A number of big road events are often preceded byy a sprint competition among the riders. This year, MIVA, in cooperation with the new Nanimo Velodrome Association, is organising a weekly sprint series on Maxey Road, just off East Wellington.The format will be a double knockout competition, with 2, 3 or 4 person heats, the winner going through to the next round and the rest going to a repechage for a second chance to qualify. The specific format will depend on the number of competitors but everyone will be able to participate in 3 sprints. Further information from pakamac@gmail.com
What a great night for a bike race, and what a season opener! 23 (!) riders came out to hammer away on the 15k course, the first this season in the Oak Bay Bikes TT Series. In the Female division, Janna Gillick ripped a 24:24, 25 seconds off of her season opening 15k last year. Lorrie Baildham came in a minute and a half later fresh off a week long cycling camp in California with cohort Kiyomi Schulz. Kiyomi took off, but a couple K after starting flatted out. She limped her bike back to the start, we got her tire changed (thanks for the tube Justin) and she restarted. Didn't phase her as she finished in 27:05 for her first ever time trial. Mary Hulti came out for her first ever TT also, not knowing what to expect, but rode a great race, as did Carole Phee who rode in 12 TTs last season alone.
In the Male Division, last years TT points champ Patrick Burnham came in 3rd with a 23:33, cutting 2.5 minutes off last years debut! Tonight's fastest time went to Don Gillmore with a 21:48, and second place to Nicolas Kupiak with a 22:15. In Nick's only other TT last year he rode 23:49, hard work and lots of riding pays off. Justin Mark rode a fast 23:56, and Sean De Pol a 25:19 to round out the top 5. From 6th to 14th the race was seperated by only a couple minutes and change, with some great efforts! Jude Wilhelmsen's TT debut was a good one as he maxed himself out and is already looking ahead to next weeks. Mike McCarney edged Jason Hare out by a scant 1.3 seconds in the tightest battle of the day, Jason and his bionic hand will be ready next week though.
In the Youth Female Division, Meghan Gillmore edged out Abigail Hare...while in the Youth Male Division Aiden Hare clocked a fast 32:45 (seconds off a PB in opening night!) just ahead of Ian Gillmore with 34:11.
The full results list is here via Webscorer. Thanks again for making opening night such a success. It was great to see so many racers stick around post race socializing (there shall be fruit next race! Or cookies, who wants to bring cookies?). To check your old times here are the 2014 Results, expand your name to see a full list for that season.
Nice to see many people take advantage of the seasons pass option this year for MIVA. For just $50 you are covered for all entries for 14 TTs, 12 Crits, 5 hill climbs, and all cross clinics. Huge value!
Many thanks to Peter McCaffery for setting up the course and being the turnaround marshall. Always a great volunteer, word is he'll be doing a few TT's this season too!
Note: next week, anyone who rides to the TT goes right after the youth starters in the start list. A few hardy souls rode over the hills to get to the start then had to wait til their spot, apologies. Next week is a 20k, and again registration is 600pm, race starts at 630pm.
Parting shot:
Starting April 27th until about July, Mike McCarney will be leading a "beginners group ride" for MIVA. Come on out for our Monday night beginner rides. We will meet at the NE corner of the parking lot at the NAC (Aquatic Center), departing at exactly 6pm (don't pull up at 6:01pm), riding about a 20km route out Jingle Pot.
These rides are at an easy going pace (20-24km/hr) and have a strict no drop policy. If you come out and hammer off the front you will buy "beverages" for the group afterwards:) Until further notice, we will ride the same 20k route so that riders get familiar and comfortable with the route. This is the proposed route for now http://www.gmap-pedometer.
We will instruct riders on how to ride safely and responsibly in a paceline configuration. This will be explained and practiced so that everyone gains skills and confidence in group riding. Each week different riding techniques and skills will be introduced.
Participants must be members of MIVA and Cycling BC (any license/membership). Cycling BC allows for 2 trial rides before commit to a membership. The form is Trial Ride Release of Liability Waiver, please have this signed and bring it with you to Mike for the start of the ride.
Each year, the club organises a Spring 50km and 100km challenge to be completed in a selected time. This year, the Challenge is on April 18th. It traces the familiar northern route to Parksville via North West Bay Road and then up through Errington to Qualicum Bay and back via Superior Road /Aulds Road. The 50 kilometre turns around at Serious Coffee at the south end of Parksville. Both distances start and finish at the Longwood Brew Pub, one of MIVA's regular sponsors. The goal is for ALL riders to finish by 1pm at the Longwood. The platters will be available then, so if you're hoping to start at 7 and blast out a quick ride, you'll be waiting awhile afterwards. It'll be a fun social get together afterwards if we're all there at the same time as well. All participants register at the start at the following times according to selected distance and duration:
- 50km: in 3hours 10am,
- 50km: in 2 hours 11am;
- 100km: in 5 hours 8am,
- 100km: in 4 hours 9am,
- 100km: in 3 hours 10am. All finishers will check in at the Upstairs Room, where they will find lots of hors d' oeuvres and where they can order food and drink too, from 1pm on.
To ensure that all participants complete the entire route, there are a number of checkpoints on the way. This year, we have returned to locating a number of visible placards, each showing a two letter coding. Riders must insert these codes on their route cards and have them checked at the end of the ride.
Entry fee is $5
Due to insurance requirements, entry is limited to paid up members of Mid Island Velo Association and Cycling BC. 2015 MIVA membership forms and waivers will be available at registration. Go to cycling BC website to join on-line.
Every year, the number of participants has grown, so come on out and show your stuff.
100 KM COURSE DETAILS MAP HERE
| GUIDE | KM | |
| Turn R on Turner then L on Uplands | 0 | |
| L on Dover Rd. > Lantzville Rd. | 2.1 | |
| R on Hy 19 | 8.9 | |
| R on NW Bay | 14.9 | |
| R on Hy 19A to Serious Coffee | 24.7 | |
| R onto Hy19A then L on Shelly St. | 27.3 | |
| R on Stanford Ave. E. | 27.4 | |
| L on on Corfield St. S. | 28.5 | |
| R on Despard Ave. | 28.8 | |
| L on Alberni Hy. | 29.9 | |
| L on Bellevue Rd. | 31.4 | |
| R on Ruffels Rd. | 32.2 | |
| L on Leffler Rd. (watch for Birds of Prey Recovery) | 33.8 | |
| R on Grafton Ave. | 34.6 | |
| General Store | 35.4 | |
| R on Pratt Rd. | 42.8 | |
| L on Alberni Hy. | 44.7 | |
| R on Hilliers Rd. S. | 45.6 | |
| L on Hy 4A CAREFUL | 50.3 | |
| L on Rupert Rd. (Hy 19A) | 53.2 | |
| R on Hy 19 (Oceanside route) | 57.8 | |
| DEEZ Bar & Grill | ||
| L on NW Bay Rd. | 75.8 | |
| L on Hy 19 (Petrocan) | 85.9 | |
| R on Superior Rd. | 93.1 | |
| S.O Van der Hoek then L on Harby | 93.4 | |
| R on Philiip L on R | 94.2 | |
| L on Ronald | 94.8 | |
| R on Ware | 95.2 | |
| L on Aulds | 95.4 | |
| R on Metral | 98.3 | |
| L on Turner | 100.0 | |
| Finish at Brew Pub | 100.6 |