Week #1 – June 2nd – June 8th – Santa Clarita Diet

The Segment Challenge is back, and we’re starting off in one of my favourite segment playgrounds – Royal Oak! Both are repeats from Season 2 (it’s getting a bit harder finding unique segments), but we’ve got another slow one, and a fast one to kick things off.

Segment 1A Name: Sidestreet Wind-up to Boulderwood
Deets: 1.21km, 69m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is The Squaremeat with a 3:06 & KOM is Julian Cameron with a 2:53, and the LL is none!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/34731482

This was a segment I came up with using the fun twisty climbs starting down on Lochside, and going all the way up Boulderwood! This features two left hand turns, but both are pretty darn safe. This segment is rated as 5 star punchy! 😂

Segment 1B Name: Santa Clarita
Deets: 1.30km, 0m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is jellybeans ! with a 1:38 & KOM is Chuck Dethridge with a 1:35, and LL is Duncan Wood with 11 efforts.
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/14298081

Nice to start with another speedy one – most should average over 40kph on this! It’s just a straight shot down the road, with a slight decline almost the whole way. Take a peek down the road before starting, to make sure you get a clean run, you’ll be going faster than any vehicles, so give them a minute, but it’s generally a pretty quiet street!

Suggested Routing

This isn’t very far from the Switch Bridge, my preferred routing is along the ‘Emily Carr’ route – if unfamiliar, basically make a left at the police station (throught the parking lot), and work your way north – there’s a little path, optional pedestrian walkway, and other fun elements, that take you across to Royal Oak. Here’s a routing file for your convenience:

https://www.strava.com/routes/3110669815318424748

There’s also a fun trek atop Lochside starting on Amblewood, that goes all the way across to Sayward – if I’m heading out of town along Emily Carr, I’ll often go this way instead of Lochside just to mix things up, it’ll get you close to Santa Clarita as well (just don’t turn off Claremont on to Del Monte) – also fun on the way back into town:

https://www.strava.com/routes/3239642508204530090

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 – June 9th – June 15th – Brentwood Bumps

Two brand new segments to the series this week, one I made up, that regularly features tired riders coming off the Brentwood ferry, and a return to the Garden Gate neighbourhood. I’d bet will see some new QOMs and possibly KOMs this week!

Segment 2A Name: Blowin’ off that post-ferry energy!
Deets: 1.36km, 39m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM is Deborah LeBlanc with a 3:11 & KOM is Chuck Detheridge with a 2:05, and the LL is Aileen Little with 1 effort!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/39351144

Been meaning to get us out to Brentwood for a while, and have had this one in my back pocket for a while. Starts off pretty flat, then picks up as you work your way up Hagen to Wallace. The KOM time looks pretty tough, but good odds on the QOM I’d wager!

Segment 2B Name: Toddlin up Torin
Deets: 0.61km, 43m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Rhonda Callender with a 2:02 & KOM is Marc-André Fortier with a 1:24, and LL is CGregg Scheirer with 3 efforts.
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/9284211

While we’re out in Brentwood, let’s revisit Garden Gate, but up the left side – it’s a bit steeper, but also shorter!

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 #3 – June 16th – June 22nd – High Up in the Highlands

It’s our first Rider’s Choice segment, both Dan and Dave B sent in Finlayson Arm, so you can thank them for the segments in the Highlands this week! 😂 Pack your climbing legs, we’ve got a couple uphill segments coming up.

Segment 3A Name: The Roundtree Finlayson hill
Deets: 1.93km, 101m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Steph Martinek with a 6:22 & KOM is Elijah Buffalo with a 5:03, and the LL is Mike Wulder with 1 effort!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/39343313

It’s our return to Finlayson Arm Road! Not the nasty side, tho this is still a good little kick in the pants. This is a different segment from the ones we’ve used previously, and goes up a bit further than we have in the past. Watch for the fence made of skiis, a neat little landmark!

Segment 3B Name: Millstream Tail
Deets: 4.25km, 126m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Alyssa Serviss with a 10:03 & KOM is Louis FL with a 8:05, and LL is Daryl Wood with w efforts.
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/13002871

Here’s one I haven’t done fully! Many of us have been up to Caleb Pike, and competed at the local circuit race, but there’s this mysterious road that most of us have turned off of dozens of times….now’s our chance to check it out! Looks like the worst of the climb is at the start, and rolls up fairly gently. But we shall see!

Suggested Routing

Probably not the easiest area of town for most to get to for most. The more direct route would be up and over Munn, or a longer but arguably easier way would be up Millstream. You can take this little wiggle I often recommend to get to Millstream off the Goose via the Mill Bay neighbourhood: https://www.strava.com/routes/3107750435997229492 – once you hit Millstream, just start heading north, then pick your poison with which you’ll ride first!

