MUC OFF – Cross on the Rock 2022. Newsletter #10 – Hot Crossed Bunnies. Series Final. Double Points = Twice the action.







Short and sharp intervals to bring you to PEAK for the SERIES FINAL:

  • There has been a tremendous amount of work to make sure that our race goes ahead this weekend.  Beban Park is currently an active construction zone as a huge water main project is happening in the park.  The area we race has equipment and pipe storage on it which has caused us to move and alter the course based on where this equipment is.  Nanaimo Parks and Recreation and in particular a few people that work there have worked hard to make sure this race happens.  We are going to put this in all caps now and repeat it in a two places in this newsletter as well as on social media.  IF ANYONE FROM OUR EVENT AND/OR RACERS FANS OR FAMILIES GOES ON ANY OF THE EQUIPMENT OR SUPPLIES THAT ARE ON SITE FOR CONSTRUCTION THEY WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THE RACE AND NOT ALLOWED TO RACE FOR THE 2023 RACE SEASON.  This is MEGA – Serious.  We can just picture kids trying to “play” on the pipe pile and dislodging a pipe or slipping between (This includes the very NICE looking dirt pile.  We asked if we can use it as a run up…..but no).  Or one of our awesome photographers trying to get “that great shot” on top of the pipes.  Just don’t do it.  Please tell your friends and watch your kids.  Thank you in advance for being on this 100%
  • REGISTER for Hot Crossed Bunnies REGISTRATION LINK The registration link goes DARK as always at 6:00pm the night before the race (Saturday night) so just register now and get it done!
  • The racer list is really shaping up for Hot Crossed Bunnies.  Looking it over there will be some interesting action.  Jenn Jackson the winner of the Muc Off Cup will be back in Open women.  One interesting racer name popping up from Ontario is chuck norris’ life coach, and part time hulk hogan impersonator, Nathan Chown who is a former Canadian National Cyclcross worlds team member way back in the canti days.  It will be great to see him out there.
  • The Cross on the Rock Facebook page has been posting some past Hot Crossed Bunnies edits this week.  The 2012 Pelle Gustavs edit still holds up a decade later.  Check it out. 
  • Ever wonder what it would be like to live and race in Europe?  Cross on the rock racer Liam Sargent is doing just that in England!  From his dad Mike: He’s just racing independently for now, he was on the podium in a race in London this past weekend and he’s targeting an end of season trip to races in Belgium in February. So he’s having a blast anyway.  Check out the race that he did last weekend.  The scene looks rad!  https://www.hernehillvelodrome.com/rapha-muddy-hell   We will see if we can get a report from him for the last newsletter.  
  • Keep an eye on our social media pages until Sunday for up to the minute updates an information!

1.  Hot Crossed Bunnies – Event Preview


Hot Crossed Bunnies.  Race #6.  Series FINAL.  Preview!

Read this first.  Repeat from above but SUPER IMPORTANT:  There has been a tremendous amount of work to make sure that our race goes ahead this weekend.  Beban Park is currently an active construction zone as a huge water main project is happening in the park.  The area we race has equipment and pipe storage on it which has caused us to move and alter the course based on where this equipment is.  Nanaimo Parks and Recreation and in particular a few people that work there have worked hard to make sure this race happens.  We are going to put this in all caps now and repeat it in a two places in this newsletter as well as on social media.  IF ANYONE FROM OUR EVENT AND/OR RACERS FANS OR FAMILIES GOES ON ANY OF THE EQUIPMENT OR SUPPLIES THAT ARE ON SITE FOR CONSTRUCTION THEY WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THE RACE AND NOT ALLOWED TO RACE FOR THE 2023 RACE SEASON.  This is MEGA – Serious.  We can just picture kids trying to “play” on the pipe pile and dislodging a pipe or slipping between (This includes the very NICE looking dirt pile.  We asked if we can use it as a run up…..but no).  Or one of our awesome photographers trying to get “that great shot” on top of the pipes.  Just don’t do it.  Please tell your friends and watch your kids.  Thank you in advance for being on this 100%

