Hi everyone, I have a very heavy heart and am shook to the core.

I can't really say anything, their loved ones should be the ones to share when they're ready...but I also can't just pretend and carry on like everything is okay today when it's not.

So a brief update tonight with the most necessary elements of the Segment Challenge, I'll share more when appropriate.

❤🌻

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.

Quick note that we had around 20 ride the segments intentionally this week, but around 15 participants this season also rode the 7B segment in the Cross Fondo today, so they'll get credit as there was some overlap.

Also special kudos to Anne and Lani who rode the segments on Saturday, which was our wettest day since the atmospheric river in 2022.

BONUSES & CURSES

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

No timed segments, so no QOM or KOM this week.

• Early Bird was Josh.
• No Secret Time this week
• Mark B once again got the Socialite points, another snazzy video here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DBU2hTQSLQx/ (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 finicky.)
• The Local Legend curse was non-applicable
• 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!

I hope no one minds if I save the prizes this week for the final week. (Was the remaining 5x Goldstream GCs and leftover Brentwood Cycle items. They'll be part of the final week.)

Week #8 - Oct 21st - Nov 3rd - Circumnavigating Mount Work

It's our final week for the Gravel Segment Challenge! We do one last pass through Hartland, and also have our final Timed/Challenge segment that's a solid challenge, but not nearly as epic as last year. (Tho it's a decent grunt to get there!)

As usual for the final segments, there are TWO weeks to complete them, extending the series until Nov 3rd. Ride either week, I'll collect times from each!

Segment 8A Name: 17A To Ross DURRANCE rd via hartLAND gravel grind RR
Deets: 3.94km, 107m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM & KOM are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/28134997

It's not the most thrilling route, but it helps get us to where we need to go, and sure beats the road! We're back in Hartland and climbing up the Regional Trail's main ascent, and continuing on down to the parking lot on Ross-Durrance. It's a good downhill (a bit rocky and steep to start), and looks like there's a decent number of riders that haven't been down this route, so hopefully new trails for a bunch of you!

The starting point may be a bit tricky, I activated it going up Skull Trail, but might want to stick to Pooh Corner to be safe. I think this is part of the XTERRA route! And a reminder this isn't a timed/challenge segment, so take your time, there's lot more to come!

Segment 8B Name: 3:10 to Munns
Deets: 1.87km, 46m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Lindsay Pedal with a 6:51 & KOM is Rob Britton with a 4:32, LL is Robin Willard with 3 efforts.
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/17833864

To get to 7B, head up Ross-Durrance to Corry Rd (pretty much near the top) and it starts a few meters in. It kinda looks like private property, but I promise it's the regular access point to this trail!

Reminder: this is our final Timed/Challenge segment! 🔥

The path eases into the climb, which isn't too bad, tho there is one rocky/washed out section that may be faster to walk/run through. I've ridden through it a few times (and seemingly easier climbing this way than descending!) A few hundred meters after that section it starts to level off, and gently descend, taking you to Munn!

This segment ends just down from where the Gravel Finale concluded last season, and feel free to head back down that way to get your revenge on that nasty climb!

Happy riding!! 

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

Apologies for being so vague, it's tricky when navigating sensitive topics just after they happen, and I'm not very good at these things at the best of times.

So very, very sorry for those affected today. ❤

- Dave

Join the @AboutTheRideCA social media accounts
for an informative range of local cycling updates!

If you ever have any questions,
feel free to simply hit reply!