A wet rainy night held some riders away as fall seemed to hit us like a brick wall. 11 racers took to the line shivering (some reluctantly) but the allure of double points kept them there. With slick roads, times were definitely a bit slower than in previous years, but that didn't stop TWO course records being broken! Congrats to Ayden Houle for his 15:48 climb (prev record Evan Luksay 16:51), and to Janna Gillick for again lowering the female CR to 14:08 (prev record 14:12).

The foursome of Gillick, Anderson, Houle, and Zavarise were all racing of course, as a group they only were absent for 3 races. Tamara Zavarise had a chain malfunction yet still beat her 2015 time (19:41) by climbing to the top in 19:36. Rose Houle was third in 18:35, after a strong dedicated season in the MIVA series', and Lesley Anderson again took 2nd spot as she did every race she entered with a fast 15:55.

The mens race also had a group of dedicated racers out, with Kupiak, Buffalo, and Brown all doing their 5th race. Tonights race had Eli Buffalo finally nipping one from Nick Kupiak with a 12:22.7 and 12:22.9, respectively. Matthys Redelinghuys came in third with a 15:02 PB as one broken spoke flailed out to the side while he climbed, with Steve Crowley close behind in 15:20, and Jim Brown just behind him in 15:27. Lee Zavarise also set a PB with a 16:04 (from 17:35!).

Tonights results link available here. Series results (which don't show double points though) here.

Series Results

Top times ever up Doumont (note: due to some stats being lost pre 2011 some results are missing)

Special thanks to Arrowsmith Bikes for sponsoring the Hill Climb Series, and to everyone who raced and volunteered to make this a success. See you next year! 

Starting September 7th!

The finale DOUBLE POINTS hill climb in the Arrowsmith Bikes Hill Climb Series goes this Thursday at 630pm, up the annual finale location, Doumont. MIVA has hosted 14 time trials, 15 crits, and 4 hill climbs.. 33 races down. 1 to go. Let's do this one up HUGE.

I've compiled every result I can find from 2011 to now, all viewable here. Course Records: Female: Janna Gillick 14:12 (2015) Youth Female: Abigail Hare 19:25 (2013) Male: Nick Kupiak 11:49 (2015) Youth Male: Evan Luksay 16:51 (2015)

The Series Standings last year were flipped upside down with the double points race, read about it here.

HILL CLIMB 5 : DOUMONT ROAD DOUBLE POINTS FINALE: THURSDAY SEPT 1ST : 6:30PM

Pre Reg link The classic. The difference maker. The standings up-ender. The social afterward at the Black Bear. Results here. Strava Link here.  

Hill Climb #4 in the 5 race Arrowsmith Bikes Series took place at the popular Departure Bay climb. A good showing of 14 riders came out in 33 degree heat. Janna took the female course record here with a blistering 7:54, 21 seconds off last years best. Tamara Zavarise knocked 33 seconds off her time last year as well, and husband Lee took 10 seconds off of his time. It doesn't go unnoticed how dedicated this couple is to make it out to so many events, arranging childcare, alternating, and even volunteering!

Of last year's 26 starters, only 5 were out tonight, as we've seen many of last years regulars missing in action for the hill climbs (cough: Joel L, Paul A, Ken O, Lisa M, Sandy, Carole..etc) and a bit of a changing of the guard. We'd love to see everyone out at next week's finale, there's even a rumour starting tonight that Reagan Lovig may be over from the Sunshine Coast to take part.

Full results from the race here. 2015 climb results here. 2014 (no climb here) 2013 results here. 2012 results here. 2011 resultrs here.

The standings for the Arrowsmith Bikes Series remain unchanged, with Janna holding onto the lead in the female category:

Place	Racer name	Race results Show all	# of races	Total points
1	Janna Gillick ATAC	Show	4	48
2	Lesley Anderson MIVA	Show	3	30
3	Rose Houle MIVA	Show	3	27

The male category remains unchanged with the 1-2 punch of Nick Kupiak and Eli Buffalo still 1-2 in the standings:

Place	Racer name	Race results Show all	# of races	Total points
1	Nicholas Kupiak Broad Street Cycles	Show	4	48
2	Elijah Buffalo Gastown Racing	Show	4	40
3	Jim Brown MIVA	Show	4	27

Next Thursday is the FINAL climb in the series, good for DOUBLE POINTS as well. It's at the annual championship location, Doumont. There will be a post race social at the Black Bear Pub afterward, building on last years good times. https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=75309&owner=0

(Race report by timekeeper Peter McCaffery) "A very hot evening kept most riders away so there were only 8 competitors in this mass start climb. Aho Road and the lead in on Prospect feature numerous gradient changes, with a brief descent just before the tough final rise. Elijah Buffalo and Nick Kupiak soon drew away from the rest of the riders and stayed together until the final 100metres, when Nick pulled away from Elijah, finishing nearly 5 seconds up in a new record time. Next to finish was MIVA's BAR winner Janna Gillick (ATAC) completing the climb in a new womens record time, just over a minute behind the leaders. The remaining competitors finished at intervals with Jim Brown unexpectedly beating James Sage in the mens category and Lesley Anderson beating Derek Steel to the finish by a scant 18 seconds.

The remaining competitors finished at intervals with Jim Brown unexpectedly beating James Sage in the men's category and Lesley Anderson beating Derek Steel to the finish by a scant 18 seconds.

Next week's event on Departure Bay Road should see a much larger number of riders for this popular ascent in mid Nanaimo."

The results from tonight are located here. Series Standings here.

This weeks race is going to be a popular one up Departure Bay Road so pre register now so I can generate a start list early.

HILL CLIMB 4 : DEPARTURE BAY ROAD : THURSDAY AUGUST 27TH : 6:30PM

Pre Reg link An annual favourite, the Departure Bay Climb had a huge turnout last year with 26 (!!!) coming out to hit it hard.  Results here. Strava Link here.