Another 'new trails day' for me today, as I was up in Port Alberni for the Island Cup MTB race - first MTB race for me in over 15yrs! Funnily they mentioned before the awards how the series started in 2003, and I was racing a few years after that, boy I'm getting old! Click here if you're curious for my write-up on what the PA trails are like, way different from Vic!!

Welcome to a few new people who signed up the last couple days, hope to see you hit the segments this week, we've got some fun ones for you!

Over 30 riders out riding this week, beautiful weekend for it too! Elkwood is a fun little 'detour', hope you guys incorporate it in your rides when you're out that way! Lots of close times too, with just a few seconds separating big groups of riders!

This week we're also celebrating 'new bridge week', as the overpass at the Colwood Corners is now open! I've been holding a couple segments at Royal Roads University in my jersey pocket waiting for this, and gives you a reason to cross over this fantastic new feature of the Galloping Goose trail!

A few of you have chipped in to the series, and I'm very grateful for that, I really appreciate your generosity and support of the series and website!! 🥰 

ATR Club Updates

New section!

ATR is now a registered non-profit society as the About The Ride Cycling Club, as well as a CyclingBC Club! A big thank you to Chad Grice and Abigail Drews for joining me in forming the board. We've also formed a 'crit committee' for organizing bigger events - if anyone is interested in volunteering at events, or joining our organizing crew, please reply and let me know!

Our first event will be another Royal Bay Crit, utilizing a brand new loop as well! It'll be Sunday, May 10th, so hope you'll come out and race, cheer, or volunteer!

We're also working on a mid-week crit series hopefully in July, and aim to put together an event for Cross on the Rock in the fall.

And all the regular ATR series will be happening as well of course, after the Spring Segment Challenge, we'll have the return of So You Think You Can Climb! Details are already updated on the site, will try and get the sign-up form live in the next week as well. Woohoo, busy-town!

Aaaand we're still looking for a laser printer, ideally colour, but B&W would be welcome, if anyone happens to have one kicking around they want to give away (or sell cheap!)

RACING NEWS

Note: expect spoilers!

Kinda odd, but if you want to race skinny tires, the Segment Challenge is the only scored competition happening in Victoria these days..! You'd think doing to OBB ride over and over would get a bit boring. 🙃

Haven't had a chance to catch up on any of the local racing as I got in pretty late this afternoon, there was the Island Cup, results are here: https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=426986

I just finished watching the women's Flanders, wowwee - I'll avoid any spoilers, but pretty exciting final 40km. About to watch the men's race as well...so not sure yet about results, but didn't look like any Canadian women in the Top 10 for their Flanders unfortunately..

HOUSEKEEPING

Notes for the week:

• Not much to report this week, but two new riders this week, great to have you back!

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!

3 <- THIS MANY WEEKS WITHOUT AN ERROR 🤣

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

SPONSORS AD

I posted this on the ATR socials on Apr 1st; disappointed it didn't get much of a reaction!!! I thought it was pretty darn hilarious, hope some readers enjoy at least!!

Apr 1, 2026 -- Special News Release --

About The Ride Cycling is excited to have EXCLUSIVE coverage of the launch of the brand new Shimano SPD gravel racing pedals!

Shimano's latest and most exciting release in the SPD world are single-sided for lighter weight, and feature a retro 90's colour scheme, how fun is that? There's retention adjustment as always, and utilizes a 6mm wrench for installation. Totally rebuildable as well for long-lasting pedals, perhaps decades even!

"Oddly I feel like I've been here before, but can't wait to try these out and knock out some new PBs on my favourite gravel trails!" adds Dave Shishkoff, ATR founder.

Look for these pedals at your favourite shops in the coming weeks, and leave a comment below to receive a special discount on launch!

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! 😊

Focused on the racing today, so no tunes, but I did give the new Nine Inch Nails album a spin, it's a soundtrack for the new Tron Ares film, and by all accounts it's the best thing to come out of that project. 😂

It's a proper 'soundtrack', with pretty classic NIN sounds, but might be nice to play in the background while working away.🎶

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.