Parking:  (Consult Map) Beban park is HUGE.  But on any given weekend there is a LOT going on.  Adding to that is the massive construction zone in the middle of our course. The best place to park for the race is south of the race course in the gravel lot by the Steve Smith Jump park.  This is accessed off the main road through the park by the gold course.  This is the BEST parking spot for our event. PLEASE DO NOT PARK at the soccer club house parking which is the closest to the start.  There is always soccer going on the weekends and they love their close parking lot.  The lot by the BMX track is normally under-utilized and close to all the action.  The paved parking by the Pool and arena is also a good option.  Parking on the roadways or grass is strictly forbidden and will get you towed and we will not like you.  There is limited parking as well south of the course by the golf course.  You will find a spot without parking like a…..you know…..starts with an “a”.


 
Team Tents:  Will be in the same spot as last year by the sand riding ring.  Weather forecast is much better than last year but still make sure your tent is staked and secured. It is drop and go (NO PARKING AT TEAM TENTS AREA) until we close and lock the gates around 9:30am.  After that point you will have to carry your gear in.  On the flip side the gate will be LOCKED until after the OPEN races so it will be carry out until that point.  There will be no team vehicles inside the gate or we will run out of space for the team tents.  This will be a GREAT spot to watch.  Close to the pits and the course.

Registration: As it has been all season pre-registration only.  This will close like normal at 6:00pm the night before the race.  In this case that will be SATURDAY NIGHT at 6:00pm.  The call up sheets are literally done by 6:10pm the night before the race. So if you FORGET or put it off you are unlikely to get your earned call up spot.

The link to register is Here

Race day number pick up and race central will be located in the Agriplex.  Consult the map.

Washrooms:  There will be porta johns located at the end of the opening straight away.  There are LOTS of other (Flush) washrooms located in Beban park.  You can also locate washrooms in almost all buildings in the park.  Both arenas.  Down by the artificial turf field.  In the Pool.   NO DIRTY BIKE SHOES OR DIRTY PEOPLE INSIDE THE BUILDINGS OR WASHROOMS.  Clean yourself up BEFORE going into a public area.  We want to be able to use this venue again. MORE IMPORTANTLY if you are going IN a building LOCK YOUR BIKE (Bikes have been stolen at this event when left unattended.  Don’t lose your bike)!!!

Awards: Awards location will be in the Agriplex where the finish has been located in the past but is NOT located this year.  You can’t miss it.
 
Race Course: The Major construction this year has meant a major shake up of our course design.  We’ll still have the classic elements that make this course great. MUD, SAND, WOOD CHIPS, PAVEMENT, GRAVEL.  It will be be awesome.

Food Truck: Sip and Sliders (Same as Muc Off Cup) will be on-site and ready to serve up lunch or snacks.

Post race:  We will want to get the awards going as soon as possible on Sunday.  With that in mind please help us both tear down as well as RAKE out the course.  With Construction we won’t have to worry as much about the top section by the Arenas, but the hill by the BMX and the riding rings always need some work post race.  Please bring a rake and work gloves.  Many hands make light work and get the work done FAST.  We will make an announcement when we are starting the awards….and…..well…..there will be no one left on course so you will notice that the awards have started!  Ideally we would like to start around 4:00.  Racing will be done around 3:30 so that gives us 30 minutes to get it all done:  Torn down.  Raked.  Trailer loaded for the National Championships!


2. Study-Build and Cross on the Rock National Championship Scholarships program.

TIME SENSITIVE
With the National Cyclocross Championships in BC and specifically on Vancouver Island for the first time since 2006 this is an amazing opportunity for our racers to gain excellent experience.  This could also lead to an opportunity to qualify for the world championships in January or launch your cyclocross career.  We would like to HELP
 
Cross on the rock in partnership with Study-Build would like to support any youth racers that are planning on going to race the national Cyclocross Championships in Victoria or would go to race if they had a bit of help or just to cover their entry fees. 
 
We are offering funds to help with in order of priority: UCI licenses, license upgrades, entry fee, travel or something else that would help you get to the start line.  Life is expensive right now.  We want to help out.
 
Applications must be received by 6:00pm on Saturday, November 20th.  We will contact you as soon as possible.

