C4 Racing Wednesday Night Series

Quick results...

2011-08-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

As I'm off for a spell in the sunny Okanagan, I thought I'd at least get the results from last night out as well as update the final series 3 results.

I'll tell the tale shortly. Watch for an update later on our special event coming up in September.

And now the end is near.....

2011-08-15T13:22:00.000-07:00

And so we face the final Wednesday.
My friend I'll say it clear
Come to our race it's not out of the way.

We've raced a lot of roads
And travelled many many highways.
And more, much more than this
We did it a variety of ways.

Regrets I've had a few
But then again I always mention
We tried our best, put on some races
And had some fun with few exceptions

And so we come to the end of the Wednesday Night Series for 2011. This Wednesday (super Wednesday) it will all come down to one night, three races, one champion. 6:30 at the Priddis meeting spot (22 and 22X) we'll try and get started early as we've got lots to sort out, scores to settle, and legs to hurt.
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It's a micro stage race. We'll start with a ~2km prologue to get warmed up and set the stage for the night. Short, sweet, and just a little taste of what's to come.

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The big event is the road race where we'll tear around our Millarville course for just one lap (29km) where time is of the essence.

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Finally, we'll cap it all off with the race of truth, a 9km time trial back to the meeting spot where the times will be summed, the champions determined, and the glory will be limitless.

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We'll use a sum of the times from the three events to crown the champion and for the overall, there will be bonus points awarded (3-2-1) for each of the events. Time to play for all the marbles.
I'll need at least a couple of volunteers for this as we're going to try and get a pile of racing done in a relatively short evening. The weather looks spectacular as usual so it should make for an amazing evening.

Up to date with the update....

2011-08-15T05:50:00.000-07:00

Well, A few things to catch up on...Firstly, we've reviewed the finish line tape from the crit and congrats to the winners in each category. Cody won A with Carlos and Karel on the virtual podium. Cat B was Callum taking it from Clarence and Ron (Callum's looking A'ish these days). C was A battle of the veterans as Lewis took it over Willy and Brad. Thanks to Tom and ST for putting it on.
The following week, our record attempt at the Woodland course was derailed by the three horsemen of racing in Alberta. Road Construction, weather, and low turnout. Thanks to everybody that did make it, sorry we couldn't run something fun.
Lastly, I've updated the series 3 standing and I'll have something out about our finale later today. We're going to do ye olde mini stage race out of the Priddis meeting spot again.

...Your Mission...

2011-08-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

...should you choose to accept it, is to rock the world this Wednesday. We're talking about a land speed record attempt. Or more specifically the complete obliteration of the year old course records on our venerable Woodlands TT course. Full on TT gear approved, all the free speed you can buy. Hey shave your arms, shave your head, shave evererything, saran wrap yourself if you think that'll work, I won't judge. What I will do is time the thing. Our targets are Mr Jared Green (Cat A) at 22:00, Sir Tom Kenney (Cat B) at 23:38, and the dastardly (and fast Cat C) The Right Honourable Brad Barron at 25:48. Hoo rah. I could use of course a volunteer or two and I'll try to reward everyone with sunshine and calm winds. Like Mike said, 6:30, Woodland course, this Wednesday, anything goes. Well, almost anything, leave the Gruber assists at home.

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Who is captain of the ship this week?

2011-08-08T13:06:00.000-07:00

I don't know if Jami is back but if he is not I will host the Wednesday night special on the Woodland TT course. Below is the blurb from our kick-off race of the season. Try to take a minute off your May time!

This week is a 16km ITT on the NW Woodland course (Highway 1A and Woodland Road). The first rider will start at 6:30 PM. This will be a full aero TT. Feel free to use your TT/Tri bike, aero wheels & helmets, skin suits, shoe covers and any non-UCI compliant bike components. The course is mainly flat with a couple of rollers near the end to keep you interested and a brief downhill in the middle. I can use a few volunteers to help with this race.

Some parking is available at Woodland Road. Parking is also available at Bearspaw road and at the Lions Club (Farmers Market) on Nagway Road.

Tomorrow night's WNS.

2011-08-02T14:53:00.000-07:00

This Wednesdays race is a long crit course. The 2.5km course is fabulous and should be fast and fun.

Start time is 6:30.

Cat A 25 minutes +2 laps

Cat B 20 minutes plus 2 laps

Cat C 20 minutes plus 1 lap

Rev 'em up!

It's time to give a little. I need more volunteers due to my lack of experience and early onset dimentia (I forget peoples names the instant they are told to me). Someone to help at the finish line and more people on the corners. Steve will be there early to sweep corners and could use a hand. I'll get there around 6:30 for a 6:45 start time.

Tom

Setting the Standard...

2011-07-29T07:24:00.000-07:00

...and showing the whipper snappers a thing or two. Well, we dodged the worst of the storm and were victim of only a decent rain shower on Wednesday night for our 20km age graded time trial spectacular. In a twist that we telegraphed about as well as a Shamalyman justedplot twist, wenot only age graded the results utilizing British cyclings vetrans tables but we made allowancefor those brave souls Merckxing it as well as the double Xers. And we always knewBruce Willis was dead all along and that the village was just a rural throwback sociologicalexperiment. On the other hand, who knew that aliens disliked water so much. If they show up, I'm headed to Vancouver.
Anyway, for the most part, raw speed ruled the day but the age grading of which I applied a slightly less gernerous advantage (due to the vigour and hardiness of us Canadians). In the end, it was Rob Schuhart pulling out the age adjusted win over the big man, Paul Rosenberg who blistered the course in a non adjusted 29 flat. Cody Godlonton took third overall and was just 9 seconds behind Paul on the road at the end of the day. Big thanks to the volunteers who braved the rain to help out, including Peter Heinemeyer (again), Callum Galbraith and Tom Kenney who wore a skinsuit to help out and looked fast standing still. I have included the adjusted results as well as a table of the adjustments to see how it changed things. Oddly more than half of the riders were within 2 years of eachother so for the most part the road times held. I'll investigate more before we do it again next year but food for thought. You're all fast in my books.

....police box spotted in Calgary, strange things a foot...

2011-07-25T12:13:00.000-07:00

...Have you ever wanted to travel in time? Battle daleks? Visit the end of the universe? Find out where the dolphins went? Watch the daleks battle the dolphins?
Well, here's your chance. I'm looking for a few good time travellers to race man's oldest enemy...time. Maybe second oldest enemy, wolves would have to be first. And snakes, they're right up there too. So if you want to battle time tavelling, wolf riding snakes, then I have the event for you. The 2011 WNS Time Shifter Race Against the Clock. Through long and dedicated scientific research, I've concluded that life appears to peak at 38, and that the ravages to time begin to appear shortly thereafter like a Sontoran invasion. So seeing as nobody I seem to have met is either 909 years old, or has two heads, I'm going to compensate everyone on the descent from that inevitable peak with the most precious gift in the universe.....Time.
So when you register for the race this Wednesday, you'll have to tell me (in complete confidence of course), the number of months you are older or younger than 38. Your time will adjusted accordingly. In addition, the Cs and Bs will get a few precious seconds, as will the double Xers, Merckxers, and gingers. We'll age grade the TT and see exactly who is living up to their potential in a relativistic kind of way.
The race is this Wednesday the 27th at the olde Dunbow Road course. While we haven't used this course in a while, it is a good course to tune up for the upcoming provincial TT as we'll go the full 20km.
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Parking at the start is not a great idea, but as with other races, we encourage riding to the event or there is plenty of parking on the surrounding sideroads, especially along Range Road 294 which is the first right off Dunbow after you pass Deerfoot Trail heading east. The start is a couple of hundred metres farther up by the first road on the left heading east. The course is a simple out and back and as usual, I could use a couple of helpers. We'll get the first riders off shortly after 6:30.
I'll be there early (or have I already been there and back and even know who wins. Congrats ... ) in my Toyota which I assure you is the same size on the inside as it is on the outside and has a very high, almost infinite probability of getting me there.

....just cleared the WADA investigation....

2011-07-25T07:17:00.000-07:00

....into the results of last Wednesdays Sprintastic time in Springbank. Clearly Randy's on something, but we couldn't nail him this time. Could be PEDs, could be love of the sport.

Sorry for the delay in results, I left the sheets at work on the weekend, and I didn't quite make it in to grab 'em. The good news is that I got the house pretty much prepped for the renovationsthatneverseemtoend, but the bad nes is that my golf handicap has gone up to 476.

Anyway, it was a really great time out there on Wednesday. The question that I kept getting asked was if i was going to switch directions and go with the wind. What would Jens do? That's all I have to say about that. It's worth the ride into the wind as tactics rules the day more than raw horsepower. It was cool to watch the learning curve that came with experience and fatigue. Quite a few races were won by less than half a wheel, and a couple by a tire. Good thing the photofinish machine was working.

I'll start with the amazing Cs. What can I say other than wow, did they ever give it a try and boy did they learn a few things. Competition was fierce and the final came down to youth vs experience. A how experience did triumph with former pres Randy Szasz schooling Adrian (the youngster) in a close, close final.

The Bs tore it up as well with a mix of watts and experience. Sometimes watts got it done, other times experience and watts got it done. In the end, it was the best combination of both traits that got it done, and Callum got it done over Aaron Prain. The kids are all right.The As were a show of power and experience as the riders tried to sort out how to hang with and hang without eachother. A close finish saw Cody Godlonton bring it home over Brodie Loster in a close final.

All in all a great evening and a neat event. Definitely going on the calendar for next year. Huge props to Ron Fiell for holding again, Rob Lanthier for holding as well, and Peter Heinemeyer for being the starting line general.

Wild Wednesday Redux...

2011-07-19T05:26:00.001-07:00

...Just a reminder that this week we're going to give the sprinting another try. Same bat time, same bat channel. Details are in last week's post.

Wheels are spinnin', sky is spinnin'...

2011-07-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

...this can't be good. No, not a tale of Stampede excess but rather a tale of excitement, adventure, and a three hour tour. A tale of a fateful trip. What started under sunny skies, a slight breeze, and the best of intentions turned into a pelting storm, local (6km) tornado, and the tiny ship was tossed. Well, the brave and fearless crew got a few runs in of the sprint, but not enough to really calculate results. I tallied the participants and gave them half points for the effort with a little uptick for those winning heats, but not enough to really change the results so I have updated the Standings on the right with the Final Standings for the Second Series of the 2011 WNS.
This mate is a mighty sailing man, and the riders brave and sure, and again well set sail next week, for another three hour tour. In the Queen's english ... The participating riders quite enjoyed the challenge of the event and anticipate a subsequent installment. In American english ... We's gonna do it a'gin, cause the people liked it, and cuz it was all neat and everything. That's right, we'll reload and give it another go next week, same location, same course, same time. I'll fix a couple of the bugs and I think the format needs another go as it appears promising and it's cool to watch. I like that. Over and out little buddy.

WNS Twister

2011-07-14T17:25:00.001-07:00

Rode home under this developing twister last night after our partial race. The wierd thing is with the heavy downpour and some hail, the temperature seemed to increase. It was warm and actually felt kind of nice. I got off Lower Springbank Road, rode around the graveyard looking for shelter but there was none. Hope the others who rode home were ok.

Yeeeeehawww...

2011-07-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

...is't time for the durn ole Stampede Showdown. A rip roarin', cleat scootin', wheel spinnin' time. Kinda like Chuckwagon races, minus three of the horses, the outriders, and the wagon. Oh, and the horse. There is no Stampede equivalent. The closest you can get would be to get two bulls (or sheep if that's your fancy), tie them to two bikes, and watch em drag race across the arena. The winner goes on, and the loser gets served ... on a bun.

Well, we're gonna be a little more urban than that but you get the drift. Think bull riding meets illegal midnight bike courier racing. Think Kevin Bacon does City Slickers. Think Lance Armstrong getting chased down a gravel road in rural Texas by a crazy wingnut, like Dick Chaney. The format will be elmination sprints. Sprint being a relative term for a race about a halk a kilometer in length. You'll be paired up, crowds silent in anticipation, Cindy Williams will drop a handkerchief, and off you'll go down paradise Road againt Bob Falfa ... wait, wait I've gone all 1138* here. Pretty much holds true though, we'll pair ya up, race ya, and see who goes up the ladder, and who goes down. It's elimination action, plain and simple. I will run a winner and loser bracket and you guys will sprint off for places so I hope to get a few runs each in.

The where is the trick. Given that it's Stampede and they took away my original course so that kids can go swimming (have they no heart), I've had to find a nice unused piece of asphalt. Given the nature of Stampede, I thought of using a library parking lot, city employee parking lot, or one of the runways at the airport which they wouldn't shut down for us. Thanks a lot international travellers. Anyway, I literally looked at a dozen potential locations and for one reason or another, they fell short. the solution appears to have been right under our nose, and more specifically, right in the heart of Springbank. I'm talking the paved roads for the housing development right by the finish of the piratical TT. That is to say, the new development on the south side of Lower Springbank Road between Range Road 32 and 31. I forget the classy name they give to these developments, (something like The Estates of Oak Bluff Manor Creek), but It's pretty obvious. Park at Springbank where we ran the TT (Springbank Park for All Seasons) and warm-up on the way down.

