In order to introduce new members, riders unfamiliar with road racing and veterans requiring a refresher on criterium etiquette and safety, MIVA will be hosting a clinic prior to the first crit of the season. Even if you don't intend to race the criterium, attending the session will help improve your group riding and bike handling skills. Please join us! Clinic starts at 6:00PM sharp. Riders should arrive with their road bike, dressed and ready to ride.

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MIVA Criterium Clinic Agenda

Prerequisites - All riders should understand the basics of group riding, including bike handling, riding close to others and drafting.

Goals

- To explain the basics of crit races, making it less intimidating for newer riders.

- To have rules and etiquette understood, making it safer for all.

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Introductions (by the sign-on table near Longwood Brewery, Boxwood Road)

- Names, experience, goals.

Criterium Safety (by the sign-on table)

- No sudden movements or braking, hold your line

- No overlapping wheels

- No passing inside the corner (eg. diving, cutting)

- No crossing the (real or imaginary) yellow or white lines

- Making contact (stay calm)

- Maintain 100% focus

Criterium Rules (Roll over to the start/finish area)

- Explain lap count, lap board, bell, intermediate sprints, etc.

- Lapped riders - can continue riding but should not contest any of the sprints.

- Yellow line rule, neutralized race

Preparing for a Criterium (Roll through a couple of slow laps, stopping to discuss)

- Reviewing the course

- What to look for: hills, sharp corners, furniture, etc

- Explain need to try corners and finish sprint at race pace

Cornering (Meredith & Tulsa)

- Single file

- Brake early, if necessary

- Inside foot up, weight on outside foot

- Look through the turn

- Wide in/tight out, with acceleration.

- Demo rider (if available)

Positioning (Back at Start-Finish area)

- Understanding how the pack moves

- Where to be. (ie.: front, middle, back of pack)

- closing gaps, defending your position

- finding a good wheel

- watching body language, reading the race

Have you got the legs for it?

Sean De Pol has set up a volunteer signup system for the Coal City Cycles Criterium series, as well as the Rock City Cycles Time Trial Series. As with all MIVA events, nothing happens without a LOT of volunteering from a core group of individuals. Sean’s system should help people to pre plan what races they can lend a hand at.

Coal City Cycles Crit Series: This year Peter has agreed to train the incoming timer (it could be you) for a few crits and lend his expertise, thankfully.

Please click on the link  to fill in what dates you can do any of the positions such as timekeeper, course marshall (4), or registration. The entire season is set up in the system, meaning when you have a week you may not be racing, or are tapering for a big weekend race, it would be appreciated if you can fill in. The survey results from MIVA told us more crit races were wanted, so we listened. With this comes the risk of volunteer burnout if its the same folk week after week.

Rock City Cycles TT Series The timing system for the TT’s is using Webscorer (tap the racers name on the ipad as they finish). MIVA will have it set up ahead of time. We will need a timekeeper, turn around marshall, and spotter/holder at start/finish line to help the event go as smooth as possible. Again if you have a race on the weekend, or are injured (hope not), these are weeks we would love to have you come out to help. Sign up link here!

FREE MIVA water bottle for volunteering!

by Angelina Landry

MIVA Wednesday Night Rides

April 13, 2016 to September 21, 2016, the MIVA Intermediate/Advanced

Wednesday evening ride rolls out of the parking lot at Rock City Cycles (3700 Island

Highway, Nanaimo, BC) at 6pm sharp.

 

Duration: 2-3 hours. Pace is moderate to fast

24-33km/hr) over hilly terrain.

 

A and B options are available with groups meeting

at the top of climbs. This ride typically follows the same route:

http://www.strava.com/routes/2045033 however, we are occasionally hijacked by

aliens whose idea of a good time involves traversing alternative routes to the same

destination. Rides are open to everyone and safety is paramount, so we ask that all

participants be proficient in group ride technique and etiquette before joining the

rides. We also ask that all riders wear a helmet, obey traffic laws and come equipped

with a repair kit including spare tube(s) and pump. Participants must be members

of MIVA and Cycling BC.

 

This year we are pleased to announce that MIVA will be contributing $1 for each

participant of our weekly group rides to Bicycles for Humanity, a global grassroots

movement that provides the gift of mobility delivered by a bicycle to many in

developing countries. To find out more about this worthy cause go to:

www.bicycles-for-humanity.org We will be accepting additional donations for B4H throughout the season. Anyone wishing to contribute more is welcome to do so!

MIVA is proud to introduce the 2016 Criterium Series, proudly sponsored by Coal City Cycles. The series will start on April 12th with a clinic and a short criterium. The first official race of the series will be April 19th and will conclude on July 26th, 2016. Location

All races will be held at the Boxwood Circuit.

Registration and Sign-on

April 12, 19 & 26 - Registration and sign-on starts at 6PM. Race start time is 6:30PM.

May 3 to July 26  - Registration and sign-on starts at 6:30PM. Race start time is 7PM.

Beginner Clinic

All MIVA members, male and female, are encouraged to attend a beginners clinic hosted by Janna Gillick on April 12th. The clinic will cover the basics of criterium racing, including rules, etiquette, safety, strategies, drafting, cornering and sprinting. Skills and techniques covered in the clinic will be applicable to other forms of cycling including cyclocross and Gran Fondos, so all riders are encouraged to attend.

Race Fees & Cycling BC $5 per race $50 for seasons pass Every racer MUST have a Cycling BC membership of some sort, bring your card with you. CyclingBC gives you 2 free club rides/races before you have to take out a membership, there is a waiver to fill out to use this feature if you’re unsure of getting into racing. As Norm says with Cross On The Rock: bring your CyclingBC card no exceptions.

Volunteers We will need volunteers! Four traffic controllers are needed each race. Email to miva.president@gmail.com to get on the list. With family commitments and other pursuits, MIVA as a club will have to step up this year to run the events.

Cancellations In case of extreme weather, MIVA will make the final call on cancelling the criterium a minimum 2 hours before race start time. Announcement via bikeracing.ca, twitter, and facebook will publish this info.