Ice and Cowbells
With the cyclocross season winding down Todd Allison had the chance to ride the "Cross of the North" in Ft. Collins, Colorado. As he headed out on the course the temperature had already risen to -9c!! Having missed much of the series Allison was relegated to the last row in the call up so he had his work cut out to move up the ranks. Riding on ice and snow for the first two laps was one challenge but for the last half of the race the sun had warmed the mud on the east slope and there were more challenges with which to content. A fun event with lots of technical sections and difficult run-ups allowed Allison a 26th place finish. He was happy with the result after missing the first half of the season with infected road-rash after a training crash.
Guadalajara training
Great to have a wide open road, no cars and fresh pavement to train on each day here in Guadalajara!
Parapan American Experience
Autumn Ridin' and Racin'
The Whistler and Squamish trails are still in great shape and as a good friend says, there is no bad weather, just bad clothing. Luckily the Team Whistler riders are still out on the trails in their Louis Garneau kit and while the mud demands it is washed more often, it is working great. Also out on the trails is John Wong who placed 30th in the Pumpkin Cross cyclocross race in spite of coming down with the flu that morning and being wiped out the week after. It's not too late to get out and ride but be careful on the bridges - they could be slippery!
Two 4ths on the Track
Team Whistler rider Atilla Avsar grabbed a couple of 4th place finishes racing on the burnaby velodrome this past Friday. He got 4th in the scratch race in the pack sprint and he bridged across to the winning break in the points race and lapped the field with 3 other riders.
New Team Whistler Photos
Check out new Team Whistler photos on our prototype page. You can get there also on the left navigation pane (New Photo Gallery).
Vanier Park Cyclocross
Congrats to John Wong for finishing his first CX of the year at Vanier Park last weekend. While he was one lap down in that race, he hopes to finish one lap up at the next race - the Pumpkin Cross
New Bike for Sale
Trevor Hopkins has posted a "like new" 2011 Mountain Bike for sale on our the "sale" side of our website - have a look!
Team Whistler Rides into the Fall
Riders from Team Whistler continue to acheive success on their bikes. With Mike Boehm placing 3rd in the Westside Wheelup and Mahon Lamont being top Junior in the final Whistler Toonie and the Wheelup, podium positions continue. Congratulatinos to all riders who pushed so hard in the Toonies, the Wheelup and the Whistler Gran Fondo. You all continue to make us proud. Now, let's take on the jump into the cyclocross season - more mud and cowbells.
Whistler Toonie a Success for Team Whistler
Team Whistler riders had a great night on Thursday with Jesse winning and four other riders placing in the Top 10! Congrats to Jesse, Mike, Tony, Trevor and Brandi.
JABR Rider Submission - Dustin Gordon
he course for the Just Another Bike Race (JABR) was fun and the weather was hot! I started off a bit slow but got into a good rythm by the time I got to Half Nelson. On this section I was behind some slow riders and decided to pass - sadly I ended up too fast into a roller, rode the front wheel for quite a while before I ate it big time half way town. In the crash I did hurt my hip a bit, but got back up and continued. When I started to climb up the fire road I noticed my chain was making a weird sound ... shortly after, it snapped. I wasn't carrying any tools to fix it so rode back down the hill to see if the course marshall had anything. When they didn't I continued further and was luck there were some vehicles parked at the bottom and they were happy to help with what they had. Instead of bike tools, I used needle nose pliers and an axe to break the chain and place in a quick connect which cost me a good 25 minutes in "race time". The rest of the race was good however the last trail did me in; I started to bonk but managed to finish. Overall it was a fun ride.
To recover from the race I slowed it down and did the slow food cycle in Pemberton which was great. Organizers estimate that about 3500 riders attended. Most places ran out of food but again, the weather was perfect for a great event.
Just Another Bike race report August 20th 2011
It was another successful weekend for Team Whistler at the last BC Cup marathon series race. The last race of the Hell Of A series was “It’s Just Another Bike Race”. It was held on some of Squamish’s funnest single track. I’m very surprised more people don’t do this race. I think it is more fun and just as challenging as the Test Of Metal. Tony Routley won his race in the master’s 50-59 category and placed 11th over all. He actually beat all the racers in the 40-49 categories. Age is defiantly not slowing Tony down. Tony also won the over all in the Hell Of A Series. Trevor Hopkins also placed 1st in the Master 35-39 category and was 7th over all. Trevor also won the over all in the Hell Of A Series. JP placed 4th in the 20-29 category and also won the over all in the Hell Of A Series. Here are some more results from other Team Whistler racers. Dustin Gordon 17th 30-34, Dave Thornhill 1st 60-69, Linda Robichaud 4th Pro woman.
It’s Just Another Bike Race results:
Trevor Hopkins 1st 35-39 2:41:57
Tony Routley 1st 55-59 2:44:29
Dave Thornhill 1st 60-69 4:21:51
Linda Robichaud 4th Pro 3:16:26
JP 4th 20-29 in 3:26:08
Dustin Gordon 17th 30-34 3:37:09
Hell Of A Series over all results:
Tony Routley 1st 55-59
Trevor Hopkins 1st 35-39
JP 1st 25-29
David Thornhill 1st 60-69
Congratulations to Jesse Melamed!
Jesse won his first Toonie race in Whistler last night - the first of many to come! Way to go Jesse!
Reminder for this weekend ... Climb to Joffre/Match your Guess!
Ride in this inaugural event. Come one, come all to the first Annual Defeat the Duffey bike race!
Premise: No watches, no computers, no power meters, no sun dials... Guess your time from the start at Lillooet Lake to the parking lot at Joffre Lakes, an estimated 1118m elevation gain! The rider closest to their guess wins. The Grand Prize will be a basket of local Pemberton and Whistler produce and goodies.
When: August 20, 3pm. Riders will depart at one minute intervals, in reverse order of speed (i.e. Fastest rider will go last). Rain or shine!
Where: Lillooet Lake start to Joffre Lakes parking lot. With the paving on the Mt. Currie road, the organizers suggest car pooling to the base of the climb.
Cost: A donation for the Pemberton food bank.
Post-Event: The organizers will be hosting a family-friendly BBQ (either at Chez Nicholas or at Chez Cogger/Taylor – details follow). We’ll provide the food and beer, riders will provide tales of grandeur!
This is a non-sanctioned event, for fun only! Everyone should enjoy themselves (on a 12% grade) but also please be careful and don’t take any unnecessary risks - the race is up, not down. All levels of riders welcome, mountain or road bikes. Riders who are not comfortable descending from the lakes can get a lift. There will be at least one vehicle at the top to help people down.
If you can confirm in advance that you’ll be riding, great! Send your personal time guess early! If not, we’ll see you on the side of the road. Organizer contact click here.
BC Championships 2011-Mt Washington (submitted by Brandi Heisterman)
It was a beautiful sunny day; conditions were perfect for an 8:45 mountain bike race start - yes, an early way to get the lungs going! Pro women raced five laps while pro men raced six but we all started together making it very fast off the start. The course was amazing! Punchy steep climbs followed by fun, steep descents with dry roots and rocks – even a few little jumps added to the fun! I was leading into the 2nd lap when my cable came off the bottom of my bike and started rubbing on my tire. It took me a few minutes to figure out that it was a cable and not my hub, but I couldn't get the cable back in the narrow hold. Luckily I had my splint on for my broken pinky finger, and I whacked it into place. I lots 5 mins (I checked my Garmin after and it verified the time). I was glad to have made the repair and get back on my bike because at least then, I had a race on my hands to catch up to the 2nd and 3rd place women who had passed me. I did catch them both going into the 3rd lap and then just tried to open a substantial gap to the finish – just in case I encountered any more problems.
I was happy to win and claim both the BC Championship podium and the win of the BC cup standings as well. Both my teammates who were racing also won their categories: Trevor and Tony. The crowd was stoked when the three of us handed out TRUE BLUE drinks to racers and onlookers.
Thanks to BC Ferries for helping us out with some fares to and from the island.
Three Provincial Champions!
At the Cycling British Columbia Provincial Championships held this weekend in Mt. Washington, Team Whistler crowned three provincial champions: Tony Routley, Trevor Hopkins and Brandi Heisterman. Warm, dry conditions made for a fast, great day of racing on a challenging course.
