OK we admit it. We had a MAJOR technical glitch today at our second event of the 2010 Cross on the Rock series. It was a bit embarrassing actually and required a lot of wrangling to fix. You see we ran out of entry forms for the first time. We usually copy 115. Wendy made 120 just in case and being optimistic for the day. When our registration person said we were out of our forms, we had used up the template one and the ones left over from Cumberland….well we were pretty happy!
The KONA KUP…..RECORD TURN OUT. Breaking our last record turn out from Coal Cross…..we had a total of 134 racers breaking the Coal Cross record by 29!!
We even ran out of space on our timing sheets for the Intermediate as our sheets only go to 35….but we made due.
THANKS everyone for coming out and making it a HUGE success!
We have Katie and Roland finishing up the results right now…..it is their first time doing the results and if you have ever tabulated cross results….well it is like learning a different language so if they are not 100% accurate please don’t FREAK OUT. Just fire me a note and I will pass it on and we will figure it out. We will get the event and the series dialed in as usual.
HEY WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ON A-CHANNEL NEWS. DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO PULL IT AND PUT IT ON YOU-TUBE OR EQUIVILENT…let us know.
KONA KUP
This course has a few more hills than some of our other courses……some people call it “harder”. I call it “MORE FUN”! For me what goes UP must also come down. When I ride the course I think of the LONG down hill that runs from the top of the first switchback climb and ends probably close to 800 meters later at the first run through the sand pit. LOTS of time for recovery in there with a few pedal strokes to get around the roots and loops…..it is so NICE. Then another downhill that has some of the most fun turns on a CX course. Then the roller coaster downhill into the wicked left-hander-sandpit…..might be the wildest ride on a cx bike! I LOVE THIS COURSE…..then the “other camp” looks at the gentle sloping road section that seems to suck your legs dry into switchbacks that suck the rest of the life. The 50 stairs. The Sand #1. The Sand #2…..you know….the “harder stuff”. Well we do leave out the barriers to make it even easier….put you know…you can’t please everyone! Some people even WANTED the barriers (was it Chris Dickenson)….our racers are THAT tough that they even wanted to make the course HARDER! That is what we like to see for sure! We are thinking human barriers that move around next time. You don’t know where they will be and all of a sudden they will just right there!
Did I mention that I love this course! If it had a facebook profile it would have a LOT of friends!
What to report….what to report.
SAND
This race has a GREAT sand pit! We call it a “Sand Pit” but for most of the year it is a beach volley ball court. It was a HUNGRY monster today. Despite the sand having a bit more moisture so “in theory” it should have been easier…..well perhaps we just need more sand so people can practice. People were crashing. They were taking themselves out. PLUS they were taking other people out. The sand was getting in people’s clothing, hair, eyes, underpants….ok skin suits, bikes…..it was great! There seemed to be no clear winner of faster running vs riding…..but there were only a few people that rode it smooth!
Double Header
The thanksgiving weekend for me personally (being a running store owner) always means Victoria Marathon weekend. There were a few of our racers that did the race yesterday AND today…..some successfully like Powel River 17 year old beginner racer Julie Lance who raced the 8k down in Victoria. VERY successful like our course designer and race director Corey Piket from OBB who raced his first running race in 8 years doing the Half Marathon AND SUFFERED but did finish the masters race…painfully…..and less successful like Wade Smith who raced the FULL marathon yesterday and unfortunately did NOT finish the masters race today no human could! Oh yeah and Steve Bachop….he did do the full 42.2km BUT he was just on his bike leading the lead runners so it might have actually been an advantage…we will have to ask him. SO if you want to double up with the Victoria Marathon running race….pick the 8k!
Wellsman!
Peter Wellsman earned a special mention today with his HIGHEST EVER placing in the masters race. Not only was the race STACKED with it’s biggest field ever but the 52 year old had a 3rd place podium performance. The category is 35+…….he is beating guys 17 years his jr. Nice work Peter….ummm….must be your new superhero kit….ouch shield my eyes with Oakleys!
Families who CROSS together….stay together
One of the great things about cyclocross is that it really is a great sport for families. Kind of like an older BMX…..everyone can race or support. It is a great family outing. We have some great Cross Families out at the races: The Grants (4), The AnderBergs (3), Hay Family (3) , Brintons (also our Powell River Catchment area recruiters) (3), Wakelings (Eatmore sprouts) (2), Marks (2), the Burns boys (2), Thibault-Simms (3++volunteer kings), Stewarts (2), Villeneuve (2), Van der Vliet (2). Rabiens (2). We may have missed a few.
Oh yeah
We should probably mention the winners in here some place. WELL……Craig Ritchey (Male Expert), Justin Mark (Masters), Dawn Anderson (Open Women), Jeff Drew (Intermediate), Julie Lance (Women’s Beginner), Dustin Heise (Men’s Beginner). All these guys KILLED it today. Leading from the end of lap one until there were no laps showing on the board. Nice work!!
