Last Sunday, a number of  MIVA members met in downtown Nanaimo to pick a course for the first criteriums to be held in the Harbour City Centre in over twenty years.  After riding around several circuits suggested by a number of people, they finally decided on a challenging 1.5 kilometre, clockwise course that includes a real uphill stretch of cobbles passing beneath the enclosed footbridge between the Convention Centre and the Main Library (after going under this crossing for forty times, the riders may lable it "The Bridge of Sighs"!).  Other features of this technical ride  include seven turns varying from an easy sweeping downhill bend to sharp left and right corners in rapid succession, and short, fast straights lined with cafes and restaurants.

The Nanaimo Downtown Business Improvement Association is being approached to help fund this exciting June 17th. event as many of its members could benefit a great deal from the crowds the race is bound to attract. There is also a Fathers' Day picnic in the area for Dads and sons and this classic series of criteriums will give them a close-up taste of top class bike racing at its best as the event is expected to attract elite riders from across western Canada and from Washington and Oregon.

For a video of the proposed race circuit, go here.

Field tests will not offer the wealth of information that clinical tests deliver, but they are easy to administer, inexpensive (or free), practical, and can be performed more frequently. The purpose of a field test is two-fold: to accurately gauge progress of fitness, and to establish accurate training zones. It is important to note that some protocols are used to predict clinical values. These are just that - predictions or estimates, not actual clinical results – and should be taken at face value. The great thing about field tests is that you are using actual performance to predict peak performance, and if executed correctly, field tests can give very relevant and useful information to the athlete. Formula-based training zones (ex. 220-age) can be highly inaccurate and should not be used for athletic training. Field testing generally uses a percentage of the tested value, not an age based formula, to created heart rate training zones. Training zones are moving targets that can fluctuate throughout the season as well as year to year as the athlete ages or becomes more fit. Many good field testing methods are non sport specific so cyclists can get much of the information they seek without necessarily having to have a stationary bike set-up.

Pacific SPORT is holding two of these valuable training sessions this spring. The first is at Shawnigan Lake Community Centre on April 2nd. from 5.30pm to 7.00pm. The second is at Oliver Woods Community Centre in Nanaimo on April 3rd. from 8pm to 9.30pm.   Aspects to be tested include: speed-strength, speed-endurance, aerobic stamina, strength endurance, flexibility, agility,  balance, and coordination.   The cost is $10.00 for non Pacific Sport athletes and free for Pacific Sport athletes.

For more information on these sessions and other Pacific Sport programmes go here.

Register today at 250-740-6572 or aguzak@pacificsport.com

For those who love to Google, there is a wealth of good, not-so-good,                                              and absolute  rubbish

advice on the subject of cadence, Some articles are very convoluted and delve into use of power meters and other objective measures of output at various cadences,. Others recommend observation of a number of professional cyclists, and still others tie in the efficiency of various rpm's with age.

One of the best pieces of advice for the majority of those seeking to find their ideal pedalling rate is by Rich Strauss on the Beginner Triathlete web site here. Rich provides plenty of common sense information, tips and examples in an easy-to-understand style. Well worth reading.

For what it's worth your editor's advice is: if your lungs hurt more than your legs, pedal slower, if your legs hurt more than your lungs, increase your cadence.

The OBB Saturday morning group rides are returning with the object of preparing for the Victoria Gran Fondo in early June. First ride will leave OBB store at 9am on March 3rd. Note that all participants must be members of a Cycling BC affiliated club such as MIVA and should come with a road bike. Everyone must also have an approved helmet. The pace will be moderate and if there are enough riders, there will be two groups, one for the hardy boys and girls and a slower group for beginners and the unfit.

If your bike is in need of tender loving care and you are not sure exactly how to go about maintenance and repair of punctures, take advantage of OBB's free clinics from 11pm to 12.30pm on Saturday March 10th. and Saturday March 24th.

Colin Chapman (not the one of Lotus fame) is Cycling BC coordinator for youth programmes. He has indicated that, as part of the provincial association's Youth Development Programme, there will be a number of youth coaching  courses, recognised by the NCCP (National Coaching Certification Programme). Some of these workshops will be held on Vancouver Island and hopefully there will be one in Nanaimo.

Any local road riders who are retired or can adjust their work hours so that they can visit schools as part of MIVA's youth programme, are invited to apply for a space at one of these free clinics. Once participants have certification as youth coaches they should have easy access to schools to help deliver the programme.

For further information, contact pakamac@gmail.com or call 250-244-1779.