The transfer to Vancouver Island was made easier for the three by the generous support of BC Ferries who assisted in their travel expenses and provided them with amazing vistas over Georgia Strait from the Coastal Renaissance.
Contratulations to all three!
Team Whistler Feature on Shaw
Check out the Shaw TV feature on Team Whistler when you are in Whistler in August. Or, have a look here!
http://www.youtube.com/user/WhistlerShaw#p/a/u/0/bp9V6fAMXWo
Guess Your Time up the Duffy to Joffre Lake
Team Whistler invites you to participate in this inaugural event. Come one, come all to the first Annual Defeat the Duffey bike race!
Premise: No watches, no computers, no power meters, no sun dials... Guess your time from the start at Lillooet Lake to the parking lot at Joffre Lakes, an estimated 1118m elevation gain! The rider closest to their guess wins. The Grand Prize will be a basket of local Pemberton and Whistler produce and goodies.
When: August 20, 3pm. Riders will depart at 1 minute intervals, in reverse order of speed (i.e. Fastest rider will go last). Rain or shine!
Where: Lillooet Lake start to Joffre Lakes parking lot. We suggest parking in Pemberton or Mount Currie and getting a good warm up done on your way out to the start and a nice cool down on your way home. Plus, there’s nowhere to park at the start/
Cost: A donation for the Pemberton food bank.
Post-Event: We’ll be hosting a family-friendly BBQ (either at Chez Nicholas or at Chez Cogger/Taylor – details follow). We’ll provide the food and beer, riders will provide tales of grandeur!
This is a non-sanctioned event, for fun only! We want everyone to enjoy themselves (on a 12% grade) but also please be careful, and don’t take any unnecessary risks - the race is up, not down. All levels of riders welcome, mountain or road bikes. Riders who are not comfortable descending from the lakes can get a lift. We’ll have at least 1 vehicle at the top.
If you can confirm in advance that you’ll be riding, great! Send your personal time guess early! If not, we’ll see you on the side of the road.
Any questions? Suggestions? Comments? Send ‘em over! Happy Training!
More Toonie Success
Mike Boehm continues to impress at the Whistler Toonies - this week coming 2nd! Climbing "See Colours and Puke", Tony Routley managed an 8th place finish while Dustin Gordon finished in 41 minutes with the pack. Great work, again!
Gearjammer from the Perspective of Keith Ray
"The Gearjammer has been among my favorite races for years. The 51K course links up some of the best xc trails in Squamish with only minimal fire road sections in between them. Its super fun, but its also a race that challenges your technical abilities as well as the fitness of your entire body.
I pre-rode the second half of the course on Tuesday and got some information that helped on Saturday. First, it would be wet a and greasy so I put a 2.25 Ardent on the front and ran 28lbs. psi, thanks Stans No-Tubes! Second, I was reminded of how much climbing is in the last part of the course and that they have added even more singletrack near the end. You need to pace yourself in order to finish strong in the Gearjammer.
Saturday turned out to be one of the few nice sunny days of the summer but sections of the course were still muddy, particularly Recycle and Powerhouse Plunge. The pace from the start up the paved road through Alice Lake park was civilized but ramped up as soon as the tires hit the dirt. I had to really push myself to stay with a couple of guys that I know are in my category until we got into the singletrack where it gets a bit backed up and I could rest a bit. The long climb up Skookum to Powersmart was where my strategy was to pace myself and I had to let several riders pass. Recycle and Pseudo Pseuga were fast and fun and I started to reel back some time. Powerhouse Plunge went as well as could be expected for the slimy conditions but the leg cramps were coming on by the time I got to the feed zone where Gary and Mike gave me a much appreciated feed.
I had to spin easy for the first climb in Crumpit Woods but eventually got some strength back and had a strong finish making it a great day of racing.
I placed third in Masters 40-44 which only makes me look forward to doing better next year!"
Weekend Mountain Wrap-up
It was another busy weekend on the sea-to-sky trails for Team Whistler riders. With Crankworx taking centre stage in Whistler, Squamish held the third race in the "Hell of a Series" - the Gearjammer. Through 53km of tough single track starting at Alice Lake and finishing in Rose Park by the Adventure Centre, our riders did well and earned four podium finishes. Standing on top of the podia were Tony Routley (55-59) and David Thornhill (60-69) while Trevor Hopkins was one step down (35-39) and Keith Ray won the bronze (40-44). Mahon Lamont rode a great time of 3' 12" and managed a 5th place finish (14-19).
With all the activity in Squamish, we can't forget about Jesse Melamed who, in spite of his age and coming back from injury, was riding as a Pro-Elite in the Enduro stage race. With two 4th place finishes Jesse managed to beat riders who he has been chasing for years and was 8th overall. Also participating in the Crankworx Enduro were Mahon Lamont, Dave Burch and Dustin Gordon. Congratulations to all.
Whistler Toonie - Up the Bobsleigh Track
All described the brutal climb on Thursday's Toonie ride as a great experience as they raced up the Bobsleigh Track at the Whistler Sliding Centre - home of sliding sports for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Team Whistler had five riders in the race with top points going to Brandi Heisterman who won the Prime up the track as well as the Women's category. Top male was Jesse Melamed (6th) followed closely by Dave Burch (8th) and Mike Boehm (9th) while Dustin Gordon finished in the pack. While the ride was great, so was the apres at The Lift. The efforts of the organizers were appreciated by all!
Special Guests on the Tuesday Nighter
It was great to have top level riders Will Routley and Shoni Laxon join the group ride to the Callaghan on Tuesday night. Shoni was hot off her win at the UBC Superweek Crit while Will, currently the silver medalist from the Canadian Championships, rode with the pack and gamely took part in Otto's interval workouts up the Callaghan. Almost 30 riders took part and while the workout was challenging, all thoroughly enjoyed the ride. Best of luck to Will as he heads off to Europe for the next month.
Weekend Activity Report
It was a busy weekend across western Canada for Team Whistler riders. Congratulations to our atheltes who raced at the Canadian Mountain Bike Championships! Tony was 5th, Brandi was 7th (Elite Women) and Jesse was 16th - even with having to jump off each lap to pump his leaking tire.
Ann Yew placed 2nd in the Crankworx Endury (Whistler) followed closely by Linda Robichaud in 5th; Dave Burch also rode well.
Finally, Mike Rogerson led five Team Whistler riders by finishing under four hours in the Kelowna Granfondo. Also riding were Elizabeth Rogerson, Tom Thompson and Francis Chaisson (all under five hours). Todd Allison rode the ride as an Ambassador.
Great work to all!
Val Burke Talks
New Zealand physiologist Val Burke, Coach of the NZ Triathlon Team and former Canadian Road Champion, Will Routley will be sharing her knowledge about riding, racing and training. From Loonies to Tour riders, all can benefit from her talk. Half of the proceeds go to WORCA with the balance contributing to her travel expenses to come to Whistler.
Where: Whistler Athletes' Centre (1090 Legacy Way)
Triathlon: Saturday, July 30th 6 - 8pm
Cycling: Monday, August 1st, 6 - 8pm
Cost: $20
RSVP to drochon@cscpacific.ca
Great Tuesday Nighter
Thanks to all riders who came out for a great ride and fun social Tuesday night. Fun was had by all and special thanks to Whistler Beer for hosting!
Axel Merckx Gran Fondo
Trevor Hopkins and Todd Allison rode the Axel Merckx Fondo this weekend: Trevor rode the 160km while Todd rode the 92km. Trevor Hopkins was in the lead group for much of the day, until he suffered his first of two flat tires. Even with his mechanical issues he managed to finish the "century" in 4 hours 22 minutes and crossed the line 45th. Allison had better luck - no flats. He managed to finish the "medio" distance in 2 hours 34 minutes to cross the line second overall (first male).
The course rolled from downtown Penticton, by the "Peach", up the Naramata Bench, north to Summerland before heading south around the back side of Skaha Lake to Okanagan Falls. At this point the groups split with the Granfondo participants riding the large hill to White Lake and the Medio riders being lucky with the smaller hill out of Okanagan Falls as they all faced the headwind riding back into downtown Penticton on Railway Avenue. Beautiful scenery throughout the entire route combined with a well organized event made for a great day for all!
