On Saturday July 24th, Team Whistler had a strong presence at the 8th annual Gear Jammer mountain bike race in Squamish B.C. with nine team riders present conquering the 52 kilometre point to point epic race.
It was a beautiful day with temperature climbing to 29.4c, the heat was combined with some of the best, and most challenging singletrack that North America has to offer, but that didn't stop six racers from Team Whistler from making it from the finish line to the top of the podium, and the three others to finish with impressive top results in their race categories.
The Gear Jammer will undoubtably prepare these team riders for the B.C Cup finals and Championship Cross Country mountain bike race that will be hosted by Team Whistler in Whistler, B.C on Sunday,August 8th. Please see our web site for all of the details to this exciting race taking place during the Crankworxs Mountain bike festival in Whistler, B.C.

By Linda

The GearJammer race was held on July 24th, 2010. For those of you not familiar with the Gearjammer, it is a 47K mountain bike race that has a very high potion of single track. Considerable climbs and swoopy technical descents, a true mountain bikers type of race. The conditions were dry (very), dusty (very) with powdery footing on a lot of the corners. When the competitors finished they looked as though they just got off a shift at the local coal mine, BUT with a smile on their face, a fun time was had by all.

Whistler, and especially Team Whistler had a good showing at the race. The registered racers was 350

The results as follows:

Place    Racer                        Time             Category             Category Place

15         Trevor Hopkins         237:49      M 35-39                         1st

31          Tony Routley             249:51      M 50-54                         2nd

34           Keith Ray                 250:17       M 40-44                        2nd

48          Nels Guloien             256:56       M 55-59                        1st

59          Ann Yew                    301:19       F Elite                            2nd

80          Dustin Gordon          307:32       M Elite                           19th

112        Mahon Lamont         317:33       M under 20                    7th

123        Linda Robichaud      323:31      F Elite                             7th

212        Gary Baker               406:35      M 70 plus                       1st

Mike Hawes   bad crash ................................................................DNF

By Gary

Linda is in Portland!

temp_img

Team Whistler's Linda Robichaud has been spending some time in Portland, Oregon since the beginning of July, training and going to the Monday night short track mountain bike races as well as road racing at the Portland International Raceway.

July 5th and 19th Linda took to the dirt in the short track mountain bike race, the 40 minute race winds around the motor cross track with sharp corners, short steep climbs, and fast tricky lines. In order to keep up with the pack in this race you need to go as hard as possible, and be very focused because riders race wheel to wheel and a simple mistake can cost you several placing. Linda placed 10th and 12th in the pro-elite women's mountain bike races.

On July 12th Linda decided to switch to the road, the cat 1 women's road race had several top women with their teams for support and strategy, the focus was the workout and Linda covered attacks and spent the 30 mile race at the front of the pack finishing 8th in the sprint finish.

Learnings From Colorado Springs

Team Whistler rider Todd Allison sends a report from Colorado Springs ...

"I learned a lot on Saturday when a friend suggested I join a local group ride. When I showed up at the meeting point I saw a bunch of riders in National team, Paralympic Team, Air Force Team and other Pro Team kit. I though to myself, 'wow, what a great spirit of the riders, supporting their locals'. As we rolled out I was impressed with their quality warm up and their respect for the rules of the road. After a good warm up the group ramped up to speed and while it felt fast I chalked it up to three factors: my computer wasn't working, I was new to riding at 6,000 feet and it was pushing 95 degrees farenheit. Being a "good citizen" I took my pulls on the front and helped work a chase group back up when we were split by a red light. I learned quickly that those "supporters" were actual national team and pro riders and there were no gifts on this group ride - it went fast. More like a race than the regular Squamish Friday rides, this group rolled at over 50km/h and it was a challenge. Two bottles for a 100km ride in 100 degree farenheit heat are not enough. I think I need to be a passenger in this group for a while!"

Nice Weather!

