Archive for the ‘Racing’ Category
1000 words
Pics from the cyclocross provincials. Tinker riders were present, some of the younger riders did very well with some medals. Us older riders, well we had fun too.
Tim Loewen WINS cross race!
OK, that was just a hook to get you to read this. (Don’t believe everything you read on the internet and I am not sure anyone from Tinker even reads this thing anyway.)
Is there anything going on out in Tinker these days? Might be good to get an update posted here some time, maybe even a photo or something…
Cross Report (the spectators perspective)
The Tinker Creek Cycle Cross team was at it again yesterday in Whittier Park. There was lots of grass, there was apparently a very MUDDY/clay based running section, there was hot dogs, hot chocolate & coffee, there was LOTS of kids milling about, there was yelling/cheering/heckling/support, there was a broken nose, there was NO clipping in by the end of the race, there was bunny hopping the barriers, there was some grown men being wrestled to the grown by 40lb little girls (pacifist Mennos), there were 4 cross frames and forks given away, there was dust, there were riders sliding out on off camber corners, there was beautiful weather.
All in all it was another cool event. Linc & Ramona and kids were there, Tim L too. Jane B borrowed Lindsay Gauld’s bike and raced. I hung out with my kids and ate some Ronnies and took pics. The cross scene seems to have really hit it’s stride this year, a real great group of people and fun atmosphere, with bigger numbers than most MTB events. Good job to all those putting out the effort to make cross “fun”.
The guys from Red River Racing have a race coming this Saturday. Apparently it will favour the climbers from Tinker if you’re interested… I will see if I can sneak into a race before I have to tend to parental duties on Saturday.
Double trouble
There are two cyclo-cross races this weekend. So far this year, there have been some really good cross races, with great courses and lots of racers. You DON’T need a cross bike, you can race your MTB no problem (in fact I think it’s actually an advantage). These races are also really cheap – $15.00
Saturday
So, this is the weekend to get out and give er. Saturday there is a race in St. Malo. Hal is in charge (he is a member of Olympia club this week). It is at the park, ripping around, even across the beach, NO MCA license required, anyone can race. All the details are here.
Sunday
The fine folks from ABES club in Altona are once again putting on Southern Cross. I have never been, but everyone always RAVES about this race and the hospitality. There are various races for every Category throughout the day. I think kids race free at this race, and it is a family/fun atmosphere. All the details are here.
Unfortunately, I am a single dad all weekend and have my hands full taking kids to birthday parties, skating lessons, Sunday school… but if Jane gets out of her conference early Sunday afternoon, I will being high tailing it to Altona.
Menno Cross Report
Well, that was very muddy and wet and FAR better than most other cross races I have done. I’m honestly not a big fan of cross. Usually there is no flow to a course, and you get off WAY too often. But the guys at FGBC created a REALLY fun cross course (I mean, for a cross course, it was good).
They did a fantastic job with organization, bunch of kids raced at noon on the very wet and quickly becoming MUDDY course. Their was a beginners race in the AM apparently. I joined the other Tinker racers present, Tim and Lincoln in the B race. It was typical cross PAIN, but far better than I remember my last cross race some two years back. Maybe cause I left the cross bike at home and was riding a my 29er instead. No, this course was just way well suited to mountain bikers, no stupid HUGE stairs to run up or anything goofy like that.
Big thanks to FGBC, the all the MennoMafia, they did not disappoint and you could tell they really cared about putting on a quality event. It takes a tonne of work and may volunteers to put on a race and the effort is appreciated. And most of all, thanks for the Faspa!
Everyone loves Faspa
If you ever wanted to try a Cyclocross race and follow it up with Faspa, you’re in luck.
MennoCross
Chris Huebner and the other mennomafia from Fort Garry Bike Club are hosting MennoCross at CMU on Saturday, September 25th. ANYONE can race (NO MCA license required). You don’t need a cross bike to do well at cross, a mountain bike is just fine. But you should be willing to put yourself through a LOT of pain.
There are races for every level of racer and ALL AGES – kids race for FREE or something crazy. It is totally intended for people to enjoy themselves.
