The third TT of the season goes tomorrow on Nanaimo River Road, with 23 and 24 racers coming out to the first 2 races we expect a good crows yet again.  Registration on site starts at 630pm (half hour later than last week), and the race will go at 7 bells exactly.  Please use the online pre registration link here , it costs you nothing, but it does allow MIVA to set up a start list early as well as keeps you from having to show up early then wait for too long pre race.  If you don't know your Cycling BC number yet, just write 'not yet' in the box. For some pics from last weeks TT visit Red Hare photography here.

See you tomorrow to test yourself against the clock!

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)

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:

MIVA is proud to announce that the 2015 Time Trial Series is sponsored by Oak Bay Bikes Nanaimo.  OBB has been an integral part of the mid island cycling scene for years and even set the foundation for the TT series 7-8 years ago. The 2015 schedule is ready to go, with rack cards on the way still but I wanted to get this out there sooner than later.  The 2015 OBB TT Series will feature 14 TT's on Nanaimo River Road, running from April 30th to July 30th.

In total there will be 6x15k, 5x20k, and 3x40k events.

The cost is $5/event, or you can buy a seasons pass for $50.  The seasons pass covers your entry for all of 2015 into the time trials, crits, hill climbs, and cross clinics!  You can pay the $50 in person, or use Webscorer online by clicking here.  All racers must show a valid CyclingBC card for 2015.

The location is just west of the intersection at South Forks Road and Nanaimo River Road, map here.  For the course elevation please see our TT page here.

Start time is 630pm for the first 2, then with a bit more light we will be starting at 700pm.  Arrive EARLY.  Registration will be open from half hour prior to race start, and closing at 10 minutes to.  The registration can get very hectic so its best to arrive 15-20 minutes early, register, then get a warm up spin before you set off.  The first rider is sent off on time and each racer follows suit at 1 minute intervals.  All timing is done via Webscorer and will be posted.  Results will be posted after the race.  To view the 2014 times click please here, and to view 2013 results click here.

The overall points winner in each category will win the trophy (male, female, youth male, youth female).  There are no age graded results.  The original OBB Wheelers trophy will go to the BAR award winner, that is a racers best time in each distance (15k, 20k, 40k) added together, then divided over 75k to get the overall average speed.  Points are awarded 12pts to the winner, 10pts to 2nd, 9 to 3rd...down to 2pts and then stays at 2pts.  Note that in previous years there was a 'Top 5 scores' award, this does not exist anymore.

Volunteers WILL be needed, so if you'd like to come out please contact MIVA as many of you responded on the survey that you'd like to do turnaround marshall or assist in timekeeping (spotting too).

There will be a bounty award this year for the 40k Course Record.  If you can top Curtis Deardens 52:59, or Janna Gillicks 1:06:05.. you walk away $50 richer!

We're excited to build on a banner 2014 season.  In 2011 we had 128 race entries, in 2012 we jumped to 178.  In 2013 we moved to the new location further west on Nanaimo River Road and hit 258 entries.  Last season was a banner year as 381 race entries eclipsed the old mark.  It was a very social and dedicated group who came out week after week, averaging 20 racers per race.  The TT's are a great way to measure yourself against your previous times, come out week after week and you WILL see your times drop.

Anyone interested in riding a pre season (early April), weekend, 15km time trial on super fast, Grafton Road, Errington. please contact Peter McC at pakamac@gmail.com. If there is sufficient interest, we will set up a date and time.