Whistler Toonie Win
Last night's Toonie race loomed with the weather looking grim. An hour before the race the heavens opened up and the rain came down hard but it cleared just before race start and almost stopped for the entire race. The poor weather conditions did not stop a good rider turnout for the sponsors Cascade Environmental, Brent Harley & Associates, Gone Bakery, Whistler Village Sports, Whistler Brewing and Zoggs. The wet slippery conditions made for a good battle between race favourite Matt Ryan (Specialized) and Mike Boehm (Team Whistler) it came down to the final 400m were Mike took the win in a blistering 47min to complete the course. Not to be out done Team Whistler's Junior rider Mahon Lamont was the 1st Junior and 6th overall.
Mike Boehm 1st
Mahon Lamont 1st Jr
Tony Routley 6th
Jean Paul Boulias GC
Trevor Hopkins GC
Keith Ray GC
Inside a World Cup Mountain Bike Race
Brandi Heisterman recently placed 38th in a World Cup Mountain BIke race. In her words, she describes the race.
I was called up 57th of 61 riders to the start line which meant I was not at the front and would have an uphill battle right off the bat. The start was quite civilized and the pace was reasonable pace. The challenge was when 60 riders entered an uphill, greasy technical singletrack and brought the back of the pack to a standstill. There I was standing, in a line up, not able to move, and I was even in around 40th having moved up 17 places. Once moving we came to the "rock garden" section where I had to run DOWN on the first lap because no one was riding it and my rhythym was broken - you can't ride if someone has their bike across the trail in front of you and blocks your progress. In fact, most of the first lap was running and I was wishing I had continued with more cross training.
On the second lap the riders became more spaced out and the congestion had seemed to wane - I was able to clean the climbs and the rock garden with no problems. At this point I was feeling so awesome and started picking off riders, on the climbs and the decents. Third lap was the same - I rode up tho 32nd place and felt great; I was still reeling in riders. At the end of third lap I reached for my feed bottle and missed it but wasn't allowed to turn back and get it so had to proceed with no fuel. At that point I started to really feel hot on the climbs and feelings of the Sea Otter race creeped back into the forefront of my memory. I had that feeling of being so hot that it felt like my head was going to blow out of my helmet. At the end of the lap I got to the feed zone and guzzled my bottle of Endurox hoping for the best but within 10 minutes I started to feel cold; I got goosebumps, the chills, and saw a few stars - never a good sign. I started making stupid decisions and decided to ride a line that I hadn't tried the whole race; I and went over the bars, broke my lock out button and smashed my forearm and knee. I peeling myself out of the mud, lost 3 spots in the race and tried to regain focus because I wanted to finish - I did not come all the way to my first World cup to DNF or be lapped. I sucked it up, managed to stay out of trouble and best of all, no one lapped me!
Ahhh, there is so much to learn about racing, all the little fine details that the pro's have dialed in. But hey, I'm not overly disappointed in my performance. I am excited about where I was in the race in the first 3 laps, and I feel that if I had of managed the heat and humidity better, then things would have gone as planned. At home, I am back on my road bike, banging out some miles in the Sea to Sky corridor and heading to the island this weekend for some family time (of course I am bringing my bike).
Next race is Nationals in Canmore, two weeks away....
Busy Weekend for Team Whistler
Between Toonies, World Cup MTB, Randoneer events and the Canadian Championships, Team Whistler riders have been busy, as usual. Last Thursday four team Whistler riders placed top ten in the Whistler Toonie. Top riders were Mike Boehm (5th) and Jesse Melamed (6th) with Trevor Hopkinds and Dave Burch rounding out top ten finishers.
Phil Chew finished his longest race ever at a Randoneur race. Phil covered the 144km course in 4' 53", within his five our goal. This time is impressive for any rider however, truly incredible considering Phil is an amputee and completed this using only one pedal! Congratulations.
Finally, Brandi Heisterman continued to impress with a 38th place finish at the Mountain Bike World Cup held at Mount Saint Anne, Quebec. This is truly an impressive start to her international career as she is holding her own with the best in the world.
Small Field Doesn't Mean Less Effort
Jesse Melamed and JP Boulais were the only two entrants in this weekend's Senior Mens' category of the Cardiac Classic XC mountain bike race however, the limited field didn't mean it became a "sunday ride". Both Jesse and JP put it on the line to race on the challenging Burnaby course. After all the climbing was done, Jesse edged JP for the win. In the Masters Men's 30 - 39 Category, Trevor Hopkins and Dustin Gordon raced with the Team Whistler colours. Trevor led the race from the start until the last 500m at which point he crashed and was passed by one rider leaving him in 2nd. Dustin hadn't expected course changes since his last start in this race and while he went faster each lap, he was hit hard on the first lap because he went out too hard and took a while to recover - he ended up 12th.
Pemberton - Lilloet - Pemberton Date Change
Due to inclimate weather we have pushed back the ride from Pemberton to Lilloet return one day to Sunday.
Toonie Success
Congratulations to Linda Robichaud who was top female in the Squamish Toonie on Wednesday and Keith Ray who placed 7th in the Whistler Toonie Thursday!
Team Whistler Riders Show their Test of Metal
Nine Team Whistler riders braved a bit of early day rain and a lot of mud to finish the Test of Metal on the trails in and around Squamish. This 67km epic is the marquis recreational bike race in the Sea-to-Sky each year and while many others equal it in quality, none are more popular for participants. Three Team Whistler riders finished on or under three hours MIke Boehm, Brandi Heisterman and Trevor Hopkins placing 2nd, 2nd and 3rd respectively in their categories. Also on the podium for their categores were Tony Routley (1st), Jesse Melamed (3rd) and Gary Baker (1st). Also putting in great efforts with strong finishes are Ann Yew, David Thornhill and Dustin Gordon. Great work to all for good riding and great efforts.
Pemberton Valley Trails Fundraiser
The Pemberton Vally Trails Association is holding a fundraiser this Saturday (June 18th) at the new communtity centre in Pemberton. Start is at 8pm and tickets are $15 at the door. There will be door prizes as well as a silent auction. With Whislter beer being served, it should be a good time.
Whistler Toonie June 16th
With the Test of Metal just around the corner, a top result at the toonie wasn't a top priority for many Team Whistler riders, except for Dave Burch who worry about going out hard - he placed 5th. Dustin Gordon had a different goal for the toonie - show a friend a good time and get a good recovery ride in but did put his Rocky Mountain Slayer to the test on a fun downhill where he made the transitions on "Crabapple Hits". While Dustin's result wasn't as high as Dave's, he did achieve his goal for the race. Good luck to all in the Test.
Westside Classic UBC Vancouver June 12th
It was an early start for Team Whistler Riders Mike Boehm, Tony Routley and Trevor Hopkins to make the 7:30am start of the Westside Classic Road Race. The weather was cool to start but warmed up for a perfect race day. The 94km race featured a nice 1km climb for each of the 9 laps of the race with a gradual down and a tight corner to the finish line. Three of the Masters A,B,C and Jr group got away leaving the mass sprint for 4th and up. Tony Routley got good position for the sprint and made a good lead out for Mike Boehm who finished 8th overall with Routley 10th and Trevor Hopkins 15th. Ann Yew racing in the Pro Elite started at 10:30. Ann is a Mtb racer for the most part and found the road race a very good learning experience. She finish just of the back of the main group and was very happy with her day and looking forward to her next race. All of the Team Whistler rides are in the Test of Metal next weekend and used this race a a good warm up event.
Jesse's back!
After almost a year off his bike, Jesse is back up and racing! In Thursday night's Whistler Toonie race Jessee was 5th overall and 3rd of the Team Whistler riders. While his first race back was something of a sufferfest, he showed he still has what it takes to put it all out there on the course - welcome back! Dave Burch and Mike Boehm were 3rd and 4th respectively.
The day before, Brandi Heisterman placed 4th overall in the Squamish Toonie - she was the top woman. She also placed 6th in the Pro Elite women on June 5th at the Trek Canada Cup in Hardwood Hills, ON.
Pemberton - Lilloet - Pemberton 200
This 200 km road ride features 10,000 feet of climbing in the most scenic countryside in Canada! This unsupported ride allows you to be one with other like roadies on a self discovery tour of the Duffy lake road. During this unforgettable journey groups will go at there own pace from Pemberton to the first gas station in Lillooet.