I'd love to get racing around 6:45 but I'll need ya signed in before that so alot enough time to get from the parking to the start (about 4km). If construction buggers up the road we'll use Range Road 32 next door. In any case I'll meet you guys at the housing development where you'll recognize me by my mighty steed (Toyota Matrix). I could use at least three volunteers, one as a starter, and two as holders, so we can start all cool and clipped in and the like. This is a new format, so I'm wingin' it here but I think we can pull something off. See ya then. Yahhoooooo.

*1138 is my internet code for an unnecessary Lucas movie reference.

Woot...woot...

2011-07-07T14:36:00.000-07:00

What a fun night. It was a stunner of an evening in the hills, with fairly calm winds, beeeyooooootiful temperature, and nary a cloud in sight. The mountains were pretty spectacular looking to boot. This is probably my favourite race of the year. On to the results...
In the A category, I was thrilled to see Harley back and in form. I almost didn't recognize him as I was expecting some kind of scratched up mess. He looked just fine. Ladies take note. Joining Harley were eight other racers as they tackled the full meal deal course of 51 kilometres of flats and hills. From where I sat, it looked all nice and orderly until the first ascent of Mount 'whatever it's named' where the group started to come apart. From my vantage at the summit it looked like Trev had opened it up and shattered the group. On the way back up the hill he looked like he was in a league of his own. I shall call it Mount Williams in honour of the man who defeated it. At least until next year. The finish was fairly spread out with Trev finishing, making a sandwich, having a bath, doing his taxes, and sequencing a genome before Stuart rumbled in. And for Stuart and third place Brodie, their performance was exceptional. The rest of the crew followed, reasonably humbled after a hard night of racing.

In the B category, mystery surrounded the C4 guys that appeared a little tardy to the start, and from all accounts they had been working on some kind of secret plan. It didn't work. What did work in the end was a little combination of luck and hard riding. Callum Galbraith came back from the split of the main graoup on the climb to claim a tight victory over Andrew Paul, Dan Barker, and Alan Oickle.

In the C category, we had us some fireworks. In lieu of a photo finish, I just blinked my eyes real fast. Upon reviewing the captured images, Shawna Donaldson prevailed over Adres, Lewis, and Willy. Images will not be available for the race jury, you'll have to take my word for it.
All in all, it was a great night, and a big thanks to the cvolunteers that made it all work: Sue and Andy Hill, Ania Bergmann, and Mike Urqhart.

The hills are alive with the sound of ...

2011-07-04T11:44:00.000-07:00

...swearing. Well, that and grunting, whining, and whinging. It's that season. The bears have come out of their little hidey holes, the snow has left the city (until Stampede), the Leafs have already been eliminated from the playoffs, and Lindsay Lohan can celebrate six months without an arrest. We're also going to tilt the road upwards a little with our much anticipated Kananaskis Road Race.
This little classic, a favourite from the days of yore, starts where White Avenue in Bragg Creek meets Highway 66 just west of 22. This is on the back way out of Bragg Creek near the Provincial Park and 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. Time is the usual 6:30, this Wednesday the 6th.

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While I endeavour to clean up the course where I can and to avoid significant obstacles, there are a couple of sections of this course that require some warning. The first thing to note is that there are three sets of 'Texas Gates' on the roadway in each direction. What are 'Texas Gates' you ask? Somebody somewhere though it would be a grand idea to let cows do what cows do wherever they want in large open areas. We like roads through these large open areas so fences just don't work to keep marauding bovines out of out gardens and china shops. The clever solution (clever being a relative term when you're dealing with Texas) is to lay a bunch of pipes across the roadway with the idea that cattle can't cross. Well they can't, but bikes can. They places a couple of small strips along the direction of travel for things like bikes or snakes or something like that to travel along. We've all ridden over these cursed things and for the most part they provide little obstacle. What I need from the riders is a commitment that you'll ride nice and neutral over them, at a comfortable speed, and you'll wait until everyone is across to open the throttle. Just at the gates, mind you. Open the throttle up the hills all you want, I'll be there to chuckle.
The second thing to note are the hills. While the fun and exciting part is going uphill, all things at some point have to come down. So when the roadway tilts down and you descend, take it easy, spread out, give room and ride safe. While it might look cool to open up a couple of hundred feet on the pack going downhill by the time you the uphill starts again that translates into about four feet.
The final thing to note is the proximity to the special area of the province known as McLean Creek. It's not that kind of 'special', it's the other kind of 'special', the kind with 'special' people. They people have bikes which like yours, have wheels. Many of them might also be armed in a way that Alberto 'El Pistolero' Contador is not. They might however, test cleaner. The course goes through the turnoff area and while we have right of way and all that, just be alert and keep your heads up. We all know what happens when the canoes wreck and the banjos start.
The course is pretty simple. The Cs will ride something like a 38km round trip, turning around at a pullout just up the hill after Elbow Falls. The Bs make the summit and turn around at the pullout there, and the As go to the end of the earth, I mean road and turn around at the entrance to the provincial park. The finish is pretty much back where we started.

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This is a great one to bring a volunteer to as I can certainly think of worse things to do than hang around in the spectacular mountains watching the race. In all, I need at least three to make it go, the plywood guys (I call them 'Texas volunteers') won't cut it this time. See ya then.

Memo from the Governor to the Admiralty...

2011-06-30T11:40:00.000-07:00

Despite and entire week of peace in the colony (excepting the whole drunken blacksmith incident), pirates were once again spotted cruising off the coast . These bucaneers zigged and zagged in a confusing pattern that we simply refer to as a Crazy Blackbeard. Several attempts were made to intercept, but they stayed out of range of our 15 pounders and we could not give chase. While the raiders numbered over thirty, little damage has been reported, and the passages were clear of pirates by nightfall. The scullery maid did happen to capture a picture of one of the brigands on ye olde cell phone.

Unfortunately, the pirate used his wiley charms and made off with the scullery maid before I could apprehend him for his show trial. A pity, as I've had the gallows recently waxed and I have perfected my diabolical laugh. More diabolical and less maniacal seemed to do the trick.We did capture a few smaller crew members that only gave up the names of three 'volunteers' under extreme torture. Unfortunately upon closer inspection the crew members turned out to be plywood sandwich board signs and thus, a public execution would be a dissappointing and frankly humiliating event. We are on the lookout for these 'volunteers' and have identified them as Peter Heinemeyer, Ania Bergmann, and a shifty fellow named Brad Barron that we believe was a pirate in disguise. Later that night, my clerk did manage to secure a document with a curious code that we have yet to make sense of. How he came upon this list is a mystery and despite my threats to beat it out of him, that would require far too much effort and I have been resting up for afternoon tea for a while now. Perhaps I shall capture a helper monkey to more adequately do my bidding. The document reads as follows...

As soon as the chaplain sobers us, and assuming he survives his duel with the blacksmith, we will compare the document to certain sacred documents and see if there is any relation to the newly updated list of series 2 points. Well, writing this proven a challenge in this tropical climate so after a lunch of condor eggs and shark eardrums a longish nap is in order. On the next ship please send more gunpowder, a monkey trainer, and a new scullery maid.

Yarrrr....'twas lookin' at me calendar....

2011-06-27T12:19:00.000-07:00

...and realized we're just 81 days away from International Talk Like a Pirate Day. And really, when is it not fun to talk like a pirate. Well, aside from funerals, job interviews, and the witness stand. Tis a curse for sure and I'll never be asked to tesitfy again. So you ask, what's up. Why the pirate schtick. Was this lubber once a seafarin' seaman? Was he visited by a mysterious green vaporous klaubautermann (I know you're googling it, remember the second n) while out in his van with his blond pal, a couple of girls, and his semi-literate faithful great dane? Or was it his scouting trip for the race where the recent Springbank housing boom of the noveau riche where giant houses as bland as Tom Bosley have been erected at an astonishing rate. The question then is then ... Ponzi or Pirate? I guess with the oil industry it's a little bit of both.
So I present the 2011 Ponzi Pirate Raiding Party Individual Full on Springbank TT. Real Pirates don't like rules, so there are none, just the Pirate code as it applies to TT racing. Full on TT gear welcome, flags optional but encouraged. Most pirates don't wear a watch, but this one does and we'll start right around 6:30ish.

Our route will take us south from the Springbank Meeting spot to towards the treacherous speed bumps of Mountain River Estates where we'll reverse course and head North back to the safety of the pirate's cove (meeting spot). A quick right on Springbank Road up to the Chicken Ranch where we'll head yet again south on range road 32 towards the end of the world (road). At the circle, come about again and set course for Lower Springbank Road where you'll turn to starboard (right) yet again and make for Range Road 31. One last foray south on 31 where we'll turn around again, deep in the heart of the empire, and flee to safety and the finish north along 31.
Tis a twisty and perilous route (actually it's fairly straight and simple but peril sounds cool and piratical) so I could be using some mateys to help point the way. Four crewmen would be perfect to raise a proper pirate cheer and form a dangerous landing party. Less than that ans we'll just resemble Disney theme park rejects with all the fearsome reputation of the South Fish Creek Lawn Bowling Association. One final note before I must weigh anchor. The pirate's best weapon is stealth so we must keep that in mind. Many a poor raid were undone by their use of a marching band. While I understand the need for a theme song, I note that there no famous pirates from new Orleans, and that tells me something. So we'll do the same. Park stealthily among the unsuspecting islanders and stay out of the shipping lanes before and after our fleet sets sail. Many of the locals have connections with the Admiralty and we don't need the Navy to susprise us. See ya Wednesday. Yarrrrrrrrrr.

Dammit Jim, I'm not a doctor...

2011-06-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

...I'm a race organizer. Well, tribbles be damned it was an interesting episode Wednesday night, with highs and lows, tears and celebrations, love and danger. Wait! Love and danger???
The lows, unlike shuttle disasters, Stanley Cup riots, hurricanes, and any Kardashian's career don't need to be endlessly hashed out. Suffice to say that we need to take care of eachother out there, always err on the side of caution, and communicate openly and clearly. The summary is that we had a crash in A that probably shouldn't have happened and someone was injured. Details can be found here with a bit of a discussion going on in the comments section. While the corner on it's own wasn't a big problem, situations can develop that require clear communication, quick decisions, and decisive action. While I can't always have guys on every corner and I'm not sure what an inexperienced volunteer could really have done anyway given the speed with which the situation can develop, it is incumbant on the riders to use their knowledge and perspective to marshal themselves to some degree. The experienced people with the knowledge and history to deal with it aren't usually the corner workers, but the ones on the bikes. While it is a race, there is a time to be racey, a time take it easy, and a time to hammer. If safety is at all issue at any time, then it's time to take it easy and everyone needs to do that together. When you're out there, you're one big team. Watch out for eachother like you'd watch out for your best friends.
While that was the crashy part of the evening there was another small incident that actually reflects some of the same principles discussed earlier here. A rider was dropped when he flatted and rode about 11km back to the cars on a flat front, a herculean feat that took about an hour to accomplish. While flats are a natural part of racing, like gravel, rain, and EPO, we need to know clearly if somebody has a problem out there and we'll deal with it. While we swept the course, there was some confusion as to the outstanding rider and somebody else out for a ride was confused for the guy with the flat. It was assumed that the rider had dropped out and gone home. We never heard about the flat. The flatee was riding about a 6 km/h pace that I can assure you is in no way a natural pace. I just ask that if anyone sees a flat or anything kind of issue that then make sure a volunteer hears about it and we'll check it out. I'd rather hear about it ten times than not. While it is hard to keep track of everbody while you're riding, do watch out for your team mates, and don't hang em out to dry. If you do drop out, make sure you check in with somebody and we'll have an account of you. I was out until almost ten looking for the rider and discovered him with his flat about 500m from the parking lot.
My apologies on behalf of the WNS to both riders for their troubles and I'll try my very best to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Finally, If anybody has comments, criticisms, or suggestions, let me know. While we give the series a good effort, I'm sure we could always be better, and I have pretty thick skin.

Disaster averted, the Enterprise survives ...

2011-06-24T07:52:00.000-07:00

... and the red shirts live another day. you know the guys, the crewmembers with red shirts, no last names, and a limited lifespan. They guys that get crushed by rocks, or bitten by Sulu or something like that. Anyway, this is the results post, the Captain's log will follow as the next post.
The A results, as presented by Emmy award winning actor, author and humanitarian Wil Wheaton....
"It looks like the USS Highwood's Lt. Godlonton was caught in a Bici sandwich between Starfleet tranfers Campbell and Walsh. Man, I like sandwiches. Yup, that and D & D."

The B results, as brought to you by the star of critic's choice Reading Rainbow, one heck of a helmsman, and Richard Burton's son, LeVar Burton.
"Recently promoted ensign Bergmann kept the impulse drives floored distancing himself from the pursuing clutches of the wiley Lt. Barker, and ahead of the mavericky and oft misunderstood head of engineering Lt. Galbraith. Hey Wil, I like sandwiches too, wanna grab one at the Pasedena Chili's after this reading?"

"Leave me alone LeVar."