With sun and warm temperatures, make sure you get out and ride! Whether you are training for the Grand Fondo (or Le Grande Fondue as some call it) or Training for the Ken Quon Corridor Cup, get out on your bike. With the warm weather, make sure you hydrate ... before, during and after your rides. This will maximize not only your performance on the ride but also your ability to recover and enjoy the ride the next day.

We have had an update from Team Whistler rider, Todd Allison, who is in Colorado Springs and is happy to be back on his bike after a lay-off due to a nagging back injury. He reports that the best five things about being there right now are:

1. "Being in the Mountain Time Zone you can do a ride BEFORE the tour coverage starts"

2. "They broadcast the tour coverage three times per day"

3. "It is over 20 degrees celsius at 5:30am"

4. "Rain ... has a completely meaning here - Whistlerites would call it dew"

5. "There is a huge variet of roads from flat open prairie to climbs up to 14,000 feet"

But, it all starts at 6,000 feet and it is at least 30 degrees by 2pm!

Don't forget to ensure your spot by registering early for the Ken Quon Corridor Cup August 8th. Click here for more information and for access to the registration page.

Race Season in Full Swing

Many people have their TVs tuned to the Tour de France, but Whistler riders are out on the road/trails garnering great race results.

First off was Will Routley's win of the Canadian Elite Road Race title last week which will allow him to race in the Maple Leaf jersey for the next twelve months!

Next, pictured above, is Team Whistler's Jesse Melamed who won his category in the BC Cup Bear Mountain XC race this weekend. Jesse described the course as "perfect" for him as he had a long double track climb followed by his specialty, ton's of technical singletrack down. After a back and forth battle with Team Squamish's Quinn Moberg, Jesse finally pulled ahead on the final downhill and won. He is now ready for the upcoming Four Queens race in Whistler.

The other result of note is Tony Routley's performance at the Masters' Road Nationals. Tony was 14th in the Time Trial and 16th in the Road Race. While he feels he could have had a better result, we are all still proud of him and all he does for Team Whistler and the cycling community in the corridor.

Ken Quon Car Wash A Success

Saturday June 26th from 10am to 3pm saw a steady stream of cars passing through the car wash station at the Whistler IGA/Skiis and Bikes parking lot. With the great support of the Whistler Fire Department (and one of their pumper trucks), few hundred cars were washed in support of the fallen bike rider. "Support was great from locals and visitors alike", said Tony Routley as his arms were trying to recover from the never-ending washes. The total funds raised are expected to set a new standard for the event; never before had they seen the line-up of cars waiting for a wash. The next stage of the fundraising this year is the Ken Quon RE/MAX Corridor Cup held in conjunction with Crankworx and the BC Cup XC Finals on August 8th in the trails of Lost Lake. Click here for more information on the race. All funds riased go to the purchase of medical equipment for the Sea-to-Sky corridor.

Team Whistler Tuesday Night Pemberton Toonie

35 riders turned out to ride the trails in the Pemberton benchlands area on a great Tuesday night. The ride was a quick one with the top two riders completing the course in 25 minutes with a photo finish. Apres was held at the Blackbird Bakery that served up some great pulled pork sandwiches and ice cold Whistler Brewing beer. If that wasn't enough, Pemberton Valley Coffee distributed some cool "special" ice coffee. Thanks again to the sponsors for the great swag that was given away!

Team Whistler Tuesday Night Ride, Sunshine Brings the people.

Tuesday night had one of our largest turnouts to date. With 22 people joining in on our group ride, many commented it must have been the lack of rain that brought the people. We had a great ride out to the calaghan country sign and back. Remeber every tuesday we meet at Skiis and Biikes at 5:30.

temp_img

Team Whistler at the Junk Yard Dog

temp_img

Team Whistler had a strong showing at the Junkyard Dog XC in Surrey May 30th, 2010 with two podium finishes. Ann Yew placed 2nd in the women's elite category and Trevor Hopkins was 2nd place in the master's men 30-39 category. This was the third race in the BC Cup Series and we were lucky the rain held off for the tight, twisty and slick trails. Held in the South Surrey Bike Park, the course was muddy with lots of corners and wet logs thrown in to make for a fun, deceptively technical, power course.