Date: June 25 (rain date June 26th)
Start Time: 8:00am (ride time 7 - 10 hours)
Meeting Place: Outside Mt Currie Coffee Co., Pemberton
Who: All cycling friends in and around Whistler/Pemberton
Parking: Two locations – on the street past Mt Currie Coffee co or across the highway from Petro Can at the tourist info booth.
Note; This is an unsupported/unsanctioned ride; everyone is responsible for there own, food, water, bike maintenance and insurance.
Team Whistler Tuesday Night Road Rides
Awareness Key for Riders and Motorists
This YouTube clip shows how easy it is to miss key information if you are focused on something else and not completely aware of your surroundings. Whether you are riding or driving, make sure you aware when you are on the road! Feel free to share this clip with your friends and colleagues.
Belated Team Whistler results from the Tour de Victoria
"Yew Win!"
Ann Yew won the North Shore Ripper held this weekend in North Vancouver. She described the course as "very tough" but was thrilled to have come across the line first. Look for Ann and many other Team Whistler riders in a few weeks at the Test of Metal (Squamish).
Whistler Chiro Toonie Success
In the Whistler Ciropractic sponsored toonie held Thursday night we say two Team Whistler riders on the podium: Mike Boehm placed 2nd and Dave Burch placed 3rd. Thanks to all who raced and helped Keith host this great race!
Tuesday Night Ride to WOP
Eighteen Team Whistler riders (depending on your display, you may see fewer) ventured up above the snowline on Tuesday to conquer early season snow banks at Whistler Olympic Park. Happy that the rain and snow has held off lately they were all glad to show their form as they climbed the access road to their "winter Nordic home". Now, for those of you that say, "hey, there are only 17 riders in the photo", you are right ... but someone had to take the photo! Full image is in our photo gallery.
Meet next Tuesday at 5:30 outside Summit Ski and Sports in the Village for next week's ride. If you aren't a member, click the "join" button in the upper left column of the home page. Veteran or newby, all roadies are welcome! Remember, wear a helmet if you are coming with us, and always. Group leaders are happy to provide you guidance.
Five Team Whistler Podiums at Nimby Fifty
Team Whistler had a great day at the NIMBY 50 this Sat. May 28th with five podium finishes. After the 2km roll out, the course became very challenging and climbed for the 1st hour before a fun downhill. More steep but short ups ensued which kept the pressure on the legs. I think everyone agreed this was a real Mountain Bike course requiring good fitness as well as good bike handling skills in order to do well. The rain held of and there was a great BBQ and beverage for the 326 competitors at the end of a hard race.
Podium results were attained in their categories by Mike Boehm, Trevor Hopkins, Tony Routley, JP Boulais and Ann Yew. See the results page for details.
Three Top Ten Results in Whistler Loonie
Another successful race for Team Whistler riders on Thursday when Trevor Hopkins placed third, Dave Burch was fourth and JP Boulais was 9th.
Canada Cup Success
Earlier this week we shared with you that Brandi Heisterman was headed off to Mt. Tremblant, Quebec for the Canada Cup mountain bike race. Yesterday she proved she is serious about qualifying for World's by winning the bronze medal - Congratulations Brandi!!
Mountain Bike Mid-Week
Mike Boehm placed 2nd and JP Boulais was 12th in the Whistler Thursday Toonie race around Lost Lake while Mahon Lamont won the junior category. Dustin saw this race as an opportunity to expose his friends who had not raced before to a great event. He described the race as having a big turn out which caused the trails to become quite congested but said the trails were great and the race was fun - his friends had a good experience.
Also this week, Mahon Lamont finished the NSMBL serices with another win - a sweep of the five race series in the Juvenile category. Watch for Mahon on the trails as he trains for the Test of Metal - coming soon!
Road Sandwich?
It's great to have the Giro d'Italia on in the mornings then wrap up the day with the Amgen Tour of California. Sadly, they don't broadcast the first half of the race but if you were following results you would have seen Will Routley win one of the five King of the Mountain and place second on two others. Congratulations to him and his Spydertech team for representing Canada so well. Keep up the great work!
Brandi Heisterman off to the Canada Cup
With hopes of qualififying for the Mountain Bike World Champsionships, Brandi is heading to race the Canada cup next weekend at Mount-Tremblant, Quebec. A top 5 finish will gain her valuable points towards qualifying. Good luck!
Know someone who needs a "new to them" bike?
Trevor Hopkins has some bikes for sale.
Mountain Bike Racing Success
Team Whistler rides had another great weekend with five of seven riders on the podium at the Ore Crusher mountain bike race in Brackendale this weekend. Great rides were put in by all: Mike Boehm was first in the 30 - 34 men, Brandi Heisterman (2:13) and Linda Robichaud (2:35) placed 1 - 2 in the Elite women while David Thornhill (2:46) and Mike Hawes (3:16) were 1 - 2 in the 60 - 69 men. JP Boulais (2:18) won the 20 - 29 men and Trevor Hopkins' bad luck in this race seemed to continue this year as he did not finish - last year he had multiple flats and other problems. The Ore Crusher is the first in the Hell of a Series which includes the Test of Metal, JABR and the Gear Jammer.
Also putting in great results this week was Mahon Lamont who placed 1st (Junior) in the May 12th Toonie and 1st Juvenile at this weeks North Shore Mountain Bike League. Congratulations to all riders for great efforts.
Fondo Weekend for Team Whistler
Team Whistler riders were busy across the U.S. with Gran Fondo's this weekend. Seven Team Whistler Club riders rode in the Moab (Utah) Gran Fondo. With over 5500' of climbing over the 100km, the route was tough however, all riders finished and committed to doing it again. Jon Blok was the fastest rider from Whistler with a time of 3:44 while Todd Allison from Team Whistler finished in 3:51. Team Whistler Club members Mike Rogerson charged into the finish at 3:55 followed shortly by Brenda Baker who had a very strong climb over grades of up to 11% - in 4:05. Other riders from Whistler were Pete Stace Smith (Norco) and Grace Blok, 4:15 and 4:45 respectively. The final two riders coming in under the time limit were Elizabeth Rogerson and Gary Baker - both had trouble on the route. Elizabeth had a flat tire in the home stretch while Gary suffered severe cramps at the base of the first big climb and ended up walking much of the 17km climb in his cleats trying to work the cramps out.
The big story however was Tony Routley's finish in the New York Gran Fondo, a qualifier for the World Gran Fondo finals in Belgium. In spite of a wrong turn that added 10 minutes to his time, Tony managed a 5:15 finish and was first in his category thereby qualifying for the September event. Congratulatinos to Tony on this accomplishment and to all the riders for riding well and representing Whistler south of the 49th.
The riders who rode in Moab all said they are looking forward to the third edition in 2012 while many others are making plans for the Whistler, Kelowna and Penticton Gran Fondos later this year.
Racing really "Kick's off"
Two Team Whistler riders, Tony Routley and Nels Guloien are racing in the Tour of the Gila this week in southern New Mexico. The Gila is traditionally the race where continental teams go to get race ready for the Tour of California and the Giro. The steep climb and tough race conditions which include the massive climb over the "Gila Monster" really challenge the riders.
Tony sent a message after finishing yesterday that he was with the lead group for 4km of the last 11km climb to the finish before being dropped. While the day started at a cool 8 degrees celsius it did warm up to 18 before the race finished. As is typical in the region at this time he indicated there was a fairly strong wind blowing in our faces all day. The wind meant that nobody wanted to spend to much time at the front other than a few hard efforts that did split the field a little. For the most part the day came down to the final 10.8km climb to the finish.
Tony managed to finish finished 7th in the 50+ and 30th in the 40+ while Nels had a rough day and had to chase to the finish in a nasty head wind and managed to finish 74th in the 40+.
The race has five stages and the route today will be challenging with lots of climbing and the wind which could top 60 mpg which will be a big factor. Best of luck to Tony and Nels!
Busy Weekend!
It was a busy weekend for Team Whistler riders as road and cross country race schedules kick into high gear. Brandi swapped her road bike for a mountain bike at the Sea Otter Classic, Trevor raced in Hawaii, Mahon kicked off his season with a SORCA race, Otto raced the Masters Road kick off while Tony Routley was in Walla Walla and even former Team Whistler rider Will Routley showed what he is made of in the European road race, Tro Bro Leon.