The C results, read in an unnecessarily deep and gravelly voice by star of stage and screen, former countertenor, Michael Dorn.
"Captian Donaldson of the USS Bow was pipped at the line by about a quadrant by the upstart Lt. Lung and ahead of newly arrived Lt. Tsuchida. While your victory was impressive Lung, we'll see how you do in B next time. Hey LeVar, I could sure go for a sandwich, wanna get one?"

"No"

And so we've revealed the disfunction in the TNG cast and touched on some of the fundamental questions of the universe, like how to thank volunteers, Geno Wendland and Peter Heinemeyer, and all those that helped out with the whole fight on the planet crashy thing including Dan Sigouin and his trusty shuttle.
While I try to sound all relaxed, philosophical, and profound as I dictate an essentially meaningless summary of my adventures to basically a cardboard wall, some flashing lights, while looking at a styrofoam planet, I can't help but think of two things... I wonder if I can get the number of the girl that played the third green alien? And are there any sandwiches on the craft table?

...The long awaited AWSMSSCWNSSHBDFRR....

2011-06-20T05:23:00.000-07:00

...With pseudosummer now behind us, we thought that it would be good to celebrate the not quite few minutes of good weather we almost did enjoy with a road race on nearly the longest day of this so-called year. Well, I can't argue that it actually a year, what with the sun going around the earth and everything (thanks Ptolemy for your Wikipedia page on that one). While trying to come up with a catchy name for the race I was drawn to the radio and a report on what could possibly be the most important dignitary to visit Calgary since Magellan ... William Shatner.While I didn't join the throngs of single guys out to see the royal thespian, I did feel that we should mark his visit by naming the race after him. So I present the Annual William Shatner Memorial Summer Solstice Crankmasters Wednesday Night Series Slightly Hilly But Doable Fun Road Race or AWSMSSCWNSSHBDFRR for short.
The AWSMSSCWNSSHBDFRR will take off from our Hwy 22, and 22X meeting space which has been chosen due to the proximity to the observatory which serves as the inspiration for the planet Deneva and those devious ameobas. The route is one that we've enjoyed before and was introduced last year by Mark Perry who was trumped in the naming by Sir William Shatner, P.hd (Hon), M.Sc. (Hon), B.Sc. (Hon). We'll race up 22X from the meeting point about a kilometre before turning right on to Range Road 30 and bearing south (Warp Factor 5 or 6ish) for about 10 kilometres. We'll then turn right at the stop sign at Township Road 214 (274 Avenue) and head down the hill for a kilometre or so to 22X where we'll turn right and fire back to the start for another lap.

View Larger Map
We'll agree on the number of 22.5km laps for each category on the night of the race. Rest assured that it should be Goldilocks all the way (not too long, not too short). We'll finish at the uncharted road just past the observatory on the way back to the meeting spot. Of course, I could use a volunteer or two to make it run so stop by your nearest planet of the way and pick up a reasonably competant and adventurous biped who wants to see the universe or at least a small portion of the Municipal District of Foothills No. 31. Please, no blue people, I was once jumped by two Blue Man Group Groupies after a show in Vegas. It was worse than the time that Scott Baio wouldn't leave me alone at a Denny's in Cleveland.

...bowties are cool...

2011-06-17T09:33:00.000-07:00

...and so are raincoats. Glad I had one on Wednesday but I'm not sure the riders noticed. They all came in with purplish red leggings. Funny, they didn't start out that way, but hey, perhaps there was a roadside vendor of some sort. Anyway, it was kind of alternating between sunshine (and lollypops) and rainshine (tm). A perfect October day and even the local rancher's were wearing jaunty scarves.
On to the results... Line honours went to Wayde Bymoen, but his tri rig attracted an appropriate modification of his result (based on the Socal TT calculations) and he slid to fourth. He did however impress us with brickisizing the outing and we can forgive him his Triathlete ways. Andrew Paul brought it home followed by Karel and Mike in A, with Callum Galbraith edging Walter and Allan in B. Riding well, Tomo Tsuchida took Willy and David for the points in C.

Props to the volunteers that made it all go. Rob lanthier, Thomas Yip, and Clarence Poon all lent a hand so thanks guys I appreciate it.
I think next week is looking like a Road Race somewhere down south until i can get a good course scouted in the north. We'll use the Mark perry Rectangle that we introduced last year and was well recieved. Details will follow and if anyone else has any really good ideas for a course (road or TT), shoot me an email and I'll giver 'er a scout. Avoid needy Daleks and play safe.

...it's not locusts, just rain...

2011-06-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

My comprehensive analysis of the weather radar combined with some forward modelling and and probablistic analysis has determined that it is indeed raining. The fact that the crack dealers across the street from my office are still operational tends to suggest that it either is not raining that hard, or Charlie Sheen is in town. Either way, it looks like it should pass and although a little annoying, rain doesn't tend to inflict much damage, so I will show up tonight and as long as the weather isn't too bad, we'll race. Sorry I can't be more definitive, but I hate cancelling races and want to give it any opportunity to go. And if Charlie Sheen is in town, you're welcome to come and volunteer, but I'm afraid you can't race. Although I understand you are addicted to winning, I have no category for warlocks and the tiger's blood is a definite no-no.

Foot to the Floor...

2011-06-13T13:07:00.000-07:00

...Merckx style. There are a few things that money can buy like a Bugatti Veyron, Keanu Reeves bobblehead, Keanu Reeves, and a chinchilla fur coat for your chihuahua. Among the things you can't buy are a Condor egg omlette, NASA, a dictionary autographed by any member of the Bush family, and faster legs. Well while the last one is not exactly true (see Floyd Landis), one thing that money can buy is a faster gear. Commonly referred to as 'free speed' (not sure why something 'free' costs several thousand dollars) all these techie gizmos can tilt the playing field. To remedy this, we'll go at it like Eddy intended. Raw and unadulterated, or as we call it in cycling, Merckx style. No aero bars, no aero wheels, no aero helmets, no little aero booties, nothing, nada, zip, zilch. Just you and your traditional road rig.
The where is the Woodland course, the home to TT racing in the greater Bearspaw region.

View Larger Map
Wednesday, June 15th, and we'll try to get the first riders off sometime shortly after 6:30. The usual two notes apply in that we ask that if you can, spread the parking out and ride to the start so that we don't look like a Justin Bieber fanclub, and I need a couple of volunteers. And yes, they can be members of a Justin Bieber fanclub. The course is the usual slog into the wind and the rocket ride downwind. Ease the main, trim the jib, heave to starboard, full speed ahead Captain Hazelwood.

Team Road Race Results

2011-06-09T19:36:00.000-07:00

We had a very good turnout of 40 riders for the team Road Race. The weather cooperated and we had a great evening of racing. This was on a new course with very challenging terrain but I think everyone enjoyed the route.

Orange Team: First Place
Green Team: Second Place
Yellow Team: Third Place
Pink Team: Fourth Place
All riders in the teams will receive finishing points.

Thanks to Rick and Peter for helping out with the race.

I will be handing the organization of the next set of races off to Jamie.

Tonight's race is on (June 8)

2011-06-08T14:55:00.000-07:00

It like the weather has improved a bit. We will try to run the race tonight.

Status of Tonight's race

2011-06-08T12:09:00.000-07:00

We will make the call this afternoon around 4PM.

The current conditions don't look good but this evening's forecast is looking a bit better. It is difficult to decide right now but I will make the call early enough so you know before heading to the race.

If someone is in in the area of the race late this afternoon please post the current weather conditions or email me at .

Thanks,
Mark

Week 5: Team Road Race (39km)

2011-06-06T19:12:00.000-07:00

We are going to extend the first set of five races and try to run the Team Road Race that was cancelled a couple of weeks ago.

For week five we will return to the Priddis meeting spot at the corner of Highways 22 and 22X. This is the same place we met for the road race. The course will be quite different, we will start on highway 22x (Spruce Meadows Trail) and ride East to 37th Street (Highway 773) and turn South. At Township road 221 (still Highway 773) turn right. Continue West on Township road 221 until it bends left and turns into Rand Road 21A. Stay on this road for several bends and it will turn to Township road 214. When you reach highway 22 turn right and head north for approximately 7km to the finish line at the observatory just before the parking lot.

The race format will be the ever popular team race. In this, we divide the riders into a fairly evenly mixed few teams and assign them the task of getting the bulk of their team over the line before the other teams. In other words, it's not which team can get one rider over first but rather who can get the rest of their riders over before the other teams. We've run these before and they have proven quite popular and a great exercise in working together, communication, and tactics as the teams work amongst themselves and against the other teams. We'll set the number of riders on a team and the number of teams once we get an idea of the total number of riders that we'll have out for the evening. This is a race for everyone, regardless of ability, and a great experience. This is good opportunity for experienced racers to work on their race strategy and novice racers to learn about race strategy.

The race will start at 7:00 PM to allow for additional time to get to the race and we have currently have light until later in the evening. If everyone can register by 6:45 and I'll divide everyone into teams and get the race started at 7.

As always, we can use a few volunteers for this event to help at the corners and at the finish line.

View Larger Map

Results from Millarville

2011-06-01T20:46:00.000-07:00

We had almost ideal conditions for racing Wednesday evening down in Millarville. Not much for a tailwind I think, maybe a slight assist. The plan was to lay out a 10 k route, in the end I believe it was about 9.3 k. Several racers averaged above 45 kmh, did we get a 50 kmh average? I think Trev must have been close. Lots of interesting equipment choices out there ranging from full aero to old school. Congratulations to all the Alberta Games 55+ qualifiers, Rick came close to the fastest time of the night and represented the 55+ group very well.

Volunteers were in short supply, Trev was very kind to leave his bike aside till the end and help. Thanks also to Peter Hernemeyer for helping out. As this was the first time using this road for a race your comments would be appreciated, should we use it again, was it too far out of town? Was 10 k too short?

Week 5: 10km ITT Hosted by Speed Theory

2011-05-26T18:34:00.000-07:00

Regular WNS Race and Cycling Qualifier for Alberta 55 Plus Games Hosted by Speed Theory

AS A CLARIFICATION WE WILL TRY TO GET THE WNS RACE UNDERWAY AT 6:30, THE ALBERTA 55 PLUS QUALIFIER WILL START AT 7:00. SO IF YOU CAN SHOW UP AND REGISTER BEFORE 6:30 THAT WOULD BE GREAT. YOU MIGHT WANT TO PARK IN MILLARVILLE AND RIDE OUT TO THE START FOR A WARM UP ALTHOUGH THERE IS SOME PARKING AT THE RACE START. THE PREDICTED TIME EVENT IS ONLY FOR THE QUALIFIER AND THE UCI RULES ARE ONLY FOR THE QUALIFIER. THIS WILL BE A REALLY SHORT RACE FOR YOU SO GO HARD FROM THE START. WE NEED SOMEONE TO AVERAGE 45 KMH - IT CAN BE DONE. WE NEED A FEW VOLUNTEERS AS WELL.
As part of the Wednesday Night Series, Speed Theory will host the cycling qualifier for the Alberta 55 Plus Games on Wednesday, June 1st, 2011. The format for both is a 10 km individual time trial or a 10 km predicted time event. Racers from throughout central and southern Alberta will compete for 7 slots for the Alberta 55+ Games to be held in Fairview on July 21 and 22, 2011.

We are finally going to use the awesome Highway 549 starting near the gas plant 10 km west of Millarville, at the intersection of Highway 762. It should be a fast downhill, downwind sprint. Here is a map

The ABA website has links to the event details and rules, here is the qualifier information. More details will be posted closer to the event. We have to be a little more formal for this event, 6:30 PM on site registration, 7:00 PM race start. Racers will depart at 1 minute intervals. This is a sanctioned event so leave your Shiv at home. Your equipment will have to comply with UCI rules. We will make the call for volunteers later but we will need a few for this event.

Goes without saying you have to be at least 55 years of age by December 31, 2011 to enter the qualifier but you can still do the WNS race if you don't meet that standard. I think there's a few Speed Theory and Crankmasters of that vintage, lets see who can dominate!

Tonight's race cancelled (May 25)

2011-05-25T14:58:00.001-07:00

We have decided to cancel the race tonight. The conditions are not great for rider and volunteer safety so we will postpone the Team Road Race to another week

Status of Tonight's race

2011-05-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

We will make the call on tonight's race late this afternoon. Currently the forecast doesn't look good for holding the race. If someone is in the south late this afternoon please post the current weather conditions or email me at .

Thanks,
Mark

Week 4: Team Road Race (39km)

2011-05-22T20:08:00.000-07:00

For week four of the 2011 Wednesday Night Series we will return to the Priddis meeting spot at the corner of Highways 22 and 22X. This is the same place we met two weeks ago for the road race. The course will be quite different, we will start on highway 22x (Spruce Meadows Trail) and ride East to 37th Street (Highway 773) and turn South. At Township road 221 (still Highway 773) turn right. Continue West on Township road 221 until it bends left and turns into Rand Road 21A. Stay on this road for several bends and it will turn to Township road 214. When you reach highway 22 turn right and head north for approximately 7km to the finish line at the observatory just before the parking lot.

