If you have not seen this yet and before ANYTHING else you have to check out Pelle’s edit from COTR#1.
In the “olden days” of COTR Wendy and I would come home from a series race. Wolf down some food. Shower. Then start trying to decipher the “language” that is the notes from the results/timing sheets so that we could put the results out ASAP. We would get it done late at night after a full day and if we had anything left we would also write up a report. That was the olden days! Now we have Roland and Katie on site translating the timing sheets and posting the results RIGHT THERE. Dave firing out a report to the media as soon as I can edit it. What used to be the “report” has turned into “news” and comes out well….around mid week. It is not that we are slacking off….it is just the new reality….and actually works out better all around don’t you think?
ON TO IT:
Cross on the Rock Race #1: Condo Cross
OK I don’t want all you cross racers getting soft out there because of the good weather. The forecast is not relevant for a cross racer beyond tire selection. We have had it a bit tooo nice……so be ready when the real cross weather starts!!
An amazing turn out for the first race. Pretty sure that is the first time a race west of Ontario has cracked 200. For certain a new record for COTR as well as BC. Let’s keep it going!!
Remember the COTR series is like Fight Club…..member promoted. Different from Fight Club in that we want you to talk about it. We count on you the riders to talk it up in your cycling club, bike shop, to your friends, family and anyone you see riding a bike and extra if they ride a cross bike! Get people out to race! ESPECIALLY WOMEN! The intermediate and Open Women’s category are both BORDERLINE right now…..remember the deal we made last year….10 riders in each category. Get the girls out and keep those categories STRONG!!
OK the “Controversy” Part.
All to do with our own version of “ageism”. We have one guy (OK the winner) in the Masters category that was too young and a few guys in the Intermediate category that were too old. Those old guys in the Intermediate we moved up to Masters for the points and the young guy in the Masters category we gave a NOR but let him keep his loot because….well because we are nice!
This will be all adjusted via the www some time in the next 24hours if it has not been done already.
From Drew MacKenzie the Race Director AND Leaders Arm Band Wearer
“A BIG THANK YOU to all our volunteers! Please take the time to recognize and thank all those folks you saw out at the race up early to set up the course, time the events, register everyone, put on kids races, tabulate all the results, clean up afterwards, and just generally make the whole thing tick so smoothly. If it is not too much we could even list them…
- Steve and Hilary Grant
- Karen Fedoruk
- Jon Benskin
- Peter Wellsman
- Scott Mitchell
- Jen Erlendson
- Andy Achuff
- Joele Guynup
- Mike Hucal
- Stefan Hill
- Curtis Schlossberger
- Kelly Guest
- Lister Farrar and his merry band of junior racers
- Parker Bloom
- Betsy MacKenzie
- Mical Dyck
- Steve Lund
- Tanya Berg
- Ed Thacker
- Eric Simonson
- Adele Woodyard
- Paul Brend
- Terry McKall
- Libby Aynsley
- And last but not least Katie and Roland!
If I have somehow missed somebody I am terribly sorry!
Also please vote with your dollars and your kind words the next time you’re out shopping or talking about cyclocross to friends and strangers alike. Make sure to support those that support you!
- Esquimalt Parks & Recreation!
- Sponsors!: The Condo Group, Oak Bay Bikes Westshore, Straight Up Cycles, Pro City Racing (party sponsors!), Shimano, Live to Play Sports, Outdoor Gear Canada, BBB Components, B78 Coaching, Phillips Brewing Company and Saltspring Coffee!
Back to me:
Volunteers are KEY. Make sure you thank them personally AND come out and help out at an event this year. It does not exclude you from racing…in fact no less than 4 categories were won by people that worked all day on that event…..so it might even HELP performance….think about it!
Edited
The Complete Master Blaster Guide to the 2012 Cross on the Rock Race Season will be receiving an EDIT and re-posting before next week. Updated will be:
- Forgot to mention the “DROP” of one race if you do 7 events. Only 6 races score per person.
- Updated schedule with the Kids races included.
