Friday, June 26, 2009

The Canada Day Classic...

On deck for next week is our world famous Red Deer Lake Road Race. So mark your calendars for Wednesday July 1st and check your watches as we're launching this one at 1:00pm. While not actually all that close to Red Deer Lake and not even really within sight of Red Deer Lake we just thought the name sounded cool. This ought to be a good one. We'll meet at the Red Deer Lake School to form the groups up but I would encourage people to park at the Priddis Meeting Spot at 22 and 22X as the race finishes down there. It's a nice easy warmup ride to the school along 22X where we'll start things off. If you're a little late or maybe a little wimpy you could park at 37th st and 22X in between the lanes where guys park their pickup trucks and sell Chilean cherries they bought here in town as authentic Okanagan cherries or hock Mexican corn as Taber corn.

View Priddis Meeting Spot (PMS) in a larger map
As for the race itself ... we'll be doing a hill or two on this one and then a good flatter hammer home. We'll start at the Red Deer Lake School parking lot where we'll form into three groups and I'll give the first group a predetermined and completely arbitrary head start. Same for the next group and finally the hammerheads get to chase them all down so its a group pursuit race. First to the line claims honours and the adoration of millions. We'll ride up neautralish from the school to 37th St where we'll turn south on 773 and follow that with its little jog to 549 where we'll trun west. We'll follow 549 to 22 and turn north onto 22 where you can hammer with the wolves nipping at your heels to 22X eastbound with the finish at the top of the hill about a kilometre later. Distance is around 47km and it should be a bit of an exciting hammer. Beginners are more than encouraged and I'm generous with the head starts so don't be intimidated by that. The paving is recent and its generally pretty quiet on the roads out there so I'm looking foward to it.

View Larger Map
We can then regroup at the Priddis Meeting Spot for a bit of a roundup and the sharing of war stories. I need a couple of volunteers for this as there are a couple of turns so bring a friend and as a bonus they'll get to see this race of awesomeness from the front row.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Quick Race Report.....

Most excellent evening and a great course. Challenging to say the least but the flatter parts on the way home provided much excitement indeed. With 17 hardy souls and 4 great volunteers we split the riders into 2 groups, some by choice and some by coersion. We had the A or Big Boy Race that went all the way to the end of the road and totalled 50.5km or so and the Hammerin' B Race that went 43km or so and turned around at the summit of the big climb. I let the As go a couple of minutes ahead of the Bs to keep things interesting. Much suffering was to be had as the climbs took their toll on the groups that had formed but everyone looked impressive as they approached their turnarounds. Line honours went to Norm Smith by the slimmest of margins over Willy Vansevenant and Mike Healy in a closely grouped B race. The As were lead by Simon Williams with Rick Courtney and Cody Godlonton chasing all the way. I'll put full results up later when I get a chance to get them entered. Of course I want to thank the volunteers that make this thing go and tonight were Brett Stamm, Darren Nielson, Mark Perry, and Rob Armstrong. Thanks to all for making the trek out to Bragg Creek and it really is a most excellent course that I'll definitely use again. Next week were lining up the Red Deer Lake Road Race from the Priddis meeting spot at 22 and 22X and since its a holiday, we'll aim for a 1pm start. Details to come in the following days but lets just say that it looks like another fine course and should prove to be a great race.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Bragg Creek gets a second try!

Slight change in schedule but as we've missed two road races so far and I really want to use this course I think we'll give the Bragg Creek RR another try. So this Wednesday the 24th at 6:30 we'll give it another go. Details are the same as before and we'' get going shortly after 6:30 or so to give guys a chance to get out there. I can't promise great weather although it looks good so far and I'll start sacrificing weathermen if it starts to look bad so let's all hope it stays good.

We'll meet where Range Road 51 and Highway 66 meet just west of 22. This is on the back way out of Bragg Creek near the Provincial Park. People can park in Bragg Creek, at the school on 22, or at the Provincial Park and enjoy a nice easy warmup out to the meeting spot.


View Untitled in a larger map

From the meeting spot we'll race westward into the majesty of the mountains and up and down a few hills and all that. We'll arrange turnarounds and race lengths when we get an idea of who is coming out but there will be multiple options so everybody will be able to race. The courses will go straight out and back along 66.