South Surrey BC Cup

Nimby Fifty XC Pemberton

The rain let up just as the 200 plus riders set out to tackle the grueling 30+ km race in pemberton on Saturday. The recent rain and cool weather led to a great race course, Pemberton is normally known for its warm and dry climate. 1500 plus metres of climbing was on tap for the day. Mike Boehm finished the race in 2 hrs 28 mins and 11th overall. Linda Robichaud was the next time rider to come in with an impressive 3 hrs 7 mins and 8th in women's. Dustin Gordon was close behind with 3hrs 10 mins. Jody Edgar decided that a triple crown bike would help him make up time on the descents despite the extra weight for climbing. None the less, Jody still came through the finish with a smile at a time of 3 hrs 48 mins. It was a grueling but fun race course with a great apres. We look forward to next year.

Tuesday Riders Brave Rain

temp_img

Even with the forecast of rain, over a dozen roadies took to the asphalt this Tuesday on the road ride from Skis and Bikes in the Whistler Marketplace. After two warm up laps around Blackcomb Way the group headed off to Westside Road and did their first group climb up Stonebridge this year. With wet roads the word of the day was "safety" so the group focused on individual cycling technique and staying safe. While the roads were wet, the conditions were not bad and it was a good ride. As the weather improves the group will venture further from home and head to the Callaghan which is reported to be in great shape for riding. See you next Tuesday at 5:30.

Team Whistler Rider continues to Fundraise and Race for Diabetes

Last week the "Ride the Rim" took place on Vancouver Island which saw 15 riders take part in a 105km road ride to raise funds for diabetes. With car support, the race went from downtown Ucluelet to Port Alberni.

First place went to Team Whistler rider, Joe Maika who finished with a time of 3 hours 3 minutes: this was six minutes ahead of second place and sixteen minutes ahead of third. Joe described the ride a "beautiful" as it rolled down the Pacific Rim Highway where riders were blessed with incredible views.

La Vuelta de Bisbee road race has been running for 34 years and in it’s history has welcomed riders such as Greg Lemond who is a former winner of the event. Tony and I arrived in Bisbee a day before the race and it was cold, 3 degrees and dropping. That morning we awoke to 2 inches of snow and had to race that day. Fortunately the sun came out and the snow burned off in time for the Day 1 uphill time trial which got underway that afternoon. The elevation was a factor as Bisbee sits at about 5300ft, breathing didn’t come easy and I think I lost a lung somewhere on course. Bisbee is a really cool town full of hippees, artists, musicians, bikers and the metaphysical types. A very eclectic town and it revealed itself everywhere what a funky place. Another interesting feature of the town is that a lot of the buildings have been restored to authenticity most of them having been built in the late 1800’s.

Day 2 included a 107km road race and an 11km time trial. The weather looked promising as the forecast for the day called for mid 70’s it was already reasonably

warm for the 8am start. Of course the locals complained of how cold it was and at temperatures in the 70’s I saw one guy racing with a fleece beanie and ear warmers.

The road race that day was fast and the attacks were coming constantly, I don’t think I saw under 40k an hour on my speedo all day and at one point at we are doing 50km an hour and someone at the front drills it and away we go again, a tough day but superfun. Tony had a good day and stayed with the lead group until the end, a smart and solid day of racing for him. His time on the day was 2:45 and mine was 2:50 the race average speed was close to 40km an hour.

The time trial course that afternoon was an out and back with the first 5.5 km a gradual downhill then turning around and climbing the same road on the way back. The weather was great and the time trial went well for both Tony and myself. Tony again was the strong one finishing the course in 16.27 and I finished in 17.59.

Day 3 road race started with about 2km of uphill and then a long descent into

an undulating course that finished with 2 major climbs in the last 13km. A break formed at about the 30 km mark, I was on the front at the time and was tempted to go but decided to save myself for the climb. We hit the climb and all hell broke loose the accelerations started I made the first two jumps and then blew, I slowed down to recover and Tony caught me and tried to motivate me to stay on his wheel, but I had blown and finished a minute and a half back of Tony once again. The day was 100km in total and another great day of racing.

