Another beauty evening for a TT, with a slight headwind on the way out and tailwind on the way back.  Tonight we had another huge turnout, with 24 riders out for the 20k TT.  Full results via webscorer available here. In the Youth Female category, Meghan Gillmore pushed hard tonight to edge out Abigail Hare by 1 minute.. after Abigail bested her last week by 47 seconds.   In the Youth Male category, Ian Gillmore beat Aiden Hare, averaging a faster speed over a longer distance than last week. The youth categories should have some great friendly rivalries this year!

In the Female category, Janna Gillick set a new PB and womens course record for the 20k with a smokin 31:56.  Lorrie and Kiyomi held onto the same spots as last week in 2nd and 3rd.  Deb Epps made her season debut on her slick new bike and will only get faster and faster.  Colleen Wtorek made her triumphant comeback to the TT with a solid time, as did Sandy Przada.  Carole Phee also put the pedal down and upped her average speed over last week.

In the Male category, Nick Kupiak continued his assault on his own PBs, going 2 for 2 this season after winning with a 29:36 over the 20k.  Thats an average of 40.5km/hr, on a course with huge elevation gain.  Patrick 'Steam Train' Burnham also upped his average on last week coming in 2nd with a 31:05, and Justin Mark rounded out the podium with a 31:25 averaging over 38 km/hr.  Matthys Redelinghuys put in one of his best TT's ever with a 34:01, while Simon Menno Jim and Ross all rode their first TT of the season and shook the rust off as well.  Best crowd support goes to Lee Zavarise's family who set up shop with cowbells and cheered him in, great to see!  After only 2 weeks its impressive to see everyones speeds going up already, with Mike Gill, Ian Drown, Murray Walters, and Jason Hare all moving up.

Thank you to Pure Chiropractic for supplying fresh cut oranges and banana for post race!  It was like being a kid after soccer or hockey practice again.  Also thank you to Don Gillmore for acting as the holder for the starters.

Next week we go to 15k, registration open at 630pm, race starts at 700pm.  Note this is half hour later than our first two TT's, or just show up super early thats ok too.  We are trying out pre reg for this one, you can sign on with the webscorer link here, you don't pay anything (its just like our spin class sign ups).  You can enter your name, category, cycling bc (if you dont have it, just write 'not yet'), miva yes/no, and estimated 15k time.  This will streamline our registration process and keep your wait minimal to get racing.  Humour me and try it out this week, lets see how it works.

VOLUNTEERS!  If anyone can come volunteer it would be greatly appreciated.  I think I drove about 80k tonight back and forth back and forth to set up the signs/cones and take it all down.  A turnaround marshall would be great, as well as anyone who can spot racers on their way in for me to input times quicker.  And if you're interested in timing (many survey respondents answered yes) I'd be happy to suffer for a TT while you time (don't need to know webscorer, you can do it old school)

A number of big road events are often preceded byy a sprint competition among the riders. This year, MIVA, in cooperation with the new Nanimo Velodrome Association, is organising a weekly sprint series on Maxey Road, just off East Wellington.The format will be a double knockout competition, with 2, 3 or 4 person heats, the winner going through to the next round and the rest going to a repechage for a second chance to qualify. The specific format will depend on the number of competitors but everyone will be able to participate in 3 sprints. Further information from pakamac@gmail.com

What a great night for a bike race, and what a season opener!  23 (!) riders came out to hammer away on the 15k course, the first this season in the Oak Bay Bikes TT Series. In the Female division, Janna Gillick ripped a 24:24, 25 seconds off of her season opening 15k last year.  Lorrie Baildham came in a minute and a half later fresh off a week long cycling camp in California with cohort Kiyomi Schulz.  Kiyomi took off, but a couple K after starting flatted out.  She limped her bike back to the start, we got her tire changed (thanks for the tube Justin) and she restarted.  Didn't phase her as she finished in 27:05 for her first ever time trial.  Mary Hulti came out for her first ever TT also, not knowing what to expect, but rode a great race, as did Carole Phee who rode in 12 TTs last season alone.

In the Male Division, last years TT points champ Patrick Burnham came in 3rd with a 23:33, cutting 2.5 minutes off last years debut!  Tonight's fastest time went to Don Gillmore with a 21:48, and second place to Nicolas Kupiak with a 22:15.  In Nick's only other TT last year he rode 23:49, hard work and lots of riding pays off.  Justin Mark rode a fast 23:56, and Sean De Pol a 25:19 to round out the top 5.  From 6th to 14th the race was seperated by only a couple minutes and change, with some great efforts!  Jude Wilhelmsen's TT debut was a good one as he maxed himself out and is already looking ahead to next weeks.  Mike McCarney edged Jason Hare out by a scant 1.3 seconds in the tightest battle of the day, Jason and his bionic hand will be ready next week though.

In the Youth Female Division, Meghan Gillmore edged out Abigail Hare...while in the Youth Male Division Aiden Hare clocked a fast 32:45 (seconds off a PB in opening night!) just ahead of Ian Gillmore with 34:11.

The full results list is here via Webscorer.  Thanks again for making opening night such a success.  It was great to see so many racers stick around post race socializing (there shall be fruit next race!  Or cookies, who wants to bring cookies?).  To check your old times here are the 2014 Results, expand your name to see a full list for that season.

Nice to see many people take advantage of the seasons pass option this year for MIVA.  For just $50 you are covered for all entries for 14 TTs, 12 Crits, 5 hill climbs, and all cross clinics.  Huge value!

Many thanks to Peter McCaffery for setting up the course and being the turnaround marshall. Always a great volunteer, word is he'll be doing a few TT's this season too!

Note: next week, anyone who rides to the TT goes right after the youth starters in the start list.  A few hardy souls rode over the hills to get to the start then had to wait til their spot, apologies.  Next week is a 20k, and again registration is 600pm, race starts at 630pm.

Parting shot:

Starting April 27th until about July, Mike McCarney will be leading a "beginners group ride" for MIVA.  Come on out for our Monday night beginner rides.  We will meet at the NE corner of the parking lot at the NAC (Aquatic Center), departing at exactly 6pm (don't pull up at 6:01pm), riding about a 20km route out Jingle Pot.

These rides are at an easy going pace (20-24km/hr) and have a strict no drop policy. If you come out and hammer off the front you will buy "beverages" for the group afterwards:) Until further notice, we will ride the same 20k route so that riders get familiar and comfortable with the route. This is the proposed route for now http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6558687.

We will instruct riders on how to ride safely and responsibly in a paceline configuration. This will be explained and practiced so that everyone gains skills and confidence in group riding. Each week different riding techniques and skills will be introduced.

Participants must be members of MIVA and Cycling BC (any license/membership).  Cycling BC allows for 2 trial rides before commit to a membership.  The form is Trial Ride Release of Liability Waiver, please have this signed and bring it with you to Mike for the start of the ride.