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 #4 – June 23rd – June 29th – New Times on Newton

We’re going with another Rider’s Choice, big thanks to Jamie C for suggesting the Thomson Place climb, which takes us up Mt Newton (if that’s your real name!) There’s another segment that heads up from the other side as well, so let’s make it a double this week on Newton! Both are about 110m of elevation, the first covers it in 1km, and the other over 2km.

Segment 4A Name: Thomson Place
Deets: 1.00km, 112m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Sarah NeeRogers with a 3:43 & KOM is Jackson Bocksnick with a 2:54, and the LL is Mark Carter with 12 efforts!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/669489

Our second Rider’s Choice, and we’ve done a similar segment back in 2021, not sure if this exact one. It’s a bit of a grind, but should be over before you know it!

Segment 4B Name: Not as fun as Thomson
Deets: 2.06km, 107m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Claire Townsend with a 6:43 & KOM is Chuck Detheridge with a 4:55, and LL is Ethan Swain with with 1 effort.
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/4234650

Very creative segment title! Not a lot have ridden it, so very good chance we’ll see a new QOM & KOM. You get to enjoy the climb portion of the Mt Newton ‘hilly crit’ VCL course, and then carry on to Thomson Place, and ends pretty much where the other segment does! (Good place to stash your bottles and heavy bits!)

Note there are two left turns on this segment, both are at slower speeds, and it’s a pretty quiet road, so unlikely to encounter traffic, but please exercise caution as always.

Suggested Routing

Unless you live in Saanich, this is a bit of a haul! The most likely route is the common Interurban/West Saanich/Wallace routing to Mt Newton. But can also take Lochside directly out, and simply turn off at Mt Newton Cross Rd (the lights after Island View, and there’s an overpass as well!)

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 #5 – June 20th – July 6th – Neither Rocky Nor Pointy

Two more Rider’s Choice segments this week, the first was from both Dave B and David R (great Daves think alike!), and the second from Dave B, and they’re both off Rocky Point Road! Both are quiet roads, I’ve only happened upon one of them, and not a lot of elevation, so these will likely suit our more punchy riders this week! I also predict a couple new KOMs & QOMs!

Segment 5A Name: Tiswilde to Cardsview wall
Deets: 1.25km, 67m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Elietha Bocskei with a 4:52 & KOM is Nigel Ellsay with a 3:40, and the LL is Elizabeth Vaags with 1 effort!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/38968040

I’ve only cruised up this on a gravel ride, and have no memory of it, but by the segment title I suspect it ends with a bit of a grunt!

Segment 5B Name: Pegasus 4 bumps
Deets: 1.32km, 53m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Dawn Heinemeyer with a 4:49 & KOM is Rob Britton with a 3:30, and LL is none!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/39309424

A twisty-looking one, you’ll ride in, turn around, and head back up – don’t dally at the end, the clock may start ticking right away! Looking at it via streetview, appears to be a nice surface, and should finish at a driveway – take note on your way down (and maybe leave your bottles there as a marker!)

Suggested Routing

If you’re good with a little dust, you can take the Goose all the way out! Otherwise working your way over to Happy Valley Road makes for the flattest way out, once again, here’s my little wiggle that gets you from the Goose at Atkins over to Happy Valley: https://www.strava.com/routes/3107750435997229492

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 #6 – July 7th – July 13th – It was the best of climbs, it was worst of climbs…

This week we’re headed back to a Segment Challenge classic area – Granville & Hastings (aka Strawberry Vale), and there’s a BONUS segment as well! More short punchy climbs for good times.

Segment 6A Name: woodsend leg buster
Deets: 0.83km, 65m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Julie van Veelen with a 3:21 & KOM is Julian Cameron with a 2:47, and the LL is Logan Edgar with 1 effort!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/3924675

Another one of those ‘I’ve ridden by there many times‘ roads. I’ve been eyeing it for a few years as well, and finally checked it out! It’s another nice and quiet climb, this segment starts on Burnside, so you get a good burn at the start (this is one of my lesser-favourite ascents), then the rest of the segment is a much more mellow incline. Careful with the left hand turn!

Segment 6B Name: This ain’t the Holland I know! 🚵‍♀️
Deets: 1.26km, 37m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Rhonda Callender with a 2:34 & KOM is Julian Cameron with a 1:57, and LL is Dave Pfaffenberger with 1 effort!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/36446528

Another rematch – we ran this Season 4, Spring 2024, and while it starts with a good speedy descent off Granville, there’s a firm grind up Holland, which levels out for a good stretch after. Not very Holland-y!

BONUS SEGMENT NAME: Granville/Burnside/Charlton Loop
Deets: 7.12km, 158m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Katherine Boere with a 15:54 & KOM is Benoit Detering with a 12:06, and LL is Dave Pfaffenberger with 1 effort!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/13176937

BONUS SEGMENT! The times don’t count for this one, simply complete this segment, and earn 30 points this week! The only bonus/curse will be the Secret Time. I found this one randomly, and thought it’d be fun to include. 😁

Ride it chill, or TTT it with your riding pals (do be careful with the turn off Burnside onto Charlton), but as long as your name is on there this week, you’ll collect some sweet, easy points! And yes, it’s TWO laps!