My congrats to Tony who finished 12^th in his category 9 min. back of the overall leader

With myself finished 17^th 19 minutes back. So that was Bisbee, can’t wait to go back

So now it is off to Silver City, New Mexico for myself and Tony where 2 days of rest awaits out tired bodies and then 5 days of mountains and high elevation racing at the Tour of the Gila.

Race report written by Joe Maika

Tour of Bisbee

Joe Maika and Tony Routley made the trip to Bisbee Arizona for a 4 stage road race only to wake up to a snow storm for day one. The good news was that by race time it had warmed up and stoped snowing. After the 30 hour drive it was good to be on the bike. We both were feeling the 5200ft of elevation but finish not to bad tony 54th and Joe 61st out of 88 racers. We will see how it goes tomorrow.

Escape to the Sun

What a treat to ride in the sun, on dry trails AND with no gravel on the roads. Team member Todd Allison is currently in Southern Utah riding the roads and trails in St. George. 80 degrees, blue skies and no rain - just like Whistler in July/August but with slick rock! Toughest decision each day is to plan the rides - road or mountain is the first decision then once that is made, which direction to go.

He did say that he looks forward to the first Team Whistler road ride of the year which will take pace on May 25th, two days before our team supported Toonie on May 27th.

1st Annual Nimby Fifty in Pemberton

The first annual Nimby Fifty is a great tune up for the Test, just three weeks later! This epic race is approximately 50 km in length, boasting a lung busting 101 switchback long pristine single-track climb. You get’n the picture? This ain’t your typical XC race. The Nimby Fifty is what we refer to as a technical marathon xc bike race which means it is absolutely loaded with incredible single track. Register early to assure your spot for the May 29th race. www.nimbyfifty.com.

Super Toonie a Great Kick Off in Squamish

After a week of rain, the clouds parted and the sun came out for the kick off of the XC racing series in the Sea-to-Sky corridor this Sunday, April 3rd. A strong pack of riders tested out many of the refurbished trails on the Squamish area including Psuedo Psuga (1 and 2) and Roller Coaster.

Team Whistler riders Tony Routley and Mike Charuk were near the front of the pack as it headed past sidelined rider, Todd Allison who was volunteering for the day as he recovered from a minor injury. The route headed up the Mamquam FSR before heading onto the Ring Creek FSR, down the Psuedo Psugas, across to Cliff's Corner, down Mashiter then finally dropping into Roller Coaster.

Other than a few muddy patches that were a result of the recent rains, the trails were in great shape and the work done on them was appreciated! Congratulations to the Callaghan Winter Sports Club and the other sponsors for a great kick off to the season.

March 26 2010 - Will Routley Wins stage 1 of the Redlands Classic in an all out war for 1st

2010 Team Whistler

A sneak peak at Team Whistler 2010 which includes our new team supporters!

Check out the photo in the Gallery.

March 7 2010 Spring Series

Well the Racing season has started for Team Whistler. On March 7 Trevor Hopkins, Tony Routley and Mike Charuk went to Langley to participate in the first spring series of the season. With the weather holding very well all through the week it was looking good but alas one hour into the race it rained cold and hard. Never the less the B group went out hard and passed the A group in the first 20km this pace kept up for the 80km race. A crash in the last15km decided the group that contested the win. All Team Whistler riders came through with no crash problems but were not in the final group for the win.

Winter Training oh What fun!

Ann’s Winter Training Escape to California

I was fortunate to spend some time with fast roadie friend Leah (daughter of teammate Nels) in Palm Springs. Add speedy mountain biker Sandra to the mix and I had two fast wheels to get some big base miles in with, almost tripling my weekly mileage in the time I was there.

Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate and we had torrential downpours, flash flooding, and even snow at higher elevations. Not what I expected from the desert, but we still ended up doing some amazing rides including riding in Joshua Tree National Park, up the Palms to Pines Highway and away from rabid dogs.

