Mid Island Velo Association has a goal of developing young riders.  Cycling BC has organised number of programmes aimed at helping youth cyclists get to the next level of competition.  MIVA junior Brodie Hay attended the Axel Merckx youth camp this weekend, finished 4th in the TT on Friday night, 4th in the miss and out track race on Saturday night, and was 3rd overall in the sprint omnium on Sunday. It was a weekend comprised of coaching clinics and racing at night. This was a great experience. If there are other young riders who may be interested, there is another camp in Penticton in August.

Next year, the Boxwood circuit used for the MIVA criteriums will almost certainly be too busy for the club to obtain a permit, so the club B.O.D has been discussing possible replacement courses for the future. A couple of the MIVA executive have recently spec.'d out a new criterium circuit. It's quite short (600 meters) but it's beautifully paved, on private land, and completely closed so there are NO CONES!. In the next couple of weeks there is a possibility of putting a couple of the MIVA Tuesday events there.  The location will be announced once permission has been obtained from the owner for its use and insurance arranged. The club is also negotiating with the city of Nanaimo for asphalting of some gravel trail sections in Beban Park to complete a paved  one kilometer circuit. This would be a multi use course for cycling, running, wheelchairsports, Segways, in-line skating etc. so the city is looking seriously at the club's proposal.

On Monday we're going to do a tour up in Nanoose. Be prepared for some fun climbing and some fast flat riding along NW Bay Road. Meet 6:30pm at the Nanoose Place Community Centre on NW Bay Rd, just past Powder Pt Road.  

Enjoy your weekend,

Janna

For those of you who aren't already using it, Strava is a fantasic way of sharing your rides.  We've added a link right from our homepage (look on the right of the screen next to "Follow Us") to the MIVA Club on Strava.  This free web-based program allows users to upload ride data from Garmin devices or via iPhone and Andriod apps.  Once your rides are uploaded, it will automatically show leaderboards for existing timed segments and allows you to create your own segments to see how you compare against other riders.  Some of the members have been using Strava for a few weeks now and are hooked; it's great motivation to get out there and pile on the miles.  Click here to go to Strava's main page.  

For those who missed the video segment on the Boxwood  youth and senior criteriums, the story will be running on SHAW Cable BC until 6pm tonight.