Four riders represented MIVA at the BC Provincial Time Trial Championship in Duncan on Saturday. Chris Cameron  and Charlene Hay rode in the masters events, looking great in their MIVA clothing. and Brodie Hay succeeded in winning the silver in the under 13 youth category. Iain Hay also represented the club well, placing second in the Master B category. (results on our 'RESULTS' page)

Brodie's medal is  the first one for the club and a sign of good things to come.

The popular Nanaimo to Victoria ride is not occurring this year because the moving closure so necessary for safety could not be provided by the police. However, in its place, OBB is hosting the Victoria 2 Cowichan 150km ride. For details go here.

Departure Bay Road , Nanaimo. 11/08/04

Beautiful weather *(24deg. C., no wind)

11 starters for this year's first MIVA hill climb. The Departure Bay/Uplands Road hill is a long drag with no real gradient changes until the 11% kick about 400 meters from the finish. The riders were seeded according to perceived ability and past results on the hill.

First to depart after starter Leigh Blaney's command, was Vicki Boyd, Frontrunners, who is in the final stages of preparing for an Ironman triathlon. She was expected to do about 9'30” for the ascent, but surprised everyone except herself by doing 9'00”! Husband Shawn did catch her on the climb and posted a personal best of 7'23” which beat the old record by 5 seconds. This was a portent of things to come and eventually, five riders beat the old mark.

Seventh rider off, Rob Russell. Beat Shawn's time by 6 seconds but this was eclipsed three times in rapid succession with Last year's winner and current record holder Stefan Jacobsen of Frontrunners posting the new record time of 6'52”.

With only Don Gillmore left to finish, the rest of the riders waited at the finish to see if he would eclipse Stefans's performance but, as the seconds clicked by, it became increasingly clear that tonight was Jacobsen's. Gillmore eventually finished, a very creditable second, in 7' 02”.

In the women's event, Janna Gillick HCTC, matched her last year's time of 8'27” to win the women's event.

Thanks to Kit McCaffery for registration, to Leigh Blaney (starter), Ross Palfery (turn marshal.), and Gary Ceroome (holder),

All cyclists ride bicycles but not all those who ride bikes are cyclists. As a cyclist with a few years of experience riding all kinds of bicycles, your editor spends quite a bit of time observing bike  riders - kids, families, commuters, recreational riders and, of course, club members and competitors.  It's safe to say that about ninety-five percent of  those observed have their seats too low or too high, pedal v-e-r-y slowly (usually with their insteps), don't use their gears, overdress in warm weather, etc., etc., etc. In addition, they are more often than not, riding on the sidewalks, or on the wrong side of the road, facing opposing traffic.

I am constantly wanting to dialogue with them and teach or remind them about setting up the bike correctly, using an efficient cadence, and using their gears to maintain that cadence at all times, plus impressing upon them that bikes are vehicles and should abey yhe rules of the road !

My best friend says I should mind my own business and let them carry on as they are but I want them to really enjoy cycling as I do and to experience the joy of "doing it right".  Who's right ???

Please comment.

Tonight's criterium was a 40 lap race, with the lone woman, and youth riders starting together with the rest of the riders. After the 2 neutralised laps, Glenda Harling and Brodie Hay stayed with the main pack for a further lap and then rode the rest of the event on their own, with first Brodie, and then Glenda joining in with the overtaking pack as they passed. After 4 laps, Iain Hay and Rob Russell established a break and at one point were nearly 20 seconds up on the bunch. However, just before the first prime at 9 laps, they were hauled in but Russell managed to stay at the front and just beat Warren Muir at the line.

For the next 10 laps, things were quiet, with only Mike Sevcov making a brief escape before he was reeled in. The second prime was taken by Muir with triathlete Bryan Rehill surprising everyone by coming in a close second.

The third sprint was easily won by Mike Sevcov but the final prime with 3 laps left in the race was taken again by OBB's Muir with Rehill edging Rob Russell for second.

The finishing sprint was won by Muir with Iain Hay 2nd. and Mike Sevcov 3rd. Shepherd Stewart, riding in his first event this season, pulled off 4th. place and was followed in by Arrowsmith's Mark Wieler who is showing signs of considerable improvement.

Thanks to Iain Hay and Rob Russell for course set up and take down and to Kit McCaffery for looking after registration, bell and lap board.