Your editor used to be a good hill climber but age and a bad accident three years ago have robbed him of much of that ability. In a search for advice that would help him maximise what little power he has left, a myriad of articles on how to improve hill climbing ability were read. Some of the advice was in the form of motherhood statements. Other well-meaning tips turned out to be way off the mark  and a lot of information given by so-called experts was downright wrong!

Here is one of the better articles on the art and skill of climbing all types of hills. Read it and then go out to your favourite hill and try out some of the ideas you may not have used before.

The photo is of Frederico Bahamontes attacking  one of the legendary ascents in a Grand Tour.  He was one of the all time climbing greats of the post-war era and won numerous races in the mountains.

Next Sunday, March 4th. there will be a 15 kilometre time trial on the Duke Point Highway, Nanaimo at 11.00am.. Registration will be at the start point, just before the overpass of highway 19 at 10.30am. Parking at Country Grocer Mall. The ride up to the start will be a good warm-up. Entry fee of $5.

The editor was looking for a strapless heart rate monitor for his wife as the normal ones with a chest belt-mounted transmitter did not pick up her pulse (for a variety of reasons we won't go into!). So the usual search using Google was done. All the devices that came up were wrist mounted, many with a variety of functions, most of which she didn't need. They also required that one or both fingers be applied to the monitor to get a reading, which would stay on the display for up to fifteen  seconds and then disappear. None of them were able to provide a continuous readout. However, one showed up that did indeed give the ongoing heart rate and which was worn on the forearm or even the wrist. It is Impact Sports Technologies  epulse²  See a full review of this innovative HRM here.

Check with your LBS to see if they carry these monitors or can get one in for you. If not, you can buy here.

 

Plans are already underway for the first criterium to be held at the centre of Nanaimo since 1986. One of the MIVA members, Bill McMillan, rode in that event and we are sure he will be on the start line this year too! If any more of our readers rode in the previous downtown race, please let us know.

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.