On Saturday November 24thOBB is  having it's annual season ending cyclo-cross, andcustomer appreciation party. Doors will open at 7:30pm and there will be drinks and snacks and a DJ, last years party was a lot of fun, so please drop by. OBB is also doing a fundraiser for the Nanaimo Food Bank this year. Anyone who makes a 10lb food donation gets 10% OFF any parts or accessories, anyone who makes a 25lb food donation gets 10% OFF a bike including 2013 models and bikes already on sale. This could add up to 25% OFF most 2012 models still in stock. Plus any type of donation gets you entered for a $250 gift card to be used however you like!

They are really hoping to make a significant donation to the food bank this year.

Janna Gillick, riding for Mid Island Velo Association won the women's 30-39 event at the National Cyclo-Cross Championships, held on November 17th. in Surrey BC and is our NATIONAL CHAMPION.  Janna was never seriously challenged and was almost half a minute ahead of second place.

In the men's 40 -49 event, Ian Smith, in his first season at cyclo-cross finished seventh out of a large field of 56 riders. This was a hard fought race with Ian only twenty-six seconds behind the leader.

In the men's fifty plus category, Bill McMillan came sixth, just over two minutes behind first place.

For a new club that has only been in existence for a couple of years, these are fantastic results and show the strength of our programme.

Full results of the cyclo-cross championships here.

For Vancouver Island CX junkies ( and visitors from the mainland)  with the COTR  Championships fast approaching, it's time to hone those essential skills that will save  precious seconds every lap. A major source of lost time is poor dismount and remount technique.  Here is an excellent video explaining the basics of getting off and back on your bike quickly. The video concentrates on dismounting and remounting at an artificial barrier, but this technique can be used wherever riders have to get off their bikes during a race. Watch and then practise, practise, practise!

The MIVA second annual agm and awards night are only a week away. Venue is the Longwood Brew Pub off Turner Road. The agm will start at 6,30pm and be over in a short time and then the awards will take place, recognising the achievements of the club's members in the two weekly series  of races and the sponsors' contributions which help to make the club,s activities possible.

Last year was great, with a good percentage of MIVA members and  most of the club's sponsors attending and a good time was had by all!

The National Cyclo-cross Championships are taking place on November 17th. in Surrey. There is a youth introduction to CX skills and an opportunity for participants to ride on part of the championship course BUT there are no under 17, under 15 or under 13 categories in the championships, neither is there a junior women category!  In a province where there is a strong emphasis on youth development, with many riders in these age groups already demonstrating a considerable level of expertise, this is a lamentable oversight. Cycling Canada (formerly the CCA) will tell all that there are no UCI categories for these age groups. However, the UCI also gives national federations the right to set categorisation that fits in with each countries particular needs. Britain, Australia and the Netherlands are just three of the countries that do have youth categories in all their championships.

Mid Island Velo Association has as a priority, the development of youth road, track and cyclo-cross and the club sees as a priority the inclusion of youth categories in all BC provincial and national championships. All who feel that this makes eminent sense, please take a few minutes to email both your provincial and national associations to make your views known.

Cycling BC contact here

Cycling Canada contact here

Brodie Hay at Bowen Park CX

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