We're back! Great to see so many returning riders, and a bunch of new ones - welcome!!

Over 40 people rode at least one segment, which is inspiring, and a great start to Season 2!!

In pro racing news, it's the National Road Championships this weekend, and the women's race today looked fierce, and at the line we saw none other than Alison Jackson take the win! (Season 1 riders may have cursed her name for a segment inspired by her earlier Paris-Roubaix win! 😂)

But third on the line was local rider Sarah Van Dam, which is pretty incredible, but she's also a U23 rider, and thus claims the National title for that age group - way to go Sarah!!!

Hopefully that inspires, let's get on with the rest of the update!

HOUSEKEEPING

Notes for the week:

New season, new issues! haha - heads up to the following:

Moved up from C to B:

Landon Benson (time much closer to B's than C's)

Riders who should move up (times were competitive with B's, please email me back!):

Matt Stidston 🇨🇦
Marc Instone 🇨🇦

Not Registered (please register on the site, thanks!):

Adam Wadden, Wendy Taylor (I've added you both to the scoring, but please register!)

Izaiah Sheerin, Rob Wiedemann (I haven't added your results, please register so I know you're interested, thanks!)

Not in Strava Group:

Charlene Waldner (Please join our Strava group so I can filter out your results!)

Are your times missing? You may not be in the group, or your rides might be 'Private', but email me back ASAP and we'll figure it out!

Just a little background on the scoring: names are cross-referenced with who's ridden the segments, and who's signed up. 

00 <- 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

Sonic Youth fans may be delighted to learn the band may be doing some more recording, so spinning one of my favourite albums: Dirty. Takes me back to the early 90s, which is and isn't great...but still love the rawness and melodies. Kim Gordon has the best vocals.

Fun fact: the opening of the song 100% was my wake-up alarm for a year of high school, perfect for this young, grunge, disaffected punk. 😂 (Here it is, not for the faint of heart! I dare anyone to turn that into a ring tone!!!) 🎶

THIS WEEK IN RIDES

The A's

Where have all the A's gone? 🤔

Fortunately the Female side will be more balanced for Season 2! This week Lindsay and K :) hit the road, and Lindsay claimed both top times, fantastic start to the season! She was in danger of being the first person to claim the Yellow Jersey Curse (where someone has the top time at the start of the week, and doesn't defend it!), and while coming a few second short of her QOM time, still had the fastest time. And her speedy effort claimed the QOM on the second segment as well. 💪💪

Over in the A's, the KOM was taken on Monday with two sound-barrier-breaking runs by Julian, and while a few people got close, including the other A this week, Chad, he held them to the end, taking top points!

The B's

Only two of the B ladies made it out this week (far as I can tell!), and Shannon took top times, but Jenn was within striking distance on the B segment, might we see more close duels this season?

Lots of B fellas were predictably out, great to see so many of you back, and a few new faces (and upgraded people from the C's!)

Spencer Floyd took the top step on both in the end, his B segment time 1 second off Julian's screamer. Kirk also blitzed the A segment, and I just edged out Tyler V for 3rd. Tyler did get the upper hand on the B segment, claiming 2nd, and my time was a second faster than newcomer Landon's great entrance into the series!

The C's

Very please to see the C field has grown, and five women punched in their speed cards this week! Newcomer Suzy Sylvester claimed the fastest time on the A segment, followed by Kathy and Wendy, and another newcomer (but long-time Victoria rider) Charlene took the hot seat on the B segment, followed by Suzy and Kathy. Nice to see Lani back out as well! 😊

Matt took no prisoners this week, claiming the top time on both. Marc was a second behind on the both segments as well, and Juan and newcomer Donnie tied for 3rd on the A segment, and Quinton made another podium appearance as well on the B segment. Nice riding all!

PRIZES!

This week's prizes are the items from Cycles West, some fantastic choices for some lucky people!

I've drawn 5 names, 1x A rider, 2x B's and 2x C's, and the winners are:

K :)

John Lee
Tyler Venn

Kathy M
David Brown

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, the prizes from Fairfield Bikes will be up for grabs, including an aero helmet!

Thanks again to all our supporters, check out that huge prize list!!

https://abouttheride.ca/victoria-segment-challenge-season-2-prize-list/

Week #2 - Jun 26th - Jul 2nd - Happy Valley Vertical

It's week two, and it's time to climb! We're headed over to Colwood and a couple segments off Happy Valley Road. The first is a partial repeat of an earlier KOMpetition segment, and the second is just the start of Neild Road..many may have not done this climb, so this is just a friendly introduction.

Segment 2A Name: Full Wulfred
Deets: 2.243km, 160m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Holly Henry with a 7:32, KOM is Jackson Bocksnick with a 6:07, LL is Edwin Wong with 1 effort.
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/5177806

I say 'partial' because the segment used previously started a bit earlier on the flat section, this one starts on the actual climb. Well, the first climb, there's actually two-in-one! Halfway up there's a downhill into a turn, be careful there with your speed (and enjoy a short recovery), but then it's back to climbing to the end. And this one is particularly fun because you also have to 'climb' to get back to the bottom. 🤢 Oh, and don't be fooled by the segment title, the actual road name is Walfred.

Segment 2B Name: Neild Rd - Hibbert to Wild Cherry
Deets: 1.31km, 97m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Mega Rath with a 4:14, KOM is Peter Disera with a 3:21 (just a month ago!) LL is Nic Patenaude Ⓥ.
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/20721641

Ahh Neild Road, looks like about 1/3rd of this group has ridden up here. This segment is a little less than halfway up the "VCL" climb/segment, about 1/3rd of the way to the very top. Fortunately it spares the worst part of the climb, which is just after where the segment ends. Very clear start and finish points, enjoy a Victoria classic!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

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

This week: where one segment ends..
...another begins!

Alison Jackson, followed by Olivia Baril
and local rider Sarah Van Dam at the
Canadian Road Champs today!

That's a wrap for tonight, fun to be back at the helm of this wacky ship!!

Thanks all for joining in, and hope you enjoy the climbs this week!!

Safe and speedy riding all! 🚲

- Dave

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