Newsletter #1 – 2020. MAZDA-COTR. The cx race season that never happened.
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Bikes washed, lubed and ready to ride (but not race) by Muc Off..
Newsletter #1.
- Cross on the Rock 2020 Season Cancelled.
- Crossfondo is still on the schedule for the fall.
- Burnt Bridge Gravel Fondo
The Warm Up.
Not a lot of warm ups for this newsletter BUT keep your eyes open for an upcoming issue of Canadian Cycling Magazine which is supposed to have a feature on the 15 years of Cross on the rock.
1. Cross on the Rock 2020 Season Cancelled.
Unfortunately, the 2020 COTR season has been cancelled.
In a perfect world we would be gluing tubulars and thinking about tire choices for the first race of the season. We would be starting to ride our cross bikes a bit more. Thinking about ordering team kit (as usual a bit too late). Riding dirt (everyone is doing that so that part is great). All gearing up for the start of the 15th Cross on the Rock race season.
But WAY back in March we realized that at some point we might be making an announcement about this season being cancelled due to the global pandemic. We wanted to hold off JUST in case the virus burnt itself out over the summer. We wanted to be optimists and we REALLY wanted a race season!!
There is no “Modified” format or “virtual” equivalent of Cross on the Rock. The racing happens in “groups”. It is wheel to wheel. It is an 80 person grid jammed into a close area. It is a community of people coming together and having a great time. Little of this can be done without heavy breathing! Little of it can be done 2 meters apart. Honestly if we want to be safe we don’t want to be racing cyclocross right now…….as much as we want to!
More importantly, we can not get insurance. Cycling BC will not sanction cyclocross right now.
No do not have a crystal balls. There is no set timeline for the safe return of our type of racing. When our beloved Bonnie Henry says it is time to go to “Phase 4” we can start thinking about a gathering our community back together. Lets be honest this might not happen in 2021 or even 2022. But we will get there and we will be ready.
In the meantime don’t lose the stoke.
Get out there. Get together safely with people in your bubble. Outside. On bikes, hiking, running, going to the lakes and rivers. Explore the island!! This is the time to do it.
Enjoy this fall in a different way than how we normally do it.
Please realize we are gutted about this but it will be OK.
2. Crossfondo is still on the schedule for the fall.
The Tripleshot Cross Fondo is still proceeding with planning for October 18th. This is the youth oriented cycling club’s primary fundraiser for the year to support their programs.
From their recent e-mail:
We’ve had lots of questions about the 2020 Tripleshot CrossFondo and we want to update you on our plans.
To begin with, our Early Bird registration for the 2020 Tripleshot CrossFondo has been extended until Sunday, August 16 at 11:59 pm while we work out some final details.
We are working with the tremendous staff at Island Health (VIHA) Environmental Health Office to take the appropriate modifications due to Covid-19.
Some of the modifications include:
Individual Time Trial format (your predicted riding speed on your registration form will help us determine the start list)
Volunteers will be masked and practicing physical distancing
Hand washing stations at access points and port-a-potty sites
Sanitized surfaces and physical distancing throughout the start/finish area and at nutrition/water stations. No-touch bottle filling.
Distanced parking
Musette lunch to enjoy away from the start/finish area (a ‘musette’ is a sling bag full of goodies that is given to pro riders while they’re racing. Don’t worry, you can stop for a moment to get yours!)
Of course, if the pandemic conditions worsen and there is a requirement to postpone the event until 2021, we will offer a refund (less a service fee) or will defer your entry to 2021.
Thanks for your patience; we’ll get back to you with more details shortly!
Your TSCF Organizing Committee
COTR Star Holly Henry making one of the water crossings at the 2019 Crossfondo.
3. Burnt Bridge Gravel Fondo
BURNT BRIDGE CLASSIC GRAVEL FONDO IS HAPPENING!
When: Saturday – September 26, 2020
Time: 9 am to 2pm
Where: Burnt Bridge, near Koksilah River Provincial Park. Route will be 82km through Mosaic Forest Gravel Roads, heading South on the Cowichan Valley Regional Trail, and then finish back at Burn Bridge. https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/3305229973
What: 100 Participant Limit, to be ridden as an individual time trial. Social distancing requirements will be in place during both start and finish. Participants will be given their assigned start time. Note that at this point there will be no food concession, or awards presentations. We will have a livestream presentation 24hrs after the event has completed. We will have hand wash stations, porta potties on hand.
Entry Fee: $50
Format: The event will be run as an endurance individual time trial where riders will attempt the 82km route in a solo effort. The rules will apply similar to an Ironman triathlon where there will be no drafting allowed and you will need to give people space to pass. Riders will need to be self sufficient to manage common bike repairs and nutrition. The Start/Finish area will be at the original Burnt Bridge Classic race site from the 1990’s.
Link to map: https://goo.gl/maps/zFSKGWTKisU2tA9u9
Entry Fee: We have reduced the entry fee to $50. Those who paid the original $150 entry fee will have the option to donate $100 towards the Jordie Lunn Bike Park project or can receive a refund. For information on the project visit www.jordielunnbikepark.com
If you have any questions, please email info@burntbridgeclassic.com
Cross on the Rock is an ISLAND series and the past support we have received from our island community is awesome. Lets keep it up in the future as it is what drives this series and makes it special. PLEASE SUPPORT THE SPONSORS. These are local businesses and companies that support local businesses. On-line companies, amazon, big business (besides Shimano and local dealers of MAZDA) do NOT support community events.
Cross on the Rock is organized by the council of cross and supported by a lot of bike shops and awesome people.
Let us remember the happy times…..like this MASSIVE whirly – whirl from Cumberland a few years back.
