Monday, thirteen people showed up at the Aquatic Centre for the first evening clubrun. Most of the participants were ten or more minutes early. Before the start, Coordinator Janna Gillick, who is MIVA's Directeur Sportif Feminin,  gave a short talk on the priorities for the run - safety, proper signalling to other road users and to other riders in the group, and stressed that hills could be ridden at each rider's own pace as the group would reform at each summit. We then took off (yes, your old fart of an editor went along too) and soon were on Nanaimo Lakes Road, one of the longer hills, with a number of steep sections. As promised, lead cyclist Colleen Wtorek made sure that we were all present after each climb and then we set off again.

The descent to Nanaimo River Road, halfway along the MIVA time trial course, was exhilarating and your editor was pleasantly surprised at the descending  and drafting skills shown by a number of the riders and the general level of fitness.

After reaching the time trial start location, we then turned onto White Rapids Road and enjoyed the fast ride down to the Trans Canada Highway at Chase River. Then it was time to head back to the Aquatic Centre as twilight was approaching. All arrived safely and it was obvious that everyone had enjoyed the 31km ride.

Next Monday, the clubrun will start at 6pm at Oak Bay Bikes and (hopefully for your ed.) tackle some somewhat gentler terrain.

Thanks to Janna and Colleen for an excellent job.

The weekly race schedule for the club starts this Thursday with a 15km time trial on Nanaimo River Road. The first criterium is on the Boxwood circuit on May 1st. please check the race schedule for all times, dates and locations. PDF now online of our scheduled events, check it out here.  Our calendar will be updated shortly.

43 KM

	Club	Cat	time
Geordie Murzin?	Pro City Cycles	3	1h 04' 15”
Ray Wagner	CVCC	3	At 5”
Tom Macyzynski	Pro City Cycles	2	At 11”
Rob Russell	MIVA	2	At 30”
Steve Crowley	MIVA	3	s.t.
Doug Merrick	CVCC/MIVA	3	s.t.
Colin Hynes	Pro City Cycles	3	s.t.
Derek Tripp	BCMCA	3	s.t.
Kirby Villeneuve	MIVA	3	s.t.
Charles Hamer	MIVA	3	s.t.
Dan Larche	Pro City Cycles	3	s.t.
Erik Madsen	Pro City Cycles	3	At 1' 13”
Paul Thompson	MIVA	3	s.t.
Aaron Foos	Yukon	3	s.t.
Mike Sevcov	Cowichan Cycles	3	At 3' 01”
Shepherd Stewart	MIVA	3	At 4,38”
Women /Youth event, 29 KM
Brodie Hay	MIVA	CAD
Cheryl Morch	MIVA	4	At 1/2 wheel

Nineteen riders showed up for Sunday's Duke Point road race #2 a three lap forty-three kilometer event held on a beautiful Spring Day with a medium breeze.  There were a few abortive attempts at an early break but all were brought back and then, just before the end of the first lap, CVCC rider Ray Wagner and Pro City Cycle's Geordie Murzin? put the hammer down and were soon fifteen seconds up. During the second lap the duo increased this to thirty seconds as no-one in the main group seemed willing to initiate a chase. As the leaders made the final turnaround with seven kilometers to go, they were still nearly half a minute up. Wagner was at his limit but Murzin? seemed to be planning his strategy for the finish. Meanwhile, the cruising pack at last decided to try and catch the break and their speed increased. However, they were still fifteen seconds back at the finish with Geordie just pipping Ray for the win and bunch escapee Tom Macyzyznski coming in third six seconds back. Most of the pack finished together, with a few of the less fit riders drifting in up to four minutes later. In the Youth/women's event Cheryl Morch was ahead of Brodie Hay for a portion of the race but they decided to contest the sprint together, Brodie just beating Cheryl by half a wheel.

The response to the first shipment of the new MIVA clothing is unprecedented. At the time of writing we have 1 large jersey  1 XL pair of bib shorts, 5 pairs of shorts, 1 L jacket, 1 XL jacket, 1 L summer vest, 4 pr. 3/4 length tights, and a good supply of arm warmers,  leg warmers,  Lycra shoe covers and headbands. That's it until our next order. The club will be ordering next week, so if you don't want to miss out, it's prepaid orders as we don't want to be stuck with a surplus this year.