  • You must have raced at least 3 Cross on the Rock races in the 2022 Race Season
  • You must be under 20 years old (if you are slightly older and need some funds to make this happen let us know)
  • Include your name, e-mail, what you would use the money for (related to nationals) and how much you need to accomplish this.
  • Funds are available up to $200 per racer and as little needed to support your race. 

Not all applications will be funded as we do not have unlimited funds but we will try to fund as many projects as possible within our budget and parameters.
 
Send to: Normon@crossontherock.com
 
Link to Cyclocross Nationals Site: https://www.bearcrossgrandprix.com/
 

3. Check your points.  Check your team points!

We are working on separating out the SUPER MASTERS women from the Masters results which may shake up the team results before the weekend!!  Keep an eye on it.  This is a technical time consuming job but we know it is important to get done so are working on it!

As you know from reading our series rules if you race the full series only your top 5 results count towards your overall standings.  Roland has made a series results page with your lowest score crossed out.  If you want to check it out it is located here!

The team competition continues to be CLOSE.  Make sure you check your team points before the series final!!

Most of the errors that happen in the team competition have to do with the team name that was inputted at the time of registration.  If it does not match your other team mates…..then your points will not get counted.

If your team name is NOT CORRECT it is now possible to adjust them yourself because Roland is a master of coding!

Now people can go to their user page e.g. https://www.crossontherock.com/php/racer/?racername=Normon+Thibault

There is an edit link next to each result. Click the link, press the get password button. Your password gets emailed to you. Type in the team name you want and hit save. Team name updated!

You can edit team name, city and age. You can’t edit your name…..so if you have registered using different names and want the results for all your personalities to be put together send an e-mail to the link on the results page.  Multiple names can ALSO effect your call up……so it is worth fixing.

4. Wanna keep on racing this fall?

The Cross on the Rock series closes out this Sunday at Beban park but that does not mean that YOU have to close your racing out.  There are still some opportunities for some MUD and/or some great racing.

First of all the National Championships is being hosted ON VANCOUVER ISLAND in Victoria from November 25-27th.  There is a race on the Friday,  National Championships Saturday then another race Sunday!

Before Nationals there is a race in race in Coquitlam on November 20th.  The Quest for the Tri-Force of Cyclocross (We love the name).  https://thrashersbc.ca/events/

If you want to cross the border there is in Bellingham the Cascade Cross series https://cascadecross.com/ with races still coming up on December 17th and January 7th.

MFG in Seattle https://mfgcyclocross.bike/series-info/ finishes their series on November 20th with Woodland Park.  If you have not been to a Seattle race you have NOT lived!

Seattle Cyclocross also finishes their series on November 27th if you want to check them out.  http://www.cross-revolution.com/

And the WORLDS BEST CYCLOCROSS SERIES (So they call themselves)  Cross Crusade finishes up in Portland on the 20th of November.  https://crosscrusade.com/schedule/Parting Shot.
We love racing.  But we love the community MORE.  Hopefully you can race on Sunday BUT even if you can not come out and cheer and see your people!!  Lets finish the season strong!

Newsletter #9 – CoweX – The biggest Whirly Whirl of all time!!



Short intervals to take you into your last training weekend before the SERIES FINAL:

  • Did you see Roland’s drone footage from last weekend?  Here is the long edit.  Here is the full short edit of the MASSIVE whirly-whirl for OPEN ONLY LINK.
  • REGISTER.  We already have the link to the series final at Beban Park Nanaimo.  Hot crossed bunnies!!  Full preview to come next week but for now here is the REGISTRATION LINK
  • With one race to go this is the time to check your INDIVIDUAL POINTS and your TEAM POINTS.  If things are not correct this is the time to fix them.  NOT during the series awards next weekend!!
  • If you are traveling to Kelowna for the B.C. Provincial Championships this weekend have a GREAT race and we will see you next weekend at Hot Crossed Bunnies to hear all about the battles.
  • Lets finish the 16th season of Cross on the Rock strong!  If it will be your 6th race of the year or the first time for the season we encourage everyone to mark it on your calendar and come out!
  • If we can’t race cross you might as well LISTEN to cross.  Two of our favorite podcasts are: Cyclocross Radio and the Canuck Crosscast.  Check those out while you are prepping your bike.
  • This is our third to last newsletter of the year…..counting down.

