Its been a long cold winter and as such we're still shaking out our legs and systems. Fantastic turn out with 19 riders taking a chance on the weather and coming out to race.  Unfortunately a scheduling issue meant the clinic we had planned didn't occur.   A misplacement of the turn around meant that most riders ended up doing an 18.3km time trial.  A bit of a rude awakening having to do the climb on the back side for the first night out.

Results Here

A couple of reminders for riders,

Seasons pass holders keep their number plates for each race but still have to sign in/check in at least ten minutes before the start of the race.  If you don't have a seasons pass the numbers need to be returned at the end of the night.

Get your seasons pass here

We'd also like to remind all riders that headphones are not allowed at ANY of our races or group rides.  This is a safety requirement.

Thanks to our volunteers who came out in the cold to help out tonight Kiyomi, Liz and Peter.

Well the weather held out for the first race of the season. We had an excellent turn out for our first race.  We had 29 riders on course including two new youth riders.  Once again Janna with the help of Nick Kupiak ran a beginners clinic before the race.  Tied up as I was at registration I missed it this year.

After two neutral laps (should have been 28) to try and warm up in the brutally cold wind the pack was off. With Nick making an early attack to test the waters, he was quickly reeled in by the main pack before attacking again on lap 6 and making it stick this time.  After securing his break away by lap ten he settled into a steady pace and started picking off the riders that were falling off the main pack.

As everyone who was out saw we are running chip timing for the crits this year and as well for the time trials.  So everyone who purchased a seasons pass got to the keep their number/chip which they will use for the rest of the season.  Everyone else who signed up day of had to return their timing chip, and will have to sign in and register for a new chip next time they come out to race.  (Just one more reason to get a seasons pass). We are not pro-rating seasons passes.  You buy one or you pay five dollars to race.

Now, while everything went fairly well for the first run there a couple things to keep in mind.  Number one being, that even if you have a seasons pass you still need to come to the registration desk and check in/sign on to be added to the race.  Two show up early enough if you're a day of rider to allow us time to enter you in and assign a chip.  (the odds of having your name spelled correctly go up substantially the more time you give us)

VOLUNTEERS  once again, dangerously close to not having a race tonight.  If we don't have people to marshall the corners we don't have a race.  It's that simple.  We hate having to harass you, we hate having to spam you on facebook.  We don't want to have you park your bike and give up your race to stand there in the freezing wind wearing just your jersey.

To make it easier for everyone to plan their racing we are asking that you pre-register to volunteer.  This way everyone can see if whether or not we need help and plan accordingly.  I remember how bummed Nick was the night he came to volunteer last year and we already had six other people on the corners and he didn't even have his bike with him.

So a huge thank you to Derek Steele, Gary Argyle and Tamara Zavarise for stepping up and helping out.

In addition to be super awesome they also currently have a one in three chance of winning a brand new wheelset that the club is buying as a draw prize for everyone who steps up and volunteers.

Now for the only reason you've read this far... Results and Lap times

Great race everyone, see you next week.

We have an amazing club here in Nanaimo. We put on close to one hundred events each year requiring untold hours of volunteer time and labour.  For that, I thank each and every one of you.

But it hasn`t always been smooth sailing.  Too many times its been feast or famine.  We either have no one to man the corners and are about to cancel the race or everyone shows up in their runners and we have no one to race.

This year we`re going to try something different.

First, for series points to count every rider must volunteer for at least one event.

Criteriums require a minimum of: 3 marshalls to man the corners. 6 marshalls or 2 per corner is preferred 1 volunteer to help with the lap board and spotting racers as they cross the line Time trials require 1 volunteer to hold riders at start and spot riders at finish line 1 volunteer to marshall the turn around

You`ll notice it takes a lot more help to run a criterium than a time trial, so if all you race are the time trials and you don`t want to miss one there is lots of opportunity to help out on Tuesdays.

Secondly, we`re asking that anyone who is able to volunteer for an event go to our webscorer page and register for the event you can help at.  This way everyone can see whether or not we have enough volunteers and can plan accordingly.  Most of you have already been looking ahead and planning your holidays and summer riding.  So if you already know that you`re going to be taking it easy before Race the Ridge why not sign up and let us know you`ll help out.

Third, every time you volunteer to help out at a club event you will be entered for a draw prize at our AGM.  We have been working with our local bike shops and will have a brand new wheelset and a Helmet/Shoe package up for a grabs in addition to any other swag we have managed to procure over the season for you.

Check Events Calendar for times and distances

Do you want to learn to ride safely in a group? Do you want to learn some techniques to ride smoother and easier?

Do you want to meet some like minded friendly people?

These are just a few of the reasons why you might want to come try out MIVA’s Monday night group ride (“Begin to group ride” "Development Ride").

This weekly group ride became really popular last year which meant that we were able to offer 3 different groups = 3 different speeds. This means there is a group just right for most people.  It is important that you are competent on a bike but you do not need to be fast. We will maintain an average speed of 20-24 km/hr and we will not drop anyone - yes it is a “no drop” ride.

We will meet at the NIC (Nanaimo Ice Center) parking lot and roll out at 6pm sharp. You must be a member of MIVA and hold a CyclingBC license/membership, so please go to our site and sign up online before hand. OR you can try two MIVA events as long as you sign a 2017 club waiver first, then decide if you want to join (nobody ever changes their mind:)). Cycling BC (any license/membership), MIVA sign up.

Our usual route is out and back on Jingle Pot road with a couple offshoots thrown in for fun (read hills). We will start out with a shorter ride of about 20km but will build that up as it suits the group. Pacing lining will be instructed and practiced where it works best on this route. As well this year we plan to do some instruction on simple bike maintenance and safety checks before some of the rides.

These rides are lead by at least one experienced MIVA rider who is there to guide you and help you feel comfortable in the group as well as push you a bit when you may need it.

Start Date: Monday April 11

Time: 6pm

Meeting spot: NIC parking lot.

Come ride with us!

If you need to, download print and sign a 2017_Club_Waiver.

*Sample of a route last year, more or less http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6558687.

Proudly sponsored again by KIYO SPA, thank you!