Seeking more sunshine I decided to head to the coast, meeting up with friends in Temecula to hit the legendary San Juan Trail. We did an out and back up some awesome switchback climbs and saw some amazing vistas stretching out to the coast from inland near Lake Elsinore. The epic climb made for a fast descent, with a fun combo of speed, tight switchbacks, ruts & washed out sections. It sure felt good to hit the dirt again.

The next day we headed to Carlsbad on the coast to do the Swami's ride. This ride has a reputation for being the hardest group ride around and it lived up to its name. Luckily, trying to hang onto Leah and Sandra’s wheels sparked some fitness into my legs and I was able to hang onto the A group for most of the way to the Church. I was the last woman to be dropped which was great, but I think the real achievement would have been not to be dropped at all! I'll have to save that for another time.

I’ve been back a week now and it wasn't too had to come home with the Olympics just around the corner. It's an exciting time here and there's an amazing energy in the air. The weather has been fabulous and Trevor, Joe and I hit some pristine trails in Squamish over the weekend, getting in close to 4 hours in beautiful spring-like conditions. While I’m hoping for snow for the mountain events, the great weather can only mean good things for the season ahead.

Happy trails and training to all Ann!

Spring Training Camps

So, you were thinking of saving money when you went to your spring training by tenting ... this may be a little too true for some riders ...

Confessions of a Closet Camelback User

Ok, I know it's not "cool" to ride with a Camelback but I have to admit, I have been known to do this from time to time. Winter gives me a lot of good excuses because it is a great place to:

hold a battery pack for a light and your mobile phone
store extra clothes (jacket and gloves in the event of a problem on a trail)
hide your pump and spare tube
keep your money for coffee!

Here are a couple of tips if you are going to use your Camelback in the winter:

If you drink from the tube be sure to blow the water out of it as soon as you are done drinking to keep the line and mouthpiece from freezing
Keep a turtle attached to the outside - it gets dark fast
Consider keeping a back up light in the compartment - you never know when you will need it
Fill the bladder with warm water - it can help keep you warm at the start of your ride and will resist freezing longer

The rain has hampered the skiing but improved the trails: many trails that had snow and ice last week are now clear (well, a bit muddy). Have fun, stay warm and get out there!

Get out and Ride!

Yes, it is cold and snowy in Whistler but just 30 minutes down the road in Squamish you can get some great riding in, now! Many Team Whistler riders were seen on the trails during the Christmas break and while there may be small patches of snow you need to cross on the shady trails, 90+% of the routes are in great shape. Tony Routley’s advice was to stay on the south exposure slopes like “Credit Line” and “Value Added”. Most of the trails around the estuary and in Brackendale are in great shape and even those in “Crumpet Woods” are reported to be in good riding condition. Consider riding on the road … it is good now with the highway improvements and the attention paid to the roads this winter by highways. A few trails are under construction please respect the trail closures

Things to think about:

-wear warm gloves – your ski gloves can’t hurt

-rinse your bike and wash your chain after each ride, lube up with wet-lube

-wear a thin hat under your helmet to keep heat in

-dress in layers but remember, once you are moving you will be warmer than you think

-consider a front tire with studs if you are planning on riding on icy logging roads

Any outide ride right now is a bonus. The Test of Metal sold out in 25min. so get a jump on the rest now.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Mt. Washington BC Cup #6: Saturday, July 31, 2010
BC TT Championships: Saturday, August 07, 2010
Provincial TT champs (location tbd)
Mt. Seymour Challenge: Sunday, August 08, 2010
Regional level Road hill climb up this North Vancouver classic.
Ken Quan / Team Whistler BC Cup XC: Sunday, August 08, 2010
BC Cup finals in the spirit of Ken Quan Ride on. Starting from the Riverside Campground and featuring also the Corridor Cup team event with defending SK champs Kelly and Dwayne. Details to follow. Ride on!
Steveston Sockeye Spin: Saturday, August 14, 2010
Provincial level road crit in Steveston