The race format will be the ever popular team race. In this, we divide the riders into a fairly evenly mixed few teams and assign them the task of getting the bulk of their team over the line before the other teams. In other words, it's not which team can get one rider over first but rather who can get the rest of their riders over before the other teams. We've run these before and they have proven quite popular and a great exercise in working together, communication, and tactics as the teams work amongst themselves and against the other teams. We'll set the number of riders on a team and the number of teams once we get an idea of the total number of riders that we'll have out for the evening. This is a race for everyone, regardless of ability, and a great experience. This is good opportunity for experienced racers to work on their race strategy and novice racers to learn about race strategy.

If everyone can register by 6:30. I'll split everyone into teams and we should be able to start the race around 6:40.

As always, we can use a few volunteers for this event to help at the corners and at the finish line.

View Larger Map

Week 3 Team TT results

2011-05-19T21:22:00.001-07:00

The hurricane force winds stayed away this past Wednesday for the Springbank 2up Team TT. 36 riders were paired up into teams of two. They attempted to ride the challenging 16km Springbank course together.

Thank you to the volunteers Callum, Mike, Lewis, Caesar and Andreas who made the course safer for the racers and easier to navigate.

Week 3: 2up Team Time Trial (Full Aero)

2011-05-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

Week three of the Crankmasters' WNS race series takes up to Spingbank on the west side of the city. Select a partner to race with or one will be assigned (from the same category). If you want to race with someone in a different category you will be racing in the higher category.

We will stage in the parking lot at Springbank Community High School/Arena at 32226 Springbank Road. The first pair will start at 6:30

View Springbank Meeting Spot in a larger map

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. 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 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.
The course should be self-explanatory, if we have at least four to five volunteers for the corners.

Record Turnout for first WNS Road Race of the season

2011-05-13T11:26:00.000-07:00

The first 20C plus day in Calgary brought out 65 riders for the first road race of the season.

Unfortunately we had one rider crash. The injured rider driven home by race volunteers later checked out at hospital and expects to resume riding within a few days. Due to the crash in the B group this race was neutralized since some riders stopped to assist. All riders who were behind the crash will receive the same finish time and order.

It was very difficult keeping track of the finish order since there were so many riders and people from a couple of groups were mixed together. If this attendance continues we'll have to try something different at the finish line. We seemed to miss the information for a few people at the finish line. For some reason not everyone was on the start list. If you can fill in any information or find errors in the results please email me at mperry.c4@gmail.com

Thanks again to the volunteers, without them this race wouldn’t be possible.

WNS Membership Requirements

2011-05-09T10:20:00.001-07:00

Please be sure you are a Crankmasters primary or secondary member prior to the next WNS race. Our insurance agreement with the ABA allows us to ONLY put on these types of events if ALL participants are members of the club.
We will be downloading the club membership Tuesday evening. If you are not on the list you will not be allowed to race unless you can provide proof you are a Crankmasters club member.

Thank you,
Calgary Crankmasters Cycling Club Executive

Road Race in the South West

2011-05-08T17:33:00.000-07:00

We will be using the Millarville loop for the first road race of the season. This has become a favorite course for many riders due to the light traffic, exceptional scenery and variety of terrain.

The race starts at the parking lot at the intersection of Highways 22x and 22 near Priddis. Racers ride south on Highway 22, West (right) on Highway 549 past Millarville, North (right) on 240 St. W, East (right) on Plummers Road which turns north into 240 St, East (right) on the second part of Plummers Road and ends just before Highway 22.

View Larger Map
Category A and B will be doing two loops of the course (52km). Category C will ride one loop (29km). To be sure everyone finishes in the daylight Group A will start at 6:30, B at 6:35 and C at 6:40.

The course is overall in good condition. Most of the holes in 240 Street have been filled except a few smaller ones on the downhill before Plummers Road.

We will require at least three volunteers for this race. To signup to volunteer click here

Week 1 Results by Category (Updated)

2011-05-06T22:01:00.000-07:00

Here are the results by initial category. We will be moving people between categories throughout the race series. If you feel you are in the incorrect category please let me know.

And now the results... (updated-again)

2011-05-04T22:04:00.001-07:00

We had close to a record number of people for the first race of the season. The riders were treated to decent weather and challenging winds.
Trev, Thomas and Dennis all from Speed Theory had the fastest times of the night. Karel, Callum and Brian were the fasted Crankmasters.

Please email me at mperry.c4@gmail.com if you find any errors in the results. Thanks to Trev for providing a couple of missing finishing times. I will be breaking down the results into A, B and C groups in the next couple of days.

Thank you to Glenn and Clarence for volunteering this evening.

Next week will be a road race starting at the Priddis Meeting Place (Highway 22 and 22x) SW of Calgary. Several volunteers will be required for this event.

Ready, set, go....Race Wednesday May 4

2011-04-26T18:55:00.000-07:00

We will kick of this year's Wednesday Night Series with a 16km ITT on the NW Woodland course (Highway 1A and Woodland Road). The first rider will start at 6:30 PM. This will be a full aero TT. Feel free to use your TT/Tri bike, aero wheels & helmets, skin suits, shoe covers and any non-UIC compliant bike components. The course is mainly flat with a couple of rollers near the end to keep you interested and a brief downhill in the middle. I can use a few volunteers to help with this race.

View Directions to Twp Rd 262 in a larger map

Some parking is available at Woodland Road. Parking is also available at Bearspaw road and at the Lions Club (Farmers Market) on Nagway Road.

The plan for the next few weeks is:
May 11 RR @ Priddis
May 18 2up TT @ Springbank
May 25 Team or Handicap RR (Red Deer Lakes School-Millarville loop or highway 66)
June 1 ITT @ Millarville (Speed Theory Hosted, also a AB 55+ Games Qualifier)

Like all good things ...

2011-04-16T09:52:00.000-07:00

... and Charlie Sheen, we're back. As I sit here, cuddling my snow shovel and wimpering slightly, I can only think of bike racing and the theoretical idea that the snow may melt, the lakes may thaw, and birds will stop freezing to death on the bare branches of the leafless trees. First off, we liked how it worked last year, the feedback was positive, and we're not going to change a thing. Well, a few small things but the basics will remain the same. The whole effort will span 15 weeks with a repeat of the three 5 week series format of last year. Courses will vary as will the individual race formats and we'll try to keep it lively and interesting. Mark Perry is going to handle the first of the five week series as I'll be off on a pilgramage to Camden Yards in Baltimore and Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. We are going to hold a quick introductory meeting for those new to the series or who are thinking about joining the fun next Wednesday the 20th at 8:30 at Speed Theory following one of Trevs killer spin sessions (tm).

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The series will start on May the 4th with details to follow.

Video Artistry

2010-08-19T14:16:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiBYiF0pRRk

Check it out. Huge props to Bryon Howard for putting this little gem together. You can write the Genie committee c/o the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television at 49 Ontario Street, Suite 501, Toronto, Ontario. M5A 2V1. Seriously, very cool and thanks again for putting it up. You've got me thinking about next year already.

... The Ultimate Countdown ...

2010-08-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

What a year. We had 89 unique riders come out for one or more of the evenings, and more volunteers than I can shake a golf club at. A few flat tires, one handlebar doa, but no real incidents or close calls. Most of the damage has been limited to legs and dignity. Of note, Willy Vansevenant made 13 of the four races this year and reigns as the best participant while Tom Kenney, Karel Bergmann, Brad Barron, and Shawna with a w made it out to 12 events. But now for the final results....

After tallying it all up and adjusting for the category moves, we've put it all together. Congrats in Category A to Carlos Bonilla for pulling out a 12 point win over hard charging Rick Courtney who edged 'Mr Cat 3' Harley Borlee by just 2 points.

Category B saw Tom Kenney leg it out in 12 events to best Karel Bergmann who did move up from the Cs after the first series and is surly one of the most improved races of the year. Third is no slouch in Dale Hildebrand who bested quite a few of the usual suspects.

And finally, the Cs were close and well contested with Clarence Poon road racing his way to just a four point win over Brad Barron and 14 points over Willy Vansevenant.

It was such a well contested series and really neat to watch it develop as names moved up and down the standings. Steady seems to really get it done. Anyway, that's a wrap for the series and we'll all bow down before the winners sometime in late September at out wrap up party.

... Well, that was quite cool ...

2010-08-19T12:27:00.000-07:00

... what a great evening of racing. Let me start of by saying how much fun it was to help out with and to watch the racing not only last night but all season long. Last night was perfect weather, great scenery and a fitting way to end the series for 2010.
Now on to the eagerly awaited results. The number crunchers have poured over the results, added the seconds, and carried the ones to put it all together.
The As were truly locked in mortal battle. Back and forth and back again. In the end it was Jared Green prevailing with a win in the road race that made the difference ahead of Cody Godlonton who finsehed overall just 6 seconds back. Third was Stuart Black who lurked in the first two events and brought home a win in the final TT. Watch out for that kid. And in fourth just behind was the prologue winner Joel Goralski.
In the B category, consistency paid off for Callum Galbraith as wins in the prologue and TT put him ahead of another steady rider in Karel Bergmann. Third just 10 seconds behind Karel was Tom Kenney ahead of Mike Hoang who triumphed in the road race. Of note, Dale Hildebrand was right in the mix until he managed to actually tear his handlebar in half with his effort. I'm not sure what he eats but I could use some of that raw power.
In the Cs, prologue winner Mike Harrington suffered a terminal flat tire and called it a day so it was up to Willy Vansevenant to steadily plug away (and win the final TT by 19 seconds),ekeing out a 14 second win over Carl Lepointe with road race winner Clarence Poon coming in third.

All in all, it was a great evening and huge props to our fearless volunteers, Bill Harvey, super volunteer Darlene and her daughter Shaughny, Ania Bergmann, and Marshall Netherwood qho all helped at corners and the finished getting the places and times right. Thanks again.
That's a wrap for 2010 as far as the racing goes but not the end of the story. We'll be holding a little wrap-up evening sometime around the third week of September where we'll invite one and all to come out, celebrate, and distribute a little loot to the winners. See ya then.

The end of times ...

2010-08-16T08:49:00.001-07:00

... or at least the end of the Wednesday Night Series for 2010. This Wednesday (super Wednesday) it will all come down to one night, three races, one champion. 6:30 at the Priddis meeting spot (22 and 22X) we'll try and get started early as we've got lots to sort out, scores to settle, and legs to hurt.
View Larger Map
It's a micro stage race. We'll start with a ~2km prologue to get warmed up and set the stage for the night. Short, sweet, and just a little taste of what's to come.

View Millarville Prologue in a larger map
The big event is the road race where we'll tear around our Millarville course for just one lap (29km) where time is of the essence.
***sorry, no map. Bill Gates hates me.***
Finally, we'll cap it all off with the race of truth, a 9km time trial back to the meeting spot where the times will be summed, the champions determined, and the glory will be endless.

View Millarville TT in a larger map

We'll use a sum of the times from the three events to crown the champion and for the overall, there will be bonus points awarded (3-2-1) for each of the events. Time to play for all the marbles.
I'll need at least a couple of volunteers for this as we're going to try and get a pile of racing done in a relatively short evening. The weather looks spectacular as usual so it should make for an amazing evening.

Go go Gadget quads ...

2010-08-12T08:16:00.000-07:00

... and the records were pounded into submission. Not one of them, all of them and not by a single assailant but by many. A veritable gang of perps. Capitilizing on the great conditions and dodging the mother of all thunderstorms (passing safely to the West) 27 usual suspects showed up to get some racing in at the penultimate race of our 2010 Wednesday Night Series. With points and prizes on the line there was a little incentive to just give 'er and the racers did. I suspect pretty much everyone was looking at a PB and in each category new records were set with 9 total racers besting the old times across the categories.
In the As it was Frank Wolstencroft nipped by 2 seconds by Jared Green, our new record holder on the Woodland course. That's about 2 Wheeties worth in my books. Rick Courtney broke the record early and hung on for third a few seconds behind. Tom Kenney settled his argument with himself and cruised to a new record for the Bs. Karel Bergmann and Rob Armstrong also bested the old record for second and third respectively. Brad Barron did get those last two Wheeties in and edged Carl by 2 seconds for a new course record for the Cs. Mike Harrington was also under the old record for third.

Many thanks to those that came out and especially to uber-Volunteer Darlene for helping to get the race off without a hitch. Next week will be our ever popular micro stage race at the Priddis meeting spot (Hwy22 and 22x). Prologue, road race, time trial in one maniacal evening. I have updated the points and it looks like there is a lot to ride for. Each stage has bonus points for the top three so nothing is impossible. Well, some things are impossible but who really wants to see Tom Cruise in high heels and a lab coat riding a flaming shark in rollerskates down Fifth Avenue while irate Panamanian accountants pelt him with gravy boats.

Pack some heat ...

2010-08-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

... we're gunnin' for the record.
Considering the horsepower that we've seen at the Wednesday Night Series races in the last couple of years and the straight forward nature of the course we feel that the course records for the Woodland TT simply will not do. Given that it's August and legs are in shape and the weather conditions look almost ideal, we're offering not only bonus points, but special prizes for whomever can set a new course record in their cateogory.

