willis on four points apiece, Leading Seaman Pye eventually edged him out by two seconds.
“Lachlan’s been my closest competitor. We tied in third last year and this year I knocked him off. He obviously put some practice in during the off-season,” Leading Seaman Pye said.
This year was the largest field of people riding a BMX and not ‘dirt jumpers’.
At 190.5cm tall and riding a 20-inch wheel – less forgiving but faster off a start than the 24-inch – Leading Seaman Pye has to turn his legs relatively fast while sucking up jumps and hurdles.
'If you ride a bike, even those commuting, we encourage you to come along. It’s open to everyone, not just elite-level riders and it’s a good way to network.'
It takes a lot of finesse to get through the track without coming off, according to Leading Seaman Pye.
He said more than strong legs was needed, including skills in cornering, jumping and maintaining speed.
The clearance diver started BMX seven years ago to help bond with his son, then aged three, in between deployments and tasks.
He also competed in cross-country and gravity enduro, and has represented Defence at NSW BMX state titles.
Avid road cyclist Petty Officer Leo Baumgartner said the carnival surrounded him with other passionate riders.
The imagery specialist won the individual time trial and placed fifth in road and criterium in his masters age group.
“I definitely learned a lot. Just speaking to others and getting coaching was really valuable,” Petty Officer Baumgartner said.
Cycling for 10 years, Petty Officer Baumgartner was keen to give amateur racing a crack.
“Anyone who is looking to do cycling for ADF, it’s a really good opportunity if you haven’t been involved in that kind of environment,” he said.
“It’s is a great place to start to explore the world of competitive cycling.”
All riding disciplines are available, and Leading Seaman Pye recommended getting applications in as early as possible.
“If you ride a bike, even those commuting, we encourage you to come along. It’s open to everyone, not just elite-level riders and it’s a good way to network,” he said.
The next carnival is planned for Canberra late next year. The association also supports entry into races around Australia. Further information can be found on ForceNet or by emailing australiandefence.forcecycling@defence.gov.au
ADF National Cycling Overall Champions
Gravity (combined Downhill and Gravity Enduro)
Male 1st – Chief Petty Officer Cameron Schmid; 2nd – Craftsman Jack Elder; 3rd – Sapper Daniel Bates.
Female 1st – Corporal Sarah Booth (RAAF); 2nd – Sergeant Jess Nicholson (RAAF); 3rd – Flight Lieutenant Anita Webb.
Cross Country (combined XCC and XCO)
Male 1st – Leading Aircraftman Thomas Crigan; 2nd – Chief Petty Officer Cameron Schmid; 3rd – Corporal Andrew Sleeman (Army).
Female 1st – Corporal Kym Lynch (Army); 2nd – Flight Lieutenant Melinda Cannavo; 3rd – Sergeant Ashleigh Waldeck (Army).
Road (combined Road, ITT and Criterium)
Male 1st – Private Will Clarke; 2nd – Lance Corporal James Langedyk; 3rd – Corporal Sean Smith.
Female 1st – Corporal Kym Lynch (Army).
