Just a reminder that tonights cross ride is on.  Meet up at the Nanaimo Ice Center at 6pm for a fun no drop ride on knobby tires.  Tonights ride will be led by the Cross on the Rock Expert Womens winner Carey Mark. Again it is a no drop ride.  The route will head out along Jingle pot across the highway and down to Chris Pratt Field(the field at the intersection of East Wellington and Maxey road)  After a couple of laps (a chance to let the rabbits run) The group will head down Maxey road and cut back up onto the Parkway trail then head back south to explore the trails around Northfield road.

Have fun out there and see you all at either Saturdays Top of the Mountain http://www.crossontherock.com/races/top-of-the-rock-cross/ cross race or next monday.

Building on the idea of Monday Night development rides we are going to be adding a cross group into the mix.  Same idea as the road rides, meet up at the Nanaimo Ice center at 6pm then head out on a no drop loop down Westwood lake Road, a lap or two of Chris Pratt field down Maxey road and into some of the single track to the North of Northfield road and back to the ice center. This will be a chance for people to shake the dust off their cross bikes from last year and find out what they haven't fixed or for newbies to get out and give it a try in a session shorter that 8 hours (Bill)

Bring water and spare tubes.

Everyone is welcome to come out.

After fifteen races, sixty-two racers and countless volunteer hours, the 2016 Coal City Cycles Criterium series wrapped up on July 26. First and foremost, a huge thank you to Peter McCaffery, Patrick Burnham and Mike McCarney who made the series happen. Another thank you to the course marshals who helped keep both the riders and the local motorists safe. (Pretty sure I saw Tony Adema out on Boxwood every week!) Another thank you to the series sponsor, Coal City Cycles located at 1825 Bowen Rd, Nanaimo.  

As expected, the Senior Men's category was the most hotly contested. Winner was Nick Kupiak (Broad Street Cycles), second was James Sage (MIVA) and third was Mike Sevcov (Cycle Therapy). Both Sage and Sevcov are also winners of the attendance award. Neither of them missing a race - an major achievement in and of itself.

In the Junior Men category, MIVA is thrilled to welcome Ayden Houle (MIVA) to the road racing discipline. Houle is an accomplished former BMX racer who, in a very short time, has shown the he can race just as well on pavement. We're looking forward to seeing how he progresses in the sport as he gains more experience. Houle handily won the Junior Men category. Second was James Grant (TAG). Tied for third were Mark Grant (TAG) and Evan Luksay (Trail Bicycles). Kudos to Luksay who suffered a mountain bike injury in spring but was still eager to get back racing.

With just two racers in the Senior Women category, Janna Gillick (ATAC) took the win with Angelina Landry (MIVA) in second place.

Here's hoping that Tuesday's final crit will be an all-out intra-MIVA battle between Lam, Cameron, Burnham and Zavarise for the coveted fourth place podium spot*. With Nick Kupiak (Broad Street Cycles), Ayden Houle (MIVA) and Janna Gillick (Women's Team ATAC) having locked up their titles and James Sage (MIVA) and Mike Sevcov (Cycle Therapy) having sealed silver and bronze, respectively, there isn't much on the line except for the smug feeling of satisfaction the winner will get post-race. * Note that in this era of "your kid is a snowflake / everyone deserves a ribbon / I need to Instagram my 7th place finish for my sponsors", MIVA maintains that a podium consists of the top three riders.

Leaves 6pm from Rock City Cycles! Note from ride leader Angelina: Moving forward, this ride will be structured as a “Drop" ride. The Wednesday rides are a bit of a hammer-fest, but that’s why people love them!!