MIVA CYCLO-CROSS CLINICS AND EVENING EVENTS For the second year MIVA is organising a series of cyclo-cross clinics and weekly races. The clinics will focus on cornering, dismounting and remounting, negotiation of artificial and natural obstacles including stairs, running with the bike, cross camber technique, pacing yourself over the course of a forty-five minute to one hour race.

Each 45 minute clinic will be followed by a half hour race in the same location.

The location is the BMX track area in Beban Park, just off Labieux Road.

SCHEDULE

DATE	TIME	CLINIC
Sept. 11th. (Tuesday)	6.00pm – 7.30pm	Barriers and other obstacles
Sept. 20th. (Thursday)	6.00pm – 7.15pm.	Dismount, Run, Remount
Sept. 27th. (Thursday)	5.45pm – 7.15pm	Cornering, use of gears
Oct. 4th. (Thursday)	5.30pm – 7.00pm	Cross camber riding Pacing, Review

NB: There is a $5 fee for each clinic. Those wishing to do the race only will also pay the fee. To meet insurance requirements, all participants must be full or associate members of MIVA. Associate memebrship is $10. Membership applications will be available at the clinics.

Andrew Grant, who will be riding for MIVA next season has been selected to ride for the BC provincial team in the National Junior Track Championships in Dieppe. The club is helping Andrew out with his expenses by giving him a $400 grant. Entry fees the members have paid for the MIVA time trial and criterium series this season have enabled the club to do this. Thanks to all of you for making this possible.

Remember, for the criterium and time trial series competitions, ONLY those  who have ridden at least five events in either series will be able to qualify for the contest(s). There are still three events in either series so come out and work on your five events.

Two of the MIVA riders did well this week. First, at the Organic Athlete Omnium at the Juan de Fuca velodrome in Victoria, Cadet rider Brodie Hay came third overall in the C category. He completed the two day event by winning the scratch race. At the BC Masters CA Cowichan Lake Road Race on Saturday, Ian Smith won his category and came second overall to winner Derek Tripp.

Congratulations to both.

Any MIVA members who do well in any of the provincial events, please contact the editor with story and photos.The membership likes to read about members' successes.

Our  two up team time trial is next Thursday. Here are some excellent training tips from Robbie Ventura, ex pro team member, T de F commentator  and coach. Think about these  and get some practice with your team mate in the days before the race. If this is not possible,arrange to get up to Nanaimo River Road earlier than usual next Thursday and spend some time practising there.This is the last team time trial of the year , and all MIVA members  should try to participate! One of the greatest benefits to being a MIVA member is the ability to try new things and push yourself to a new level, and this is a fantastic opportunity to do that!!

1. Communicate Communication is by far the most important thing you need to do. “Slow down, I can’t keep up.” “My legs feel great; how about yours?” Constantly talk to each other and monitor how each of you are feeling and whether the pace is working for both of you. HELP EACH OTHER OUT. Praise each other for good pulls, particularly in the wind. Talk, talk, talk, talk.

2. Wind Always, always, always —- be aware of wind direction, particularly after a turn. Find the “sweet spot” behind your partner or to his/her right or left.

3. Stay Together Time is measured based upon the second rider crossing the line. Finishing 30 seconds ahead of your partner may be wonderful for your ego, but is terrible for your results. Stay together on the straight-aways; stay together on the turns. Turns are critical; you can lose precious seconds re-grouping. Smooth acceleration out of the turns. Remember the person behind you needs to stay on your wheel. Ride very very close to the wheel in front of you. Inches make a difference in energy saved.

4. Adjust One minute is a good amount of time to stay in front. However, it may very well be that one of you is stronger on the day of the race; it might even be the one who is normally not as strong; the body is different from day to day. Let the stronger cyclist pull LONGER, not harder or faster; let the slower cyclist pull shorter.

5. Leave your ego in the car It is called a “team time trial.” You both need to finish together. It makes no difference that one of you pulled for a longer total period of time than the other; it is your finishing time that counts.

6. Get behind your partner as fast as possible When rotating positions, the faster you get do it, the less you are hanging out in the wind. Stay tight, not just front to back but side to side when you are rotating positions. Don’t swing out real wide; stay close. If you are in the back during a turn, make certain that your partner knows that you are still there. If you have fallen off during a turn or otherwise, scream out so that your partner waits for you.

7. Have fun Individual time trials can be psychological hell. Team time trials, are an absolute blast. Enjoy yourself. Not many people in the world can do this.

Ciao~ Robbie

Intro. paraphrased from Robbie's article.