Our first Challenge/Timed segment was this week, and lots of killer rides out there - plus a bunch more people joined in, welcome (and welcome back!!)

Executive is always a brute, is it better going full throttle and getting it over sooner rather than later? You be the judge of that!!

This week has us romping around the upper end of Broadmead/Royal Oak - a bunch have ridden the first segment, but I'm not sure how many have been on the second, since I'm selecting a fairly particular route...but we'll change that this week!

AAAAAANNNDD....there's a BONUS segment!

It's worth 15pts, once again, just ride it, no times effect results this week, another week of discovery! (Or just figuring out that damn navigation!!😂😭)

Apologies that the details this week are super-long, they're rather complex connectors.... I STRONGLY recommend going to the site and reviewing the Routing section as well.

Racing News

Well today was the Cross on the Rock's return to Topaz!! Last time we were there....we wore masks at the start line...! Nice to have the course back, and I really enjoyed it. Many of you were there too, and it was so cool to cheer you on! (And some I hadn't met before, so thanks to those who introduced themselves, always a pleasure to meet you in person when the opportunity arises!!)

I just finished watching the GP Montreal, won't spoil it, but another impressive ride. Highest ranked race in Canada I believe, lots of big names.

Last week we were also out at the Juan de Fuca Rec Centre for Cross Club, and that was a really fun course too, wonder where we'll be this week? 🤔

Next weekend is the BWR and MOMAR, and Segment Challenge alum Katja is riding the Tour de Gatineau as part of the Canadian National team, which is a pretty awesome selection, it's the highest ranked women's UCI race in Canada and again, lots of big names ought to be there! Three stages with a TT, road race and crit.

(And she killed it at the race today too, catching MANY of the Elite Men who started a minute or two ahead of the women's field!) Good luck Kat!!

HOUSEKEEPING

Notes for the week:

Mike H stopped a tad too early on the timed segment, recording a time 2mins slower than anyone else, so I gave him a 'generous' manual timing, although that still put him in 1st in the C's, just FYI! Hope all are okay with that!

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! 😁

1 <- THIS MANY WEEKS WITHOUT AN ERROR 🤣

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

SPONSORS AD

No time for sponsors this week, but see below for (what I find to be) a hilarious comment/meme.... It's not about the gear!! 🤣

SOUNDTRACK NOTES

Note: 'back in my day' people talked about music, albums, etc.. Doesn't really seem to happen much these days, so I'm carrying on the tradition here! 😊

Was tuned into the GP, so no tunes tonight....but have been listening to a lot of Metric this week, hard to find a bad track on their albums. 🎶

THIS WEEK IN RIDES

For those new to the series, 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

Where are our female riders at? Sofia was busy at the Disc Golf National Champs - looks like she won!! Oddly the first Canadian to win in 9yrs (they allow non-Canadians to earn the title!?) Hopefully we see a few A's turn up the next few weeks! 😊

Over with the guys, I wasn't sure if the KOM was within reason...the OG time was FAST. But Julian gave it a solid rip......and took it by 2 seconds. Wow! 🔥 Well earned 1st there!! I was really surprised to find myself in 2nd (over 30sec behind) for most of the week, but Nicky had a great run at it pushing me into 3rd, and Dave B was just a bit off that.

The B's

We had three women join the fray this week, woohoo! So nice to see Maria and Laura B back, and welcome Kenzie - who opened her scorecard with a top time, that was 9th overall of 30 riders this week! Kristy H and "I'm not a sprinter" Renata were not far off to round out the podium this week.

Josh is back, and took the top time by 2 seconds! Joel C was 3 seconds back, and Markus K squeaked just ahead of him. Mark D (our Early Bird) was just a few second back as well, as our B's battled it out this first week!

The C's

Only three of our C ladies braved Executive this week, but Anne (aka Liz) walloped it, and will get a nudge to join the B group! Tanya wasn't too far off tho, and Lani rounded out the podium this week with a great effort!

The guys always have a good, tight competition, but Mike H dropped the fastest time this week (even with a few seconds added on!) Mark B, Kit and Greg were all just 1 second apart, but in that order!

The overall standings have been updated as well, take a peek when you can, it's looking like it'll be a pretty tight season!

