Well that was a bit of a weird week! Monday was fine, then cold and snow Tue & Wed, dry Thu, then a mix of weather the rest of the days, but at least it warmed up! Hopefully these two segments were a fun warm-up!

We're back at it, and over 30 people hit both segments, woohoo!! One fun fact from registration: over a dozen people have signed up for all 3  previous seasons, welcome back all, and welcome to our new riders as well!

This week we're headed back the to the same area, with some longer efforts, and they both start fast, but end slow.

I'm particularly fond of the Watkiss segment, that was the first segment from the original KOMpetition that really hooked me in this, so fun! Wondering if I can top my time from 2021...and still ouchie times for all!

HOUSEKEEPING

Notes for the week:

Paging Brandon Smith, Dan Blackwell, Mark Instone & Nate Coppola - so great to have you all in, but please sign up! It may seem trivial, but it's part of my system, and confirms things like your interest and category, etc.. Thanks!

Some changes from sign-up: Josh D I've set you to B instead of C. Maria Morano has moved up to B from C (thank you!)

Nicky Begley, I've set you to A instead of B based on your times.

Spencer Floyd, I've set you to A instead of B based on your times.

Adam Wadden - I'd like to invite you to join A instead of B, whaddya think!

Hopefully that's alright with all, judging by the times, I think that's probably appropriate, but can swap people back, just let me know!

00 <- 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 week's sponsor is a return of the popular roadie website RoadDiscBrakesKill.com.

Rim brake fans rejoin, this website is tracking all the gruesome injuries and deaths in the pro peloton and amateur ranks due to disc brakes on road bikes, since road bikes started switching over to disc brakes several years ago.

Can you believe practically no bikes use rim brakes any more? We'll be seeing the end of all our favourite pro cyclists soon, taken out with these hazards! Pogacar? More like Po-got-chopped-up-into-a-bunch-of-little-pieces!

While there are no injuries or deaths to report at this time, we're still watching and waiting, and will be there to raise hell when it happens! Disc brakes are extremely dangerous, and it's only a matter of time until this is fully revealed.

Be sure to subscribe to our site, and use #RimBrakesRule for 20% off your braking ability!

SOUNDTRACK NOTES

No tunes this week, got some trashy TV playing in the background! 🎶

THIS WEEK IN RIDES

The A's

Great to see our A riders back! We've got a bit of a reversal to start, usually we've had several Female riders, and just one or two Open....but we're starting off with a strong showing from the guys! (After a little shuffling.😉)

Welcome back Katja, aka K :)! After coming off a kick-ass first cyclocross race season (winning 2nd overall in the Cross on the Rocks Open Women field), and more amazing victories racing in Arizona at a couple stage races a few weeks ago, this week had her riding the segments as part of a Zone 2 ride, but looking forward to seeing her smash the clock over the season!

Over with the guys, Julian is back and apparently faster than last year! For those who are new, he smashed nearly every segment in the last three seasons, taking KOM after KOM, and that's apparently the plan for Season 4, taking both KOMs once again, including knocking 7 seconds off the previous B segment KOM time. The rest of the A's have a legit challenger! Will we find his kryptonite?? 

Vinko was closest on the A segment, 6 seconds off, and newcomer Dylan Kerr was one second off that - toight like a toiger! They swapped positions on the B segment. Spencer, Nicky and Dan B weren't far off, and no doubt we'll see things heat up!

The B's

Again our B ladies are on the low side to start, but Tania was the fastest this week, edging out Maria (who agreed to move up from C!)

Mostly familiar names in the Open B field, and of this crew I was surprised to see my name near the top 🤯 - I thought the A segment would be my weaker result, but I guess being down a few KG, and new wheels that are ~100g lighter made all the difference! 😂 I'll enjoy this while I can, because Travis Orr was right there 1sec off, and Alan Mackay a few second off that. In 4th and we had a 3-way tie with Adam W, Josh and Tyler!

Over on the B segment Adam W took the top spot, cracking 2mins, I rode myself to 2nd, and 3rd was Joel W. Another tie in 4th with Josh and Travis! This is going to be a great season!

The C's

Suzy started off strong, posting the top times in both, but Jane's times are close, and will no doubt be a threat! Where was Heidi this week? 🤔 We miss you and our other Cs!

We've got a bunch of the regular C riders back in the game, and Mike H was fastest on the A segment, with Tyler G and Donnie rounding out the podium. Newcomer Peter Spindloe crushed the B segment, taking 1st there, and Donnie and Mike H followed up there. Looking forward to seeing Kit and Mikael keeping these guys honest!

Nice riding all!!

BONUSES & CURSES

Tania claimed the 1A segment QOM, and as mentioned Julian claimed both KOMs.

Early bird was Suzy! Close, but no cigar with the Secret Times this week! And no Socialite points awarded as well (post a shot of your ride on IG or FB and tag @AboutTheRideCA for a chance for 5pts each week!) The Local Legend curse was claimed by Nicky on 1A, who hit the segment 7x - nice try!

PRIZES!

As usual, we've got a great range of draw prizes for participants each week! This week we'll be giving away items from Cycles West!

I'll be giving out 6 items, and the split is 2x A's, 2x B's and 2x C's, and our lucky riders by random draw are:

Julian Cameron
K :)

Adam Wadden 🇨🇦 🐺
Maria Morano

Mikael Jansson
Suzy Sylvester

Congrats! I'll email you all privately later tonight with details, note that the first to reply will get their top prize choices!

For Week #2, we'll be giving out items from our friends at Fairfield Bicycles!

As always a huge thanks to all our event supporters, check out the (growing) prize list here:

https://abouttheride.ca/victoria-segment-challenge-season-4-prize-list/

Week #2 – Mar 11th – Mar 17th – A Bit of Fast, a Bit of Slow!

We're already into our second week, and this one has two segments that have both fast and slow spots, and our all-rounders ought to have some fun with these!

Segment 2A Name: Watkiss Whammy
Deets: 0.89km, 18m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Holly Simonson, KOM is Steve Olson & LL is Topher Dean with 12 efforts!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/10331860

Hand up if you were around for the first KOMpetition - welcome back to the Watkiss Whammy!

Parallel to the Goose just before Thetis, this one starts off fast and finishes with that famous steep start to Highland Rd - but save a little because you have to go all the way to the stop sign! The Top 15 currently all are from Apr 2021, let's change that up!

Segment 2B Name: This ain't the Holland I know! 🚵‍♀️
Deets: 1.26km, 32m elevation gain. (Probably a bit more than this!)
This is a NEW segment, QOM is Rhonda Callender, KOM is Chris Paull & LL is no onet with 0 attempts!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/36446528

Back to one of my favourite areas - Granville and Hastings! This is a new segment, starts at the corner, down the hill and then you hit most of that nasty thing on Hastings, make a right, and carry on up Holland - which isn't at all flat!! And it carries on most of the way down Holland (watch for the 'in and out' carport on the right.)

Looks like 10 people in the group have ridden this way before, and the QOM and KOM are ripe for the taking!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

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

Chilco or chill, no?
This one hurt the legs a bit!

That's a wrap on the week, great to have you all back, and hope to see more of you this week!!

Safe and speedy riding all! 🚲

- Dave

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