Spring 2026 | March 9th thru May 3rd

Victoria Segment Challenge Season 10 Archives – March 9th – May 3rd 2026

Find the archives of Season 10 below!

Season 10 Segment Archives

Week #1: Mar 9th – 15th – Another Gamble on Amble(wood)

Here we go, it’s our first segments for 2026! Let’s ease into it with a couple quiet, smooth-surfaced climbs in Royal Oak. We’ve visited both in the past, but with different variations. We’ve got ourselves a shorter kick, and then a slightly longer grind to get those legs and lungs burning!

Segment 1A Name: sAmble
Deets: 0.44km, 32m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Erin McAvoy with a 1:02 & KOM is Sam Garber with 48s, and the LL is Fraser Hayes with 37 efforts!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/24704211

We’ve been up this before, but would to the very top – let’s just do the first steep bit, and call it a day there. 😂

A perfect intro to the 2026 season in one of our favourite neighbourhoods! And very little risk of the Local Legend curse.

Segment 1B Name: Boulderwood
Deets: 0.60km, 46m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Rhonda Callender with a 1:59 & KOM is Clayton Hiltz with a 1:10, and the LL is Julian Cameron with 8 efforts!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/2294196

We’ve been up Boulderwood before, but a much longer segment that travelled along Kentwood at the start. This time we’re just starting at the bottom and grinding our way up to the top. Fortunately the start and finishing spots are pretty easy to note on this one.

Suggested Routing

Since these roads are just off Lochside, that’s one easy way out (tho involves some light gravel.) If you’re unfamiliar, there’s a neat ‘parallel’ route that takes you along Douglas (whaa?) and up Emily Carr Drive. Here’s a Route file: https://www.strava.com/routes/3110669815318424748

You head north on Lochside after the Switch bridge, and turn into the police station and along the parking lot. Just before the highway on the right is a pathway – bomb down that to Douglas (watch when getting on the road, there’s occasionally a car there!)

Then continue north, as the road curves to the right, go ‘straight’ up the path and through Rainbow park (can cross at the light, or if you go to the right, there’s an overpass). Continue north to the end of Dieppe, and a little wiggle across to Chatterton, and Emily Carr is right there, and you can take that all the way to Royal Oak. It’s a bit quirky and takes a few times to learn, but may become your favourite route to head north!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

Extra Tip: Strava for some dumb reason doesn’t let you save Segments as Routes. But here’s a website where you can enter the segment, and download the GPX file so you can ride it as a route: https://www.doogal.co.uk/SegmentExplorer (Thanks Spencer for the tip!!) Also, if you’re ever trying to find out when you rode a specific road, Find That Ride is an amazing website: https://www.findthatride.com/activitymap

Week #2: Mar 16th – 22nd – The Ups and Downs of Strawberry Vale

It’s our second week, and the weather isn’t looking the best for much of the week, so let’s stick with an area that’s pretty central! Strawberry Vale is a favourite, there are so many fun options, and this week we’ve got a classic, plus another new challenge – no straight lines this week!

Segment 2A Name: Grinding up Granville
Deets: 1.29km, 38m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is The Squaremeat with a 2:21 & KOM is Brent Dallimore with a 2:01, and the LL is John Hayward with 13 efforts!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/7373783

This is our 3rd (at least!) time including this particular segment, and is a classic test! Starts off flat and fairly fast, and then a fairly reasonable grind for about 500m to the top. Pacing is key, and make sure you note where the segment ends!

Segment 2B Name: Trials and tribulations of Scrooge McDuck
Deets: 1.66km, 56m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM is Lisa Hil with a 3:11 & KOM is Brett Boniface with a 2:48, and the LL is no one!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/41066556

I’ve had this one in my back pocket for a few years, and is a great ‘all rounder’ test, featuring two descents, two steeper pitches, and a nice grind to finish things off, going farther than you’d think/want. 😂

One tip: before you start, check for traffic behind you – make sure there isn’t a car ahead of you at the start, as you’ll very likely catch them on the first descent! Best wait until you have a clear run for best results!

Also please do be careful with the right hander onto Granville, the kick up there should eat most of your speed before you reach the corner, and not a lot of vehicles carry on to Granville in the direction we’re headed, but there may be cars going straight. You have a pretty good line of sight going in, but please be mindful!

Suggested Routing

These are pretty easy to get to, and really depends on which you want to take on first! If riding in the order presented, best head up Burnside off the Goose (by Nest Cafe), and that takes you right to the beginning of 2A. After doing 2A, continue along and do 2B in reverse, and you’re ready to go!