1.  CoweX Cross Review.  New GREAT venue!

Flemming Sorvin from team System Toast sent us his link for LAUNCH photos again this week. 
Patrick’s photo link as well.  All categories!

From the race crew last weekend:

COWEX CROSS POST EVENT
 
-We are still dizzy from such a great time on Sunday.  Especially as the mud finally returned!

-We hope everyone enjoyed the course and we loved the vantage point to watch the course from this venue.  The run up (or ride up depending on who you are) worked better then expected and thanks for all the cheers and heckles.  We are planning big things for next year!

-Huge thanks to the organizing committee of Matt Grossnickle, Mark Law, Doug Merrick and Pete Stevenson for helping organize the event and the amazing course.

-Thanks to Cowichan Exhibition Park for such a great venue and having a huge canvas for future events and course options (a bigger whirly?)

-Thanks to Robin Camley, Tim Winter, Tara Benham and Mercer Benham for the extra hands over the weekend setting up the kilometers of tape and helping on the day with timing etc.

-Thanks to Heather Cooke and Sarah Christie running the registration desk all day (with great notes!) (just an addition in here from Norm.  Their notes were EXCELLENT!!  Even Patrick commented on them)

-Thanks for Taco Revolution for you know, tacos.

-Thanks to Cycle Therapy Bikes and Mike Cambridge from Trek Bikes for the amazing draw prizes and swag.

-Thanks to Jon Watkin from Panache Cycling Sports for the help setting up and the extra barriers.  The Cowichan Exhibition will be the staging venue for next years Belgian Waffle Ride (https://belgianwaffleride.bike/pages/belgian-waffle-ride-bc) on May 28, 2023 which would be great base training for COTR 2023!

-Thanks to Peter Creighton from HLC for bringing the Muc Off power washers (and actually needing it!)

-Thanks to Norm for keeping COTR what it is and asking if we wanted to finally host an event.

And thanks for everyone for coming out and having a good time and getting dressed up.

Norm’s Notes: 

  • Roland asks me at the start of last Sunday, “Why haven’t we used this venue before”?  Well the answer is a bit complicated.  Drew MacKenzie looked at it more than 10 years ago just after it was built.  Ian Craib put a fun post season race on here once.  It has been on our radar.  We are lucky on the island to have some great venues.  However this year with only one race in Victoria and no crew to organize Transfer Beach we were looking for another venue on the lower part of the Island.  We had talked to the crew at Cycle Therapy years ago about organizing but we did not need any more events until this year.  So it all worked out and with good partnerships we will be back again next year.
  • Great event for first time organizers.  It takes a bit to figure out the systems and thousands of details that make up a COTR race and the Cycle Therapy crew did GREAT.
  • Some mud which was nice….but not “enough” mud in my opinion
  • Missed the prizes for the costumes.  So sorry!  Already thinking of next year and we really need to have a costume bike parade!  Lets make that happen!!

2.  Cross on the Rock Season 2022 Schedule

DONE – September 11th. COTR #1. Qualicum Beach. Cross on the Commons.
DUSTED – September 18th COTR #2. Cumberland. Coal Cross.
DUSTIEST – October 10th. COTR #3. Nanaimo. Muc Off Cup.
Still pretty DRY – October 23rd. COTR #4. Langford.  Broad Street Cycles GP
Muddy….but not “crazy mud”…..October 30th. COTR #5. Cowichan Valley. CoweX Cross.
November 13th. COTR #6. Nanaimo. Hot Crossed Bunnies.Parting Shot.
Every awesome cross series needs one….this is our Fairy Cross Mother.

Newsletter #8 – And the racers asked for mud and mud we shall have!

Muc Off – Cross on the Rock 2022.

The Broad Street Cycles GP delivered some wicked action and GREAT atmosphere last weekend.  Now we prepare for “field riding” and hopefully some proper mud this weekend.







