We wait 9 months of the year for this weekend!!
Newsletter #2
Cross is here!
Yes. It seems like the summer break just ended….because it did just end. We have been getting messages all week about people doing their first intervals, taking their gravel tires off their bikes, getting new fast racing shoes for the cx season, doing their first start practices, dusting off their cross bikes, re-gluing tubulars and…..even….shaving legs! Most people are NOT ready to go full gas this weekend. We are with you. BUT at the very same time we CAN NOT wait to go full gas this weekend. It will HURT but it will be AWESOME!! Easing into the season. Start to feel your groove sometime in October when things ramp up and the weather gets more “cross like”.
We can’t wait!!
- Please read through the adjusted COVID Protocols for this year. Quite a bit different than 2021 but still encouraging care and consideration for others and a priority for staying healthy. Link is here.
1. Cross on the Commons. Qualicum Beach. Cross on the Rock 2022 Race #1. Preview!!
Arrowsmith Cycling Club, the Town of Qualicum Beach and many supporting businesses of Oceanside are pleased to hold and sponsor the 5th Cross on the Commons!
Registration CLOSES for Race #1 at 6:00 PM on Saturday night before the race. CLOSES. There is NO DAY OF RACE registration.
Link to registration page is here.
Course Description
The course will be fast and run in a counter clockwise direction that starts at the same location (lower, most northerly playing field) as last year. It begins with a slight uphill section toward and past the kids playground into The Olde Forest section which is a mix of single(ish) track, gravel, your favourite ditch and a slight (slight!) bit of grass before exiting on to The Strait-Not-That- Away section that’s a bit uphill that keeps the skate board park on the left and includes Logstacles (come and find out what those are). From there The Off-Camber Goat Path section that goes above and over (but not through) the sand pits and hugs the northern woods before exiting near the woods hugging the most south-western field. Skirting the field and on to a two-way section before entering The Ride Like a Kid BMX Track section where, you’ll exit near the start and enter a path that leads to The A-Maze-ing? section that will test your speed versus cornering (may be wet!) on grass before back to the two-way section where we keep to the left like good Brits. Here you’ll find The Fast-in-Grass section with a few twisty turns that goes down 2 levels in the park down to the tent area and exits back of the washrooms and enters The A Wee Bit of Single Track Forest section before exiting near the start where will do repeats until Norm says to stop!
NOTE #1: Please, Absolutely NO riding on the playing fields or the sand pits! Thanks!
NOTE #2: The course area is a public recreation site, be courteous and respectful of other users. This is especially true along the paved path where the Team Tents will be located.
NOTE #3: There will be two food and beverage vendors on site: Dude’s Dogs (smokies, hotdogs and drinks/pop) and The French Press for coffee. Cash only.
Team Tents
Team tents will now be located on the south side of and parallel to the paved path that separates the lower and mid-level playing fields. (Do not spike tent supports within 1 metre of the paved path due to buried irrigation) No vehicles allowed to this location so the best and shortest point of access is from Park Rd just off of First Ave. Unload then park in the BMX parking lot which is really close.
Parking
The large Civic Centre parking lot is available.
Other good locations include along Jones St. and the BMX lot on Park Rd (this is your prime location for Team Tent drop off and parking) and Ravensong Swimming pool.
Washrooms (same as last year)
They are situated in a standalone building adjacent to the paved path. QB calls it the field house and it is very close to the Park Rd entrance to the path where the Team Tents will be located.
Course Location
At the Qualicum Beach Civic Centre (more or less). Good access from all highways:
- From Hwy 19, take the only off-ramp into Qualicum Beach, follow the traffic circle around to Rupert Rd, drive 1 block and turn right onto Jones St.
- Coming from north Island on Hwy 19A, turn right onto Laburnum Rd and continue until a left turn on Jones St.
- If coming from down Island on Hwy 19A, turn left at Bennett Rd (also goes to airport), it will change to Rupert Rd, go around the traffic circle then one more block to a right turn on Jones St.