The Hall of Fame
Category A Jim Janzen, Bicisport 22:29 (2010)
Category B Jay Rankin, Speed Theory 24:38 (2010)
Category C Clarence Poon, Crankamsters 26:30 (2010)
Willy VanSevenant, Highwood 26:30 (2009)

Setup is regular TT so bring the full on gear, I'll leave my measuring tape and calipers at home and all you have to do is lay it all down. This Wednesday the 11th at the Woodland Meeting Spot.
The Woodland meeting spot is located at the junction of Woodland road and highway 1A just west of Bearspaw and before Lochend Road. There is a side road there (Twp Rd 255) off of Woodland where we'll set up. Ample parking is available along 255 and on Nagway road just to the east off Bearspaw Road. And of course, you could always ride out to the site from Calgary. Please try and spread the parking out so that everybody isn't all parked at the same spot in order to keep things low key with respect to the local population.

View Directions to Twp Rd 262 in a larger map
The course starts just west of Woodland Road and heads west along 1A towards Cochrane. After a few kilometres and just before you start to head down the hill into Cochrane we turn right on to Big Hill Road, around the corner and straight north on Range Road 40. A short time thereafter another right turn onto Twp Road 262 heads you back eastwards towards the finish about a kilometre before you get to Lochend road. It's a short ride back to the start from there.

View Directions to Twp Rd 262 in a larger map
As always I'd love to have a few volunteers to keep things safe and orderly so bring a friend, spouse, legal representative, parole officer, or golf buddy. We'll start shortly after 6:30 and I'll run 30s intervals to keep things moving. See ya then.

I'm back and the accounting is done...

2010-08-09T11:25:00.001-07:00

Series II wrapped up while I was away so after sifting through the results and making a few adjustments here and there we've tabulated the final standings.

For the As, consistent high finishes allowed Carlos Bonilla to run away with it, followed by Harley Borlee and Trev Williams of Speed Theory who made the most of their appearances. Props to Cody Godlonton of Highwood and Dominic Jutras for rounding out the top five.

In the tight B contest, Karel Bergmann of C4 edged out Tom Kenney by a single point with Paul Rosenberg just behind in third. Andrew Paul and Kailee Boyle finished fourth and fifth respectively.

A lookback at TT results was needed for the Cs to resolve the points tie between Willy VanSevenant and Clarence Poon in the C division with Clarence just literally edging Willy out for the win. Andy Hill just topped Shawna Donaldson and Mark Perry for the rest of the top five spots.

I have also done the mathemagics on the third series as we're at the halfway point (4 races) and I've updated the standing at the right of the page. I have yet to finalize the details for the final stage but as we've done before, bonus points are definitely on line. This week will also include bonus points for record times so bring it on Wednesday.

Wednesday Night Construction

2010-08-04T20:44:00.000-07:00

An unexpected road construction job could not spoil the fun tonight. A contingency plan for the race was quickly put together and with help from our excellent volunteers – Darlene, Shawna, Darryl and Fast Legs Frank, we were able to run a safe and “fun” (as long as you were a volunteer) race. The A and B group still managed about 2000 feet and the C about 1000 feet of climbing. Tom registered 11% grade at some point. One of the locals pointed out we should not be too far away from our vehicles because of the cougars but I think he was just trying to discourage the city slickers in carbon and spandex from frequenting his playground. It was a perfect evening for racing. Tanya showed up in her Provincial jersey - very nice.

A
1 Carlos Bonilla
2 Rick Courtney
3 Joel Goralski
4 Jared Green
5 Jeff Bell
6 Cody Godlonton - flat

B
1 Dale Hildebrand
2 Callum Galbraith
3 Tom Kenny
4 Andrew Paul
5 Tanya Hopping

C
1 Karl Bergman
2 Carl Lepointe
3 Mike Hoang*
4 Willy VanSevenant
5 Lev Krivitsky
6 Brad Barron
7 Clarence Poon - flat

*started with the A group.

Aug 4 - Something a Little Different

2010-08-02T16:30:00.000-07:00

We are doing a 16 km road course loop just south of Highway 22X. It is on quiet rural roads and each lap has 1000 feet of climbing, some of the hills are really steep. The best part - 1 mile of gravel, uphill! I'm thinking 2 or 3 laps for the A and B and one lap for the C group. The C group will avoid the gravel section.

Make sure your bike is in good condition, the downhills are fast.

The gravel section is just north of Township Road 220 on the map and cuts across to shorten the loop a little. The start/finish is same place as the hillclimb in May and some of the loop is on Road to Nepal, but the best stuff is west of there on the quiet roads. I will run the loop clockwise with all right turns.

As for parking - Highway 22X and 37th Street is ok, also there is a little parking near the start/finish. Or ride from town if you can. The start/finish is shown on the map. Go south on 37th Street till you hit Township Road 221, take a right and go past Highway 773 (Road to Nepal) about 1 km. I'll need 2 or 3 volunteers as well.

View WNS Aug 4 in a larger map

July 28 Road Race Results

2010-07-31T20:35:00.000-07:00

We were incredibly lucky with the weather this past Wednesday. Dark clouds, rain and lightning were present in the area of the race but blue sky and sunshine were over the route and the riders stayed dry. It was a challenging course with a few hills and a fairly strong wind.

Thanks again to Darlene for volunteering.

Road Race July 28

2010-07-27T11:59:00.001-07:00

The race starts at 6:30 PM at the north end of the Road to Nepal near Red Deer Lakes school. Park at the large lot at the intersection of Highway 22x and Highway 22. It is 11 km from here to the start of the race. There is limited parking at the school.

The finish line is at the observatory on Highway 22 near the parking lot.

We will be starting everyone at the same time. The course is approximately 40km. I could use a couple of volunteers to help out with this event.

Mark

07/27/2010 Route
Find more Bike Rides in Road To Nepal-millarville Loop, Alberta

Wed night July 21st results.

2010-07-22T13:45:00.001-07:00

We had a good turnout for the team time trial tonight. The teams were picked from the order people arrived to sign in and it looks like it was mostly evenly matched with some close times, five seconds separated the first and second team in the A/B category and also a close race in the C group. Shawna got launched off the front for some reason and came in 30 seconds ahead of her team. We created a special category for Lachlan and he won easily. I think the course was OK. We managed to avoid any unruly golfers and the local wildlife was scared to come out. Thanks to the 4 volunteers - Darlene, Lev, Simon F and ??, sorry I forgot your name. A new feature of the WNS is the intermediate timing (watching too much TdF I guess). I was able to see most teams returning from the golf course road except the C teams were all bunched I think.

A road race is coming next week then back to Speed Theory for something entirely different the following week.

Team

Place

Intermediate Time

Final Time

AB1

Trev Williams

Andrew Paul

Dale Hildebrand

1

11:16

25:00

AB2

Marilyn Taylor

Steve Pickett

3

12:05

27:05

AB3

Rick Courtney

Rob Walsh

Carlos Bonilla

2

11:18

25:05

C1

Willy VanSevenant

Shawna Donaldson

Mark Perry

3

30:55

C2

Carl Lepointe

Karl Bergman

Patrick Brick

2

29:00

C3

Andy Hill

Brad Barron

1

28:43

Solo (late)

Lachlan Holmes

10:30

24:14

Speed Theory is presenting the fun this week... (UPDATE)

2010-07-19T09:25:00.000-07:00

Next Wednesday we will do a 3 or 4 up TTT. Harley, Simon and I tested the course on Saturday and it will make you suffer. Nothing like a few good hills when you are trying to hang on to your team. If enough people show up we will do a four person team with the third person's time counting but otherwise a three person team.

___________________________________

THIS JUST IN FROM ANDY:

I noticed that the race is being run close to my office. If people want to park at my office. This may make people in the area happier because cars won’t be parked along the side of the road.

My company:

Rocky Mountain Aircraft

129 MacLaurin Drive

Springbank Airport

It is the first building on the left just after you turn into the airport. The name is on the front of the building with several orange aircraft parked on the south side. Parking is on the north side of the building.

Andy Hill

___________________________________
To get there, go towards Springbank airport but turn north a mile or two before the airport on Range Road 32, aka Springbank Heights Road. About a km up you will see a new development on the left called Aventerra Estates. There's lots of parking there, that's also the start and finish.

View WNS July 21 in a larger map
I will need a few volunteers to run this safely, please leave a comment if you can volunteer. Bring any bike you like, because of the hills a road bike might work best. Try to be there for a 6:30 PM start.

Who has the Crankmasters stopwatches? I'll need them for the race.

Stampede Special Recap ...

2010-07-19T09:07:00.000-07:00

Our 11 contestants lined up under warm, sunny skies. Even the
mosquitoes kept their distance and seemed to forgo their evening snack
to allow the time honoured tradition of Wednesday night racing by
unusually dressed homo sapiens.

The profile meant there was some early climbing portions served within
1Km and again at 4km the biggest chunk of about 3+km, however, the crest
was at 8.5 km and you lost elevation but undulation was served
continuously until a final 50+m of elevation gain on a roller at less
than 2km to the finish.

We were able to watch the odd thunderstorm cell skirting Calgary to the
North as the riders rolled, climbed and hammered with purpose under
cloudless skies and the odd patches of tractor tire mud spat out onto
our pristine asphalt ribbon at around the 12 KM mark. As our TT ribbon
cut through prime farm land we had to expect the odd rural nuance in
typical fashion just minutes before the riders were due to hammer
through at 50KM. However, the flavour of rural road racing was easily
consumed and all racer's kept the goal in sight or as soon as it
appeared at 17.6km, stopwatch & clip board in hand, as we waited for the
unmistakable roar of carbon disk or perhaps an inspired Eddy impersonator.

Split between Eddy style and Aero, actually 6 Aero and 5 EM ....but for
one of our rider's with only aero bars but no disc wheel seemed to
be....well not Eddy enough!

However, nothing blocked the progress of Paul Rosenberg riding Aero
style with the fastest overall time of 26:57 for the 17.6km jaunt. The
Eddy's were trying to make a point that sometimes a more traditional
approach
can produce equally impressive horsepower. Antoine Gendre proved this by
getting the fastest Eddy time of 28:11 and second overall on the night.
Shawna Donaldson, our lone female rider, who proved that you can still
retain
the right to be called "one of the boys" (tongue firmly in cheek) by
turning up and pushing a competitive time and your limits over any
terrain that is thrown down for you.

The finish was on a slight downhill grade off of a small roller and
meant the racer's had the challenge of powering at high cadence so to
not fall into the trap of letting the terrain offer a respite in the
last 150 meters (Yeah right!).

Many thanks to the racer's and the helping hands at the start line and
finish line. I apologize for not remembering the name of the young lady
giving us a useful third set of hands at the start and finish.

Jeff Bell. & Willy VanSevenant

Something new ...

2010-07-12T12:58:00.000-07:00

... from our friends at the Highwood Cycling Club. Mr. Vansevenant has graciously lent a hand to hold this weeks time trial at Aldersyde, south of town near Okotoks. We'll go at our typical 6:30pm on Wednesday the 14th. Participants should park on the side roads near the start line just east where highway 2 meets highway 7 just before you get to Aldersyde. The route goes out east towards Gladys along 547 for a good 15 km to the finish. After which, you get a nice easy ride back to the start. In a novel twist, we are running two categories, the first being Merckx, and the second full on (legal) TT gear. Your choice. Give er hard.
Aldersyde ITT
Find more Bike Rides in Aldersyde, Alberta
I'm guessing a few volunteers would be most approciated and we've put in an order for some decent weather.

What goes up ...

2010-07-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

... must come home dragging their tongues, missing lung tissue and with thrashed legs. Pretty much sums up the race last night. Stellar, and I mean stellar night for racing in Kananaskis. A stunner of an evening left riders chuffed (Queen's english).
Starting in Bragg Creek, rider followed their fortunes due west into the evening before turning around and picking up the pieces on the way back. The C group had a lively 38km route that brought them a portion of the way up the big climb (we'll call this a cat 3 climb just to sound cool and Toury). B's went to the summit (we'll call this a cat 1 climb)for 43km and the A's went up and over, decending to the end of the road before turning back up again (HC climb for sure) to make it to 51km.
The C's were the first home with almost the entire goup storming in together. Clarence "Mr. Savvy" timed it right and took the honours with the rest of the goup drafting David Morgantini who hung on for a well deserved second ahead of Mike Harrington. Super job to all.
The B's we're a little more spread out as the climbing took a toll on a few of the guys. In the end, Mike Waldhuber (very zippy finish) brought it home in style over Andrew Paul (stormin' lik Katrina) and Karel Bergmann who has moved up from the C's.
The A's were a show that played out in multiple acts over a variety of terrain. Trev Williams turned on the human gruber assist and rode it in alone and in style. Less clear was who was going to win the spring for second, but in the eyes of the judging panel harley Borlee nipped Lockie Holmes by a few microns.

Great night, great road, and I am greatly thankful to Carley Goetting for coming all the way out to volunteer and help the whole thing work. Next week we have Highwood pitching in and running a TT for us out near Aldersyde (Okotoksish area). Details to follow.
I have also updated the overall standing for the second series which will conclude with next weeks TT. Some people did drift around categories a little as I have tried to make it competitive across the board. This is a bit difficult as there are so many different formats and some people cross categories for certain races (which I encourage). Let me know if there is a real big concern but otherwise I hope you enjoy the competition.

A bit of a climber's special ...

