Winter GravelQuest - Week #6 Report & Week #7 Segments 🦝⛰

Weekly Update

Hello GravelQuest Riders!

That was a bit of a funny week, but typical for winter in Victoria - when we get sun, we get the cold temperatures as well! Almost need a Penguin or Polar Bear category! 😂

Speaking of which, smaller numbers were out this week, with around 26, and seems like the timed segment was the one that stuffed people up the most! (Missing the left hand turn at the top!) But it's great to see a bunch of you gave it a go, and will reflect in the scores below. (If I missed anyone, please let me know!)

I realized the Season 'end date' listed on the site isn't correct, even with the extra week, we've still got one more week after this week, so we're running until Feb 8th, with 8 weeks total, d'oh. Counting is hard! 😂

This week we're going deeper into Saanich, with a 'shortcut', plus a fun little side trail that many probably haven't seen before. (It's a bit tricky to tell, because anyone who's ridden the road nearby tends to register on the segment.)

Once again, please take a look at results, and let me know if I've missed any critter icon bonuses, like three-of-a-kinds - it's possible I've overlooked some. And if anyone who's good at eyeballing these things wants to volunteer to help out as backup scorer, zing me a note - no one did last week! =)

RACING NEWS

Note: expect spoilers!

Reminder a TON of local racing is now listed on the ATR site, click through the CX/Gravel and MTB pages, as well as some additions to the Road page.

It was fun seeing road racing back with the men's Tour Down Under, the only Canadian, Michael Leonard, was in the young rider's White Jersey for a stage or two!

There was a one-day women's race during the week, and Vancouver rider Maggie Coles-Lyster took her first career World Tour win, super exciting!! Also if you didn't see, Victoria rider Sarah Van Dam finished 5th on the final stage, and 5th overall, insane!! You can watch the sprint here - very unfortunate the announcers got her name wrong! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=seo8dy6607M

The two final Cyclocross World Cups were this weekend, and lots of exciting action! It was a bummer to see Luncinda Brand's streak of consecutive podium finishes come to an end at 63, and was out today with a calf injury. The World Champs next weekend are her main goal for the season, so hopefully she's 100% for that!

Canadian riders were abound in the Hoogerheide race today, and Sidney McGill was top-placed in the very fast women's race with 24th, 2:10 down. Rafaelle Carrier had a strong start and was in the T20 on the first lap, but had a few mishaps, finishing 31st. Maghalie Rochette is back as well, tho only 38th. Nico Knoll and Dorothee Perron also finished outside the T50. I don't think the Canadian women like the 'faster' races.

On the men's side, the speed was insane, with van der Poel averaging laps as fast as 29kph!!! Canadians Cody Scott and Cameron Jette finished 40th & 41st, a lap down.

As mentioned the World Championships are next weekend, good chance Carrier could podium in the U23 women's race (reminder she's actually 18, and which would put has a a Junior rider!) But I think that's about the only hope for Canada this year. But should be lots of great racing regardless!!

THIS WEEK IN RIDES

For those new to the series, results are tabulated each week, and the event page has all the results updated each Sunday night! To see the weekly results, hit the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet.

With the first 🔥TIMED🔥 segment of the season (probably the only one), the ride report is a wee bit more exciting! The QOM and KOM remain unchallenged unfortunately.

Cougars & Raccoons

In the Cougars, Anne Edwards was speediest, followed by Mark B, and Mark C went off course so received basic points.

Rich Long was the fastest Raccoon, and fastest overall with a 1'47! I came in 10sec down for 2nd, and Josh D was just over 2min for 3rd. Good rides by Curtis, Michael J and our Early Bird Bicycle Dave as well!

Bears & Otters

Tyler G was our speediest Bear, although 1min separated all Bears! Rose and Renata were only 9sec apart, and Sonya just behind them!

Over with the River Otters, Jolene's speedy 2:06 got her the W, but just three seconds back was Scott H! Markus K wasn't far back, despite chatting with dog walkers on his effort. 😂 Tanya B Kevin T and David R were just off the podium!

Seals & Wolves

Lauren gets to celebrate top points, tho unfortunately the rest of the Seals were nowhere to be found!

And the Wolves were led by Jon B, only the 3rd rider to crack 2mins, with Dan C and John F rounding out the podium, and Greg G and Ken T also in the running.

BONUSES & CURSES

See the Scoring section of the Event Page for more details - note that there aren't any curses for the GravelQuest!

No KOM or QOM points this week.