If you want to do 2B first, head up Interurban off the Goose, and then make the left onto Hastings from there, and you’re all lined up for the first segment. When done, keep rolling, and you’ll end up at the start of the 2A segment. This way is more conducive to recovering between efforts. 😉

You may note that once connected, it’s actually a neat loop, and one of my favourite ‘detours’ going either direction, enjoying some quiet ‘country’ roads!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

Week #3: Mar 23rd – 29th – Springtime on Robin Hill

Winter is officially over, and while I don’t think many robins ever left Victoria, they’re starting to appear across the rest of the country, signaling a change in seasons!

So this week we’ll return to Robin Hill, which we visited in Season 4 a couple years ago. This hidden neighbourhood has a couple fun climbs, and apparently Bill Chimko lives around here! It’s interesting to see what your time differences are – Julian’s KOMs are almost identical on both sides (as are mine, 30 seconds slower tho!) Will be interesting to see how it plays out this time around.

These climbs are also a good spot for intervals, for those who like to work on these things. 😉

And just a funny note, same guy is the LL on the B segment as the first time we were there!

Segment 3A Name: Chimko’s Chilco Chopper
Deets: 0.75km, 48m elevation gain. (Suspect it’s actually a bit higher.)
This is an existing segment, QOM is Tania Johnson with a 2:41, KOM is Julian Cameron with a 1:29 & LL is Joe M with 15 attempt!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/7673028

This is the more nasty side, with a bit of a grind to the corner, then levels out a bit to the end, so save something for the last bit! Will you get a PB if you rode it a couple years ago?

Segment 3B Name: Why don’t you just Chilco out, dude!
Deets: 0.741km, 45m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Lauren Babineau with a 2:20, KOM is Julian Cameron with a 1:30 & LL is Bruce Elliot with 38 attempts!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/17643706

I think this is a more ‘fun’ segment, with some corners, and it varies quite a bit, rather than all-gas like the A segment. Start on the climb that suits your riding style! Also recommended is pre-riding this one so you have an idea of what to expect.

Suggested Routing

Robin Hill is just off the Goose where you cross Atkins the first time (if leaving town). When you get to the crossing, follow the sidewalk to the right, and there’s a neat tunnel there – and once you’re through, you’re on the street for 3A, make a left and go uphill! For 3B, continue straight on Lund and you’re set.

And as mentioned, if looking for a spot to do shorter intervals, this spot is great. Either smash it up the steep bit, and roll back down, or around. Or for more punchy efforts, head up the other way, and with that quick descent you’re back to the start pretty quick. 💪💪

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

Week #4: Mar 30th – Apr 5th – Old West is the New West

As the weather starts to improve, let’s wander a bit further out of town!

Old West Saanich was an unpopular road due to a rough surface, but they’ve repaved it and it’s actually a much better option now, especially with how busy Interurban is! So let’s do the main climb, starting on the south end! It’s a good little grunt, but not at all unreasonable.

And while we’re out there, let’s revisit one of my favourites: Elkwood. We’ve done the start of it as a short sprint, and I’ve been reluctant to include the entire segment as there’s a blind and tight right-hander, but hopefully everyone keeps it within reason this week, so we’ll give it a rip. If you’re not familiar, it’s a fun little ‘detour’ that I enjoy when out this way.

Segment 4A Name: Old W Saanich Climb to Starling
Deets: 1.65km, 55m elevation gain. (Suspect it’s actually a bit higher.)
This is an existing segment, QOM is Mega Rath with a 3:26, KOM is Jordan Landolt with a 3:02 & LL is Ted McLeod with 4 rides!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/2487485

The profile on Strava isn’t accurate, it actually starts with a bit of a downhill, but the climb begins before you know it. It’s not so steep, so you can settle into a good tempo and cadence, and a convenient finishing point just before Starling.

Segment 4B Name: The Elkwood Alternative
Deets: 1.53km, 48m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is The Squaremeat with a 3:18, KOM is Andrew Russell with a 2:34 & LL is nick friesen with 4 rides!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/3697866

This is a fun one to ride, but it’s gonna hurt a bit at full gas! It starts with a nasty punch, but there’s a bit of recovery to the corner, then southbound is a steady, smooth climb, and mostly flattens out the final stretch. Pacing will be key!

A reminder to please be very cautious on the right hander turning onto Forest Hill Rd – it comes up quick, and is a pretty blind corner – thank you for being sensible!