Weekend warm ups:

  • REGISTER…..6:00pm is the cut off as usual but just register NOW and you will be done!  https://ccnbikes.com/#!/events/cross-on-the-rock-2022-race-5-chris-cross-cowichan-fairgrounds-cowichan-valley
  • COSTUMES!!!  It is hard to race in a T-Rex costume but really……it would be awesome!  One year Roland dressed up like a pregnant Wendy (she was pregnant at the time to be fair).  Team Buttcat are pretty much always in costume.  THIS SUNDAY it is your chance!  Wear a costume…..race with it on or just wear it after/before!  Get into the spirit!!
  • You might notice that the crew for this weekend swapped the name for the event.  Just pretend it was CoweX all the time and it will be easier!

1.  CoweX Cross Preview

Thanks to the inspiration from Ian Craib and OBB from 2017’s Kriss Kross January race.

CoweX Cross – October 30, 2022

REGISTRATION LINK.  6:00pm Saturday Cut off.

Location: Cowichan Exhibition Park – 7380 Trans-Canada Hwy, Duncan, BC V9L 6B1
            -55 minute drive from Victoria
            -33 minute drive from Nanaimo
            -Right off the highway North of Duncan
 
Parking: (SEE THE MAP) There is a HUGE parking area.  Look for the signs on the right immediately as you enter the exhibition.  We have overflow parking if needed but doubtful it will be. Do NOT park where you should NOT park!
 
Registration: If you need to register or switch your category it will be located at the Stratford Room.  Washrooms will also be around the same building, try not to wear your muddy CX shoes.  We are expecting A LOT of mud this weekend (finally) and the cleaner we leave the washrooms the better.
 
Team Tents: See the attached map.  The pits will be located close by the team tents as well.
 
Course:  Think grass, hills, MUD, tractor pull, sawdust and some climbing (not quite Bowen).  It will be a bit more of a traditional European style course with plenty of COTR flair thrown in for good measure.
 
Taco’s:  The Taco Revolution Food Truck will be on site for all your post and pre-race taco needs. TACOS!!!
 
Warming Up:  We are not the only group using the park that day so please refrain from riding around the taped off main grounds as we don’t want Cyclist’s riding around where cars are driving to the Home Show OR Big Shop of Horrors Haunted house.
 
Bike Wash:  It will finally be needed and Peter Creighton from HLC will be onsite with the Muc-Off Pressure washer cleaning all our bikes.  Thanks for the support Pete!
 
Prizing: Prizing and awards will be provided by Cycle Therapy Bikes in Duncan, Eleven Speed Coffee and Muc Off!!  Plus Riverway Dental for the Hot Lappers!

MUD!
 



2.  Broad City Cycles GP.  As full a review as we do!Photo link from Patrick: https://www.flickr.com/photos/palleus/sets/72177720303202271/

Flemming Sorvin captured some images from the launch race: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAcpBB

From Roland
Thanks to all racers for coming out to to race. Second year at Jordie Lunn Bike Park. Completely different weather made it a completely different course. Technical and unforgiving, more that a few racers (including me) left some skin on the course. 

Shout out to the setup crew: Raph Lalumiere, Fabian Merino, Matt Mahoney, Gillian Carleton, Adam Lawrence, Hugh Hart, Tony Wakelin, Andy Achuff, Peter Simonson, Jon Watkin and extra should out to Doug Doyle who found a wasp nest while setting up the course and couldn’t race.

Registration crew: Shawn McKean, Sylvia Storry, Holly Ouellette

Timing crew: Matt Mahoney, Jill Ciceri, Damian Parlee, Claire Townsend, Jill Ciceri, Ros Penty, Zina Boileau, Joanna Fox

Event Prizes: Broad St Cycles, Muc Off, Eleven Speed Coffee, Riverway Dental and Pelle!!

And everybody who helped tear down the course!

Our old friend Pelle Gustavs popped by COTR #4 on Sunday and brought a special prize for 1st place in the men’s and women’s races.  He made these custom one of a kind COTR 2020 stitched bags!  The photo does not do them justice.  They were so sweet.  We almost wanted to jump into OPEN and try to win one for ourselves!!  Thank Pelle!