Early Bird (or should we call this 'Oyster Catcher'?) was Bicycle Dave
Secret time was 2:55, but no hits
Socialite points go to Tanya B this week, B Dave was close, and probably one of the only posts on IG to ever feature the Soft Boys!!
(Post a shot of your ride on IG or FB and tag @AboutTheRideCA for a chance for 5pts each week! If you've posted, but I haven't given you credit, or liked or commented on your post, please DM me directly, IG has been a bit finicky.)

HOUSEKEEPING

Notes for the week:

Some updates from last week:

Prizes are now listed on the site! A big thanks to Goldstream Bicycles, Fairfield Bicycles and Vegan Supply for contributing some goodies!

Reminder if your time didn't record (this week or any), please either tag me in your ride, comment on the Strava group post, or send me an email -- if you rode it, I can usually figure out a 'manual' time for you, but you need to let me know!

6 <- THIS MANY WEEKS WITHOUT AN ERROR 🤣

If there are any errors, omissions, issues, concerns, or anything else, feel free to hit reply!

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SOUNDTRACK NOTES

Note: 'back in my day' people talked about music, albums, etc.. Doesn't really seem to happen much these days, so I'm carrying on the tradition here! 😊

Nothing too exciting with me in the world of tunage this week, been spinning a bit of Sufjan Stevens tho, whatever happened to his project of writing an album for each state in the US? 🤔 🎶

PRIZES!

We've always got some sweet draw prizes every week! Watch our socials (Insta & Facebook) to see what we'll be giving away each week!

Draw prizes are listed on the site, we've got three event supporters this series, plus there'll be a fourth bonus prize for the finale!

It's been all guys, so this week I hit 'randomise' in the list until a female rider came out on top, and this week's winner is Lauren W! I'll follow up later this week, congrats!

There'll be one name drawn each week, and they can select from the items, and there'll be a few extra draws for the finale as well!

Week #7: Jan 26th - Feb 1st - AKA Wallace to Wallace?

For our second-to-last week we're headed the furthest north we've gone with gravel segments, featuring a fun mix of surfaces near Brentwood Bay with a handy gravel shortcut, plus a fun trail that runs parallel to Benvenuto.

Segment 7A Name: Stelly's to Benvenuto - a la groade
Deets: 2.34km, 24m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM is Cristin Schlossberger with a 5:56 & KOM is Rob Britton with a 5:27, and the LL is none! (Reminder these really don't matter.)
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/40835340

Some may already be familiar with the first part of this segment, I believe it's been in the TS Cross Fondo, or if you've ridden gravel out this way, may have hit it. We extend it a bit with an extra little bit of 'groad'.

Things start on Willow Way, which is off Wallace just across from Stelly's school, and head straight south then west to W Saanich, and across to another little gravel section that cuts over to Benvenuto. Benvenuto is one of my least favourite roads, but at least somewhat tolerable on a gravel bike!

Segment 7B Name: Benvenuto Bypass
Deets: 0.58km, 15m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Cass Purdon with a 51s & KOM is Colin Fowlow with a 53s, and the LL is Steve Young with 6 efforts!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/36067157

As mentioned, Benvenuto is a pretty gross road, but thankfully there's a lovely little trail running parallel to the road that's surprisingly fun!

Getting here is easy, after 7A just make a right on Benvenuto up the hill a bit, and watch for that first road on the right.

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

Updated on the site - as always Suggested Routing for this week: https://abouttheride.ca/gravelquest/

ISLAND WILDLIFE CORNER

Each week we'll feature a little highlight about island wildlife, thanks to The Fur-Bearers! Consider becoming a member and supporting their work, and check out their socials for lots of great posts about wildlife, advocacy and peaceful co-existence.

Week 7 - Three Facts About Harbour Seals!

Whose little face pops up now and then in the water off the coast? It's likely a harbour seal.

1 - Harbour seals live year round on Vancouver Island.
There are about 18 seal species that can be found all over the globe, but it is the harbour seal that is most commonly found in the waters around Vancouver Island.

2 - Harbour seals can “feel” fish moving through the water.
Their long whiskers aren't just for show! They are extremely sensitive and help detect fish, even when their visibility is poor.

3 - Abandoned seal pups may not need 'saving'
If you find a seal pup alone on the beach, don't panic. Oftentimes their mother's are getting food, leaving them temporarily alone. Never touch or try to pick up a seal pup. Always keep your distance. If the pup is injured or in danger, keep people and dogs away and call the Marine Mammal Rescue Society (MMRS) - 604-258-SEAL (7325).