Suggested Routing

Unfortunately this isn’t the most fun spot to get to, but if you’re headed up Interurban, I suggest the right onto Quayle, and up Beaver Rd to West Saanich, and keep heading north there, and you’re at the start and can enjoy a slightly less busy roadway!

When done, if heading back into town, you can cruise back down Old West which is a fantastic downhill – you can let it open up fully here, tho watch out for the speedbump. Otherwise you can head over to Sparton, or cruise around Elk/Beaver Lake on Brookleigh.

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

Week #5: Apr 6th – 12th – Celebrating New Bridge Week!

There’s a new bridge in town, in Colwood, if you haven’t seen it, the overpass across the Island Highway at Colwood Corners is now open!

I’ve been holding on to these two for the opening of the bridge – you don’t necessarily have to cross the bridge, but hey, why not check it out as you head over to Royal Roads for the segments this week!

We’ve got a climb as usual, plus a callback to a flat sprint from Season 2 in 2023 that’s just across the road – I know many of you can climb, but how are you at a 420m sprint? 😁

Segment 5A Name: Royal Roads Serpentine climb
Deets: 1.12km, 62m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is The Squaremeat with a 2:48, KOM is Cody Canning with a 2:25 & LL is Rob Lunney with 6 rides!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/3041399

Not too much to this one – starts off down by the water relatively tame, then ramps up and up and up! It does level out a bit towards the end.

Looking at the segment itself, looks like there’s some GPS drift, so for best results, make that right onto W Campus and keep rolling a bit. The segment timer may not end when you reach W Campus Rd, which is how it looks on a quick glance.

Segment 5B Name: Colwood Lake Sprint
Deets: 0.42km, 0m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Jennifer Ward with 27s, KOM is Vinko Poldrugovac with 26s & LL is Michael White with 33 rides!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/7992910

Not too much to this one – be sure to carefully note where the start and finish are, and just go, 100%! It’ll be over before you know it!

Suggested Routing

This one is pretty simple, just take the Goose until you get to Royal Roads (hardpack for the last few hundred meters), then pick how you want to get to the bottom – take the main entrance and roll around, or drop down the descent. And the sprint is just across the highway at the lights.

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

Week #6: Apr 13th – 19th – Speedy Greig and the enDurrance Test!

This week we’re Wallace-adjacent, with two rematches! First up is a TT-style climb, with a solid amount of flat ground, then a nice little hump to get over. Pacing will be critical on this one, and it’s a fair bit longer. And few will crack 5mins!

Our second rematch actually goes back to the KOMpetition, the original series that inspired the Segment Challenge! Back in May 2020 a bunch of us found ourselves zipping along Greig Avenue! Where’s that you ask?

It’s also just off Wallace, kind of parallel to Benvenuto. When I did it originally, there happened to be a party at the house at the end of the segment, and they’d cheer as we zipped by, pretty hilarious. 😂

Oh, and the irony that the Local Legend of the Greig segment is….someone named Gregg!!! Tempted to give any other Greg’s bonus points this week!

Segment 6A Name: Willing yourself to Glen Nevis
Deets: 2.72km, 53m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is The Squaremeat with a 5:19, KOM is Andrew McCartney with a 4:34 & LL is Vojtech Urban with 1 ride!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/34196293

I made up this segment in 2023 to give flatlander and endurance riders a bit more of a chance. It starts off fairly fast at the intersection of Willis Pt, and is mostly flat. The climbing is about 400m of the entire segment, but it’s a good kick up Durrance Rd; I’d advise giving the climb a preview! When you get to the top, make a right onto West Saanich (be careful!), then it drops a bit and finishes at Glen Nevis Rd.

Again, pacing is critical on this one for an optimal time!

Segment 6B Name: Greig the Romantic
Deets: 0.592km, 2m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is k kit with 42s, KOM is Samuel Hogman with 36s & LL is Gregg Scheirer with 2 rides!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/23991100

This is a bit of a funny one, also be sure to preview it so you know what to expect! There’s a chance there may be farm vehicles on the road, so do watch out.

Ideally you’ll want to start along Greig Ave on the west end, there’s a few humps as you cross over, but once you get around the final corner and it starts to straighten out, you’ll have some free speed from the descent, then it’s full gas, with one very slight rise. Carry as much speed as you can until the end, which is by the far end of the driveway. There’s just enough road at the end to slow down!

Suggested Routing

Admittedly not the most fun segment to get to, the most direct route would be heading up Interurban and West Saanich, and when you turn onto Wallace you’re pretty much right there!

