Well that was a real beaut of a weekend! Hope you all got to take advantage of it! I got out to Silver Spray in East Sooke, if you haven't been, it's such a great road. Highly recommend the route I took, save it for a sunny day. 😊🌞

Almost 40 peeps hit the segments this week, and we've got five new names on the scoring, and four of them totally new to the series, welcome!! I rode with a few of our regulars on Saturday, including this week's KOM and QOM claimants, so cool to see them shredding the segments. 🔥🔥🔥

This week we've got another rematch with an OG KOMpetition segment, and a reversal of one from last year, out near Keating - and it'll be a longer one so pack your slow-twitch muscles this week!

HOUSEKEEPING

Notes for the week:

Newcomer Aileen misrode the first segment (it's tricky!) so I gave her 'last place' for time and points, and Chris VS also botched the turns, so same story there as well.

Also last week we had Renata sign up on Monday, but had ridden the segments the week before, so I've added her points in last week retroactively as well, so there were some changes in the weekly results.

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! 😁

04 <- 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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After a few applications, even the mention or sight of a belt ought to have the desired effect!

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[Sorry, being lazy this week, borrowing from an SNL skit. 😂]

SOUNDTRACK NOTES

I hate Winnipeg! Well not really, but The Weakerthans have a great song about it (apparently everyone in Winnipeg can relate, and is more of an expression of endearment.)

If unfamiliar, band leader John K Samson is of Propagandhi fame, although The Weakerthans are not punk, and very accessible 'Canadiana alt rock'. Reconstruction Site is my favourite album, and perfect for road trips - check them out, and his wife Christine Fellows is fantastic as well! 🎶

THIS WEEK IN RIDES

The A's

Sofia cleaned up again this week, posting two killer times and earning both QOMs, but newcomer Emma dropped a couple fast ones too, slotting into 2nd for both segments this week, and Kat rounded out the podium with her Z2 efforts.

Over with the guys, Julian once again did not disappoint, posting a time 30sec faster than the next closest on the climb, just wow! Nicky and Vinko were two seconds apart, and completed the first podium. Julian also totally blitzed the second segment, averaging almost 44kph! He was 2sec short of Chuck D's KOM, but it's worth noting that Chuck often does these in aero bars, and pushed ~150w more...! Spencer was just a few seconds behind, and Nicky also rocked the segment, just ticking one second over 2mins and 40kph, uphill. Dang!

The B's

Maria and Tania have some competition with Renata now! On the climb Tania once again had the upper hand, close to a minute faster than Maria and Renata, but on Santa Clara just 5 seconds separated all three, and Maria snagged the fastest time there, followed by Renata and Tania. We've got a real battle on our hands here!!

Travis F once again took top spot on the climb for the Bs, but Travis O was only 7sec off, and becoming a real contender!! Alan Mackay rounded out that podium, with Joel W not far off!

I gotta admit the B segment is the kind I really like, and gave it a good crack to take top spot this week! Speedsters Glenn and Joel C weren't far off, and great to see Adam L back in the competition, and being 2 seconds faster than Travis F secured him 4th.

The C's

Welcome to our two new C riders!! Suzy once again took top spot, Jane was 2nd and Lani 3rd on the climb, but Shannon M was just 3sec back! On the faster segment, Suzy sprinted to the top step, but newcomer Aileen tied her time! Jane once again secured 2nd, and Shannon edged out Bonnie for 3rd. Things are hotting up in this category!!

Evan might be a B in C's clothing....once again taking both top times! Peter S was next fastest, followed by Craig for the Amblewood podium, and Donnie and Craig rounded out the Santa Clara podium, but were only 3secs off there, and Kit just one second off that as well. It's TOIGHT LIKE A TOIGER!!

So great seeing all these efforts, keep it up all!!

BONUSES & CURSES

Lots going on this week! Both QOMs went to Sofia, and Julian claimed a KOM!

• Early Bird was Travis O
• Once again no Secret Times this week!
• Socialite was Evan T, and I just LOVED his post-effort video, check it out: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5Mno1zv9Hk/ (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 Early Bird Travis O, cancelling out that bonus, doh!
• There was a Yellow Jersey curse this week, since I created the segment, and there were like 3 others who've ever ridden that wacky loop, I had the KOM, so -5pts for me this week!

PRIZES!

Prizes this week are the remaining items from Cycles West and Fairfield Bicycles!

We've got 8 items, and the split is 2x A's, 3x B's and 3x C's, and our lucky riders by random draw are:

Vinko Poldrugovac
Dan Blackwell

Brandon Smith '78
Maria Morano
Joel Crocker

Shannon Marshall
Tyler Galts
Evan Thomas

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

For Week #5, we'll be giving out goodies from Giant Victoria and a number of the Goldstream Bicycles Gift Cards!

As always a huge thanks to all our event supporters, check out the (growing) prize list here - and happy to welcome Straight Up Cycles for the first time contributing to the event:

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

Week #5 – Apr 1st – Apr 7th – Go Fightin' Bear Hill Spartons!

Back to Saanich this week, with another flashback and a reversal - we bombed down the tail end of Old West last year, but now we're headed all the way back up to Sparton! (Oddly not the same spelling as Spartan!) Interesting to note the QOM and KOM are both from 2018 & 2017, time for an update!

Segment 5A Name: BORING BEAR BEATS BEST BET BESIDE BINS
Deets: 0.69km, 50m elevation gain. (That seems high..! I'd guess closer to 20m.)
This is an existing segment, QOM is Holly Henry with a 1:49, KOM is Clayton Hiltz with a 1:24 & LL is Logan Kuzyk with 1 effort!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/19501590

Here's another flashback! Back in May 2020 several of us blasted up the end of Central Saanich for the KOMpetition, and now we're back. It's a dead-end road that doesn't have a ton of elevation, but gradually slants upwards; can our riders overtake the CRs on this one now? Just don't crash into Bear Hill! 😂

Segment 5B Name: Old West Saanich Verling to Sparton
Deets: 3.78km, 89m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Deborah LeBlanc with a 6:31, KOM is Andrew McCartney with a 5:46 & LL is Stephen Klubi with 14 efforts!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/8450230

By popular request, we've got another longer one! I'll admit I'm not a fan of Old West in this direction, feels like way too much climbing, and you don't seem to carry quite enough speed for some of those rollers...but hey, this is supposed to be a challenge! (It's right in the event title!) It's pretty much a straight shot, and not too much traffic. Should be a 'fun' one, just don't blow up on the first kilo uphill! 🤢

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

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

A moment of relief, coming around the
corner on Amblewood!

KOM & QOM in the making!! Julian way up at the top,
followed by Adam, Sofia and Emma - nice to be
just taking a photo in this instant!!

We've got our work cut out for us this week, hope you enjoy the segments, and we'll see you at the end of the week again!!

Safe and speedy riding all! 🚲

- Dave

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