- Updated Bike shop supporters to include Ozzie’s Cycle in Port…not sure how we forgot them
- Updated Club/Organizers to include ASS and AVR….also from PORT…..not sure how we forgot them too!!
- And a few other things. All EDITS will be highlighted and in a different colour FONT.
Youth
We are working on/exploring if we can run either a separate race or separate start for all the “youth” cross racers out there at the Dodgey Cross event. It is KEY for our series to adhere to KISS so we will see if this will work out without taxing the crews too much. I will have full details/update in the newsletter next week.
Clinic Coming up
Clinic: Cyclocross 101 – CX Fundamentals
Date: September 29th, 2012
Time: 9:30-12:30pm
Location: Victoria, BC
More info
Clinic Topics and Drills Include:
Bike Set-up Basics
- Equipment selection and set up.
- Understanding and selecting clincher and tubular tires, and the importance of tire pressure.
Bike Handling and Cornering
- With many cross courses contain over 30 corners per lap, cornering skill and ability is one of the most crucial elements in cyclocross.
- Shifting and braking, weight shifts/body positioning, line choice and techniques for tricky terrain and challenging conditions such as sand, off-cambers, steep drops, and mud, snow, loose gravel, etc.
Dismounting and remounting skills
- Carrying and shouldering the bike.
- Techniques for barriers and stairs.
Race Preparation
- Pre-race routines, race day nutrition and racing strategy,
- What to expect in your first season, keys to being prepared,
Skillz drillz
- Practice race starts and holding position.
- Clipping in, weighting, surface assessment for traction and other drills to develop cx skills.
Next
We travel from the furthest point South on the COTR schedule to the furthest point North as the series heads to Cumberland for another Dodgey Cross race Sunday, September 30th. Full details coming next week.
Weekly Cross Rides on the Island (IF you know of more please let us know)
Courtenay
Trail Bicycle Eatmore Sprouts Team
We will be hosting a weekly Wednesday night cross ride from Trail Bicycles, meet there ready to ride for 6pm and please bring lights and warm clothes as we will be out there until dusk.
Victoria
Wednesday Nights:
– CROSS CLUB 2012 –
$20 cash money for the 8 event training series
September 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th and October 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th
E-Mail: crossclub@gmail.com
Victoria
Cross season is on, so starting this Friday: CX ride leaving from Broad Street Cycles after work (6ish). Everyone welcome, bring lights.
Nanaimo
To give a gentle introduction to cyclo-cross, MIVA (Mid Island Velo Association) is holding its second year of CX clinics where participants can learn and improve their skills at dealing with all kinds of obstacles, dismounting and remounting, cornering, riding cross camber sections, and even what to look for in their pre-riding of CX courses. Each clinic ends with a short race where riders can practise their skills and techniques and have a qualified coach offer constructive advice. Last year, a number of the more experienced competitors found the clinics invaluable in improving their performance.
Some participants use mountain bikes for the clinics and even for the Cross on the Rock races but, if you have a cyclo-cross bike or a road bike that can be modified, most of the courses favour these. One of the clinics will have a section dealing with bike modification.
Clinics are held at Beban Park and dates and times can be found on the Cross on the Rock web site and also on MIVA’s web site – www.bikeracing.ca. If you need further information email info@bikeracing.ca
Series is Organized by the Cross Council:
With the following cycling clubs: MIVA, VICC, Trail Bicycles-Eatmore Sprouts Cycling Team, The Cowichan Cycle Cartel, ASS and AVR
Supported by:
Oak Bay Bikes in Victoria, Westshore and Nanaimo
Trail Bikes in Courtenay
Experience cycles in Duncan
Cowichan Cycles in Duncan
Cycle Therapy in Duncan
Frontrunners in Nanaimo
Straight Up Cycles in Victoria
Dodge City Cycles in Cumberland
Ozzie’s Cycles in Port Alberni
Sanctioned by:
Cycling BC
Normon Thibault
E-Mail: normont@islandnet.com
Frontrunners-Nanaimo
www.frontrunners.ca