2010-07-05T11:56:00.000-07:00

... this Wednesday the 7th 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.

Maximum Merckxicus ...

2010-07-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

... That's what I'm talking about. Merckx TT into a strong and unrelenting wind. pretty excellent night with a challenging headwind out that tested rider's ability to stay in the drops, get narrow, and keep the head down. A little army of Cancellara's out there storming around solo.

Dallas cracked out the cross bike and showed the way convincingly but not too far behind several battles played out with Carlos and Cody givin 'er for thre rest of the podium.

Thanks to Mark Perry and Cesar Martin for volunteering and keeping the riders from dropping into Cochrane for ice cream or missing the turn at 262 and riding to Sundre. Good luck to everyone racing this weekend, keep the rubber side down and make the west proud.

We are heading ...

2010-06-28T11:53:00.001-07:00

... back to familiar ground for a Merckx TT this Wednesday at 6:30 at the Woodland Meeting Spot.
The Woodland meeting spot is located at the junction of Woodland road and highway 1A just west of Bearspaw and before Lochend Road. There is a side road there (Twp Rd 255) off of Woodland where we'll set up. Ample parking is available along 255 and on Nagway road just to the east off Bearspaw Road. And of course, you could always ride out to the site from Calgary. Please try and spread the parking out so that everybody isn't all parked at the same spot in order to keep things low key with respect to the local population.

View Directions to Twp Rd 262 in a larger map

Merckx, so leave the fancy schmancy stuff at home and suffer old school style. Course is the same as last time.

The course starts just west of Woodland Road and heads west along 1A towards Cochrane. After a few kilometres and just before you start to head down the hill into Cochrane we turn right on to Big Hill Road, around the corner and straight north on Range Road 40. A short time thereafter another right turn onto Twp Road 262 heads you back eastwards towards the finish about a kilometre before you get to Lochend road. It's a short ride back to the start from there.

View Directions to Twp Rd 262 in a larger map

As usual, I could use a couple of volunteers for this. Should be short and sweet and pretty staight forward so bring out a friend, spouse, your dog-walker, or anybody you can find.

Dodging thunderstorms ...

2010-06-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

... with success. Recieved a call from my wife in South Calgary asking me how bad it was out on the course as it was hammering them there and I could say that it was actually pretty nice. A bit of rain, particularily on the north end of the course but it cleared up, the sun came out, and it was really quite a pleasant evening.
And the racing was good. At least from a spectators point of view there was no shortage of things going on. Challenging course too but one that offered a good balance of hard work climbing and straight fairly flat hammering. All in all a neat race.
The format was to split into 3 teams (denoted by flagging tape) and the goal was to bring your team home with the best average finish for the second, third, and fourth riders on your team. Line honours weren't in play so the goal was teamwork, communication, and tactics and that's what we had.
I mixed the As and Bs into three teams and let them at it. In a textbook read of the race and application of tactics, team orange stormed the race by taking 4th through 8th place for just 9 points. Team pink worked well trying to recover from the splits and edged yellow 18 to 23.
The Cs got a race all to their own with three teams again and although there were more splits it was a close race overall with some really nifty racing. Yellow edged Pink 13 to 15 with Orange creeping up in third with 18 points. All in all, nice job.

For interest, the line order was PYPOOOOOYYPPYOYP for the A/Bs and YYPYPPOOOOPPY for the Cs. Can't make too many words from that but it does look a bit like a DNA sequence. Anyway, good job all. Huge props to Allan Oicle for being my volunteer and hanging around at the four way stop on the far side of the course during a variety of weather. Thanks.

Givin' it a go again...

2010-06-21T07:29:00.000-07:00

...this week. We'll try a repeat of last week's course and details. Weather looks okay at this point *knocks wood furiously*. Apologies for the late call last week, it was just a bit damp as I left work on 4th avenue downtown, wettish by 17th avenue, saturated by 30th avenue, and i grabbed my lifejacket at 50th avenue.
The first team RR of the year will be this Wednesday the 23rd with meeting at 6:30 and racing after we get things sorted out. I know there has been some concern regarding the traffic in getting to the South and that the timeline has been tight so in recognition of the wonderful day length that this latitude offers we will look to starting a bit after 6:30 in order to accomodate those who might struggle to get there on time.
The race format will be the ever popular team race. In this, we divide the riders into a fairly evenly mixed few teams and assign them the task of getting the bulk of their team over the line before the other teams. In other words, it's not which team can get one rider over first but rather who can get the rest of their riders over before the other teams. Clear as mud. We've run these before and they have proven quite popular and a great excercise in working together, communication, and tactics as the teams work amongst themselves and against the other teams. We'll set the number of riders on a team and the number of teams once we get an idea of the total number of riders that we'll have out for the evening. This is a race for everyone, regardless of ability, and a great experience.
We will meet again at the Priddis meeting spot at the corner of 22 and 22X as we did a couple of weeks ago BUT for a slightly different course. I've always looked to trying to get on Range Road 30 for a race but was hampered by construction the last two years. This year however, Mark Perry is reporting that it's free and clear so we'll run a clockwise square along 22X, south on Range Road 30, west on 274 avenue, and finally north on 22. I'm guessing we'll run it twice for about a 45km experience that isn't quite as flat as one might suspect.

View Larger Map
Of course, we could use another volunteer to make it a go so if you feel like just watching or know somebody that would, we'll put you to work.

Tonight is Cancelled - June 16th

2010-06-16T16:06:00.001-07:00

Due to the weather tonight's race is cancelled. See you next week!!!

Teaming it up...

2010-06-14T21:10:00.000-07:00

The first team RR of the year will be this Wednesday the 14th with meeting at 6:30 and racing after we get things sorted out. I know there has been some concern regarding the traffic in getting to the South and that the timeline has been tight so in recognition of the wonderful day length that this latitude offers we will look to starting a bit after 6:30 in order to accomodate those who might struggle to get there on time.
The race format will be the ever popular team race. In this, we divide the riders into a fairly evenly mixed few teams and assign them the task of getting the bulk of their team over the line before the other teams. In other words, it's not which team can get one rider over first but rather who can get the rest of their riders over before the other teams. Clear as mud. We've run these before and they have proven quite popular and a great excercise in working together, communication, and tactics as the teams work amongst themselves and against the other teams. We'll set the number of riders on a team and the number of teams once we get an idea of the total number of riders that we'll have out for the evening. This is a race for everyone, regardless of ability, and a great experience.
We will meet again at the Priddis meeting spot at the corner of 22 and 22X as we did a couple of weeks ago BUT for a slightly different course. I've always looked to trying to get on Range Road 30 for a race but was hampered by construction the last two years. This year however, Mark Perry is reporting that it's free and clear so we'll run a clockwise square along 22X, south on Range Road 30, west on 274 avenue, and finally north on 22. I'm guessing we'll run it twice for about a 45km experience that isn't quite as flat as one might suspect.

View Larger Map
Of course, we could use another volunteer to make it a go so if you feel like just watching or know somebody that would, we'll put you to work.
Sorry for the delay in getting this out, I was in Osoyoos for the last 10 days riding, golfing, and avoiding landslides.

Series I is done!!! Congrats....

2010-06-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

....to everybody that raced and made it as close as it was.
The top 5 are listed on the right side of the blog and reflect the points at the end of the first 5 week series.
The As were lead faily handily by Harley Borlee with a close race behind with honours falling to Clarke Ellis, Rick Courtney, Dan Sigouin, and Joel Goralski.
The Bs was as close as it gets with Tom Kenney taking the win over Carlos Bonilla based sole on ITT placing as they tied in points. Third was Rob Welch with Ron Feill and Dale Hildebrand rounding out the top five.
The Cs were interesting with Karel Bergmann hammering out the win well clear of the tight race for second where again Clarence Poon edged Brad Barron out based on ITT placing as there was another tie. Not to be missed were Kailee Boyle and Emilie Langevin in fourth and fifth and close behind.
With that, we'll clean the slate and reload for the second five race series beginning with a road race this Wednesday.
In addition, there will be prizes, buckets of prizes, in August where we will celebrate the champions for each of the three series that make up the overall C4 Wednesday Night Series.

June 9th Results

2010-06-10T08:41:00.001-07:00

Thirteen hard core racers showed up for the 4.5 km hillclimb. We even had Jared and Frank ride all the way from the city through a thunderstorm to get to the relatively dry but cold south. The format was each racer to take on the hillclimb twice with points being awarded for the fastest time and the most consistent times. Everyone had a faster time on their second run, except of course for Jared and Frank who laid it all out on their first try, they had the advantage of being warmed up from their ride from the city. Thanks to Willy Vansevenant and Tom Kenny for volunteering.

I think everyone liked the format and we could do something similar again, although using a hill closer to town would be much better. Any other feedback welcome.

June 9th. Hills and Pain.

2010-06-06T19:27:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday is Speed Theory turn to host the best racing series in Alberta. Like doing hill repeats? Yes we are going to do a couple on Wednesday night on Township Road 214 just south of Highway 22 X in the Road to Nepal area. We will do the hill two times and points will be awarded for the fastest time and also for consistency in your two times up the hill. I'll measure the course out properly before the race so you will know exactly how long the pain will last. The below map is just approximate. The start will be near the T junction.

If there is a big turnout we will start the first run around 6:30 PM. If there is a smaller turnout you will likely get a chance to do one warm up repeat before we race. You can park at the school on Highway 22 X just north of the start or you can drive to the start area. Hopefully not everyone will drive to the start! Bring your weight weenie bike if you like, we won't weigh anything! We might check for bike doping though.

I will need a couple of volunteers from Speed Theory. One to help me with the timing and one for crowd control. Leave a comment if you can volunteer.

View WNS June 9 in a larger map

Millarville Madness

2010-06-03T07:24:00.000-07:00

We just about answered the question of how many cars you can fit in that meeting spot. The number is ... lots. What an excellent turnout, good weather, and lots of full on, hard charging, strategic racing.
The A's were brought home by Trev Williams in hos 2010 WNS debut followed by Harley Borlee and Bryon Howard who emerged from the splintered group to claim the rest of the podium. B's were lead by Rob Welch who was chased in by Mike Hoang and Mike Waldhuber in another split up group. C's had quite a tactical race with Clarence poon nipping Karel Bergmann and Carl Lepointe at the end. Good racing all and I'm sure there are lots of stories there. Special mention to Lachlan Holmes who joined the race in progress (early) and put on the hurt.
Thanks to my faithful volunteers Mark Perry and Willy Vansevenant who were instrumental in getting the race off without a hitch. Keep the volunteers coming out we could always use a couple more. In fact we did have a couple of riders who missed a turn we were not able to man and they turned their day from a 29km race to a 70km ride. Nice night for it though.
I did hear that there were some traffic problems in Calgary and that it could be a struggle to get out there for 6:30. While we can't change the time fundamentally we'll endeavour to try and hold back the racing in those cases as the days lengthen. As it was, it was pretty much dark by the time we rescued the last lost rider.
We did see quite a few new faces this time and we hope that everyone keeps coming out. We also ask that people do make sure that they are at least secondary members to participate and keep this as a club race. I do take it on faith that you're all signed up but there is an audit process and I do get warned. Easy to do via Karelo with details on the main Crankmaster's page (www.calgarycycling.com).
I'm off to the sunny southern Okanagan for my annual bike camp for the next while so Mike Healy and Speed Theory have stepped up and will be your hosts next week. I've seen what they want to do and as usual, it sounds interesting.

We're back on the road...

2010-05-31T08:01:00.000-07:00

...at the Priddis meeting spot, Wednesday, June 2nd, 6:30pm. As the first series gets closer to wrapping up, we'll go single and go hard this time. Road race (by categories) at 6:30 to see who can hang on, hold out, and bring it home. We'll meet at the Priddis meeting spot and utilize our Millarville course for the first time this year. The Priddis meeting spot is at the corner of highways 22 and 22X.

View Priddis Meeting Spot (PMS) in a larger map

As for the course, we'll form up at the meeting spot and once started everyone heads south along 22 to the Millarville turnoff (549) where we go west until range road 33. North along Range Road 33 to Plummers road where we turn eastwards, drift north, and finally eastward again to 22 where we start another lap. The race will finish along Plummer's Road just before you get back to 22 the second time. Its a nice easy cool down ride back to the meeting spot. A's and B's will make two loops of the square, C's and novices will make one.

View Priddis Meeting Spot (PMS) in a larger map

I need just a few volunteers for this one and it would be great if I had enough to run a novice group during the race. It's fun to watch these ones too as it's evolving craziness out there.

Should be fun.

The results are in....

2010-05-28T12:05:00.000-07:00

...fresh from the auditors. Well, really, I forgot to get them up and got caught up in stuff but hey, better late than never.
I was a great old night at Springbank with a suprisingly robust turnout given the threatening nature of the weather. Will a little rain repellant dispersal we managed to pretty much stay dry and get the race off without a hitch. Neat course that I think I'll use again as it's great to race in Calgary's backyard and offers a bit better access to North and South.
We paired up riders using my highly scientific and highly 'making it up as I go' kind of methodology and it was game on. Actually, results were pretty close given the spectrum of riders that we had and most people had the hurt on.