Tony raced the four stages in the Walla Walla Omnium and had consistently good results in the 50+ taking him to 4th in the GC (he placed well in the 40+ as well). Otto bumped up categories and held his own with the Cat 1,2,3 Masters’ Men placing 2nd and 6th after running out of steam with only a few kilometers to go. Finally, congratulations to Will who wore the Canadian Champion’s jersey to 2nd in his first European podium.
All described the weekend as fun racing and great training!
Race Report - The End of the Spring Series
Submitted by Brandi Hesterman. The last race of the Spring Series included a two day stage race this weekend in Langley/Aldergrove. Day 1 included a criterium and a time trial wihle day 2 was a 107km road race. Trevor and Tony were the representatives of Team Whistler on Day 1 and rode well in a hotly contested criterium. Tony finished 11th in the final spring with Trevor close behind on his wheel for 13th. The time trial was held in the afternoon and both Tony and Trevor put in solid performances. Riding with no time trial equipment Trevor pulled of an 18th place at 17:21 and Tony a 16th at 16:59.
On Day 2 Trevor and Tony were joined by me and Mike Boehm for the road race where probably 1/3 of the field in the Bs were junior races from all over the province - most of whom were there to try to win points for summer games selections. The road race course was a flat 7.7km loop, with windy "S" turns and only one slight grade on a straight. This was a difficult race for a break to get away with the factors of a large field and a strong wind acting as minimizers. It was awesome to see all four Team Whistler riders riding in the pack! Tony, Mike and Trevor were up at the front for the entire 107kms.
Riding with the Junior riders had its challenges. Many of these Juniors were erratic with their movements and obviously lacked etiquette and experience: I quickly realized that I needed to be wary of them. Sadly, the awareness didn't come soon enough because I crashed on the first lap as a result of the poor choices made by strong junior riders. Luckily the crash didn' inflict any real damage which is lucky because it doesn't take much to break a collar bone and end a season.
Riding warily, I caught up to the Team Whistler boys mid way through the race. It was very difficult for me to move around today with such a massive field and so much young testosterone around. A few of the "kids" got away on a break in the last 1/3 of the race but we were unable to reel them in. About 20 riders went into the last turn - a 4% grade with a 350m sprint to the finish. Trevor, Mike and Tony sprinted for the line with Tony in the lead Mike on his wheel. Mike got boxed in and was not able to come around and Tony lead the charge over the line for 11th, Mike 12th and Trevor 16th while I managed a top 20 finish, picking off the blown riders in the last 50 metres. Trevor and I both agreed the Spring Series provided us some awesome training for our upcoming MTB seasons, but we are both happy to hang up the road bike for the season and start ripping it on the trails in Whistler and Squamish!
Congratulations to Team Whistler "offspring"
Another Team Whistler father can be proud ... Leah Guloien, daughter of Team Whistler rider Nels, has just been named to the Canadian National Team to represent Canada on the road at the spring events in Europe. In addition, Shani Laxon has also been invited to participate in the project and will be joining her colleagues on the European roads. Good luck to our women!
Spring Series Final Race Report - DEVO Omnium
Team Whistler was well represented with four riders taking part in the final Spring Series road race of the year. Top individual finisher was Tony Routley with an 11th place but omnium results are still pending. A race report will be posted soon.
Spring Series #6 - Atomic
Spring Series #6 was the Atomic race course in Abbotsford. This course has been used for numerous BC championships it is a tough course with three tough hill climbs that separate the fields every time. The weather was calling for light rain but clear skies prevailed for a perfect race day. Mike Boehm and
Tony Routley joined the other 70 or so B series racers for the 10 laps for a 110km of racing. The race had constant attacks and surges that eliminated 50% of the field by the 60km mark and people were shelled each time up the main climb. For the final lap it came down to about 20 racers and once again
it was strung out up the final climb to the finish. Tony hung on for a 10th and Mike a 16th both were very happy with the finish and guessed that skiing must be really good for cycling!!!
Updates on Group Rides and the Ore Crusher
Team Whistler Tuesday Night rides will start May 10th. Rain or down pour or
rain or drizzle or maybe sun
Republic Bicycles Squamish will hold there first Tuesday Night ride this
week March 29th. Start at Republic Bikes 5:30 this week and will move to a
6pm start later in the season. This is a group ride for fitness and training
not a race a good chance to get in some miles and talk with some friends.
For more information <http://www.riderepublic.com/> www.riderepublic.com
The Ore crusher bike race will be be put on by Republic Bikes and Team
Squamish this year. Armand at Republic Bicycles was telling us it is going
to be a new format this year. No lemonds start, a 40km approx course with
everyone doing the same number of laps on a slightly changed and longer
course from other Years Race date May 14th. More info at
<http://www.riderepublic.com/> www.riderepublic.com
Team Whistler Partners with Louis Garneau for 2011
There is a new look for Team Whistler this spring with new team riding apparel from Louis Garneau. Get used to seeing these new colours and the new design ripping up the trails and posing on podiums! Team Whistler thanks not only Garneau but all of our supporters and sponsors who help make our personal and team dreams come true.
Spring Series Race Report – Race #5
Three Team Whistler racers Tony Routley, Trevor Hopkins & Mike Boehm made it down to Sundays Spring Series road race #5 which was held near Abbotsford. It was another beautiful sunny day with highs of +12 which brought out nearly 90 racers in B group at the start. All three team whistler riders played there race very smart staying near the front the whole race. Any breakaways quickly got chased down. Everyone in the group seemed to be too strong for any breakaways to stick. With three laps to go there was less than ½ the group still left in the race. In the final 2km all three Team Whistler riders were still in the hunt but that is where Mike Boehm’s legs got the better of him. It was only his second ride on his road bike this year and realized this just wasn’t enough riding to keep up in the final sprint. In the last 500meters there was only 12 racers left that could handle the fast pace up the last climb including Tony and Trevor. In the final stretch both Tony and Trevor got blocked in by slower riders and couldn’t quite make it to the front for the win. The 2 of them ended up 6th and 7th place and Mike finished about 20th: all three where very happy with the result. Especially Trevor who raced hard the day before and didn’t think he would have the legs to go hard again.
Spring Series Race Report: March 18th,2011
Considering it was snowing in Whistler the morning of the race, Trevor and I were nervous about slick roads, and hence, potential for crashes. As we drove closer to Aldergrove, the skies brightened and the sun was out; dry roads! The course was 93km, a 10km loop, so nine laps, and around 50 or so racers in our B group. There were some rolling hills, a (headwind) and crosswind on one of the straights, and a 15% climb on the hilly section. My goal this week was to stay up near the front, get more comfortable in the pack, and to be aggressive and not get pushed back so much. The race started off at a reasonable pace, but each lap it intensified at the climb. On lap four, there was some jostling for position up at the front, the pace picked up, and an attack was launched on the climb. Trevor and I were up at the front to chase, but five got away, and there were about 15 or so of us in the chase. The wind picked up, which made the straightaway before the climb nasty, and each lap my legs were tiring, just to stay with the pack. Trevor and I both attacked on the hill each lap, but as we went into the last two laps, I was struggling to hang on to the group on the flats. Trevor was looking good in the pack, though a one point he told me he was feeling bagged. One lap to go, the pace intensified again while we were pushing single file on the crosswind straightaway before the climb. I had a few guys helping me at the back, serving as blockers for the wind, and giving me tips as to where to sit during such winds. I was dropped just before the last lap counter, and the race went off without me. There was nothing I could do, I was punched, legs were blown. Trevor pushed on with the group and sprinted on the hilly finish to 7th place. They ended up catching all but two in the break group of five. As for me, ego shattered, I put my head down for the last lap and rode as hard as I could, in fear that the group we dropped five laps ago would catch me, and thankfully no one did!
All in all, a wicked training day for the both of us. I haven't felt pain so intense for a long time, maybe since childbirth?
Become a Team Whistler Club Member
With too much snow to ride in Whistler you too can dream of a "red rock" holiday! Three days of riding in Moab, Utah was a great riding fix during the holiday time. While the old faithful trails were great (Amasaback (above), Sovereign, etc.) there is new train building activity going on there and they are doing great work. Try "Pipedream" and "Deadman's Ridge". Also, there is a new bike path that links Gemini Bridges/Bar M to town - no longer do you have to battle the traffic on the highway!
Check in at Poison Spider Bikes when you hit town for tips and those bits you may have forgotten to pick up at Summit before you left Whistler. While there you can register for the Gran Fondo Moab (May 7th) which runs a 62 mile loop throught the beautiful Lasal Mountains. Enjoy!
