Cross on the Rock 2026.  Season #20Newsletter #4 – A MONDAY Race – The Muc Off Cup!

Cross on the Rock 2026.  Season #20 Newsletter #4 – A MONDAY Race – The Muc Off Cup!   The Short WU Laps:COTR Sock Update.  We don’t know why they are taking so long this year.  They apparently SHIPPED last Monday from SA so there is a SMALL chance they will be here today or tomorrow.  Otherwise it is looking like they will be here for Port Alberni.Number fee.  If you are on the list of people that have paid twice this season we will have a refund for you at registration this Monday……we did not have it sorted out in time for last week unfortunately because the TD Bank in the south end of Nanaimo suddenly closed forever.For the first time since the START of COTR Rolland Rabien will NOT be at the event.  We are have our own panic…..but don’t you panic!  We will figure it all out and try our best to adapt and try to make the day as smooth as when he is there.  If we make any mistakes you will know why! 1. Muc Off Cup – PreviewThe Muc Off Cup – 2026 – Race #4 – Season #20 – Cross on the Rock. On a MONDAY!Pre-Registration only. Registration closes at 6:00pm the night before each race. IF you are late…..it is not too late. Just e-mail the race director and be prepared with bribes/reparations/an “offering”. HERE IS THE REGISTRATION LINK 2026 – No License required!NAKED Bike owners we will have a SPECIAL parking area for a Naked Show and Shine! Come polish up your pride and joy and show it off!  This will be located right behind the registration table.We don’t like to just throw out the word “Classic” but in this case it is justified.  Bowen Park Cross on the Rock is a CLASSIC.  Our 2nd most visited venue.  A race that has held many records including BIGGEST ever COTR race (2019), Biggest Category with Masters Men 88 racers (2017), Hardest Race with 14.5% DNFs ((2014) AND 2 of the “tamest” races of the top 10 in 2016 and 2019 with less than 1.6 and1.3% DNF.  The absolute BEST way to spend Thanksgiving Monday!!This race tends to also be the largest for the season.  The largest for Western Canada for the season and sometimes the largest in the country for the season.  It is ALSO amazing for spectators. Team Tents: One row on the grass along the straight from the volleyball sand to the washrooms.  Second row on the parking lot.  Need to leave space for food truck, medix and registration.  Stake your tents.  The wind can pick them up. Course: Very similar to past years with a few new twists and turns.  The Disc Golf course at Bowen has been changed quite a bit which will effect our final layout for the course.  DO NOT RIDE ON THE DISC GOLF TEE BOXES.  Anything in GREEN artificial turf/fake grass is a no-ride zone. HazardsThe park is open to the public.  There are people everywhere and some will NOT be aware of the race or cyclists on course.  Keep your head up!!Please be very cautious of the down-hill section after the pool.  This is the fastest section with some BIG trees that can break your shoulder or your head.There are slippery sections, roots and trees and uneven ground all over the place and it will be WETYou MUST stay to the inside of the cones near the tennis courts. This is very important as we are sharing the road with other park users.The last hazard is the down-hill after the stair section. Please use caution, as it its steep and can be slippery. Riding over from Vancouver: We will have a spare tent to the right of the PA System that you can stash your stuff and use as a base for the day. FOOD: We will have Sip and Sliders food truck out again for snacks, food, etc.  This makes the day EVEN BETTER.Prizes:  Prizes and Extra support from Muc Off and Rock City Cycles!  Including a Grand Prize of an EVOC Bike Bag!! Schedule:  Normal schedule as posted on reg. site and you have in your race package  ParkingThere is LOTS of parking in the AREA of the race but maybe not RIGHT beside the registration/finish area.  You have a bike….you can park a little ways away.The main Parking is located in the lot beside the Volley Ball courts off WALL STREET.  These spots are not marked so please don’t park like a donkey and mess it up for other people.  Organized rows!Overflow parking can be found across the street at the Curling Club.There is also some parking up by the park administration buildings by the tennis courts and then above that by the pool.All spots are within 1 minute of the main race area.Registration and race centralWill be located near the Volley Ball courtsALWAYS: Please be courteous to other park users.PLEASE ABSOLUTELY STAY OFF THE COURSE AFTER RACE DAY!Lastly we can almost guarantee this…..NUMBERS ON YOUR LEFT!Remember….registration CLOSES at 6:00 PM on Sunday.  2. Crosstoberfest ReviewPhoto link from Cameron. From Matt Grossnickle: What a day!   Thank you to everyone who came out and rode bikes with us this Sunday.  The weather was incredible and the sand pits were plentiful. These events take a small army of volunteers to pull off so many thank you’s are in order. Thanks to Doug Merrick for co-organizing and developing such a wicked course! Thanks to the Town of Ladysmith for allowing us to race at Transfer Beach once again. Thanks to the course setup team of Doug, Evan, Trevor, John C., John L. Mike, Robin and Currie.  I promised better weather and sunburns in October are much better then mild Hypothermia!!  I was only asked if we were setting up a crime scene TWICE. Thanks to David Beggs, John S. and Norm for helping finalize the course in the morning after a bunch of tape was torn down overnight! Thanks for David Beggs, Currie and Robin for running the road crossing section this year.  