Huge props to my volunteers for the evening as it take a few to make this course run. They were: Clarence Poon, Dan Seguin, Carlos Bonilla, David Morgantini, Glen Miles, and a young lady (with Karel) whom I'm embarrased to say I couldn't remember the name. Thanks all, it was fun.

Reminders

2010-05-25T22:06:00.001-07:00

2up TT tomorrow (Wednesday) night at 6:30 at Springbank (at the arena parking lot). Try and be there at 6:00 or so as it will give us a bit of time to make up the teams.

This is a good chance for the hammerheads to see what you can do with the horsepower in a 2up setting. just how much faster than 1up can you go. 50 kilometres an hour?

To ride in the series we need each and everyone to be at least a second claim member if you are a member of another club or ABA independant or a primary claim member otherwise. While we have allowed a few participants with a drop in fee we do need the membership as it must remain a Crankmasters club race. Great deal anyway with the WNS, our other races and rides and a chance at some of the prizes that we'll dole out after the series to the winners.

I should be there on time but I have a dentist appointment at 4 so I might just get there at 6 and possibly be somewhat cranky. I promise not to take it out on you guys.

I do need about 4 or so volunteers to make this one go as the course is a little more twisty than usual but on the positive side, it is in Springbank and runs fairly quickly. Good fun too watching the 2up format.

See ya tomorrow night.

Jamie

2up TT this Wednesday!

2010-05-24T18:19:00.000-07:00

And now for something slightly different. 2up TT in Springbank at 6:30 this Wednesday the 26th of May. 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 4 or 5 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.

Woot woot....

2010-05-21T06:38:00.001-07:00

...that was fun. Beeeeeeeeeautiful night. Dry roads, check. Closed course, check. Nice weather, check. Game on.

My favourite kind of housing development (with no houses) provided a neat little circuit race course that we took over for the evening and ran a neat little event. A little course modification (debris), a little time modification (tardy A's), and a little HTFU (time). It we ran 3 groups just a few minutes apart and initially interesting and nice and grouped it didn't take too long for the groups to explode and the games to begin. Small groups, pairs, solos, all over the place which did lead to some confusion on the 2 laps to go signals and I apologize for screwing that up for a few people. Clearly not my finest hour but I think I've got it mostly sorted in the results.

All in all, great racing and congrats to the winners. Huge props to the volunteers for this week which were Mark Perry, Lev Krivitsky, and my corner worker (spouse) whi I missed her name. Thanks all. Next week we'll try a 2up TT in Springbank.

A new kind of fun...

2010-05-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

A WNS long crit (circuit race). There is a hidden, lovely little glade with butterflies, and bees, chipmunks, rabbits, and backhoes, excavators, and cement trucks. At least, that's what the brochure says. On a run before last week's race I had a revelation. Or I should say I was looking for a way to opt out of the hills and I turned right and discovered Willow Creek at Bearspaw. A housing development without houses. Well, there are two or three under construction but close enough for our purposes. What it does have are paved roads and a fairly complete lack of traffic. Perfect for a circuit race/crit you say, and a circuit race/crit we will have.
We'll park at the Woodland spot where we parked last week at Woodland Road and 1A and just ride down to the race site from there (a few hundred metres). We are trying to squeeze the racing in so we will have some concurrency in the racing and they won't be that long a race. I was thinking of:
6:40pm A's 30min + 2 laps
7:00pm B's 25min + 2 laps
7:20pm C's 20min + 2 laps
7:50 Novice! 15min + 1 lap
I'm hoping that a few of the A's, B's, and C's can hang around and help out with the other categories and with the novice group. Any additional volunteers would be terribly useful as this kind of race needs some management.
Sounds like fun? Well, it should prove to be. In the words of the famous Japanese hero Captain Tenneal ... "Let's get it on" (I think Barry White might have also used that line).

Wowzers!

2010-05-13T07:12:00.000-07:00

49 Hardy souls braved the warm sunny conditions, the clean road surface and the light winds to launch the 2010 Crankmasters Wednesday Night Race Series. Old faces, new faces, keen riders all. Add 1 lazy and out of shape race director and you've got a night of fun and excitement.

The usual suspects showed up near the top of the overall results but some new names in there as well so it should certainly make it interesting as the season progresses. I haven't split it into divisions yet but I'll take a stab at it this week using a combination of these results, last year's results (no excuses), my entirely subjective appraisal, and maybe a little voodoo magic.

But now the good stuff....

My apologies for the various mispelled names, let me know next time and I'll be more than happy to fix them. Props to Mark Perry of Crankmasters for being my volunteer. My one and only volunteer. Just a little prod to get a couple more out if I can and they don't have to be riders, just helpful family, friends, neighbours, accountants, lawyers, parole officers, members of parliament, etc. You get the idea.

As I was out running (shuffling) before the race last night I made a discovery, a most wonderful discovery. I found a crit/circuit race course friendly for all. Actually, a housing development a few hundred metres from the Woodland meeting spot that doesn't actually have any finished houses yet. Two under construction but the guys seemed to have headed off spot on 5. What it does have is a few kilometres of fairly newly paved roads and an absence of cars. We'll rock it next week. Parking will be at the Woodland spot and the race real close. I'll publish the details soon (once I make them up). I'll need something like 4 or 5 volunteers to make it work but hey, easy job and endless praise. What's not to like.

... three ... two ... one .... (UPDATED)

2010-05-02T20:46:00.000-07:00

... and so it begins (FOR REAL THIS TIME) ...

MAY 12th it all starts !! Get there a little earlier than usual this time since there is always some 'first race' hiccups and such.

Many things are inevitible in life ... taxes, snow in June, the Leafs missing the playoffs, and the Crankmasters Wednesday Night Series. It all starts next week, Wednesday May 5th at 6:30pm. The race...a 10 mile (16km) regular TT on our brand spanking new course. It all starts from the Woodland Meeting Spot (WMS).

The Woodland meeting spot is located at the junction of Woodland road and highway 1A just west of Bearspaw and before Lochend Road. There is a side road there (Twp Rd 255) off of Woodland where we'll set up. Ample parking is available along 255 and on Nagway road just to the east off Bearspaw Road. And of course, you could always ride out to the site from Calgary. Please try and spread the parking out so that everybody isn't all parked at the same spot in order to keep things low key with respect to the local population.

View Directions to Twp Rd 262 in a larger map
The course starts just west of Woodland Road and heads west along 1A towards Cochrane. After a few kilometres and just before you start to head down the hill into Cochrane we turn right on to Big Hill Road, around the corner and straight north on Range Road 40. A short time thereafter another right turn onto Twp Road 262 heads you back eastwards towards the finish about a kilometre before you get to Lochend road. It's a short ride back to the start from there.

View Directions to Twp Rd 262 in a larger map
We'll kick things off with a 'regular' TT which basically means bring the aero gear if you got it. Aero bars, aero helmets, discs, wind resistance reducing full body butter applications, whatever make it happen for you. Not required of course and really it just comes down to legs and lungs.

I'll need at least 3 volunteers for this one so bring a friend and I'll put them to work. It's pretty easy work and nothing beats standing out there in the howling wind watching cyclings grind their way forward. As for the weather, we'll play it by ear and I'll update the blog as we go. Showers don't scare me but driving rain, snow, locusts, and whatever else this province produces does.

We'll see you then.

MEETING PLACE SWITCHED DUE TO WEATHER!

2010-04-28T13:33:00.000-07:00

Guys, Wed. night is important to make it to to give Jamie a sense of the numbers for the WNS and also to learn the ins and outs of the WNS. Please try to make this meeting. [MEETING HAS SWITCHED TO Trev's HOUSE, SO HE CAN KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE (the ST team has clothing to pick up. TRY TO BE AT THE MEETING BY 6:30pm AT MY HOUSE BUT YOU CAN COME AND PICK UP CLOTHING ANYTIME BETWEEN 6:00pm and 7:30pm TONIGHT]

I live here. Take Crowchild up to Stoney Trail where you will head north. Then exit West onto Country Hill BLVD., then left onto Royal Birch BLVD. then right onto Royal Birch Way.

See you there,

Trev

It's the most wonderful time of the year ...

2010-04-16T06:46:00.000-07:00

Much like the Oilers failure to make the playoffs, some things in life are inevitable. The launch of the 2010 Wednesday Night Series one of those things. We'll kick it off with a most excellent meeting for those new and old that are looking for some information on the series this year.

6:30pm
Wednesday April 28, 2010
Edworthy Park

We'll grab one of the picnic table areas when we get there. Just look for the big guy (and I mean big) surrounded by brightly attired, athletic looking, but slightly awkward crowd.

Welcome to 2010: Odyssey Two ... er ... Three

2010-03-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

The cenutry's greatest story continues staring Heywood Floyd ... wait, skip that.

Hello all. First off, apologies for my tardiness in getting anything out there. My crack team and I have been beavering away for literally minutes now getting the details together for the 2010 version of the Wednesday Night Race Series. First off I would like to counter the rumour put forth by the UCI that fair, fun and open racing was to be banned in 2010 across the globe in favour of contrived, pedestrian, and boring racing. This is not the case. We'll be back, bigger and better than ever with new events, new courses, a tweak or two to the format and something for everybody.

Changes for 2010:

1. Entire series will run 15 weeks of racing this year.
2. The racing will de divided into 3 five week miniseries with points and champs each time.
3. New courses and formats if we can make them up and find the locations.
4. New category for the super green with some instruction, a shorter course, and lots of feedback.

Mark April 28th on your calender as our kickoff meeting. We'll comandeer an area at Shouldice and lay out the info and whatnot for the year. As an organizational element we still need people to be at least secondary members of C4 which gives you access to Crankmasters, the WNS, and all the other races that we put on for a nominal fee. See the Crankmasters website for details (http://www.calgarycycling.com/). Please feel free to email me with any ideas, suggestions, comments and criticisms any time, I can take it.

Open the pod bay doors HAL.

That's a wrap for 2009

2009-08-04T13:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks for coming out whether a racer, volunteer, or as one of the legion of fans that we've attracted over the last few months. I hope I've thanked all the volunteers in the write ups and if I missed you, thanks so much, you are the ones that make it all happen. Thanks to the racers for giving us a reason to come out and thanks for providing the entertainment, inspiring us, and making the series what it is.
I miss it already and I'm already thinking of 2010 so if you have any comments, cricisms, advice, or great new ideas please let me know. I'm always looking for new courses, formats, and ways to improve. Given the strength of the response in the last couple of weeks there has been some discussion about adding two or three weeks to the schedule next year and going through the summer. I think that might just work.
Let me know, either through email or just comment and I certainly appreciate anything you have to offer. See you all at the Crankmasters Awards Night or if you don't make that, see you in 2010.

Final Series Standings

2009-08-04T13:17:00.001-07:00

Time to crown the deserving......

The As
All Speed Theory, all the time. Well, just about all the time as Speed Theory riders swept the top five places and were regular atendees each and every week. Counting on solid performances and missing just one race, Rick Courtney is our A champ for 2009. Chasing Rick hard was Darryl Parry who made all ten of the weeks and counted on strong consistent rides to make it just about to the top. Hard charging Trev Williams rounded out the top three including a great final week to vault a couple of guys to get there. Lots of guys just behind them and some really encouraging attendance numbers with 31 total As making it out should set up for a great 2010.

The Bs
Mister consistency Mike Healy (Speed Theory) virtually ran away with this one by making all 10 races as well as finishing near the front each and every week. Super job there to stay out in front in the big finale with Brian Beaulieu and Ron Fiell both of Crankmasters chasing hard and ending up second and third overall respectively. All in all there were 24 Bs out this year and some new faces that I hope to see more of next year. Keep the races close, it makes it interesting just to calculate the points nevermind the drama on the road.

The Cs
How close could we make this. Willy Vansevenant (Highwood) grabbed 16 points in the finale but just failed to overtake Crankmaster's Brad Barron who took 12 points to hold on to the title. Congrats Brad and Willy for making is good and entertaining. Crankmaster Mark Perry finished a solid third and I suspect will make it just as intersting next year. Hugely encouraged to see 24 riders out in the C category this year to bring the total to 79 riders throughout the categories.

***There will of course be a chance to stand up, revel in the glory, and recieve an awesome award at the annual Crankmaster's Awards Night so please plan on coming out. I'll post details in the fall so occasionally watch this space.***

Finally .... Results from the Big Show

2009-08-04T13:04:00.000-07:00

It took a while for the auditors and of course the drug testing but we finally have the results in hand for our end of series spectacle. Actually, I was off and without my electronic lifelines so other than a case of the shakes and no clue as to what is happening in the world, it's all good.
First of all, congratulations to everybody that took part in the series this year and I hope you all had a great time. It was another successful season and I can't wait to do it again next year.
In our gruelling and fiercly contested finale we had a full compliment of riders in each of our three categories which made for quite a race. Add to that a beasutiful night and prode on the line brought out the best in everyone. It was also very closely contested almost as if orchestrated or planned out in some way. I'll never say but the times are authentic and audited so great job. The A's went to the final TT to determine it all with Alex Shaw handing Trev Williams a little bit of a beat down in the TTs and gained the win while Darryl Parry and Joel Garalski managed to tie for third after three events and over an hour of racing. Better yet, Darren Nielson and Masa Higouchi tied 9 seconds behind them for fifth. The Bs went the distance as well with Mike Harrington stealing it from the always reliable Mike Healy with Ron Fiell and Brian Beaulieu close behind. Huge props to Willy Vansevenant for laying a beating onthe other guys in C finisheing almost three minutes ahead of the very close race for second which went to Brad Barron over Patrick Brick. Way to represent.