Team Whistler Supports Santa's Feed Station
Support a Rider and Help Yourself
A Whistler native, Ben Chaddock, has long been associated with Team Whistler but has moved from his Whitman College cycling team on to a Pro Continental Team out of Boise, Idaho: Team Exergy Professional Cycling. The team rides in support of wind power as an alternative energy source and will be here for Superweek in July as well as the Gran Fondo Whistler. During that time, watch for Ben and his team mates on at least one Tuesday ride.
To help fund his endeavours Ben is selling some of his gear. Go to Ben's Blog Spot for some great deals on components, parts, a CX bike and even ski gear! You can also follow his travels there as well. Best wishes to Ben.
Team Whistler is proud to support Santa's Feed Station with hopes that he can set a personal best on Christmas eve. Merry Christmas to all from the team and best wishes for health, happiness and great riding in 2011!
Afraid of a Little Snow ... Not Tony!
Call it "training" or call it "character building", a little snow didn't scare Tony Routley away this week on a Squamish ride. I think they are tougher in Whistler!
Great News for Canadian Road Cycling Fans
Team SpiderTech powered by C10 is the very first Canadian cycling team to earn a Professional Continental licence from the UCI. Thanks to this status, Steve Bauer's team is eligible to participate in the highest ranked UCI races in the world.
SpiderTech Inc. will continue to be the lead sponsor of the team powered by C10, a consortium of leading Canadian corporations. C10 "made in Canada" is the newly branded message the team wishes to communicate to the world. "Our strength and continuity of our financial support for the Team has always come from a collaboration of top Canadian companies. We continue to grow
stronger in this regard and we are proud of this unique relationship with our sponsors," says Bauer.
The team roster for 2011 will be comprised off 13 Canadians and 3 other North-American athletes. New additions to the 2011 roster are three BC Boys:
· Canadian road Champion, and local Whistlerite, Will Routley
· track World Cup Silver medalist Zach Bell
· Ryan Anderson
The most exciting benefit of the team's new status will be to compete in the two UCI World Tour events of Canada alongside the top 18 Pro Tour teams of the world. The team has already received an official invitation from the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec and Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal.
For the spring, a three month campaign in Europe debuting in February is currently being planned. The team will complete this campaign with the Presidential Tour of Turkey from which an invitation has already been secured. The team returns to North-America with the goal to race the Amgen Tour of California, TD Bank International Classic Philadelphia, and Tour de Beauce. "It has been a challenging mission for our company to gain division two status, however it is a critical step forward in our long term goals to compete on the World Tour and the Tour de France" reveals Bauer.
New Team Whistler Partner for 2011
Team Whistler is happy to announce we have partnered with Summit Ski, Board and Bike for the 2011 season. At the base of both mountains, this location is easy to access and convenient to the park, trails and roads. With awesome mechanics, great products and friendly service, we are happy to have a new home base. You can grab what you forgot for the Tuesday group ride before we head out because this is where the rides will depart from, once the weather warms a bit.
When you go to Summit say, "Team Whistler cycling sent me" for a discount!
Too Cold to Ride???
The ski hills are open but that doesn't mean you have to hang up your bike ... you can still ride. While it is easier in Squamish and Vancouver than in Whistler, some common principles can help in any cold place.
1. Stay warm:
· Dress in layers and if possible, wear wind proof on the outside. Following the principles of wind chill - the faster you ride the colder it seems. Dry fit or wool should be close to your skin.
· Wear a liner under your helmet when it is cold to conserve heat and keep your ears warm.
· Triple what you think you need to wear on your hands. You can wear full finger bike gloves at 15 degrees so don't be afraid to stack on. Remember that your hands are in the wind and are touching metal.
· Cover your toes. Wool socks are a start but if you can get toe caps or booties, it helps.
2. Ride safely:
· Consider a studded front tire: it will help.
· Ride gently. If you are on ice move in slow motion because you can fall, fast! This is especially important on corners.
· Depending on conditions you may need to choose a gear you like and ride it like a single speed - cold, wet and snow can freeze the drive train.
· Speaking of ice. Realize your cleats will clog up with ice once you step in snow. Into a ride you may or may not be able to clip in.
· Depending on conditions, try riding in both tracked and untracked snow to see what works better on that day.
· It gets dark early. Don't scrimp on lights, especially on your back so you can be seen!!
3. Fuel:
· Pre-hydrate and remember what you take with you may freeze. If you use a camelback, blow out the hose after each drink; consider starting with hot water.
· Eat before you go out and take snacks that don't freeze. If you have low glucose stores you can get cold much faster.
Remember, you can stay warm climbing but what goes up must come down! Dress for the descent, not the climb - trust me, I keep learning the hard way.
Finally, take a cell phone. You can be dressed perfectly for a ride however if you have a breakdown it can become a life and death situation. Don't be afraid to call for help sooner than later.
Ride safely and have fun.
London 2012 Mountain Bike Course a Pleasant Surprise
While in London I had the chance to visit historic Hadleigh Farm in Essex county, home of the 2012 Olympic mountain bike course. Initial reports had suggested that the course was simply a route through a pasture however having visited it I am pleasantly surprised by both the quality of the course as well as the construction progress.
Perched on a hill overlooking the Thames River the course offers man-made descents and climbs on a challenging route. While most of the technical features have been constructed, it will be a physically challenging course with few places to rest. With combination of packed sand and pasture grass, any passing zones will require an all out effort to beat the riders to the next pinch point.
The circuit has three descent drops – all are rideable and all have A and B (easier but more time consuming) lines. The most impressive looks like a water slide with a series of drops on placed rocks – all inside rock construction that looks like a small luge track. This drop kicks out to a vertical wall at the bottom where riders can launch into the rest of the downhill single track.
For spectators, the course will provide value: it is a short walk from the train stop (less than 2 miles) and you will be able to see 70% of the course from one spot. If you haven’t already, get in line for your tickets or subscribe to cable! (If you do go, take an umbrella)
Another Gran Fondo
The inaugural Whistler Gran Fondo was a great success in 2010 and is looking to be even better in 2011. If you are looking for an early season, warm cycling escape and a chance to get a head start on summer 2011, registration for the 2nd Annual Moab (Utah) Gran Fondo is open for the May 7 ride. The mecca of mountain slickrock riding is hosting its second Gran Fondo road event as well and it is quite a bargain.
A Gran Fondo literally translates to "a big ride" in Italian where it is a community tradition. While not a "race", it is a timed event and it is the rider's choice whether he or she rides leisurely or strives for a personal best. The ride usually culminates in a celebratory meal and the ride itself usually features the best elements of roads in the region.
Early registration has three distinct advantages:
- lowest registration prices
- start in the earlier call up
- a space in an event that has a capped number of riders
Early registration ends December 15th and the rates rise to the second tier.
Check out http://poisonspiderbicycles.com/granfondomoab/ for more information.
Running of the Bulls - well, close ...
Submitted by Allison: The Colorado cyclocross scene is alive and well! I raced the Castlerock CX race Sunday, just south of Denver. Today I raced 35+, Cat 4 which was compared to the running of the bulls in Pampelona - only more chaotic. With 73 people in the field I started 10th row - dead last. As almost the whole 2.5 mile course was single track it was a tough battle but I managed to pass almost half the field - an accomplishment I was very happy with.
I was intrigued to read the course description which talked about "a traditional cross course with green grass and real dirt". The organizers obviously have not been to BC! The course was long and fun with a ton of climbing. There were screamer downhills on rough trail, a pump track and lots of loose dirt. Thank god for the Cycling BC, Squamish and Whistler training I have done - it helped a lot!
While the course was fun, the expo was a great wind up! Free beer, a physio, a bike shop, a bbq (with pulled pork and roasted turkey on top of the normal fare). Definitely a fun event which was enhanced by blue skies and +20C temps.
I am off to London tomorrow and will report back on the 2012 cycling courses soon!
Pan Am Games Courses - 2011
I had the chance to visit all four cycling courses for the PanAm Games 2011 in Guadalajara, Mexico. With temperatures in the low 80's Fahrenheit almost exactly a year from the Games, conditions look good for racing.