View Larger Map

There is one issue with the course that I do need to mention and that is the 'Texas gates' that are found near the start and the end of the course. I believe there are two heading each way. Now I rode them with no problems on the weekend and I think the soluntion is for everyone to just take their time and neutralize the racing over them. There are also some significant but not insurmountable hills along the way but I want everyone to spread out and take it easy on the descents.

It is a scenic and beautiful course so I am hoping to get a couple of volunteers for the evening to handle the turnarounds. It is a short job, you get to see the race, and a great way to help out.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Bragg Creek RR - Race Report

Race Report??… well actually a ride report… or perhaps more of a report about standing on the side of the road…

A few hardy souls braved the elements in their pontoon equipped AWD’s and arrived in Bragg Creek Wednesday evening to find partly sunny skies, no wind and mild temperatures.

Despite receiving word via carrier sea gull that the evening’s competition was “washed out”, spirits remained high and bikes were soon unpacked.

Finding no one else on the road except for a few half drowned earthworms and dedicated race volunteer Robert Armstrong, “the peleton” (Norm Smith, Willy Vansevenant, Brian Beaulieu and a visiting cyclist from Edmonton named Terry who just happened to be sleeping in his van at the meet point) set out from Bragg Creek towards Elbow Falls.

Approximately 12km into the ride Norm’s rear tire flatted, likely due to a sliver of roadside debris from a discarded Bicardi Breezer bottle tossed from a pickup truck on it’s way to MacLean Creek OHV Area. The troops rallied and thanks to Willy’s “thumbs of steel” we were quickly on our way.

Less than a kilometer further down the road Norm’s rear tire flatted again. A thorough inspection of the casing and a borrowed spare tube from Willy had us rolling down the road again several minutes later. In retrospect I think Paddy’s Flats recreation area should be renamed Norm’s Flats in honour of the night's events.

As the rider’s crested one of the many spectacular vistas along the course and were nearing the 19km mark Willy’s front tire flatted, likely due to the blistering pace with which he made the ascent.

Again, Willy’s “thumbs of steel” sprung into action and Brian’s spare tube was installed. As Willy pulled the head of the pump from the valve stem, it caught and pulled the valve core out with it…

Off came the tire and in went one of Norm’s punctured tubes with a newly installed patch. No joy…

Off came the tire and in went Terry’s spare tube (the last spare tube in the group). Third time was a charm.

Deciding to forgo the beautiful scenery along the remainder of the route “the peleton” turned around and headed for home. We arrived back at the cars without further incident.

Three flat tires, four spare tubes, and plenty of camaraderie. Much better than an evening spent staring at the TV watching an episode of The Real World.

Brian Beaulieu
Crankmasters

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Unfortunately racing is cancelled tonight.

Due to the inclement weather and dangerous conditions we are going to cancel the racing tonight (June 17th)

The park staff in Elbow Valley have indicated that it is not expected to improve and it is currently much worse in the Elbow Valley than it is in Calgary.

For these reasons unfortunately we have to cancel the race tonight. We will see everyone next week for the TT at Woodland Road.

Monday, June 15, 2009

The Most Scenic RR I could come up with ....

... will be this Wednesday the 17th at 6:30 just outside of Bragg Creek. We'll meet where Range Road 51 and Highway 66 meet just west of 22. This is on the back way out of Bragg Creek near the Provincial Park. People can park in Bragg Creek, at the school on 22, or at the Provincial Park and enjoy a nice easy warmup out to the meeting spot.


View Untitled in a larger map

From the meeting spot we'll race westward into the majesty of the mountains and up and down a few hills and all that. We'll arrange turnarounds and race lengths when we get an idea of who is coming out but there will be multiple options so everybody will be able to race. The courses will go straight out and back along 66.


View Larger Map

There is one issue with the course that I do need to mention and that is the 'Texas gates' that are found near the start and the end of the course. I believe there are two heading each way. Now I rode them with no problems on the weekend and I think the soluntion is for everyone to just take their time and neutralize the racing over them. There are also some significant but not insurmountable hills along the way but I want everyone to spread out and take it easy on the descents.

