How'd you like them hills this week? Short, but intense, and over pretty quick!

Lots of new riders joined in (welcome!!), and KOMs were claimed!

This coming week we've got a couple more climbs, one with some good steep bits, and a shorter one that I'm not all that familiar with.

One final reminder that this season is Rider's Choice, and I'm accepting YOUR ideas for segments!! There's a big green button at the top of the event page, you've got until Sunday to submit your ideas, I've been loving it tho, so keep 'em coming! (And there's a $10 Meet on Blanshard Gift Card that'll be awarded to one lucky person!)

Racing News

In the VCL today....hahaha won't recap that, but some other pretty cool racing that deserves reporting!

There was another MTB World Cup this weekend, and island rider Emilly Johnston won her first ever World Cup in the Short Track on Friday, and solid riding on Sunday got her a second podium spot with bronze, pretty awesome! (And the course was MUDDY - almost looked like cyclocross!)

It was also the Canadian National Road Champs this weekend, and while there's lots of noteworthy racing, some local highlights include Sarah Van Dam earning Bronze in both the TT and Road Race, and Katja got 3rd in the U23 super-soggy road race today as well!! (Looking at the results it was a big bunch finish for the U23 3rd, and she beat some notables like Elite racer Alison Jackson!)

I'll just add one name to watch: Olivia Baril (Movistar) - few have heard of her I'm guessing, but she's had a number of big podium finishes, including T10 overall in numerous stage races over the last year - and she got 2nd in the TT and won the RR title - which I would say reflects her status as perhaps the best female rider in Canada. Hopefully will continue to see this dark horse continue to shine! (U23 rider Mara Roldan also had two incredible rides and I'm sure we'll be seeing her name more as well!)

Check out the full results here so far, and there's still the Crit Championship tomorrow (tho it's looking like it'll be another torrential day!)

https://cyclingcanada.ca/event/2024-canadian-road-championships-elite-jr-para/

And this just in, a brief interview with Katja about her Gravel Nats win last week: https://cyclingmagazine.ca/gravel/meet-katja-verkerk-canadian-gravel-national-champion/

HOUSEKEEPING

Notes for the week:

I somehow botched Ryan Taylor's category, and swapped him back to B from C, and newcomer Rose A hadn't signed up, so didn't know she had actually joined last week, but added her results to the C category - welcome!!

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!

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SOUNDTRACK NOTES

It's hard to find a more emotive musician than Lou Barlow, and his band Sebadoh reflects this - I've been a huge fan for a few decades.

It's a bit hard to categorize; alt/indie rock/grunge is probably most fitting, but there's also some ballads as well as heavier rifts, but all of it is on the raw side. Gotta wonder what goes on in his life!! 🤔😂

Harmacy is currently on play, and a good place to start if checking them out; my all-time favourite album is Bubble & Scrape, tho a bit less 'accessible'. Lou Barlow also has solo albums under his name, and Folk Implosion is his most 'poppy' music project. He's pretty prolific, so if you like his stuff, tons to listen to! 🎶

THIS WEEK IN RIDES

For those new, 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

No fast women were out this week sadly! Laura seems to be healing up fairly well, hope to see her back on the bike ASAP!

On the guys side, some fast times were set early on, and then newcomer Carson Smith set the fastest times (and a KOM), but then Erik Diertens stepped up, and absolutely crushed both segments, claiming both KOMs!! I just love seeing that!! That left Carson opening his account with two 2nd place finishes. On Sparton there was actually a 3-way tie for 3rd, featuring Dan B, Rich and myself! (I KILLED myself on that segment, set a 3yr wattage PB from 26sec-66sec!) Fellow B+ rider Travis F was just a second back as well. Over on Elkwood, Travis and myself tied for 3rd, and Rich and Dan were tied for 4th. Great riding all! I don't think I'll be seeing a podium for a couple weeks tho, given what's coming up! 😭

The B's

Just one of our fabulous female B's out this week again, but great to see you out there Renata!!

Over with the guys Alan M came out guns blazing, his Sparton time was actually tied with Carson for 2nd fastest overall, and Elkwood was similarly speedy, up there with the A's! Travis O claimed 2nd on Sparton and another newcomer, Nathan C, was a second back for 3rd. Funnily 2nd-8th were all separated by 1 second for each placement! Travis O also earned 2nd on Elkwood, and another 3-way tie between Joel W, Josh and Todd R left the 3rd step a busy place! 

The C's

Kristin was the only one to ride both segments, but Lynn topped her on Elkwood, changing up the overall in this category. Hopefully our regular crew will be back this week!

Our Open C field grew with three more names added, and Jamie also swept the podiums with the fastest times! On Sparton newcomer Quinn tied Greg for 2nd, and Zach earned 3rd (just 3sec separating them as well!) Greg and Donell took the other other two steps on Elkwood, with Matthew not far off. Great battles there guys, excited to see how this plays out next week!

BONUSES & CURSES

Both KOMs were earned by Erik!

• Early Bird was Donell!
• No Secret Times this week
• No Socialite points either (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 spared this week!
• No Yellow Jersey curse as usual!

PRIZES!

For those new to the series, we've always got some sweet draw prizes every week!

This week we've got the FANTASTIC prizes from Cycles West to give out! I'm drawing two random A, B and C riders, and those names are:

Leo Donnecke
Travis Field

Scott Horsley
Joel Crocker

Rose Aarrestad
Matthew Macleod

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

As always a huge thanks to all our event supporters! Take a peek at what we've got for Season 5, including a new supporter, Goodr Sunglasses:

https://abouttheride.ca/victoria-segment-challenge-season-5-prize-list/

Week #3 - June 24th - 30th - Oh no, not Seamist too!

We're back in my favourite part of town (apparently!) It's another Rider's Choice plus seggie, as well as a short climb - and I've never actually done either in full! Apologies for 3 weeks in Saanich, next week we'll be heading west for a couple big'uns! 😲

Segment 3A Name: Sea Ridge Dr Climb
Deets: 0.95km, 86m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is k kit with a 3:31, KOM is Nigel Ellsay with a 2:30 & LL is Jason Gammon with 2 efforts!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/897120

This week's suggestion comes from Travis O again, it's another I've had in mind, but thought I'd spare y'all...and we can all blame Travis now! 😂 Many have done Seapearl, as well as Seamist, but not so many have combined both for the 'uber climb'. Save something in the legs for the final kick!

Segment 3B Name: Walema to Blakeney Place
Deets: 0.64km, 53m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Rhonda Callender with a 2:31, KOM is Adam Giles with a 1:31 & LL is Laura Brown with 9 effort!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/9894582

We've all ridden by here, but only FOUR in the group have ever ridden up! (And 65 'ever'!) I was browsing around the segment map looking for something to compliment Seamist, and spotted this little brute, and our own Laura Brown had recently done intervals up it, so figured it looks like a good spot to give it a go on, it'll be a surprise for nearly all of us!

Happy riding!! 

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

I'm guessing many won't
see Spartan in the same light after
this week!

Elkwood - one all have passed,
and looks so innocent from the road..
But held a nice surprise!!

So that was Sparton and Elkwood! The next few definitely won't be sprints, have fun in Broadmead!! (And don't forget to send in your own suggestions!!)

Safe and speedy riding all! 🚲

- Dave

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