For the last fifteen months. Mid Island Velo has run two series of criteriums on a nearly perfect 1.1 kilometer course in Nanaimo. It has all the components to make it ideal for the closed circuit style of massed start racing - newly paved roads in an industrial park, no traffic after 6PM.slight rises before two of the ninety degree turns, a wide, safe finishing straight, a good area for registration, and it is easily accessible from nearby communities. However, recent commercial development will result in Boxwood Road becoming a through route, with traffic lights at both ends and a large supermarket near the west junction. This will result in a huge increase in traffic and a reluctance on the part of the city to issue any further  permits to MIVA for the use of the circuit.

So the club is in need of a new circuit to replace the Boxwood Road course. The city may look favourably on a residential circuit if a poll of the residents produces no reasonable objections. The club may also consider a rural circuit but the only suitable ones are quits a distance from the city. If any of our readers are aware of a suitable location for the weekly criteriums for next season, please let us know.

A number of MIVA members, and many other visitors to this web site are in their fifties, sixties and even older.  They will remember the 1960's with affection and will recall Mafac Racer brakes, beautifully finished Cinelli aluminum bars and stems, the first Campagnolo Record gruppos, Huret Jubilee derailleurs, cyclo-cross courses with up to 25% running and LOTS of mud and, of course, Eddy Merckx's domination of the pro peleton. However, as a brief respite from the cycling world we tend to dwell in, here is a brief reminder of some other notable components of the 60's.

Thursday's second cyclo-cross clinic - on cornering -  was conducted by ex-elite CX rider Dave Kenny. After reviewing last weeks workshop on barrier jumping, Dave set up a figure of eight course around the trees and explained and demonstrated the finer points of cornering: keep pedalling, pick the route with most traction, look where you want to go, cutting to the apex, passing on the inside and outside, and losing as little speed as possible. The group  (of eighteen - great!) practised these skills and improved rapidly. The,to conclude the evening, there was a thirty minute race round a similar circuit to last week"s (results to follow).

Next week's clinic, which will start at 4.30pm. will concentrate on cross camber riding, up and down, deciding when to ride and when to run, and carrying the bike while running. It will be followed by another half hour race.

In the best? tradition of Don Cherry's Rock 'em, sock 'em hockey videos, here are some really hairy cyclo-cross crashes. Click on each of the numbers. one two three four five six seven

Here are some photos of MIVA members and other local riders who rode in the Island Cyclo-cross Championships