It is a scenic and beautiful course so I am hoping to get a couple of volunteers for the evening to handle the turnarounds. It is a short job, you get to see the race, and a great way to help out.

Friday, June 12, 2009

A Good ole evening right in the backyard...

so to speak. We got off our 2up TT in Springbank with no problems which is encouraging. The course was only slightly technical, the weather beautiful, and the times great given the hills and the challenges of the format. On to the good stuff and the results. We had 9 total teams vying for honours with 2 A cat teams, and 3 B cat teams, and 4 C cat teams. Congrats to all that came out and special kudos to the newer riders and those who hadn't been out in a while.


A huge thank you to the volunteers for the evening that really make things go and helped a ton on this course which allowed us to race so close to town without any issues. The heroes for the evening were Darcy Gullacher, Darren Nielson, Mike Healy, and Will Vansevenant who came all the way from Highwood to help out. Thanks guys, it was a great evening.

Monday, June 8, 2009

Next up ... 2up TT!

Quick version ... 2up TT in Springbank at 6:30 this Wednesday the 10th of June. Longer version ... we'll take two of you, make you into friends, and unleash you on this slightly technical and definitely challenging TT course right in our backyard. We'll meet in a corner of the parking lot at the Springbank arena starting at 6pm and get the racing underway right around 6:30.

View Springbank Meeting Spot in a larger map


It's a bit of a challenge fitting a course into a space like this, especially given the road conditions and the need for a good shoulder so it has lead to this kind of configuartion and it takes a bit of explaining and a few good volunteers. The course starts eastbound on Springbank Road heading back towards Calgary. A right turn not that far along onto Range Road 32 takes you due South all the way past Lower Springbank Road to a big turnaround at the end of the road as you approach the river. It's pretty easy to see as beyond that there ain't no road. Back up Range Road 32 to Springbank Road and a right turn taking you east again towards Calgary. You then turn right on Horizon View Road for a quick jaunt to Lower Springbank Road where you turn right and head out west along Lower Springbank. Finally, a turn north on to Range Road 32 again and the finish along 32 a short time later. Lots of twists and turns but these roads should be familiar to almost everybody.




With all the turns and the more developed nature of a lot of these roads I will by trying to round up 5 of 6 volunteers for this so bring out a friend, relative, or relative you are friends with and we'll put them to work. It will be a nice pleasant evening and we're not far from town so I'd really appreciate it if I can get anough hands to make this unique course work. Other than that, it's a standard TT so anything goes and just remember to be like Astar and play safe.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Race Report, by B Team 2 Leader Mark Shand

We all knew that it was going to be an intense evening of racing when Simon set a blistering pace (Simon was talking like it was a Sunday ride, while I had to catch my breath between each word) and Lockie laid down an attack on the warm-up lap. After some quick calculations, the race teams were announced based on our blistering TT times (some course records were apparently set). Jared tried to slip into the B event by hoping that Trev would not notice a calculation error, but this was quickly protested.

The B event pitted Team Orange, led by Marilyn, versus Team Purple, led by Mike H and Team Pink led by me (yes, ha ha, team pink ... yes I know ... I am okay with it since I already shave my legs). Props to Rui for attacking on the first hill of the first lap ... not once, but twice. The second lap team lead sprint saw Mike with a huge lead, followed by myself and then Marilyn. On the final lap Marilyn started talking smack (I don't know why???), especially when she gathered up enough riders to lay down the hurt and win the race. I must note that even though team Orange won the event, Team Pink was the first team to have all five racers cross the line (am I grasping at straws here). In the end Team Orange took the evening with 12 points, closely followed by Team Pink and Team Purple, both with 11 points. Thanks to all of my Pink teammates for putting in such a great effort (along with all of the other racers). It was definitely competitive, but a tonne of fun.

Looking forward to hearing a recap of the A event.

Thanks to Trev, Kyle, Mike, Kaille and Thomas for volunteering (sorry if I missed someone). Trev, you put together a killer evening!

P.S. Rui, we both know who has bragging rights at this point ... even if your team won the race. ;)