MIVA 20km individual time trial, Nanaimo River Road. 120809 Temp.:25 C., sunny, Wind: gentle breeze.

Another fast evening with a number of the participants posting personal best times. The top four riders were all very fast only forty-two seconds separating them.

Then there was a four minute gap until the next fastest but this gap will doubtless get smaller as more riders start to train specifically for time trialling.

Top woman was Janna Gillick, with a sub thirty-three minute ride, just over half a minute outside her best time, placing fifth overall. It was great to see two youth riders – Abigail and Aiden Hare – do their first twenty kilometre t.t., both posting respectable times for their ages.

Thanks to Simon Kubacki for doing a great job as holder, and to the Gilmore kids for counting down to each start in both English and French (adds that Europe flavour)

Next week is a twenty km. Two person team time trial. I suspect that the first two teams may both break twenty-six minutes so come out and cheer everyone on.

We'll be starting out at the Tim Horton's in Chase River on Monday night. The ride will start with a bit of a climb out to White Rapids Road, but the remainder of the ride will be flat with a few rollers as we head out towards Cassidy. Arrive a few minutes early. Ride departs at 6:30PM sharp. No drop format but ride will be >30km. Everyone prepared for that distance welcome. http://goo.gl/maps/poNMO

There is a BC Masters upcoming road race Saturday, August 18, 1 p.m. starting and finishing in the town of Lake Cowichan. This event, open to riders 30 and older, is 65 km on quiet country roads and includes (two times) a substantial climb. Because of the quiet, challenging course, many riders return year after year.  The race is staged by the BC Masters Cycling Association and directed by (MIVA member) Dave Steen. All riders and volunteer marshals/judges are welcome. For more, call Dave at 250 246-3530. Editor's note: This event is well worth considering.

MIVA ARBUTUS MEADOWS CRITERIUM 120807 For the first time in more than two years, the MIVA Tuesday criterium was held on a new course.  Arbutus Meadows Equestrian Centre just south of Parksville has hosted a number of sports including indoor soccer,  moto-cross, BMX  and, of course, horse  jumping but this is the first time that a road cycling event has been held at the centre.  The management recently had a 620 metre oval dirt trail paved. The resulting  circuit is ideal for criteriums, having both sharp and gentle  corners, a good stiff rise and a great finishing straight just off the oval..

Both the youth and senior events went off without a hitch and there were many positive comments about the new location. The riders liked the safe nature of the course and the variety it provided. The organiser also loved the fact tha there were no cones or warning signs to put out (eat your heart out Midweek!) and no permit needed.

In the youth race, the wide variance in age, experience and ability resulted in a lead group of six riders pulling away from the rest of the  participants. This was eventually whittled down to four riders who lapped the rest. This quartette contested the final sprint, with James Grant just beating Brodie Hay, with fellow CU  members Mark Grant and Jessica Reynolds taking third and fourth.

The senior race turned out to be similar, with a  group of six riders lapping the rest of the field. However, with fifteen laps to go, Rob Russell rode  of the front of the lead pack who simply watched him take a few seconds per lap without any serious chase being organised. Rob stayed away and eventually took the chequered flag twenty-two seconds clear.  The dash for second was won by Andrew Grant, a Courtenay  junior who has recently resumed racing after a brief hiatus. The next two places were filled by Andrew Attwell and Trevor Perkins who are both new to the MIVA criterium series.

After the races,  Arbutus Meadows manager  Rob Bau indicated that MIVA would be welcome at the centre for the balance of the season. The fact that he is a regular competitor in the criterium series could have something to do with this!

No ride tonight - most of us are off and hopefully got a ride in already. See you next week in Chase River for a tour out to Cedar.