When you’re done on Greig, crawl up Knott, and head down Benvenuto to Garden Gate for a fun descent back to Wallace, if you’re heading back to town that way!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

Week #7: Apr 20th – 26th – They Tolmie it was a Climb!

It’s our penultimate week, and since the next series is So You Think You Can Climb, let’s get a little practice in! We’ll be hitting a bunch of ‘Mounts’ for it, but Mount Tolmie isn’t one of them….so let’s give it a little love here!

And while we’re in the area, and since it’s got a fresh new surface…let’s do Sinclair as well! I’ve done an impressive job avoiding it, last time I rode it was Sept 2011! Hopefully won’t ride it again for another 15yrs. “This hurts me as much as it hurts you.” 😂

Segment 7A Name: Mt Tolmie long
Deets: 0.96km, 82m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Sarah Van Dam with a 3:22, KOM is Rob Britton with a 2:18 & LL is Harley Machielse with 11 rides!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/1188112

There were a couple segment choices, so I went with the longer one that has a bit more elevation. It starts on Iona Dr, which reminds me of Richmond….it’s pancake flat there tho. You’ll head up the hill, and make a right onto the climb proper – don’t gas out too early!

Segment 7B Name: Hobbs to Lam
Deets: 0.59km, 2m elevation gain. (This isn’t right, closer to 40m.)
This is an existing segment, QOM is Rhonda Callender with a 1:44, KOM is Matthew Thibodeau with a 1:15 & LL is Harley Machielse with 15 rides!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/21832992

Oh boy, not looking forward to this one! There’s a new bike lane as well as the vehicle lane, pick your poison, both go uphill for far too long…but if you’re strong enough, it’s done in just over a minute apparently! 😂😭

Suggested Routing

It’s a pretty darn central location, for Victoria at least! But if you’re coming from Lochside or further west, check out the San Juan Greenway, it’s a nifty way to cut across the city. You take the ‘exit’ off Lochside at Blenkinsop (where the hardpack begins), and at the top of the hill you can make a left, and just before the parking lot there’s an alley that cuts away on the right, and after a little wander through the burbs, you’re on the San Juan Greenway, which is a nifty bike route that takes over over towards UVic or Queenswood.

Here’s a Strava Route for it, be sure to keep this in your back pocket if you don’t ride it this week: https://www.strava.com/routes/3481098015282653926

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

Week #8: Apr 27th – May 3rd – Achin’ on Atkins

It’s finals week, and we’ve got a doozy for you! First up is another rematch from the first season, up Langvista Hill, a pretty straightforward climb that doesn’t really relent.

And then our final is the full meal deal on Atkins, plus we keep spiraling upwards to Crystalview…and then even higher to the very top at Goldstone Heights! Who’s been up there before? Not too many! I was originally planning just Atkins, but since it keeps going up…and up…and up…we wanna end on a high note, right? 😁

Segment 8A Name: Langvista Hill Climb
Deets: 0.87km, 11m elevation gain. (Not correct, probably closer to 60m)
This is an existing segment, QOM is Jellybeans ! with a 3:04, KOM is Elijah B. with a 2:24 & LL is Reckless Ricky with 1 ride!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/2184826

I remember this one, it was a pretty warm day, 3yrs ago almost exactly! You get a little speed going into it, but that zip runs out very quickly, and you’re on the pedals. And it’s a grind all the way to the top!

Segment 8B Name: Who knew there was so much climbing here?
Deets: 1.84km, 106m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM is Magalie Pouliot with a 7:40, KOM is Baili Guidi with a 3:42 & LL is none so far!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/41098523

What have I created here? Oh boy, this is a long and tough one. I’d advise pre-riding this so you know all the twists and turns at the end. It makes sense once you’re on there (just keep going up!) but worth previewing. Just cruise up Atkins off the Goose on the second crossing and you’ll get to experience most of the segments without triggering the LL curse.

When you start from the bottom however, note that it’s a good kick right at the beginning, but then levels off for a bit, so don’t blow up there!

Also there’s been construction on the lower section of Atkins for the last month, but looks like they’re wrapping up, so hopefully there aren’t any interruptions and everyone gets a clean run at the start!

Suggested Routing

Not to much to these ones, Atkins crosses the Goose a couple times, so pick your direction if doing the big one first! Otherwise if you want to do the 8A segment first, take the E&N exit off the Goose (just before that trestle that leads into Colwood), and then take the the right hand exit that takes you to Westwind, and up to Atkins. Jump on Selwyn there, and you’re at the B segment start minute down the road!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️