Another big day out at Port Alberni for Cross on the Rock #2! Woof that was some kind of course, glad I put on the 'winter' gravel tires, way more MTB than CX!! If curious, I posted a write-up and photos. Complete opposite of last weekend! 🙃

Hope you enjoyed bopping around JLP, I had to go twice because I botched where the start of the timed segment was, doh! That was a surprisingly fun climb however, nothing like the profile, really enjoyed how it picked up speed in a few spots! I saw a number of people didn't trigger the A segment (XCC Lap), I took a peek at a bunch of the rides, and if I saw an attempt, points were awarded. Let me know if I missed you!

This week we're hitting some trails and connectors we did in the first Gravel season, but this time we're reversing the direction, and heading around a bunch of lakes in Langford using several nifty connectors.

And another thank you to those who've chipped in, thank you for supporting grassroots cycling events!! 🥰

Here we go!

Racing News

The second Cross on the Rock was today up in Port Alberni! Find the results here.

The European road champs were this weekend, pretty impressive solo effort from Demi Vollering yesterday to win the white and blue jersey. And we won't see the men's jersey, since Pogacar won it as well, but the rainbow stripes will take precidence!

Also some MTB action at Lake Placid in the US, again, haven't watched, but looking forward to checking it out!

HOUSEKEEPING

Notes for the week:

Damian, please sign up! Your name came up in the draw, but doesn't count since you're not signed up!

I botched Lauren's scoring last week and missed that she made the time cut, so added in her points.

Also Anne had a typo, and should have been 50pts, not 40pts, also corrected!

And I believe someone else was moved from B to A, but I can't recall at this point! 😂

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!

0 <- THIS MANY WEEKS WITHOUT AN ERROR 🤣

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

SPONSORS AD

This email sponsored by Gambling(Tm).

Bet you $50 you can't stop!

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! 😊

Busy week and nothing to add myself, but a new Taylor dropped, sounds like the fans aren't crazy about it tho..? Ruh roh! 🎶

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

Keeping reports brief this week as it's getting late!

Two fast women out this week, and Jolene put in another fantastic time, cracking 3mins, and Kenzie wasn't far behind!

Julian took our top time this week, with a blistering 2:30, but Adam W wasn't far behind at 2:35, and three seconds behind him was Damian. Jon B and John F were just off the podium by less than 10sec! Impressive riding all!

The B's

Four B's hit the segment this week, and top was our newest, Rachael, claiming the Gold on her first go! Six seconds behind Katy got Silver, and Tania topped Renata for the final medal.

Lots of guys out, but fastest once again was Josh, also cracking 3mins! Two seconds back was Markus, and Scott H was just behind that, with Mark's D & C just missing the podium.

The C's

Just two C's this week, and Tanya B's initial attack came out ahead of Lani, nice riding!

With our guys, Mark B was all aces, with the fastest time, plus earning the Socialite and Early Bird points! Kit and Dan C rounded out the podium, with Gary and Mike H (welcome back!) just missing out. Great efforts all y'all!

BONUSES & CURSES

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

No KOM or QOM points this week.

• Early Bird was Mark B
• No secret time as well, tho some were close to 3:17.
• Mark B gets the Socialite points with a cool vid leading to the Gravity Zone
  (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!

A big thank you to Bunny's Kitchen for the draw prizes this week, more vegan goodness for you! I've got $10 Gift Cards for 5 riders and the Google randomizer has decided the following are worthy of a draw prize this week:

Joel Crocker
Mark Devitt
Adam Wright
Gary Peever
Travis Orr

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

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

Week #5 - Oct 6th - 12th - The Many Lakes of Langford

Those who follow me will occasionally see my 'Paw Patrol' loop, which features a bunch of nifty connectors between Langford Lake and Thetis. It was also part of the first Gravel season a couple years ago!

This week we're reversing it, and going from Thetis to Langford Lake, for some sweet trails, pathways and connectors - so many ways to get across the CRD!

Segment 5A Name: Wap Lortap (aka Paw Patrol backwards🐱‍👓)
Deets: 5.33km, 58m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM is Claire Townsend with a 13:43 & KOM is lindsay carswell with a 13:33, and the LL is none! (Reminder these really don't matter.)
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/40265964

This segment begins at the end of the Phelps Connector in Thetis Lake - to get to this segment, there's basically a bonus trail/segment that begins in the northernmost parking lot at Thetis - we rode this the opposite direction a few weeks ago, here's the link: https://www.strava.com/segments/18913785

At the end of this segment, you'll want head left however, and onto Bellamy Link. At the corner begins a very odd bike lane to Treanor, and there the pathway connectors begin. They'll be a bit tricky to find, but you wind your way over to Millstream, then another connector to Lake Ida Ann, and over to Florence Lake and the really neat bridge there. (Good place to stop for a snack!) Then you'll carry on to Leigh, and we'll work our way over to the final destination: Langford Lake!

Segment 5B Name: Nixon Trail CX TT Reverse
Deets: 1.23km, 0m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Chrysta Archer with a 3:084 & KOM is Vinko Poldrugovac with a 2:27, and LL is john kirkendale with 3 efforts. (Reminder these really don't matter.)
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/10426648

Getting to this segment takes us back onto the roadway - head down Leigh and make a right on Goldstream, and take it to Lakeshore Pl or Lake End Rd, and continue west on Kingfisher, which connects to the beginning of Langford Lake's Nixon Trail - here the fun begins.

You're in for a treat, this is one of my favourite routes, but please don't smash it, there's often people on the trail.

It starts along another looooong bridge, and then lots of little whoops and twists until you get back on the water, and another neat aluminum dock.

Enjoy!! Check the routing section for suggestions where to go from here. 😉

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

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

Headed into the XCC berms with Kenzie and Scott!

Damian and Adam dropping some watts on their effort!

Fun vantage point at the end of the Initial Attack segment.

Back out to redo it with Scott, and ran into our top rider, Julian!

Savour the segments and trails, we're now past the halfway mark!

Somehow we're looking like it'll be ANOTHER stellar week, kinda crazy how dry it's been, and getting a bit worried about how it's gonna make up for the lack of rain..!

Also, if you're into running (sick, I know - just make it a pleasant stroll!), the Save-A-Turkey Trot is coming up on Sat, Oct 11th. It's a fun 5k walk/trot/run at Clover Point, fundraising for Home For Hooves farm animal sanctuary in Duncan - more deets and sign-up here!

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

- Dave

Join the @AboutTheRideCA social media accounts
for an informative range of local cycling updates!

If you ever have any questions,
feel free to simply hit reply!