We're back! Our first week of gravel segments kicked off, and I've got results for 30 rider, and the full results are live on the site as usual!

Welcome to our new riders, and tons of familiar names as well!

IMPORTANT: If you rode the segments, but don't see your name or results, please let me know ASAP and we'll figure out what's up.

If you're joining us for Week 2, and this is your first time, make sure you've signed up as well! (Had to remind a few peeps. 😉)

Hope everyone enjoyed the first segments, and becomes part of your regular routing - there's a few alternate versions as well, if you remember from last time we went through Cuthbert, we took a longer way around there. You can go the other way around View Royal Park, and same with JDF (tho technically it's no bikes in that section.🤷‍♂️)

This week we've got three on the dance card - a nice little 'tour' through RRU, our first TIMED segment that's a short climb, plus I found a silly segment that'll be a bonus segment.

In Random Items of Interest, came across this neat video on caffeine, some neat facts about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-Dy2pcdBSU

That's aboot it, let's carry on with our regular updates!

Racing News

There should have been the first Cross on the Rock today, but sadly it appears permit issues got in the way, and was cancelled. Coal Cross in Cumberland will be the first race now, on the 28th!

Lots of pro racing action!

In the cyclocross world, there's been racing in the US, and Canadian rider Sidney McGill has been doing great, winning one race.

The Vuelta Espana concluded today, but sadly protestors broke through the barriers and were marching on the course. Methinks the Israel Premier Tech team should have left several stages ago, for the benefit of all.

Here in Canada we also had a couple races, enjoyed the finish of the Quebec City race yesterday, but haven't had a chance to catch up on the Montreal race today (they were both on CBC Gem, but can't find the archive links..)

And finally it was also the MTB World Champs this weekend, awesome performances by Canadians across all the fields, with highlights from Isabella Holmgren winning the U23 Short Track and Cole Punchard finishing with the Silver in the U23 as well! I haven't seen today's races, but thanks to a poor email headline, know that Isabella did the 'double'....also curious how Van Der Poole finished in the XC today...hopefully can avoid headlines until I get to watch it!

HOUSEKEEPING

Notes for the week:

Not too much this week!

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!

1 <- 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! 😊

Nine Inch Nails released a new track on Youtube this week, and I had a bit of an existential crisis over it! 😂

As I was listening to it, all I could think about was how derivative it was.......of NIN!! I know this didn't happen, but if you asked AI to 'make me a song that sounds like NIN', I feel like this would be what it spits out.

Still a good track, and looking forward to the album, but funny when it goes THAT deep.🎶

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

Since everyone gets the same scores this week, no real excitement with the exception of Sam taking the early lead by 5pts with his Early Bird points!

The B's

It's even across the board with all the B's!

The C's

Mark posted on IG about his ride, and also takes an early lead in the points!

BONUSES & CURSES

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

Julian stole my KOM on one of the segments, but doesn't count this week!

• Early Bird was Sam!
• No secret times to award week.
• As mentioned Mark collected the Socialite points.
  (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.)

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!

Prizes this week are courtesy of Cycles West! The Google randomizer has decided the following are worthy of a draw prize this week:

Kris Lemieux
Bicycle Dave🇨🇦
Tania Johnson
Markus K
Gabrielle Leung
Tyler Galts

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

Our prize page is live on the site, lots more to come, but for now take a peek!

Week #2 - Sept 15th - 21st - Royal Roads? More Like Royal Offroads!

Getting back into the swing of it, this week we've got another long one, a pretty short one that's our first timed/challenge segment, and also feature a silly bonus segment, where you can collect an extra 25 Segment Bucks! 😂

Segment 2A Name: A darn fine tour of RRU gravel ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Deets: 5.53km, 84m elevation gain.
This is an new segment, QOM is Claire Townsend with an 18:14 & KOM is Damian Parlee with a 15:35, and the LL is no one! (Reminder these really don't matter.)
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/40129461

Another long one, but it's really worth it. It's a lovely off road tour of most of RRU.

It starts where the 'Go to college' segment from last week ends, with a fun and fast descent down to the water, over a neat bridge (see if you can ride the path beside the stairs!), past Hatley Castle, and then some fireroad climbing.

By the Heatherbell exit, you jump on some singletrack for another climb, with a few technical bits - there's a nice big root to ride over, as well as a steepish pitch. Once you're up that, it's beautiful singletrack to the end, with just a few roots here and there. (Where the segment ends, you can continue on with singletrack, the SMF segment continues there, but it starts to get a lot more technical. Otherwise just jump on one of the roads or wider pathways to find your way out!)

Segment 2B Name (🔥TIMED🔥): College CX Climb
Deets: 0.32km, 37m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Lindsay Pedal with a 1:50 & KOM is Julian Cameron with a 1:02, and LL is Kevin White with 3 efforts.
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/13292915

It's the first TIMED segment of the season!! If you're feeling competitive, give this a rip! Points will be awarded based on the times in your category.

This climb is actually the start of the descent of the other segment! There's not much to it, just be sure to pace yourself, it's over 10% average grade, and has a nice steep little bit just before you hit College Dr. Make sure you continue down the road to trigger the segment end. (I can't give you a time if you don't complete the segment!)

Coincidentally Julian took the KOM just last week from Nick Friesen. Hopefully he wasn't giving it full gas! 😉

➡BONUS SEGMENT!
Segment 2Bonus Name: The Graveldrome
Deets: 0.73km, 22m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Kema Weiland with a 12:40 & KOM is Kyle Denny with a 1:36, and LL is none.
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/8315380

This came up as I was browsing the segments in the area, and I couldn't resist..!

Not much to it, just a lap around the grassy section in front of Hatley Castle. Collect an easy 25pts! Let's fill that leaderboard up, there were 5 people when we started. 😂

Happy riding!! 

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

Gabby's second-ever gravel ride,
and she survived to tell about it!!!

I forgot to get a photo of the first segment,
but here's a photo of a much more
seasoned group after the segments! 😁

Thanks so much for tuning in, hope you enjoyed the updates!

I'm also looking forward to the segments, I haven't ridden the Graveldrome yet! I'm sure that'll be a thrill. 😂

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

- Dave

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