The Road course is in the city of Guadalajara - mostly in the district of Zapopan. It is a 14km loop with little elevation gain/loss. Watch for the sprinters because there is about a 1km wind up followed by a 90 degree turn and another 1km to the start/finish line of the circuit. The roads are a bit rough but still better than Squamish Valley used to be!
The BMX course will be built this winter in a park in the North-east of Guadalajara while the Velodrome is closer to the centre of town and has been operating for a couple of years. The Velodrome is a beautiful wooden track and the only modification they need to do is move some roof support columns from the infield that are currently obscuring vision lines for officials.
The Mountain Bike venue is about two hours south of Guadalajara in Tapalpa. Tapalpa is a picturesque town with about 10,000 inhabitants. There are cobblestone streets and it is truly charming - it is listed as one of the four Magical Cities in the Jalisco province of Mexico. The course will be tough! It starts in the middle of town and is about six kilometres in length: after three laps, you will be ready for a cervesa! The first three km climb - and I mean climb. Through the rough cobble stone streets it isn't too steep but then it "kicks up" to about 15% or more. The surface undulates between loose rocks and cobbles for the first 2km then mellows a bit as it starts to climb into the forest but don't be deceived, even in dry conditions, the double track is hard packed clay and is slippery. There is only one technical downhill on the course but it is a "doosey"! There are constant rock drops in three sections and no places to recover for about 100m - this will separate the technical riders from the aerobic machines - if they can make it up the climb! This course hosted the 2010 Mexican Nationals and there are lots of places in town to watch as the riders serpentine through the square on the way to the finish line.
While major networks may not cover the race, watch the cycling websites for live feeds!
There are no Snakes at 9,000 feet
This was the wisdom I got one day before going on a ride in the desert. Little did I know that I would test this theory in a race later in the year. I rode the Aspen Lodge Cyclocross race this weekend at Estes Park, CO, part of the Boulder Cup. The event was amazing with categories capped at 80 riders, a fully supported pit with loaner bikes and vendors on site. The race took over the small resort and there were at least 600 competitors there.
I had no idea how hard it was to race at 9,000 feet! Elevation combined with what the Pro’s described as the “most technical Cross course they had seen” made the day of racing a huge challenge. There was a large amount of elevation gain across the course and there was almost every obstacle one could imagine on it. Strategy of riding a section, when to dismount, whether to run or remount all came into play.
After a back row call up I knew it would be a challenge to have a good result in this race but it was a blast and would be the ideal training course for any cross racer. Each section was different and it challenged every aspect of skill, and fitness. Some described the course as “a moderately difficult mountain bike race course” but all seemed to like the challenge – even the kids making damns in a stream that made the mud bog even more of a challenge to cross. The beer garden and barbecue on the elevated should be mandatory inclusions in all bike races! Oh, and the advice was right – there were NO snakes!
Congratulations to Will
Congratulations to Will Routley after representing Canada at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India. Will overcame all of the challenges associated with these Games and supported his team-mate to a top finish. Will is listed as finishing 19th - very respectable!
Night Rides in a Big City
In the tradition of Sea-to-Sky autumn night rides, I ventured out in the city of Colorado Springs last night on my first night ride in a city of 500,000 people. I have found that riding at night in Squamish and Whistler tends to heighten your hearing and imagination – wondering if that was a branch cracking and if it was a bear or cougar watching you suffer up a trail. Riding in the city presents different challenges … As I was ripping through a city park with a bright light I ripped past an outbuilding and all of a sudden there was A LOT of activity as teenagers scattered – it was like an episode of “Cops”. Shortly after this I did realize I had never seen another cyclist out on a non-commute ride at night and wondered what these kids must have thought of my unintended stealthy assault; a blazing spotlight in their eyes and a bit of chain slap certainly interrupted their activities! Maybe the cops SHOULD follow my lead because I certainly had the element of surprise, much different than flying into a Squamish bat!
I was intrigued to read the course description which talked about "a traditional cross course with green grass and real dirt". The organizers obviously have not been to BC! The course was long and fun with a ton of climbing. There were screamer downhills on rough trail, a pump track and lots of loose dirt. Thank god for the Cycling BC, Squamish and Whistler training I have done - it helped a lot!
While the course was fun, the expo was a great wind up! Free beer, a physio, a bike shop, a bbq (with pulled pork and roasted turkey on top of the normal fare). Definitely a fun event which was enhanced by blue skies and +20C temps.
Get out for a "Nooner" ...
As the snow starts to leave make sure you book the time to get out on a "nooner" bike ride. This is the view from Gold Camp road looking back down on downtown Colorado Springs. Luckily, it is almost 20c here but, there are 75km/h wind gusts.
Tank Crossing?
It's not often that you have to look both ways for tanks before crossing an intersection however, that is the reality on the Ft. Carson Army Base, part of a key riding route from Fountain to Colorado Springs.
Quiznos Tour of Colorado Update
Good news today – the organizers of the Quiznos Tour of Colorado announced that the Canadian Team – Team Spidertech Powered by C10 - has been added to the roster of the inaugural UCI 2.1 race in Colorado in August. Spidertech will join nine other confirmed teams including Team RadioShack (USA), Liquigas-Cannondale (Italy), HTC-HighRoad (USA), Garmin-Cervelo (USA), BMC Racing (USA), Leopard-Trek (Luxembourg), UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA), Team Type 1-sanofi aventis (USA) and Skil-Shimano (Netherlands).
In total, the race will have as many as 128 professional cyclists from 16 teams. Specific riders who will participate will be named in the coming months but Team Whistler is hopeful to see Will Routley included on the Canadian's roster.
Snow and Wind, wait 10 minutes!
In a weekend where there are no local Colorado races I had the chance to go to Boulder for a training ride. Upon leaving Colorado Springs I encountered fresh snow and wet roads which has been quite unusual in southern Colorado this winter. After hitting Boulder and having a coffee I realized that the roads had dried up and the sun was out. I headed north out of town and couldn't believe the number of riders on the road: there were three distinct groups: Cat 1/2 and Pros, Recreational riders and everyone else. Riding out the fifteen miles north of town it was a steady stream of riders up and down both sides of the road - the smart ones were working together in the wind ... I was not one of those and found that no matter which direction the road turned, it seemed to turn into a stronger wind. The climb out of Boulder to Lyons was gentle but challenging with the wind. Once we hit the "left hand canyon" a lot of the riders turned around and at the time I wondered what they knew that I didn't. After dropping all the way to Lyons I turn around and realized how stiff the headwind was once again and looked at the climb ahead.
While it was a challenging ride, it was a great atmosphere with so many riders riding at their pace - great to get out on new roads. I can't wait to see this in the Sea-to-Sky corridor.
London 2012 Time Trial Route Announced
Today, LOCOG announced the route for the Olympic Games Cycling Time Trial, which will start and finish at Hampton Court Palace in south west London. The Time Trial is one of two Road Cycling events and will take place on day 5 of the Olympic Games on 1 August 2012. A map of the Time Trial route can be found on the London 2012 website. The Time Trial is a free event for spectators and will not be ticketed.
First race of the season, a road race in Langley
There were three of us from Team Whistler, Trevor, JP (Jean-Philippe Boulais), and myself (Brandi). The roads were still a bit wet at 10:45 when the race went off. As this was JP's first road race, he decided to race in Group C, in order to feel comfortable in a group, and get a feel for road racing. Trevor and I were in Group B, we started on the front, with about 50 or so other racers. The course was a 13 lap, 7 km loop(90 km in total), flat, with a bit of a wind in the second half of the race. I still need to figure out this road racing thing, and how to move around in the pack, as it took me 8 laps to get to the front! I hadn't seen Trevor since the start, he was at the front for the whole race. I was in awe of how he stayed up there the whole time! I kept getting squeezed out to the yellow line, or into the dirt on the right side. When I did finally get to the front, I intended to stay there, so took some pulls in the pace line and helped push the pace so we could drop some of the field. There were some attacks through the race, all in which were chased down. I noticed some jostling with two laps to go and I knew I needed to be in a good position at the front as to not miss the attack. The attack went off on a corner into a head wind, and I hammered to stay on a wheel, passing blown riders along the way. Trevor was up with the lead group too, so some of us broke away from the field, or rather, some got dropped from the field. Less than two laps left, so I figured less than 15 minutes of pain, I can handle that! With about 2 km to go there was some shuffling around for the perfect position for the finish. Man, it is hard to move in a pack! I could tell the experienced riders from the less experienced (me), because they easily moved around. I got yelled at a few times for dangerous moving (sorry guys), but in the end, was about 20th into the last corner, (wanted to be in top ten), and ended up in the top 15 at the finish (2nd female). Trevor got into a smart position for the last two corners, top ten, and had an awesome sprint finish for a tie for fifth. The race lasted about 2:12 minutes, and my average heart rate was 165, so all in all, a good effort and training day. The sun was shining, the roads were dry, and I had a exciting ride, perhaps a bit nerve racking at times, but nonetheless, I look forward to the next road race!