The A's

Some new top names (and glory!) this week as our fastest guys sadly didn't hit the segments. On Old West, Travis rode away with the top spot, but only four seconds ahead of Rizzi, and John F was a mere 6 seconds back from that! Josh and Sam were just off the podium, but not by much! On Elkwood, 4 seconds separated 1st thru 4th, but Josh was top of the field, I believe his first time at the top of the A podium! Travis and myself rounded out the podium, and Dave B just missed it by 1sec, and John F was a smidge behind. Welcome back to Justin K, who finished 6th, and Jon B made it out as well!

The B's

Same situation as last week, with Renata claiming the top spot on both segments, and both Sarah's trailing....will that change with a change in terrain this coming week?

Just 5 of our B's this week, and on Old West it was Greg who takes the top spot! Dan B's form is improving, with a 2nd, and Scott earned 3rd, with Teddy and Ryan just missing the podium. Over on Elkwood it was Scott H taking the W, possibly his first? Nicely done! Greg and Teddy round out the podium, and Ryan and Dan missing this opportunity.

The C's

Julia and Kathryn continue to battle, and this week they each took a gold medal, with Julia taking Old West, and Kathryn riding to a faster time on Elkwood.

All our C's were out this week, but fastest on the A segment was the Hoffmeister! Bicycle Dave and Derek K round out this podium, with Bill and Dan just trailing. On the B segment, Dave was tops, and Mike H 10sec back, but 3rd thru 5th were only 3 seconds apart, and Ken was the fastest, claiming the final podium spot, and Derek and Dan C were SO CLOSE! So great seeing Tyler G, Kit, David R, Mike J, Clayton and James out as well!

BONUSES & CURSES

See the Scoring section of the Event Page for more details on how you can score extra points every week.

• No QOMs or KOMs this week
• Early Bird was Bicycle Dave again
• No secret times, but several close!
• No Socialite points this week
  (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.)
• No Yellow Jersey curse
• And no Try Hard 'Local Legend' cursees.

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!

A big thank you to EasyVegan.ca for the draw prizes this week, and we'll give away 6 of their Gift Cards! The Google randomizer has decided the following are worthy of a draw prize this week:

Sarah Pullman
David Robertson 🇨🇦 🇺🇦
Julia Barron
Dan Blackwell
Scott Horsley
justin kobbero

Congrats!! I'll email you on Monday with the details!

Our prize page is live on the site, we've got so many fantastic items, most are now listed, take a peek!

Week #5: Apr 6th – 12th - Celebrating New Bridge Week!

There's a new bridge in town, in Colwood, if you haven't seen it, the overpass across the Island Highway at Colwood Corners is now open!

I've been holding on to these two for the opening of the bridge - you don't necessarily have to cross the bridge, but hey, why not check it out as you head over to Royal Roads for the segments this week!

We've got a climb as usual, plus a callback to a flat sprint from Season 2 in 2023 that's just across the road - I know many of you can climb, but how are you at a 420m sprint? 😁

Segment 5A Name: Royal Roads Serpentine climb
Deets: 1.12km, 62m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is The Squaremeat with a 2:48, KOM is Cody Canning with a 2:25 & LL is Rob Lunney with 6 rides!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/3041399

Not too much to this one - starts off down by the water relatively tame, then ramps up and up and up! It does level out a bit towards the end.

Looking at the segment itself, looks like there's some GPS drift, so for best results, make that right onto W Campus and keep rolling a bit. The segment timer may not end when you reach W Campus Rd, which is how it looks on a quick glance.

Segment 5B Name: Colwood Lake Sprint
Deets: 0.42km, 0m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Jennifer Ward with 27s, KOM is Vinko Poldrugovac with 26s & LL is Michael White with 33 rides!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/7992910

Not too much to this one - be sure to carefully note where the start and finish are, and just go, 100%! It'll be over before you know it!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

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

THE WEEK IN PHOTOS

The worst part of Old West -
not so bad now compared to many
other hills we've been on!

The end of the main stretch on Elkwood,
a nice quiet street, with a bit of
heavy breathing last week!

This week is looking ALL SUNNY! Although I just saw there's a wind warning tomorrow evening through Tue...so heads up there. But no excuses, get out there and hit those seggies. One is very short and flat after all, couldn't be easier!

That's all for this week, safe and speedy riding all! 🚲

- Dave

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