- From the west (Port Alberni, Hwy 4) drive towards town and follow the traffic circle around to Rupert Rd, drive 1 block and turn right onto Jones St.
Course Map
Race day Schedule
| Category | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Registration Open | 9:15 am |
| Beginner Clinic | 10:00 am |
| Launch Men (Including Youth U13 and U15) | 10:45 am |
| Launch Women (Including Youth U13 and U15) | 10:46 am |
| Bigger Kids Full lap or almost a full lap | 11:40 |
| Intermediate Men (Including U17) | 12:10 pm |
| Intermediate Women (Including U17 and Masters 40 and faster Women) | 12:11 pm |
| Lil Nutcase Kids Race | 12:15 pm |
| Masters Men (40-54) | 1:15 pm |
| Super Master Men (55+) | 1:16 pm |
| Open Men | 2:30 pm |
| Open Women | 2:31 pm |
2. Cross Club Information.
If you have never heard of “Cross Club” it is because you should not hear about “Cross Club”? Is that how it goes?? Cross Club was the original cross series on Vancouver Island and where many of the Council of Cross did their first ever cross races. They used to be “underground” but went “legit” a few years back. One of the very BEST ways to train for Cross on the Rock and other events. Great group. Great workout!
2022 Cross Club registration is now live!
Registration link can be found @ www.crossclubvictoria.com.
Details on locations will be emailed to the registered riders list on the Monday of each week. Make sure you register by Monday morning on the 12th of September so that you can receive the info for Ride # 1 on September 14th.
If anybody you know is not on the email blast list from last year, just send them to www.crossclubvictoria.com to register for this year.
Please bring your UCI License or Cycling BC License to the Kickoff on September 14th.
Cross Club 2022 Schedule
Ride #1 – September 14th
Ride #2 – September 21th
Ride #3 – September 28nd
Ride #4 – October 5th
(Please note: No ride on Oct 12th due to Cross on the Rock race on Monday, Oct 10th of that week)
Ride #5 – October 19th
Ride #6 – October 26th
3. Cross on the Rock Season 2022 Schedule September 11th. COTR #1. Qualicum Beach. Cross on the Commons.September 18th COTR #2. Cumberland. Coal Cross.October 10th. COTR #3. Nanaimo. Muc Off Cup.October 23rd. COTR #4. Langford. Broad Street Cycles GPOctober 30th. COTR #5. Cowichan Valley. Chris Cross.November 13th. COTR #6. Nanaimo. Hot Crossed Bunnies. (This venue is still to be confirmed)
- 6 races again. Same as 2021
- So far we have 5 returning venues with 1 new venue
- At least 2 very different courses from previously raced at those returning venues.
- 1 totally new course at Chris Cross in the Cowichan Valley.
Registration Cross on the Commons will open at 6:00pm September 1st and CLOSE at 6:00pm on September 10th.
LINK TO RACE #1 Registration here.
There are a few other fun events happening on the island this fall that you may want to also consider:
September 10th. Steam Donkey Racing Dodge X Off road TriathlonSeptember 24th Mind Over Mountain Adventure RaceSeptember 24th Burnt Bridge Classic Gravel FondoOctober 2nd Island Cup Enduro series final (need to get this moved out of cross season for 2023!!)October 9th Royal Victoria Marathon 8km and Half.October 16th. Tripleshot CrossFondoNovember 5th or 6th. BC Provincial Champs at Hard Knox CX in Kelowna (not on the island)November. 25-27. National Cyclocross Champs in VICTORIA!! (Rumour has it NOT at Bear Mountain)
As well there are a few other cyclocross events not on Vancouver Island:
Check those out here: https://cyclingbc.net/events/?tribe_disciplines%5B%5D=2468&tribe_disciplines%5B%5D=500
Parting Shot
Looking forward to butchering names as we call each racer randomly to the start line on Sunday in Qualicum Beach!
