We all look at the profiles of the mountain stages in the Giro d'Italia and try to compare the climbs with local steep hills. Here is a great video of stage 10 climbs that really puts things into perspective.

Bike to work week is just around the corner – come join some of our lead up events and join other cyclists to embrace a cleaner, healthier, and cheaper means of commuting... Form a group at work or school and enter for the most kilometers logged.

 Tuesday May 14

North End Community Ride starting at Chapters Starbucks, 5 pm

• Friday, May 24

South End Community Ride and Commuter Challenge at Diana Krall Plaza, 5 pm

• May 27 – May 31

Bike to Work Week Celebration Stations throughout the city at various locations and times and daily at our local bike stores throughout the week. Enter to win daily prizes and our grand prizes.

• Friday May 31, 4-7 pm

Wrap-up BBQ at Country Club Mall. Join us for entertainment, bike polo, great company with other riders, mini tune-ups and lots of prizes, including the draw of our grand prizes, a 2013 Kona “Dew” mountain bike from Oak Bay Bikes and a loaf of bread weekly from Cobs Bread

For more info and to register:

http://www.biketowork.ca/nanaimo  “

Womens' event
15 laps points criterium
points every 5 laps (5,3,2) with double points on last lap
The ladies stayed together until the first prime, which was won by
Charlene, coming up the outside of the group. Glenda edged out
Mykelti for second while Jessica sat on the back. Then the14 year
old Vipyrs rider made a strong effort and opened up a
small gap which grew to 15 seconds by the second prime,
which she won comfortably. Charlene had dropped back and
Mykelti and Glenda worked together to try and bring Jessica back,
with Mykelti taking second points in the prime. Jesica was now into
time trial mode and continued to take time out of the rest of the
riders, finiishing first, in 27' 12”, 26 seconds ahead of Mykelti, who
took second place, 3 seconds ahead of Glenda, with Charlene
coming in a further 57 seconds down. Jessica is a fine example
of what a structures road and track programme can do.  Men's / Youth event 30 lap points criterium points every 10 laps (5,3,2) w. Double points last lap The men's event had a total of 19 starters, 3 of them under 17. For the first ten laps, the pack stayed intact, with just 2 of the riders off the pace. The first prime was won by Ian Smith, with Menno Jongsma in second and Steven Struthers third. This trio had been driving the pack and deserved the points. However, in the next lap, Menno opened up a slight gap and was joined by hard man Ian. The pair stay away for the next six laps, at one point having a 12 second advantage but the bunch was now working hard and on Lap 17, the race came together. Then Ray Wagner took a flyer and grabbed an 8 second advantage, with youth riders Brodie Hay and Mark Grant staying with him. The break managed to stay away for the next 3 laps, taking all the second prime points before the pack pulled them back. With 10 laps to go, Ian and Menno again attempted to break clear but they were quickly absorbed. Then CVCC's Ray Wagner, with Brodie Hay in hot pursuit, broke from the pack and gained up to 20 seconds. They held on for a Further 4 laps but, with the finish only 4 laps away, the fast -moving bunch hauled them back and started setting up for the final sprint, with double points up for grabs. Menno led a group Of 6, including Simon Struthers, Ian Smith, Ray Wagner, and youth riders Mark Grant and Brodie Hay who was having a remarkable day. With one lap to go, the race came together but as they came down from the last, fast corner, Ian Smith Brodie and Chris Cameron had again gapped the field and sprinted for the line, with Cameron coming up the outside to edge Smith by half a wheel and Brodie taking a well-deserved third ahead of the remnants of the pack. This was one of the fastest criteriums on the Boxwood circuit and shows that the general standard of riding is improving steadily.  Thanks to volunteers, Larry Reynolds, Steve Grant, Andrea Hunter, Iain Hay, and Al Henderson. These good volunteers helped out at registration, looked after the belland lap board and did a sterling job controlling the vastly increased volume of traffic. Judy Villeneuve took some good photos of the event, here

The deadline for ordering MIVA clothing on-line has been extended to Tuesday,April 23rd. at 11.59pm.  Ordering details here.

Due to the inclement weather, the first time trial of the season ids cancelled. Normally, decision will be made by 4pm .