 3. Hitting 100 COTR Races!!

Derek Steel hit 100 races at the Muc Off Cup but he was no where to be seen during the awards so we were able to host a double ceremony at the Broad Street Cycles GP when Roland Rabien also hit 100.  307 Cross on the Rock races between these three!
 

4.  Cross on the Rock Season 2022 Schedule

DONE – September 11th. COTR #1. Qualicum Beach. Cross on the Commons.
DUSTED – September 18th COTR #2. Cumberland. Coal Cross.
DUSTIEST – October 10th. COTR #3. Nanaimo. Muc Off Cup.
Still pretty DRY – October 23rd. COTR #4. Langford.  Broad Street Cycles GP
We know what is coming…..October 30th. COTR #5. Cowichan Valley. CoweX Cross.
November 13th. COTR #6. Nanaimo. Hot Crossed Bunnies.Parting Shot.
All the race directors for Cross on the Rock are working towards the ZEN like directing that Roland achieved on the weekend.  Just look at that inner peace!

Muc Off – Cross on the Rock 2022. Newsletter #6 – The MUC-OFF Cup delivers a great day of racing!

Get the dust all cleaned up off your bike. 
Lube it up and get it ready for The Broad Street GP.


A few short intervals for this newsletter:

  • The registration page is OPEN for the Broad Street Cycles GP.  We will have the FULL preview next week but in the meantime you can get signed up here.  Reminder there is no little nutcase race at this event.
  • In case you don’t pour over COTR stats like we do it was interesting to note that our Coal Cross race this season after all the timing corrections and kids stats were tabulated made it to the first position for “tamest” races.  The least DNFs EVER for a COTR event with only 4 out of 308 people not finishing!!
  • Looking forward to seeing current, past and future COTR racers at this Sunday’s Tripleshot Cross Fondo.  If you have never done this event PLEASE put it on your list for 2023.  It is like no other.  A 50ish km CX course that goes through 70 different properties. 
  • Thanks to everyone that supported Tycho, Tessa and Jack’s cold drink stand at last week’s Muc Off Cup.  They had a great time with it!
  • Study Build is back this season with their support for youth racers.  We will post the details in an upcoming newsletter.

1. Cross on the Rock 2022 Race #3 – Nanaimo – Bowen Park – The Muc Off Cup – REVIEW.

The weather! It almost overshadowed how great the Muc Off Cup was this year! Thanks to all the racers that came out on the weekend. It was the biggest turnout this season. The racing was dry, dusty and fierce! From an organizer’s perspective it made our lives much easier than last year’s race but something between the two weather extremes would be nice for next year.   Thanks to Muc Off and HLC for their continued support of the Muc Off Cup. Thanks to Pete, Jamie and Brad for coming out! I don’t know how many bikes they washed but I know they did lots of on the spot repairs and had some samples to give out!  I would like to thank everyone that came out to set up in the morning, the whole Booi/Voroney family, Paul, Shep, Nick, Soloman, Aiden, and Andy. I would also like to thank everyone that made the teardown so quick! I think that was a record.  Thanks to Patrick and Roland for the timing and results and Charlotte, Shep, Colin and Krya for helping with the timing. Thank you to Lyle and Medix for attending to injured riders and thanks to Sip and Sliders for the incredible sliders and milkshakes! After last year’s race I was a little nervous to submit our application to the City of Nanaimo but thanks to the great staff there we were able to keep Bowen park as the premier venue of Cross on the Rock! It was great to see and hear from the Mainland racers about how they love to come to our races.  As always, thanks to Norm for keeping the stoke and the series going! Super cool watching riders moving up through the categories as their kids take over the lower categories. ThanksCorey and Sean Rock City Cycles

In addition to the couple of thousand dollars worth of Muc Off products given away at the race on Monday we also gave away TWO custom Muc Off Cruiser bikes.  Lots of names were drawn…..but thest two were THERE to win!!   Have fun cruising on these sweet rides!