Of course, huge thanks again to Don Huber, Mike Hoang, and Sandy Torburn for volunteering and making the whole thing possible. Three races in one evening is amazing so hats off and thanks for the help.
Final standings to follow.....

The Ultimate Showdown...

2009-07-27T07:35:00.000-07:00

....well, it all comes down to this. The Amazing spectacle of amazingness that is the WNS mini-micro stage race. That's right, THREE times the racing in ONE evening. This Wednesday the 29th sharp at roughly 6:30ish we'll go forth and ride. Using our numbers, we'll lay siege to the Priddis Meeting spot at the corner of 22 and 22X.

View Larger Map

Once the fleet is assembled, we'll launch the riders on solo sorties commonly known in the cycling world as a prologue. We'll start right near the meeting spot and cover about 2km up the hill towards Calgary along 22X.

View Millarville Prologue in a larger map

Following an easy retreat back to the meeting spot we'll launch in our group squadrons onto the Millarville course for a lap of puttin' the hurt on. Time is the essence of this race and of course beating and shaming your nearest rivals.

View Millarville RR Course in a larger map

Then the deciding race of truth, a 9km individual TT for all the marbles. The TT will start a little south of the RR finish on 22 and run straight north back to the meeting spot and home base.

View Millarville TT in a larger map

After some dutifully applied mathemagics(tm) we'll crown our very own Tour de Millarville Contarmstrongoden. I couldn't fit any Schlecks or Wiggins in there without sounding rude and vaguely pronographic. Results are total time and there are bonus point on the line for finishes in each of the three events. Everything is Merckx again, we don't have time to change bikes around. The weather looks good (furiously knocking on wood here) and we'll need just two or three addtional volunteers although the more the merrier and the better run the event will be. Spectators are highly encourage and keep in mind that we'll only allow a few thousand out for each stage as we like to line the road no more than three deep on each side. Big bonus if you've got a relative or friend that can don a devil costume, chase the riders, and talk backwards.

Identified Speeding Objects seen at Woodland Road

2009-07-23T16:10:00.001-07:00

Wheeeee, that was a quick one. No complaints about sonic booms and it was tough to see the riders for their speed induced blurriness but it was an impressive displace of 'making bike go fast now'. Line honours went to Trev Williams but as he was in full aero gear getting ready for the Calgary 70.3 so I had to consult the Slowtwitch brain trust to properly handicap his time. Consensus was that his aeroness saved him 10minutes and 30sec but the beard lost hime 30sec so I added 10minutes to his time giving the win to Alex Shaw. Everyone was quick though and the results speak to how close you riders are, it was really competitive. Anyway, the results....

Huge props to our glorious volunteers for the evening including Phil and Cindy Grant, Scott Gibson-Craig, Mike Harrington, Sandra Braden, Brad Barron, and Brian Beaulieu. It wouldn't have worked without you.

I've updated the standings going into out last week, next Wednesday, which I have preliminarily titled 'The Amazing Race of Awesomeness' for all the marbles. We'll run our micro stage race with a prologue TT, a Road Race, and finally an ITT. All of it at the Priddis Meeting Spot and hopefully we can start real close to 6:30 so that we can fit it all in. Details to come and remember, there are bonus points on the line for this one. I'll need a few volunteers to run it efficiently so bring a friend or come out yourself and be a part of it. I'm really looking forward to it.

Length of last night?

2009-07-23T06:32:00.000-07:00

Anyone have an accurate distance for last night? I am just trying to figure out what kind of shape I am in.

Thanks,

Trev

Time Trial Redux

2009-07-20T12:44:00.000-07:00

Back and bad. The Woodland Merckx TT is back for another bite. This Wednesday at 6:30 at the Woodland Meeting Spot.
The Woodland meeting spot is located at the junction of Woodland road and highway 1A just west of Bearspaw and before Lochend Road. There is a side road there (Twp Rd 255) off of Woodland where we'll set up. Ample parking is available along 255 and on Nagway road just to the east off Bearspaw Road. And of course, you could always ride out to the site from Calgary. Please try and spread the parking out so that everybody isn't all parked at the same spot in order to keep things low key with respect to the local population.

View Directions to Twp Rd 262 in a larger map

Merckx, so leave the fancy schmancy stuff at home and suffer old school style. Course is the same as last time.

The course starts just west of Woodland Road and heads west along 1A towards Cochrane. After a few kilometres and just before you start to head down the hill into Cochrane we turn right on to Big Hill Road, around the corner and straight north on Range Road 40. A short time thereafter another right turn onto Twp Road 262 heads you back eastwards towards the finish about a kilometre before you get to Lochend road. It's a short ride back to the start from there.

View Directions to Twp Rd 262 in a larger map

Big ask on this one but I need an assistant race organizer for this one as I can get things lined up but I need to leave at 7 so I'll need an amazing volunteer to handle the timing and let me know the results. I will also need 2 more volunteers, one to start the riders and 1 for the corner. Easy jobs all of them, so experience required, just the ability to read a clock, write numbers, and look brilliant doing it. Let me know if you can step up for this. Other than that, I'll see you guys Wednesday.

The standing are updated as well as we head into the last couple of weeks. Next week is the big finale with bonus points on the line for our mini stage race.

Race Report - Millarville Team RR

2009-07-17T11:57:00.000-07:00

We had a great night of team racing this Wednesday.

22 riders toed the start line… and 23 ended up finishing. No, we didn’t clone anyone out on the course. More about that later...

The riders were divided into three teams of seven or eight members with the objective of getting four of their teammates across the line first to claim glory. Team Blue was led by Trev’ Williams, Team Green by Darryl Parry and Team Orange by Rick Courtney.

The teams stayed together for most of the first lap, splitting into two groups on the climbs leading back towards Plummer’s Road.

Group One contained 15 riders, five strategically split from each team. Group Two included several experienced riders including Rick Courtney, Willy Van Sevenant and Lachlan Holmes (rider #23, joined late just as the groups split) who set a sizzling pace for their teammates and still managed to hold everyone together throughout most of the second lap.

At the finish, Team Orange dominated sending a cohesive group of four across the line (Stephen Kenney, Clark Ellis, Rob Lukacs and Joel Souchette). The rest of the field mixed it up and Team Blue got their four guys in next to claim second place.

Congratulations to all. No crashes, flats, mechanicals or other drama and everyone finished both laps.

Huge thanks to volunteers Mark Shand and Don Huber for keeping everyone on course and safe around the corners.

Don has posted some nice photos and cool video of the race on his website. Check it out:
http://jdhuber.shawwebspace.ca

Final Results

Team Orange – First Place
Rick Courtney - ST
Brad Barron - C4
Kailee Boyle - ST
Clark Ellis - ST
Darcy Gullacher - ST
Stephen Kenney - ST
Rob Lukacs - ST
Joel Souchette - ST

Team Blue – Second Place
Trev Williams - ST
Mike Harrington - C4
Mike Healy - ST
Jason Koleba - C4
Andrew Paul - Ind
Darcy Reynard - ERTC
Dan Sigouin - ST

Team Green – Third Place
Darryl Parry - ST
Jeff Bell - HW
Cody Godlonton - HW
Mike Hoang - ST
Kyle Marcotte - ST
Clarence Poon - C4
Willy Vansevenant – HW

Volunteers - Millarville RR

2009-07-14T11:17:00.000-07:00

The weather looks perfect and we've got an awesome format for our race this Wednesday night!

Depending on how many racers we get out we'll designate the fastest three or four hammerheads as team leaders. The leaders don't count in the results but the next three racers from each team will. Teamwork and strategy will rule the roads.

We could use a couple volunteers to man corners, especially where RR33 joins Plummer's Road so if you're racing and can bring a friend, please do. If you used it all up at the Stampede Road Race on the weekend please consider coming out to cheer or heckle and to help keep everyone safe.

Brian

Team Racing is back....

2009-07-12T07:19:00.000-07:00

...at the Priddis meeting spot, Wednesday, July 15th, 6:30pm. Brian Beaulieu qill be your host for the evening as on the menu is one of our favourite events, the team RR. A chance for the hammerheads to work at protecting and managing your team and a chance for everybody to concentrate on working together. We'll meet at the Priddis meeting spot and utilize our Millarville course for the first time this year. The Priddis meeting spot is at the corner of highways 22 and 22X.

View Priddis Meeting Spot (PMS) in a larger map

As for the course, we'll form up at the meeting spot and once started everyone heads south along 22 to the Millarville turnoff (549) where we go west until ***** road. North along Range Road 33 to Plummers road where we turn eastwards, drift north, and finally eastward again to 22 where we start another lap. The race will finish along Plummer's Road just before you get back to 22 the second time. Its a nice easy cool down ride back to the meeting spot.

View Priddis Meeting Spot (PMS) in a larger map

Should be fun.

Results from Week 9, ST hosted evening.

2009-07-09T06:28:00.000-07:00

Great night for racing. Lots of volunteers. Keith Bayly, Dallas Morris, Mike Healey, Darryl Parry, Mark Perry and Scott all volunteered their evening for 13 racers.

Notable racers: Paul Rosenburg up from Florida got a nice intro to Calgary weather. Andy Hill showed up with his cross bike to volunteer and we convinced him to race! Simon laid down a sweet time considering he was on a road bike.

July 8th. 16km Technical ITT.

2009-07-05T14:00:00.000-07:00

We are going to do a 16km ITT around the route we did the RR on last time we hosted. This is a perfect length to get you ready for Stampede Road Race. It is not too long to blow you out. It is also Jamie's favourite distance since it is 10miles.

Aero gear are game on for this one !

NOTE: We got a complaint last race from a resident on Nagway Road. We DON'T want to screw this course up for the Bear's Paw Open. So PLEASE, keep your eyes open for vehicles and smile and wave.

We WON'T do a mass pre-ride this time... so KNOW THE COURSE!! Either show up early enough to pre-ride yourself, or know it. First racer off at 6:31pm.

Here is the course we will do twice. It is a technical ITT since there are lots and lots of corners and it is very rolly. Pacing will be key so you don't blow up on the second lap:

Classic Canada Day Classic!

2009-07-02T19:48:00.000-07:00

Am I being repetitive? 16 brave souls challenged one of the best rides in the Calgary area as a race and a pursuit race no less. Dividing into three groups with the B having to make up 5 minutes and the As 10 minutes much pain was to be had as the wind compunded the slightly uphill nature of the first part of the course. Which is a fancy way of saying that it was really hilly and everbody suffered a lot as they either tried to chase down or avoid being chased down. The groups did converge and the games began with lots of mixing and matching going on as the course turned North downwind and a somewhat flatter. It was game on and the long gradual slope up to the finish made the selection. Well, almost. Line honours went finally to Rick Courtney by a mere 1 second over Joel Souchette with Clark Ellis 29 seconds in arrears but 2 seconds ahead of the trio of Mike Healy from the B group, Clarence Poon of the C group, and Darren Neilson of the A group. All in all it was great racing and lots of fun to watch. Results were by line honours but I included the net times and the groupings for reference.

Huge props to Darryl Parry for helping out and good luck in Stony Plain this weekend. Regrets to Ryan Barr and Paul Broska who suffered flats, I know you guys would have been in it. It was a good, good time on a great course, we'll do it again next year for sure. Next up is a TT next Wednesday put on by our good friends at Speed Theory. I'm sure it will be something quite interesting and if you're in town this weekend, check out their TT mirroring the Tour prologue which also looks like a great time.

Because it's a special occasion....

2009-07-02T17:15:00.001-07:00

...it being July and all.

http://speedtheorycyclingteam.blogspot.com/2009/07/tdf-prologue-time.html

Trev

The Canada Day Classic...

2009-06-26T06:43:00.000-07:00

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.

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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.

Quick Race Report.....

2009-06-25T05:49:00.000-07:00

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.

Bragg Creek gets a second try!

2009-06-22T12:22:00.001-07:00

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.

Bragg Creek RR - Race Report

2009-06-18T12:04:00.000-07:00

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

Unfortunately racing is cancelled tonight.

2009-06-17T15:33:00.000-07:00

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.

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

2009-06-15T06:02:00.000-07:00

... 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.

A Good ole evening right in the backyard...

2009-06-12T16:06:00.000-07:00

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.

Team	Place	Intermediate Time	Final Time
AB1 Trev Williams Andrew Paul Dale Hildebrand	1	11:16	25:00
AB2 Marilyn Taylor Steve Pickett	3	12:05	27:05
AB3 Rick Courtney Rob Walsh Carlos Bonilla	2	11:18	25:05
C1 Willy VanSevenant Shawna Donaldson Mark Perry	3		30:55
C2 Carl Lepointe Karl Bergman Patrick Brick	2		29:00
C3 Andy Hill Brad Barron	1		28:43
Solo (late) Lachlan Holmes		10:30	24:14