We're back! Hello to our new members, every week I send out an email with the results, as well as new segments. Please read through, and enjoy some of the more silly stuff that may appear as well. ;)

I'm forgetting some of my weekly habits..like who was the Early Bird this week? 🤔 If you rode the A segment on Monday, please let me know about what time you rode, and I'll award the points appropriately! (5pts count for much more this season if you're keen on the rankings!)

I'm super impressed to see that 40 riders hit the segments this week, including lots of new riders (one whom I came across today!) I'm assuming everyone in the Strava Group that rode them are interested...there were a few names that hadn't signed up, but as previous season regulars I'm assuming you're game!

There's a much wider range of riders too, and the fields look like they'll be more balanced. Since some didn't sign up, I made assumptions on the category, but take a look at the results and let me know if there are any changes!

Also, if you rode one segment, I'm assuming you attempted both, so gave full points to all that only registered on one.

Finally, if you rode and I missed you, please let me know ASAP as well, and I'll add you in.

HOUSEKEEPING

Notes for the week:

Paging Chris VS - I have you in the Strava group and riding this week, but I don't have your registration - please head to the site and sign up as well, thanks! (If you don't sign up, I don't know which category to put you in, or even if you want to be in the results!)

Otherwise very little for me to mess up this week!

01 <- THIS MANY WEEKS WITHOUT AN ERROR 🤣

If there are any errors, omissions, issues, concerns, or anything else, feel free to hit reply!

SPONSORS AD

[I'm being lazy and doing a repeat this week, but this gem deserves another rotation!! 🤣🤣]

This week's sponsor is the popular roadie website RoadDiscBrakesKill.com.

Rim brake fans rejoin, this website is tracking all the gruesome injuries and deaths in the pro peloton due to disc brakes on road bikes, since road bikes started switching over to disc brakes a few years ago.

Can you believe almost no bikes use rim brakes any more? We'll be seeing the end of all our favourite pro cyclists soon, taken out with these hazards!

While there are no injuries or deaths to report at this time, we're still watching and waiting, and will be there to raise hell when it happens! Disc brakes are extremely dangerous, and it's only a matter of time until this is fully revealed.

Be sure to subscribe to our site, and use #RimBrakesRule for 20% off your braking ability!

SOUNDTRACK NOTES

Felt like a bit of a blast from the past tonight, so got The Cult's Sonic Temple keeping me rockin', a classic, can't believe I was in high school when this was released! Edie, ciao baby!!! 🎶

THIS WEEK IN RIDES

The A's

No result highlights this week, but great to see more names there, should be a spicy season with some fast times on the challenge segments!!

The B's

Mostly familiar names, and welcome to some of the new riders!

The C's

Again, lost of familiar names, and more great battles to come!

Looking forward to the coming weeks!!

BONUSES & CURSES

No QOMs or KOMs this week since there wasn't a challenge segment.

As mentioned earlier, Early Bird is a mystery..? Please reply if it may have been you! Also no Secret Times, or Socialite points (sorry if I missed anyone?) The Local Legend curse is also negated this week.

PRIZES!

Unfortunately this season will probably have far fewer prizes, just been too busy! Nothing for this week, but..

For Week #2, I'll be giving a $40 Gift Card to Fort St Cycles! Every rider who rides at least one segment will be in the draw. Big thanks to FSC for the prize!

Week #2 – Sept 18th – 24th – Royal Roads Royal Rumble!

It's week two already! We're headed into Royal Roads, which IMO has some of the best CX/gravel trails around. The first segment is a fun way to enter RRU and get across the grounds, and the second is our first challenge segment - a climb no less!

Segment 2A Name: Royal Roads cross trails - Goose to Heatherbell
Deets: 3.83km, 58m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM, KOM & LL are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/35455609

This is a fun little tour of the eastern side of Royal Roads. A great mix of singletrack, doubletrack and just a touch of pavement where necessary. There are three 'technical' spots - watch the steep bit over the fence at the start, about 200m later is a pretty steep climb, and then when you cross the bridge there's a path beside the stairs that can be tricky. All are totally walkable, but a good challenge if you can ride them! The segment ends at the 'Heatherbell' corner, and if you're using this as part of a future route, you can use this as a branch point - leave the park and head further into Royal Bay, or continue up the trails!

It's a bit tricky to navigate this all, but see below for a tip for saving Strava Segments as GPX files.

Segment 2B Name: Did I just see 24% grade?
Deets: 0.85km, 63m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Madeline Blanchard with a 3:10, KOM is Vinko Poldrugovac with a 2:40 & LL is David Brown with 3 efforts.
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/10954735

Our first TIMED segment! So this means times will be tracked, and points will be awarded on placements.

If you've ridden around Royal Roads, chances are you've ridden up this (39 peeps in our Strava Group have!) It's not super long, but kicks you in the pants at the start, and then you're spending the rest of the time trying to get your legs back under yourself. Enjoy, and looking forward to some speedy times!!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

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

Ooops!
Didn't get a pic on the actual segments this week,
but this one of K :) in RRU today should fill in alright!

That's it for this week, great to see you all out, and will be exciting to see some times on the challenge segment next week!

Safe and speedy riding all! 🚲

- Dave

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