MIVA member Bill McMillan sent this interim report from the Cross on the Rock final in Mechosin

" I can tell you it was a mudfest. 14% DNF, at least 10 derailleurs torn off. The course incorporated a lap of a motocross track that turned from frozen to sloppy

upy mud as the racing progressed. I was happy with my 4th place, best finish of my injury plagued season. A minute ahead of me was Robert James Russell . I liked Rob's comment: " I want to move to Expert, so I can comfortably race in the middle of the pack with minimal pressure to win."  The podium in the masters series was decided on the final day, with each of the top guys suffering from the stress. Shepherd Stewart ran a good race, as did Ron Hewitson. Iain Hay succumbed to the mud :)"

One of the MIVA directors just sent me information on an interesting programme becoming very popular in many communities. It's called "Bicycle Friendly"  Here's a You tube video outlining the programme.

There is now a link to the Bicycle  Friendly  web site on our links list.

The MIVA board of Directors will be discussing the possible implementation of this exciting programme in the mid island region.

Cycling BC sent a request to over 1500 candidates for the forthcoming local elections across the province regarding their support for any/all forms of cycling. Here are their replies. Please note that MIVA does not specifically support any of the candidates named in the list but wants to make our BC readers aware of  their cycling interests.

Following the first tour of our season, Alberto Pena will set off to establish a record as the fastest man across the island, “Trans Cuba”. A one man race against time, he is on a mission to set a record from one end of the island to the other. Something along the lines of the Land’s End to John O’Groats in the UK or RAM in the States. We are novice at this type of ride but our man Alberto is a very good rider and with our little band of volunteers we plan to depart Baracoa at 9am on December 16th with hopes of a nice trade wind in his favour. The route to Cabo San Antonio is shorter than our 12 day sportif ride (Held in November) of the same name, this because we do not need hotels and are using the autopista from Santa Clara to just south of Havana. We hope to set a high benchmark and then look for challengers. This all started over a few beers but Alberto got the bit in his mouth and then it was for real. Even our bus driver has taken holidays to drive the support car. With help from many cycling friends up in Canada, Mike Cervone, Steve Bauer, Liberty Cycles and BikeFit, Dan Miron to name a few and the Cuban clubs along the route, we are good to go. Cyclists are a crazy bunch!

British newspaper columnist and cycling aficionado David Walsh and french reporter Pierre Ballester,  co-authored "L. A. Confidential" a damning indictment of seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. The original was in French and, due to threats of litigation, an English version was never published. However, There does exist as a typewritten and photocopied document, an  English translation   of the book. Whether or not you believe Lance to be squeaky-clean or a despicable cheat, this makes for fascinating reading. The four parts of the manuscript can be found here . We know you will agree it deserves a place in the "Top 50".