MIVA holds a number of hill climbs during the year and these short but intense time trials are

becoming increasingly popular with our membership and with other local riders.

The hill climb is perhaps the oldest form of cycling competition. One of the most famous is the Catford hill climb, held on Yorks Hill near London, England. This event has been held continuously since 1887! Here is a video of this year's event, with many of the top British riders competing. Note the gradients!

Perhaps MIVA should consider holding a hill climb on Calder Road next season - that one would rattle most people's fillings! We could also have a couple of massed start hill climbs too. What do readers think about this?

BTW, here is one cyclist's solution to climbing REALLY steep hills!

The Mid Island Velo Association first annual awards night is at the Longwood Brew Pub  at 6.30pm on November 11th. on Turner Avenue in Nanaimo. This is where all our winners for 2011 will be honoured and the assembled multitude will mill around and trade war stories about the club races and recreational? rides.

Although this is a club event,  all local cyclists are invited, so if any of our readers wish to attend, they will be made most welcome.

The 4th event in the MIVA evening cyclo-cross series was not as well attended as the previous ones. However seven participants started the race on the same course as was used last week. Justin Mark surged straight into the lead early in lap one. As they completed the lap, Justin was leading with Kirby Villeneuve close behind. John Lam, Shepherd Stewart and Menno Jonsma were at 15 seconds (good to see you out again, Menno). Rose Houle, the sole woman competitor was riding steadily at 50 seconds and Tim Stokes, who arrived late and chased, was another 40 seconds down.

Mark continued to press and by the end of the second lap (his fastest) was pulling away from the rest of the field, with only Villeneuve able to stay close to him.By this time, the order had been more-or-less set, with Lam at 27 seconds, and Jonsma and Stewart at 31 seconds. Houle was riding her own race and Stokes was dropping steadily back.

On the fourth lap, John came in with a flat, but he pumped up the tire and continued fro another lap when he retired, out of air! Meanwhile, Kirby was holding on to second place but retired in lap 5 as on old injury was hampering him badly. Menno took the opportunity to take over second place with fourth man Shepherd now at 2 minutes.

That's the way it stayed until the beginning of the final lap, when Menno left the race with a lat. At the line, it was Justin Mark an easy winner, completing the 10 laps in a creditable 31' 16". A distant second was Shepherd Stewart a lap and 45 seconds down and third was Tim Stokes, who had avoided flats and mechanical trouble, 2 laps down. Lone woman Rose Houle  completed nine laps in 32' 28"

As the clocks go back at the weekend, the final two events in the series will start at 4.30pm. The membership will be polled a day before each race and the events will only run if there are six confirmed starters.

Apologies for late report as the editor's internet went down (Telus technician error)

MIVA STAGE RACE TECHNICAL GUIDE BCMCA MIVA STAGE RACE

MAY 21-22 2011

TECHNICAL GUIDE

The BCMCA stage race, organised by the Mid Island Velo Association, is a development from past May weekend events, MIVA's predecessor, OBB Wheelers has put on for the last three years and will show the same high level of organisation.

The registration for the stage race and for first two stages is at The Commons, on south side of North Road just past school.

GENERAL REGULATIONS;

1. This is a stage race, and to show in the overall results (general classification) participants must complete all four stages. Those riders who, for any reason, ride three or complete three or less stages, will not show in the G.C.
2. This race is being run under an experimental ability-based format.
3. Times for the prologue stage will be used to separate the riders into three categories.
4. The three categories will start the second stage at five minute intervals. (these intervals may be modified before race day after discussion with BCMCA personnel)
5. Stage two road race is an Australian Pursuit format so the placings will be in the order riders cross the line, regardless of which group they started in.
6. Start order for stage three time trial will be reverse order of general classification after stage two.
7. Presentation of awards will take place after the final criterium on May 22^nd.
8. Age standard points will be awarded based on finishing order in the final general classification.
9. Total entry fee: $30. Fee for each stage if not riding all stages: time trials & criterium: $10 ea, road race $20

STAGES

Stage one

A prologue out-and-back time trial 5.5km in length, on South Road, Gabriola Island.

Start time for first rider is 11.01am on May 21^st.

Only regular road bikes may be used. No time trial bikes or aero equipment permitted for this stage.

Stage two

A 75km road race on three laps of a 25km circuit round Gabriola Island. First group starts at 2.00pm on May 21^st. Any riders who are lapped before the finish will be pulled and given a time based on when they were lapped.

There will be a KOM (King of the Mountain) time bonus of three seconds for first two laps for each category. The time bonus on the last lap will be for the first rider, regardless of category.

There will be time bonuses of 9, 6, and 3 seconds for the top three finishers.

Stage three

A fifteen km out-and back time trial on Nanaimo River Road. First rider starts at 10.01am on May 22^nd.

Only regular road bikes may be used. No time trial bikes or aero equipment permitted for this stage.

Stage Four

A 40 minute plus 5 lap criterium on the Boxwood Road circuit in Nanaimo. The first race will start at 2.00pm

Each category will compete in a separate race. In the event of low numbers, categories may be combined.

There will be time bonuses of 6,4, and2 seconds for top three finishers in each event.

Lapped riders may be left in at the commissaire's discretion.

If lapped riders are pulled, they will be given a stage time based on when they were lapped.

INFORMATION

Ferry Information:

Ferry Sailing times pre race on May 21st.

8.15am, 9.30am

Return ferry after stage two

6.10pm, 7.30pm

Ferry charges (include out and return):

vehicle $22,50 +2.50 per additional foot over 20 ft.

Passenger $9.50 plus $2.00 for bicycle

Parking, Nanaimo:

Free parking near the Nanaimo Gabriola ferry terminal:

Port Mall, Access from Front Street opposite terminal

Municipal parking under conference centre. Access from Front Street

Parking Gabriola:

Free parking at event headquarters: The Commons on south side of North Road just past school

Food and Meals:

www.villagefoodmarket.ca

www.gabriolaisland.worldweb.com/RestaurantsBars

The Commons has a terrace and indoor rooms where you can take your own food.

The MIVA cyclo- cross clinics and incorporated races have proved to be so popular that the club has decided to put on two more Thursday evening races after this week's final clinic and competition.  The extra thirty minute events will be on November 10th. and 17th., starting at 4.45pm pacific standard time. Venue will be the Beban Park BMX track. This week's clinic will be a quick review of he past three weeks and then the race will start at 5.pm.