BONUSES & CURSES

See the Scoring section of the Event Page for more details!

No QOM's this week, but Julian totally pwned the KOM!

• Early Bird was Mark D this week
• No Secret Times this week, tho lots were close
• No Socialite points
  (post a shot of your ride on IG or FB and tag @AboutTheRideCA for a chance for 5pts each week! If you've posted, but I haven't given you credit, or liked or commented your post, please DM me directly, IG has been a bit finiky.)
• The Local Legend curse was unclaimed this week
• No Yellow Jersey curse as usual!

PRIZES!

We've always got some sweet draw prizes every week! Watch our socials (Insta & Facebook) to see what we'll be giving away each week!

Prizes this week are from our long-time supporters Cycles West! I'm giving away 5x items, and the split will be 1x A's, 2x B's and 2x C's, and the lucky riders are:

Julian Cameron

kenzie McLeod
Alan Mackay

Greg Goforth
Chad Dalrymple

Congrats!! I'll email you later in the week, I still have to pick these up, so will be a few days. 😉

We've got lots of awesome prizes, including some more new goodies, including some pretty big prizes from Brentwood Cycle!!

Check out all the prizes (so far) here: https://abouttheride.ca/victoria-segment-challenge-season-6-prize-list/

Week #3 - Sept 16th - Sept 22nd - There's Gravel in Royal Oak and Upper Cordova?!

This week we've got some fun routing through Broadmead that takes us out towards Elk Lake! Much more fun than just cruising Lochside. There's also a bit more road this week unfortunately, but I think it's worth it!

Reminder these are non-timed/challenge segments, but there is a BONUS segment this week! Complete it for an additional 15pts! Also, check the Suggested Routing on the site, there's a suggested jaunt on the road to connect 3A & 3B, and some options once you're done the segments.

Segment 3A Name: Donwood the Unclimbable to Rithet's
Deets: 1.51km, 24m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM & KOM are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/37792219

There's a little turn-off on Lochside for Donwood Park, and if you don't know where you're going afterwards, you've probably regretted it! I've seen people clean the climb, but the vast majority of us walk the steep portion beside the stairs. It's a lot nicer after that however, weaving through some really neat trails towards Rithet's Bog. (Note: Rithet's is an unsactioned trail, no bikes!)

Segment 3B Name: Royal Oak Death March Gravel Climb
Deets: 1.36km, 74m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM & KOM are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/37792234

This one will be new to a lot of people! We start off in the Royal Oak Cemetery, and basically keep to the right on all turns, climbing upwards - when you get near the top, you'll find a pathway taking you into the woods. Follow it, and then you end up on a fire road. Make a right, and about 5m to the right there's another singletrack path - follow that up to the very top of Grant Park, where there's a big building which is the Wesley Reservoir - nicely done!! This isn't a particularly steep climb, but it's a long steady one! 💪💪

BONUS Segment 3C Name: Upper Cordova Cut-throughs
Deets: 3.15km, 12m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM & KOM are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/37792258

The bonus segment carries on from where 3B ends, just around the building on the north side. This starts with a fairly technical descent (you may want to hike a few spots!) and there's a few twists, but basically keep heading downwards the singletrack. You'll probably go over one final 'steep' drop (it's about a foot high), and then the trail becomes pretty reasonable after that. Make sure you take the trail to the right that leads to Wesley Ct. (There's another trail exit further down, but it connects to a driveway, and the owner doesn't like people!!)

After that, there are a bunch of really neat cut-throughs leading to Claremont Park (and School), and then you'll end up on Del Monte - you'll take this all the way to the end! Once there, there's a fantastic viewpoint! Carry on along the pathway, and you'll end up on Cordova Bay Rd. Once again, check out the Routing on the site for suggestions on where to go from there!

This is a BONUS SEGMENT! All who complete it also get an additional 15 Bonus Points. Cha-ching!

Happy riding!! 

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

And this is where the burning
sensation begins.. 🤣

Newcomer Kenzie reenacting
her stellar time!

Not part of the segment challenge this
week, but hopefully everyone who
hasn't been by Kilarney Lake
made the short detour!

That's a wrap on Week #2, and hope everyone enjoys the trails and routing this week!

Safe and speedy riding all! 🚲

- Dave

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