In order to introduce new members, riders unfamiliar with road racing and veterans requiring a refresher on criterium etiquette and safety, MIVA will be hosting a clinic prior to the first crit of the season. Even if you don't intend to race the criterium, attending the session will help improve your group riding and bike handling skills. Please join us! Clinic starts at 6:00PM sharp. Riders should arrive with their road bike, dressed and ready to ride.

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MIVA Criterium Clinic Agenda

Prerequisites - All riders should understand the basics of group riding, including bike handling, riding close to others and drafting.

Goals

- To explain the basics of crit races, making it less intimidating for newer riders.

- To have rules and etiquette understood, making it safer for all.

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Introductions (by the sign-on table near Longwood Brewery, Boxwood Road)

- Names, experience, goals.

Criterium Safety (by the sign-on table)

- No sudden movements or braking, hold your line

- No overlapping wheels

- No passing inside the corner (eg. diving, cutting)

- No crossing the (real or imaginary) yellow or white lines

- Making contact (stay calm)

- Maintain 100% focus

Criterium Rules (Roll over to the start/finish area)

- Explain lap count, lap board, bell, intermediate sprints, etc.

- Lapped riders - can continue riding but should not contest any of the sprints.

- Yellow line rule, neutralized race

Preparing for a Criterium (Roll through a couple of slow laps, stopping to discuss)

- Reviewing the course

- What to look for: hills, sharp corners, furniture, etc

- Explain need to try corners and finish sprint at race pace

Cornering (Meredith & Tulsa)

- Single file

- Brake early, if necessary

- Inside foot up, weight on outside foot

- Look through the turn

- Wide in/tight out, with acceleration.

- Demo rider (if available)

Positioning (Back at Start-Finish area)

- Understanding how the pack moves

- Where to be. (ie.: front, middle, back of pack)

- closing gaps, defending your position

- finding a good wheel

- watching body language, reading the race

Sean De Pol has set up a volunteer signup system for the Coal City Cycles Criterium series, as well as the Rock City Cycles Time Trial Series. As with all MIVA events, nothing happens without a LOT of volunteering from a core group of individuals. Sean’s system should help people to pre plan what races they can lend a hand at.

Coal City Cycles Crit Series: This year Peter has agreed to train the incoming timer (it could be you) for a few crits and lend his expertise, thankfully.

Please click on the link  to fill in what dates you can do any of the positions such as timekeeper, course marshall (4), or registration. The entire season is set up in the system, meaning when you have a week you may not be racing, or are tapering for a big weekend race, it would be appreciated if you can fill in. The survey results from MIVA told us more crit races were wanted, so we listened. With this comes the risk of volunteer burnout if its the same folk week after week.

Rock City Cycles TT Series The timing system for the TT’s is using Webscorer (tap the racers name on the ipad as they finish). MIVA will have it set up ahead of time. We will need a timekeeper, turn around marshall, and spotter/holder at start/finish line to help the event go as smooth as possible. Again if you have a race on the weekend, or are injured (hope not), these are weeks we would love to have you come out to help. Sign up link here!

FREE MIVA water bottle for volunteering!

MIVA is proud to introduce the 2016 Criterium Series, proudly sponsored by Coal City Cycles. The series will start on April 12th with a clinic and a short criterium. The first official race of the series will be April 19th and will conclude on July 26th, 2016. Location

All races will be held at the Boxwood Circuit.

Registration and Sign-on

April 12, 19 & 26 - Registration and sign-on starts at 6PM. Race start time is 6:30PM.

May 3 to July 26  - Registration and sign-on starts at 6:30PM. Race start time is 7PM.

Beginner Clinic

All MIVA members, male and female, are encouraged to attend a beginners clinic hosted by Janna Gillick on April 12th. The clinic will cover the basics of criterium racing, including rules, etiquette, safety, strategies, drafting, cornering and sprinting. Skills and techniques covered in the clinic will be applicable to other forms of cycling including cyclocross and Gran Fondos, so all riders are encouraged to attend.

Race Fees & Cycling BC $5 per race $50 for seasons pass Every racer MUST have a Cycling BC membership of some sort, bring your card with you. CyclingBC gives you 2 free club rides/races before you have to take out a membership, there is a waiver to fill out to use this feature if you’re unsure of getting into racing. As Norm says with Cross On The Rock: bring your CyclingBC card no exceptions.

Volunteers We will need volunteers! Four traffic controllers are needed each race. Email to miva.president@gmail.com to get on the list. With family commitments and other pursuits, MIVA as a club will have to step up this year to run the events.

Cancellations In case of extreme weather, MIVA will make the final call on cancelling the criterium a minimum 2 hours before race start time. Announcement via bikeracing.ca, twitter, and facebook will publish this info.

CRIT COMMITTEE! If you can help MIVA plan/setup/run the Crits this season please email us at miva.president@gmail.com

The Boxwood Route is a go.

First crit is Tuesday April 12th, until end of July. 16 in total. MIVA really needs a committed group to continue the success that many have built over the years. Peter will be assisting the first few races to train whoever can become the new timer/official

The Crit group just needs to meet once before the season to review responsibilities, tasks, and gear. Thank you to Peter McCaffery, Sean de Pol, and Iain Hay for offering help to date....but we need more!

The 2015 Crit series has come to a close, thank you again to our sponsor Industrial Plastics and Paint for your support this year. The results are located here MIVA Criterium Scoring (FINAL)

Nick Kupiak took home his first Crit series title with a dominating season.  The previous winners of this award have been Warren Muir, Ian Smith, Justin Mark, and Iain Hay.  Second place went to the ever improving Brodie Hay, and third to Sean DePol (who rode every race!).

Janna Gillick took home her 4th Crit title with a convincing points lead over second place Angelina Landry (in her first crit seasn) and Jessica Reynolds rounded out the podium.

Evan Luksay and Abigail Hare led the youth categories.

Over our 12 race season, we had 50 different riders come out, and 186 "races raced".  The average number or crit racers on any given night was 17.  Record turnout was 28!

Special thank you to Peter McCaffery for timing the crits, to Iain Hay (and crew) for volunteering/setup/takedown every race, to Janna Gillick for compiling the scoring for the series, and to all of you volunteers who came out to keep our rides safe.  THANK YOU to all of you racers who came out week after week to keep building up the Crit series.

We're already looking forward to next year, and looking for input from all of you.  Look for a survey coming next week, we want to hear from you.