Norm’s Muc Off Cup Notes:

  • Last year was the first time we have had a FULL atmospheric river dump on the Men’s Masters race.  This year we had our first fire truck doing a hot half lap on-course during the Men’s Masters races!
  • We have thought about it before but it was the first time we had a running race on one of our COTR courses with the Nanaimo Track and Field club using the course for important race pace practice!
  • Tycho T. became the first racer to ever do a COTR running and CX race on the same day!
  • Paul Auton became (maybe) the first person to do the RVM Full Marathon and then the COTR race the next day.  This might have happened before with the Half Marathon in the past…..but no one could recall someone doing the FULL-COTR double.
  • Thanks to Airhouse for giving passes to all the kids in the Riverway Dental Hot Lap race on Monday.  The kids were pumped!
  • Nice to see some Intermediates take on the challenge of OPEN including Oscar Wong.  It is a BIG push to go from Intermediate so really great that some racers that want to improve are jumping up a category!
  • Did you see the new team kits from Rock City Cycles…..you can’t miss them!!  So nice!
  • A few people making their first race of the season or first race in a couple of seasons.  Off the top of our head:  Dylan Reeves (crushing the masters category from close to back call up!!) Scott Mitchell, Lee Blais, Fred Hodgson, Nik Kay, Wendy Simms, Tessa Thibault, Andrew Pinfold (winner of our first EVER cx race that we put on WAY back 19 years ago…..did not actually make the start line due to team medical issue)…..I am sure there were a few others in there that we forgot about.

2.  Cross Club – Victoria
Only two practices to go in the Cross Club schedule if you want to check it out.
Cross Club 2022 Schedule
Ride #1 – September 14th
Ride #2 – September 21th
Ride #3 – September 28nd
Ride #4 – October 5th
(Please note: No ride on Oct 12th due to Cross on the Rock race on Monday, Oct 10th of that week)
Ride #5 – October 19th
Ride #6 – October 26th

3.  Cross on the Rock Season 2022 Schedule DONE – September 11th. COTR #1. Qualicum Beach. Cross on the Commons.DUSTED – September 18th COTR #2. Cumberland. Coal Cross.DUSTIEST – October 10th. COTR #3. Nanaimo. Muc Off Cup.October 23rd. COTR #4. Langford.  Broad Street Cycles GPOctober 30th. COTR #5. Cowichan Valley. Chris Cross.November 13th. COTR #6. Nanaimo. Hot Crossed Bunnies.

  • 6 races again.  Same as 2021
  • So far we have 5 returning venues with 1 new venue
  • At least 2 very different courses from previously raced at those returning venues.
  • 1 totally new course at Chris Cross in the Cowichan Valley.

Warm Down Shot
Nutcase Helmets continues to be a great partner for the ‘Lil Nutcase races!  The kids were pumped on their books and one lucky racer received a helmet as well!

Parting Shot
Don’t put your timing tag someplace your dog can find.  Patrick says this will NOT read any more!!

Muc Off – Cross on the Rock 2022. Newsletter #5 – The MUC-OFF Cup Awaits!

Time to get Muc’d Up on our bikes.


A few short intervals for this newsletter:

  • Tessa T. will be back this Monday making a rare 2022 appearance that fits into her now busy soccer schedule.  We have not confirmed if she will be racing Launch or The Riverway Dental Hot Lap.
  • Not quite as big news as Tessa but World Cup MTB, 2021 Canadian XC Champ and recently #longformatcyclocross racer Jenn Jackson will be making her COTR debut on Monday.  It will be exciting to see her out on course!
  • Jack, Tycho and special guest Tessa will have their cold drink stand again since it is still summer out there!  It is reported that they have listened to their customer base and will have more FANTA.
  • The best way to encourage new people to come out and try cyclocross or for you to improve your skills is to have a practice session.  If you do we want to help promote and publicise it so let us know.

1. Cross on the Rock 2022 Race #3 – Nanaimo – Bowen Park – The Muc Off Cup – Preview.

REGISTRATION CLOSES: Sunday Night at 6:00 PM.  No on site registration.
Registration link: HERE.

Time to get Muc’d up!