Suggested Routing

Pretty easy getting to this one, simply hope off the Goose onto Burnside (by the Nest), and you’re nearly there! Enjoy zooming around one of my favourite riding areas!

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 #7 – July 14th – July 20th – Flowers for Amblewood

Back to Royal Oak in our penultimate week! Came across yet another version of the Amblewood climb to use (hello Sea Ridge Dr!), and a rematch with the Bossi segment from a couple years ago. Plus another bonus segment, the return of The Flower!

Segment 7A Name: If you don’t like hills, don’t do them, or do it & shut up
Deets: 1.83km, 73m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Lindsay Warder with a 5:07 & KOM is Ron Ronald with a 3:54, and the LL is Gr GR with 17 efforts!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/12581091

The fun thing about the Amblewood area is there’s so much variety! Study the map well, tho it’s pretty straight-forward. The elevation profile is correct – starts flat, then up with an extra bit of a kick, then pretty flat again, and a wee bit of a rise at the end. Please be careful with that left turn onto Sea Ridge!

Segment 7B Name: Climbing that cherry tree to Bossi
Deets: 1.14km, 47m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is The Squaremeat with a 2:34 & KOM is Chuck Detheridge with a 2:11, and LL is john kirkendale with 2 efforts!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/35090064

Many will recall this from 2023, starts pretty steep, then level, and finishes with a good kick! Looks like the KOM Chuck saw us doing it, he went the following week and took the KOM from Travis – let’s take that back for the Segment Challenge!!

*BONUS SEGMENT NAME: A flower in Sunnymead 🌺
Deets: 2.60km, 22m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is jellybeans ! with a 5:08 & KOM is Logan Kuzyk with a 4:51, and LL is no one!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/34320340

BONUS SEGMENT! The times don’t count for this one, simply complete this segment, and earn 30 points this week! I created this one for an earlier season.

Please don’t hit this one too hard if feeling feisty, it’s fairly dangerous at speed and in a dense residential zone. No other bonuses available for this one (other than the Secret Time), otherwise as long as your name is on there this week, you’ll collect some sweet, easy points!

Suggested Routing

Pretty easy getting to this one, since it’s right off Lochside and you can take it if you don’t mind a little dust! Otherwise the ‘Emily Carr’ route gets you there on tarmac, from the Switch Bridge head up Lochside, turn in at the cop shop, then follow the map here: https://www.strava.com/routes/3110669815318424748

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 #8 – July 21st – July 27th – Final’s Week: Like An Everything Bagel!

This is it, the final week of the Summer Segment Challenge 2025! We’re headed to Interurban with a couple mixers, plus one final Rider’s Choice that’s a final bonus segment in Fairfield!

Segment 8A Name: Logan’s Run – a Viaduct ITT
Deets: 3.17km, 82m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is The Squaremeat with a 6:01 & KOM is Stéphane Tran with a 5:26, and the LL is no one!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/34913826

Another rematch from Season 2; I conjured up this fun one after wandering up Sarah Owen Pl and Cyril Owen Pl – there’s a lot of up and down, and some fast corners, but it’s in a very quiet area, so we can get away with it a bit of a more fun one. It’s what I would describe as a ‘technical time trial’ with some good twists and turns. I’d recommend pre-riding parts of this one, and make sure you go around the round-about at the top! I’ll be inspecting random rides to make sure peeps go around! 😉

Segment 8B Name: Liberto loophole
Deets: 1.06km, 15m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Samantha Hoft with a 1:39 & KOM is Stéphane Tran with a 1:24, and LL is Gregory Dawe with 2 efforts!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/17303330

Another rematch from 2023, this is a speedy one with a couple corners, and a fun ‘whoop’ at the end – also pretty technical! Please be extra careful with the first left turn, but the rest is pretty fun and fast!

BONUS SEGMENT NAME: Seven Sisters On Bikes
Deets: 5.70km, 164m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Ann Campbell with an 18:59 & KOM is Dirtious J Dirt with a 14:48, and LL is no one, and also irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/39446896

BONUS SEGMENT! How about one more bonus segment! This was submitted by the OG KOMpetition organizer Dirtious J Dirt! Runners may recognize this as a popular (🤢) running route in Fairfield, and is now a cycling segment as well! You can give it a good rip if feeling frisky (tho be careful!), but simply complete for a final bonus of 30pts!

Suggested Routing

The timed segments are just off Interurban, so not too many routing options, and pick your poison for getting into the heart of Fairfield. 😉

https://www.strava.com/routes/3110669815318424748

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