JP (Jean-Philippe Boulais) said he had a great first road race in the C group. He spent a lot of time at the front trying to break away but with 3 laps to go he burnt all his matches and could no longer keep up with the lead group. He ended up mid-pack in the chase group. He said next time he will race smarter and not spend so much time at the front and try to go for the win. He said he can't wait for next weekend race.
Brandi
Routley off an Racing in France
Congratulates to Ryders Eyewear on 25 Years
Team Whistler riders are happy to wish our eyewear partner, Ryders Eyewear,
a happy 25th birthday! We have proudly been wearing Ryders Eyewear for five
years and know that their quality has made riding more enjoyable and safer
for our riders.
As part of their 25 year anniversary they have redesigned their logo to
reflect the fresh personality of the brand's innovation. Within this new
brand logo icon is a subtle "R" that appears to be moving or rotating,
representing Ryder's support of human-powered sports. The icon consists of
three separate components, representing the three equally integral
considerations when designing sport performance eyewear:
1) The Sport/Activity the glasses are designed for
2) The Conditions the glasses are intended to be used in (e.g. light,
weather and location)
3) The Style - because the eyes are the focal point of a person and style
is an important confidence builder which aids performance
The three pieces come together to form a solid, dynamic and protective
shape, representing the overarching role of sport eyewear, which is
protection.
You can pick up a pair of these affordable, quality glasses at Summit before
you head up the lifts or out on a ride - tell them Team Whistler sent you
for a pair!
Nimby 50 Entries Selling Quickly!
The second marathon XC race in the Hell of a Series is selling out fast! Didn’t get into the "Test"? There is still some space in the Nimby 50 in Pemberton (May 28th) even though 100 of the 300 (capped) spaces are sold. This epic mountain bike race covers many of the world-class single track trails, climbs and decents that make the area famous. With upgraded trails and a promise from the organizer of nice weather we are hopeful for a great race day! Go to their website for details and to register before all of the 300 spaces are gone.
Become a Team Whistler Club Member
If you aren't planning on racing Cycling BC calendar events this year but will be joining Team Whistler on rides you can buy your club membership online. To meet our sanctioning requirements all participants need to either have a race license or a membership. $36 provides you sport injury and liability insurance in addition to piece of mind.
When you go to the new Cycling BC sign up site you will need to start with a Quick Sign Up then purchase a Club Associate Membership and in the drop down box, highlight "Team Whistler". Note that your username is your e-mail account and you will be able to retrieve your password there. We look forward to having you join our club again and ride with us soon.
Again for 2011 the only cost to become a Team Whistler club member is the Cycling BC fee: Team Whistler still does not charge a specific club fee.
Follow Will and Shani in Carcasonne
Follow the adventures of Will and Shani as they prepare for upcoming races from their french castle through Shani's blog. While there seem to be challenges, it seems like an ideal place to train.
Competitive Cycling Class
Resident Team Whistler "roadie" Otto Kamstra along with John Blok are teaching a Competitive Cycling class. The class is Tuesdays at 7pm and Sundays at 6pm. Look for measurable improvement after successful completion. While the sessions have started, you still may be able to join this six week program (started January 18)
Winter Escape in Moab
Submitted by Brandi Heisterman. Once again, Trevor and I found ourselves on the USA and Canada border, with dry roads and 50 plus riders in B Group. The race was 107 km, 15 laps, almost the same course as last Saturday, except, to my pleasure, the long flat straightaway that destroyed me the week prior was cut in half and we had to climb the 16% hill 15 times: nice. Trevor was hoping for the win, I was hoping to stay with the leaders to the end. The race got under way at 10:35, and we started going in circles in Aldergrove. It was a difficult race in which to break away because right after the climb there was a long descent, which enabled stragglers to catch on. Trevor managed to break away on the flat after the climb with two other guys and they hammered away gapping the group for two plus laps. I was in the chase group, and some of the guys were getting worried because we couldn't see Trev's break away group. My group stepped it up and we reeled in the break, but still had about six laps left to race.
I struggled again on the straightaways when the group started to hammer and had to bury myself to close the gap right before the hill. Thankfully, I got back with the group and we stayed as 20 riders until the sprint finish up the hill. Trev positioned himself well and sprinted up the hill into 5th place. I struggled to get by anyone but managed to pick off blown riders one-by-one up the last hill. I passed about 5 or 6 riders and rode to a 15th placing. This was another awesome training day (the purpose of the Spring Series); I'm happy that I didn't blow to pieces, but rather, kept my pride and legs intact and finished with the leader group.
Next weekend is a two day stage race in Langley, with a crit, TT, and road race. Should be interesting!
Busy Weekend!
It was a busy weekend for Team Whistler riders as road and cross country race schedules kick into high gear. Brandi swapped her road bike for a mountain bike at the Sea Otter Classic, Trevor raced in Hawaii, Mahon kicked off his season with a SORCA race, Otto raced the Masters Road kick off while Tony Routley was in Walla Walla and even former Team Whistler rider Will Routley showed what he is made of in the European road race, Tro Bro Leon.
Tony raced the four stages in the Walla Walla Omnium and had consistently good results in the 50+ taking him to 4th in the GC (he placed well in the 40+ as well). Otto bumped up categories and held his own with the Cat 1,2,3 Masters’ Men placing 6th after running out of steam with only a few kilometers to go. Finally, congratulations to Will who wore the Canadian Champion’s jersey to 2nd in his first European podium.
All described the weekend as fun racing and great training!
May Racing for Team Whistler
It was a great week of racing for Team Whistler which culminated with the May Day weekend. Tony Routley and Nels Guolien showed great early season form in the Tour of the Gila in Silver City, NM. This five stage race was a challenge with the last stage highlight being the “Gila Monster” climb. Tony ended up 10th in the 50+ GC – with the handicap of coming from snowbound Whistler when he was competing against riders who had been riding all winter in the southern reaches of the U.S. The race was hampered by high winds which affected strategy, effort and were mentally taxing for all. Decisions as to what equipment to use were tough for all – especially in the Time Trial. While Tony spent time in the lead pack on a number of days, he did especially well in the Criterium where he was in contention for a podium position in the 40+ but missed out in the end.
Also racing well this weekend were Trevor Hopkins, JP Boulais and Brandi Heisterman who all placed either first or second in their categories in the Sunshine Coaster XC Marathon in Roberts Creek. Trevor had been leading the race until he and a number of the leaders missed a marker and went off route. Luckily he got back on quickly and still landed on the podium.
The high winds in Colorado also forced cancellation of the Lookout Mountain Hill Climb in Golden, CO forcing Todd Allison to wait until next weekend to get back on his race bike after a short racing lay-off due to a back injury. He will be joined by Gary Baker in Moab next weekend for the 62 mile Moab Gran Fondo which features 5500 feet of climbing.
April showers do bring May flowers, and good racing!!
Submitted by Tony Routley. Today ran a distance of 125.8km on what I consider the hardest day of the five-stage race. The wind was not to bad today which was a good thing because it can get crazy here but the warm weather sure feels good, especially when I was told it was snowing at home in BC. Today the race started up a nasty climb about 10km into the race and the split in the field happened there. I fell just of the lead group at the top of the killer climb. I then chased for about 25 km by myself before I was caught by the first chase group of about 20 riders. We rolled it to about 30km to the finish were there is another 8km climb. I was feeling good and went hard up the climb - one guy came with me. We worked well together and caught two others holding off the rest to the end. After 3:55 I was 40th on the day and 9th in the 50+ or 10th in the 50+ GC. Nels had another hard day finishing 78th.
Tour of the Gila - Silver City, NM
Stage 2 - Tour of the Gila, Fort Bayard Inner Loop Road Race
UPCOMING EVENTS