Muc-Off is not “just” the title sponsor of the Cross on the Rock Series but they are also back as title sponsor of the Muc Off Cup again this year! It is always great to have all their amazing products and Pete working hard washing bikes again (If needed). The Bowen park course is a classic. At the point of writing the chance of 5mm of rain that was “promised” earlier in the week seems to be gone…..which is sort of sad.  BUT the parks people will be happy as last year’s race needed some serious remediation!

The course will be similar to the last few years with a road section start, into a  single track wooded climb, quick down hill, then onto the grass for lots of twists and turns before the infamous stairs and volley-ball court/sand section.  The volley ball court has a new perimeter fence around one side so the approach and path for that section will be changed.  For the most part the course will be similar to previous years but once we get into the bowl area it is up to the crew setting up on how our adventure looks!

The Stats!!
This race has some impressive stats over the history of the event.

  • Biggest race of all time!  2019
    • 5th biggest in 2018
    • 6th biggest in 2017
  • Biggest category of all time masters men 40-54 in 2019 with 88 racers
  • Most DNF’s EVER in 2014
    • 4th most DNFs in 2010
    • 10th most DNFs in 2011
  • LEAST DNF’s ever in 2016
    • 2nd least DNFs in 2019!
  • Two Time venue for the Provincial Cyclocross Championships
  • MOST RAIN ever during one of our races for the 2021 Masters Men’s race.  It was INSANE!!

Check out the results from 2021 here to re-live the action!

Course Hazards

  • First of all the 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 WET
  • You 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.

Parking

  • There 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 central

  • Will be located near the Volley Ball courts

ALWAYS: Please be courteous to other park users.

Team Tents

  • One row on the grass in front of parking area.
  • Then a second row against the curb in the parking lot.
  • STAKE YOUR TENTS!

Please do not put any tents on the opposite side of the course. Only event tents are allowed in that area.  Thanks

Food Truck.
For a food truck this year we have Sip and Sliders. 
ALSO: Jack and Tycho will have their drink stand with MORE FANTA as well as a special guest with Tessa there for a rare 2022 appearance.  Bring a couple of bucks to support the Cold Drink Stand!

Prizes
Muc Off and Rock City Cycles are literally giving away thousands of dollars of product at this event.

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.  LINK HERE.

CategoryStart Time
Registration Open9:15 am
Beginner Clinic10:00 am
Launch Men (Including Youth U13 and U15)10:45 am
Launch Women (Including Youth U13 and U15)10:46 am
Bigger Kids Full lap or almost a full lap11:40
Intermediate Men (Including U17)12:10 pm
Intermediate Women (Including U17 and Masters 40 and faster Women)12:11 pm
Lil Nutcase Kids Race12:15 pm
Masters Men (40-54)1:15 pm
Super Master Men (55+)1:16 pm
Open Men2:30 pm
Open Women2:31 pm

2.  Cross Club – Victoria
Reports from Victoria are that the Cross Club has been going strong.  Two practices to go in their schedule if you want to check it out.

Cross Club 2022 Schedule
Ride #1 – September 14th
Ride #2 – September 21th
Ride #3 – September 28nd
Ride #4 – October 5th
(Please note: No ride on Oct 12th due to Cross on the Rock race on Monday, Oct 10th of that week)
Ride #5 – October 19th
Ride #6 – October 26th

3.  Cross on the Rock Season 2022 Schedule DONE – September 11th. COTR #1. Qualicum Beach. Cross on the Commons.DUSTED – September 18th COTR #2. Cumberland. Coal Cross.October 10th. COTR #3. Nanaimo. Muc Off Cup.October 23rd. COTR #4. Langford.  Broad Street Cycles GPOctober 30th. COTR #5. Cowichan Valley. Chris Cross.November 13th. COTR #6. Nanaimo. Hot Crossed Bunnies.

  • 6 races again.  Same as 2021
  • So far we have 5 returning venues with 1 new venue
  • At least 2 very different courses from previously raced at those returning venues.
  • 1 totally new course at Chris Cross in the Cowichan Valley.

Time to get FIRED up for this Monday’s MUC-OFF Cup!! 
Remembering back to 2021! The greatest conditions of all time for COTR!!