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.

MIVA had no less than fourteen riders at last weekend's Transfer Beach Cyclo-cross. part of the successful Cross on the Rock series.  In the Beginner men event, Corey Friesen was second and  Brodie Hay fifth. In the Men's Intermediate, Shawn Boyd placed third and Bryan Rehill eighteenth. The Women's Intermediate saw MIVA's best placings with Vicki Boyd and Cheryl Morch placing first and second, and Charlene Hay and Rose Houle eighth and ninth In the Master men race, Rob Russell placed third in a sprint for the line (he would have won if the finish had been where he thought it was!),associate member Bill McMillan placed fifth overall and second in the 50plus category, Ron Hewitson was sixteenth,  Shepherd Stewart eighteenth, ass.  member Derek Steele twenty-fourth, and Ian Hay forty-first. Finally, In the expert women's race, Janna Gillick in her first ride in this category, managed a creditable eighth place. Well done everyone. Full results are here.

Here on Vancouver Island, we are already into the rainy season and over half of our rides, whether they be for training or recreation will be in wet weather. Mudguards or fenders are de riguer in this kind of weather. First of all, they will keep your naughty parts dry and direct most of the spray away from those expensive Sidis. Secondly, they will keep that annoying and so-hard-to-remove dirty stripe off the back of your jersey or jacket. If you are riding in a group, then those mudguards are a must. It's downright inconsiderate to turn up for a wet weather clubrun or group training ride without them! If you have ever ridden behind a fenderless rider, you will know just how soaked you get from the crap coming off his back wheel (I say "his" because the women are invariably more considerate than we men). You will also remember getting a good dose of the spray in your eyes and, even with glasses, being unable to see where the heck you are going.

Your LBS will have mudguards suitable for road bikes and, for those hot carbon numbers with minimal clearance and no fender eyes, here is  a way to fit fenders on them too.

HOW TO ATTACH MUDGUARDS TO A BIKE WITH LITTLE TIRE CLEARANCE

FRONT WHEEL

1. 1. Make four right angle brackets from aluminum strip 1/16^th.thick and 1/2inch across and two straight pieces as shown in picture (A.)
   2. Drill 3/16th” holes centred 3/8th” from each end of angle bracket and a 5/16^th. Inch hole at one end of straight bracket, and a 3/16^th.” hole at other end of bracket
   3. Remove front wheel and place mudguard in correct position.
   4. Mark where mudguard crosses back of fork crown.
   5. Cut mudguard and sand any sharp edges.
   6. Drill 3/16^th. Inch holes on centre line of mudguard 1/2 inch from each cut edge.
   7. Attach brackets to each piece of mudguard with 2mm. screws and Nylok nuts.
   8. Replace brake axle bolts with longer ones.
   9. Secure two sections of mudguard to fork crown by passing brake bolt through the brackets and tightening.
   10. Attach straight brackets to mudguard stays as shown in photo.

       

REAR WHEEL

1.   If clearance is very small, repeat process. If clearance is sufficient, mudguard will fit beneath   brake.bridge. If clearance between mudguard and sea tube is too small to allow wheel to rotate freely, cut an elliptical hole in mudguard where it presses on seat tube. Place duct tape over this hole.

(To enlarge a photo, tap the cursor on it several times.)

With a little ingenuity, you can fit fenders onto almost any bike.

MIVA is in the process of setting up a weekly home trainer series for members and non-members alike.  These sessions will start on Thursday evenings in mid to late November in a north Nanaimo location and continue until mid February. Along with the great music and video, there will be advice available on bike set up and interval training. Watch for more details.

Cyclo-cross courses have been getting faster and more technical for a few years. However, the courses in the 1950's were designed for spectators and if you finished at all, it was a real achievement. Here is a great video from the North of England in the mid 1950"s. Your editor competed against some of these riders, as did MIVA founder member Dave Kenny.

The Three Peaks Cyclo-cross, as it's name suggests, traverses three mountain peaks in the Yorkshire dales and has been run yearly since the early 1950's. It is about 42 km from start to finish. Here is a video of the 2010 event.