Fort Garry Bike Club blog info is here >
Official info on the MCA website is here >
World Championships on CBC
Not all of us can go watch the World Championships in MSA in person like Jeff. But don’t worry, CBC is televising it Saturday afternoon. Go Catharine P & Geoff K!
This pic was borrowed from Canadian Cyclist – photo credit goes to them. I just wish they would show the next 2 or 3 frames as well. Ouch!
Podium bound
So, the Manitoba XC Provs were on Sunday the 29th at Grand Beach. This year, the MCA MTB Committee took on the task of organizing the Provincials race, to try to ensure a well run event and a course that was a good test of MTB for all levels of racers. The race was originally supposed to be at Falcon Lake, but due to excessive moisture this summer, the normally “moist” sections at Falcon are very swampy this year. So the venue was changed to Grand Beach.
Now, Grand Beach has a bit of a reputation of being not very technically challenging, not very much elevation and also too much double track. So to try to improve the course, several committee members and a few non members spent several days at Grand Beach cutting some new single track to break up the long double track sections, including adding a nice set of downhill switchbacks. The course was also run clockwise.
Well Organized Event
Race Day – there was apparently a huge downpour around 9 am, so the start needed to be delayed 30 minutes, but that was well communicated. The kids races happened around 11:30 and the adults race about an hour later. Most everything I heard from other racers after the race was VERY positive about the course, people really liked the added single track and how it felt a lot different from the normal counter clockwise direction. I think it was the best Grand Beach course I have ever done.
The race course was well marked, there were even marshals on the course, food was good (great homemade cookies too), many volunteers were on hand to help and there was a large turn out for the race at 90 people. It was great to see a large turn out and the post race positive vibe. Good times!
Huge thanks to Hal for doing the vast majority of organization work but also to the other racers who sacrificed their own riding time during the weeks leading up to the race, to spend several days cutting new trails, also to the MANY volunteers who helped set up the day before, morning of, and tear down after. It is greatly appreciated & good job!
Tinker Creek Results
Tinker had a handful of members racing, and as Ramona pointed out to me after the race, they did not disappoint. In fact, it was basically all or nothing for Tinker racers. They were all on the podium (except for yours truly who busted his chain half way through the race, while in the lead Expert group of 4 riders… Yes, that is my excuse & no, I didn’t have a chain tool with me!)
Here are the results of the Tinker riders who actually finished and a few pics courtesy of Ramona, make sure to give them props next time you see em.
Under 9 Boys
Tristan Wiebe – 2nd Place
Under 11 Girls
Jaydi Wiebe – 1st Place
Women’s 40+ Sport
Jane Braun – 1st Place - Nice elbow job their Jane!
Men’s 30+ Sport
Lincoln Wiebe – 1st Place
Men’s Senior Expert
Gerald Klassen – 1st Place
Nice job guys. Here are a few more pics courtesy of Ramona.
(Last pic is stolen from Ger’s profile on Facebook).
New single track – Ehhhhhhh!
Provincials XC mountain bike race will do down this Sunday at Grand Beach. Thanks to the hardwork of some dedicated racers, some new single track has been added recently and the course will be clockwise (backwards from the traditional CCW direction for cup races).
If you haven’t raced Grand Beach in a few years, there is some pretty nice new stuff and one newish section that will also be included – on what Hal calls “Blueberry Hill”. (Insert your own “Fonzi found his thrill” joke here.) Check out the course map image below for all the newest sections that have been added – I blame Hal for the names.
But the highlight just might be the homemade cookies that will part of the post race “Made in Manitoba” food.
All the details are at the MCA site here – You gotta have an MCA race license to race. Pre-register for $25, cause walk up is $40.
No word on where Fonzie will be jumping the shark at the East or West beach after the race – TBD.
Congrats Alf!
Saw the results from Alter8 and it looks like our boy Alf had a good day and came in a solid 3rd place. Nicely done Alf. All the post race comments on FaceBook sounds like the course was really good, flowy and fun. Pics stolen from the link on the Alter8 site.
Alter 8
The gang at Alter Ego is putting on the Alter 8 this weekend. They work hard to make sure the course is actually fun and flowy. I can’t go, but if anyone one else doesn’t already know the details, you can find them all here. Looks like the weekend will be a little cooler, a better temp for riding.