We know it was a bit hectic at times and you guys were rock stars.  We will be moving it further up the hill again next year. Thanks to Brandi and Leah for last minute taking over the registration.  You were lifesavers!  Thanks to Amanda from Dirt Groms for putting the word out. Thanks to Pete, John L., John S, Eric and Courtney for helping Patrick with the timing and the words of encouragement. Finally, thanks to Norm, Patrick and Roland for keeping Cross On The Rock rolling behind the scenes for all these years. See you next year! Notes from Norm: The RELAY.  This was our first time attempting a relay and man it looked like FUN.  We had 16 teams of 3 on course at the same time.  There was a LOT of back and forth through the full pack.  Transitions were tight.  I did not see any “skidz” so that was also great!  Super FUN!  Will post a couple of little clips from the relay our social pages tonight and tomorrow. We have raced a Transfer Beach quite a few times now.  In my opinion this course was the best of all time.  I would also say it was one of the best COTR courses of all time.  Great distance.  A LOT of features.  Tonnes of sand.  All sorts of different corners.  Two sets of very different stairs.  One very challenging climb.  Recovery spaces.  SUN……which I know we all love mud but when we are in a public park it is always a bit better to have a drier course.  Great for spectators.  Overall it was an amazing day! Some grainy long range footage of the front of the master men’s crash at the start from Pelle.  LINK HERE.  This has been examined more than the JFK assassination. Also Roland’s Go Pro Footage from behind of the masters crash.  3. Weekly Training If you have a weekly training session let us know about it.So many practices going on!! Up Island: @trailbicycles Club has their practices on Wednesday. Nanaimo: @rockcitycyclesnanaimo practices at EITHER 5:00, 5:30 or 6:00…..check with RCC Club.  Also on Wednesdays Greater Victoria a few options: a) Cross Club is the racy one.  Also on Wednesdays BUT not every Wednesday. b) When Cross club is not happening or if you want to add something on a THURSDAY night @bluebridgeracing has their CX after dark rides on October 8 (tonight) ,22 and November 5th.  They will have demo lights from Full On Lighting as well.  Cross is here! 🔥 Come celebrate the start of the season with us by riding in the woods at night! We’re hosting a series of group rides leaving from the shop. Expect 1.5 to 2hrs of fun, with a sprinkle of technical single track. We will have an A and B group depending on how many people come out, so please let your friends know! @fullonlighting with be out riding with us with some demos – let us know if you’re in need of some lights for the ride; more details to come. Route will be posted at the start of the week. Meeting at the @oakbaybikes parking lot at 6pm c) @uviccycling has their Cedar Hill Corners practice October 14th (as there is no cross club those days).   Sending out an SOS!! MORE CROSS MORE CROSS Cross Club can’t run every Wednesday, so we’re here to fill that void! Join us for some practice laps of our newly constructed course at the Cedar Hill Cross property Enter via 2400 Cedar Hill Cross Rd Parking will be limited to street parking, so if you can ride over(call it a warmup?)! Thanks to Cross Club Victoria for setting us up and advising us on course design and providing tape and stakes 🙏🙏 *THIS IS NOT A RACE* If there is any other practices happening (@buttcatracing @cycletherapybikes ) let us know and we will promo them. Remaining Series Races: October Race #4.  Normally our biggest race of the year will be the Muc Off Cup on Thanksgiving Monday.  October 12th.  If you are run the Marathon the day before we will move you up 10 grid places and have an ice pack for you at the finish line.  Half Marathon gets 2 grid places backwards.  We hope to have a fun Alumni race at this event No race on the 17/18th weekend as we leave it open for the return of the Cross Fondo.  One of our favorite non COTR races! October 25th we will be heading to Port Alberni (Race #5) and praying for MUD.   New Venue Alert!  We will be at our 4th venue in the Alberni Valley at the Alberni Moto Cross center.  This event will also have the Dog CX championships and/or the Single Speed Show down to start the day!  One gear only….none of this zap strapped shifter nonsense!  Who is the best SS racer out there? November  Our past research as shown that a race after a Saturday Halloween is NOT great.  So no race on November 1st!  NO TIME CHANGE…..which might compress the set up for…. Race #6 on November 8th will be the Blue Bridge Cross , Jordie Lunn Bike Park. Langford!!  A perfect spot for a potential bike shop challenge so think of who you might have on your team if you work at a bike shop. AND Hot Crossed Bunnies on November 15 to finish off our 20th season.  We will be having a PARTY at Beban park and finishing the year off with a NAKED Bikes Bike Frame!!  Hand made by Sam Whittingham.  Thanks to our series sponsors:MUC OFF                                        Coastal Community Credit Union             Eleven Speed Coffee Hotel Zed/Accent Inns                     Frontrunners – Nanaimo                           Riverway Dental Rock City Cycles                             Re/MAX Camosun                                    Cycles West  Parting Shot Raise a reader! Thanks as always to Riverway Dental for their support of our Hot Lap Race.  Every racer got a book and hours later we still spotted racers sitting and reading.