Boxwood Circuit, September 6^th.2011 Tonight was the final criterium of the season and at least twenty riders were expected, as some of the top positions in the series were still not settled. However, Only seven men, two women and lone youth, Brodie Hay lined up. After the two neutralised laps, the bunch stayed together for the next three laps, but, as the pace picked up, Brodie, mother Charlene and Charlene Stewart drifted off the back to engage in their own contest.

With nine laps gone, the key move in the race occurred as Rob Russell and CCVC's Ray Wagner broke away from the cruising pack and proceeded to gain five to ten seconds per lap, doing a steady 42kph. Despite the carrot of a couple of intermediate primes, the pack made no impression on the speeding duo and, with nine laps to go, Rob and Ray lapped the bunch and continued to gain more time. Master F rider,Dave Kenny, who had been lapped just before the half way point in the race, impressed the rest of the field by managing to stay with them for the remainder of the event .

At the finish, Wagner looked like winning the sprint but was just pipped at the post by Russell and had to be content with second place. The sprint for third was taken by Iain Hay, who put the boots to Rob Bau and Shepherd Stewart.

In the women's event, the two Charlenes were pretty evenly-matched but Ms. Hay was better at drafting the men as they caught the ladies and gradually made up a lap on Ms, Stewart.

Lone youth Brodie Hay alternated between hanging onto the men and then easing up but finished strongly, albeit a few laps down.

Thanks to Kit McCaffery for registration and lap board and bell, and to Kyle Waring for course set up (after he had to return home for the forgotten cones!) and take down.

The first annual MIVA awards night and social will take place on November 11th. at the Longwood Brew Pub, Nanaimo. More information will be posted as arrangements are firmed up but we can tell you now that dress is optional. Anyone who has a trophy from last year, please deliver it to 101-6224 Pleasant Ridge Place or arrange to have it picked up as soon as possible. We need to have these engraved for the awards night.

This Tuesday is the last Boxwood criterium of the year. Make sure you are there by 6.15pm to register as the race will start on time. Last weeek there were four women present. Let's see if that can be beaten this week. Any woman bringing a new girl to race will get free entry. By the way, Glenda Harling (Everti) who is comfortably in the lead in the women's category for Boxwood, was awarded the overall women's trophy  at the BC Masters CA dinner on Sunday afternoon.: Of course, her weekly MIVA criterium rides in Nanaimo contributed in no small measure to this.

Planning a few hard home trainer sessions this winter? If you are in the market for a new home trainer and are wondering about the features, effectiveness etc. here is a really good review of the different types of trainer - wind, magnetic and fluid.

Whether you are going to use yout trainer at home, or lug it to a  group session at another location, noise, portability, resistance options, durability, and PRICE should all be considered.

It's that time of the year when the road season winds down and everyone's thoughts turn to 'Cross. On Vancouver Island we have one of the best cyclo-cross series in Canada, the Cross-on-the-Rock races, coordinated by Frontrunners' owner and national age-group champion,, Normon Thibault. Various organisers put on the different events in the series and, this year, MIVA is hosting the Beban Park 'cross on October 15th.