For the record
My name getting called up for the Masters race causes a LOT of commotion and comments today…..”Sandbagger” etc. All VERY complementary and made me blush……thanks! Actually I have been fighting a bit of a bug and JUST started to feel a bit better. Wendy and I rarely get a warm up or cool down at these events as we are so busy so IFFFF Wendy and I don’t race on cross on the rock days….we just don’t get to ride. I wanted to at least ride and for sure could not go head-to-head with Craig Ritchey…..like I KNOW I CAN!!! (watch out!)…..so wanted to at least get a ride in. It was great to get to ride the course all flagged out. In the end I got DQ’ed (by myself…I have to be fair) for not having a number on (no time to even pin one one) so did not effect the precious nature of the overall standings for masters.
Mini-Reports
Aaron Amar…you might have tried to be all stealthy with your earth tone kits….but we still could see you!
Rock Racing. Hmmm…..”Superheros”?
Downhill Rockers: Dylan Tremblay. Jeff Beeston. Taylor Smith (although we did catch you crashing in the sand)
Donna Tarver: Where is your rake now?
Sienna Wright….I mean Seana…sorry about that…..mental burp! Charging to the finish
Drew McKenzie….have you got your crotch sand free yet? How does it feel to race after standing doing timing…not so nice is it….welcome to our world.
Dawn Anderson: You are officially back
Bill MacMillan: Buy a cross bike already!
Corey Piket: Best hair award for sure.
Charlene Stewart: You fought your demons and won!
Shishy….I think you might have been 2nd vegan….sorry.
Jamie Emery: Time to glue like the Belgiums….I guess you need a road trip to learn 1st hand.
Michael Brinton: your brother is chomping at your butt……..he is picking up your skills fast!
To the guy that hit the tree in warm up: RELAX and watch where you are going!
David Huntley: how did your first cross race after IMC taste?
Justin Mark: we forgot to award you your BIG PRIZE….come and collect it……it is a FREE UPGRADE into the EXPERT Category……welcome back!
Brin Shapperd: Stop smiling and start hurting….what are you on caffeine?
Fluffy: Did you ice it or put any cream on it?
SOUP…..yum…..thanks OBB Boys.
NEXT EVENT: Providence Cross at the BEAUTIFUL Providence Farm in Duncan. This coming SUNDAY, October 17th. Series Race #3. Preview and Guide out on Thursday.
Organized by:Oak Bay Bikes Nanaimo
Brought to you by the Coucil of Cross. Www.23.235.211.7/~thehol19/crossontherock/
Race Director: Corey Piket
Course Design: Corey Piket
Series Sponsors
KONA, Oak Bay Bikes, Avia West, Howard Johnson, Saltspring Coffee, OAKLEY, Lambert-Lezyne-Pedros, Frontrunners, Action Motorcycles, The North Face, Pro Bar
Local Supporting Bike Shop:
Oak Bay Bay Bikes Nanaimo
SPECIAL THANKS TO: KONA
To The City of Nanaimo
Nanaimo Parks and Recreation
All our volunteers, marshals and post pounders
Series is Organized by the Cross Council:
With the following cycling clubs: VICC, Experience Cycling Club, UROC, Arrowsmith MTB Club and IRC
Supported by:
OBB Victoria, Westshore and Nanaimo
Trail Bikes in Courtenay
Experience cycles in Duncan
Frontrunners in Nanaimo
Straight Up Cycles in Victoria
Dodge City Cycles in Cumberland
Sanctioned by:
Cycling BC
Cross Stuff for Sale
2008 Cypress steel frame, carbon fork, mid-size (53) cyclo-cross bike suitable for a 5’5 to
5’7 person. Campagnolo Mirage 10-speed shifters and derailers, Avid Shorty 4 cantilever
brakes, Campy Khamsin wheels, Vittoria Randonneur tires. Bike computer and fenders
included. Excellent condition. This bike also makes an awesome winter bike and/or
commuter.
Asking price: $1000 obo. Phone: 250-544-1793 in the evening.
1) KONA Major Jake frame, fork and headset. Scandium Frame. 56cm. Team Colours. Alpha Q fork. $600. Norm normont@islandnet.com
2) 58cm Lapierre (Scandium Frame), Dura Ace shifters and rear Derailleur, FSA K-Force Carbon Cranks, and a brand new set of Mavic Askium Wheels. The front and rear derailleur, 105 cogset, brakes, wheels and tires are all brand new. I’m selling it for $2150, no tax. Sean at OBB Oak Bay Bikes [oakbaybikesnanaimo@gmail.com]
3) Oak Bay Bikes in Nanaimo has a SPECIAL on 2010 Major Jakes. Size 56cm and 54cm. Regular they are $2799 On Special for $1799. Last of the WICKED Scandiums! E-mail them at: oakbaybikesnanaimo@shaw.ca OR call them 250-760-0211
Here are Erik’s Pics from the race ….
http://www.flickr.com/photos/petersoneg/5077162169/
:)))
some of my pics….if you are unable to access it let me know and go ahead and add me on fb ok…cheers 🙂
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=570486346&ref=hpbday&pub=2386512837#!/album.php?aid=285714&id=667426409
…and Charlene did Awesome…she is gaining some confidence and starting to consider moving up …way to go!!!!