Cross on the Rock

There is SO much information that it is going to take TWO e-mails this week to send it all out.  Making your in box even more fun than your normal Black Friday flyers (come on people….Black Friday is AMERICAN! trying to get you to shop for things that are not bike or cross related…..so do you really need them?  Probably not!)

This e-mail will cover:  T-Shirts (Last Call) My Little Pony Follow up. Series Follow up. Photo Contest.

The Next e-mail will cover: Looking ahead to 2015.  Where COTR is going. Semi-Prestige Series.  MFG Seattle Race.  And a crash compilation photo special.

OK.  Newsletter……thanks to a few people that have sent me notes in the last couple of days about the series.  It means a lot.  This series is MAJOR:  Putting on 7 races every year with 7 groups of organizers.  548 Racers. Averaging 236 riders per event. 1671 races raced (# or racers X # of times they raced).  In 2006 when we started our own series we had 159 total racers.  Averaged 65 racers per event. 264 races raced on that year.  It continues to grow.  We will talk about “next year” in the next newsletter but in the meantime feel free to send me your ideas and thoughts.  What you liked.  What you did not.  What you would like to see.  We have our ideas (think half track for 7/8/9 year olds)….think “Fasters” (old but still fast masters)….think another double header.  You might have some other viable ideas as well…..we love to hear them. normont@islandnet.com

Check it out: Patrick Burnham’s Photos from My Little Pony Cross:  Check them out:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/palleus/sets/72157649033758628/

Also check out the submissions for our 2014 PHOTO CONTEST HERE (hidden by Roland to a secret gallery): http://photos.rabien.com/Other/Photo-Contest-2014/45889529_NKBSGr

Thanks to our Council of Cross as well as Pro-Photographers Dave Silver and Erik Peterson (in Uzbekistan) for judging the competition.  The judging was TIGHT.  With one judge left we had a 3 way tie between Photo #11, #14 and #18.  After our last judge we still had a tie between #11 and #14.  So one of our KEY personal gave the final vote and #11 from Nick Kupiak won the (100% purchased with CASH) Snow Case from Phillips Brewery.  We did not actually have the photos printed out on site this year but here is the winning photo (more clear obviously on the web site):

Western Speedway and Shawnigan Lake had a tie for 5 photos submissions. Port Alberni next with 3.  The winning photo was from Port Alberni, Farmer Bills.

T Shirts.  LAST CALL!

I am going to put the re-order in for shirts first thing tomorrow (THURSDAY).  IF you want one….this is your LAST CHANCE.  PLEASE E-Mail me by 10:00am!!

This is the Shirt Status:

I have shirts still for pick up for:
Elietha Bocskei
Ian MacLeod
Ben Moore
Robin Dutton
Heath MacHinley
Peter Reid (knows)

Can you guys confirm that you still want these shirts and when, how, where we are going to make it happen.

I have orders for shirts from:
Regan McKeever 1 Kids Med, 1 LG
Monica Eickmeier 1 Kids Med, 1 LG
Geoff Wong Med
Fluffly Med
Mathew O Hagen Small
Gary Croome Med
Bill McMillan Med
Patrick Burnham XL
Colin XL
Corey Friesen XL
Riley Pickrell Med
Sara Ponchet Med (women’s or men’s?)
Dan Owen Med
Justin Baily XL
Carmen Welta. 1 Men’s Small.  1 Women’s Small
Carolyn Moore Men’s Med.
Ritchie Hughes Small
Graeme Coop.  Men’s XL

IF ANYONE ELSE WANTS A SHIRT PLEASE LET ME KNOW BY FIRST THING TOMORROW MORNING (By 10:00am)

Series Final-My Little Pony Cross – Sunday.  Arbutus Meadows. Nanoose.

Norm’s Notes
Really.  The best of both worlds.  WET.  Saturated ground.  But racing in short sleeves in November.  Add to that a closed venue.  Epic Mud.  TIGHT racing. Series wrap up.  It was a great day of racing at a great venue.

My Highlights
* The men’s Intermediate race while I was helping with the kids event. At the end of lap 3 I looked over and there were still about 10 guys all together within 20 seconds heading up the road.  Awesome battle!
* Another heavy throw down with Peter Reid and Ken Owen.  I was certain my heart was going to explode.
* And by far my BIGGEST highlight was seeing Lisa Ludwig (Last raced November 22nd 2008), Kristenn Magnusson (Last raced November 24, 2012) and Dawn Anderson (*most wins and most podiums of any COTR racer.  Last races November 24, 2013) line up for the women’s Expert race with 13 other exceptional Expert women making it the biggest Expert Women’s field of the year (outside of Provincial Champs).  
* BIG crowd in the arena for the awards….super positive and fun group!
* 7 years old to 62 years old.  That was the age spread for the Beginner Boys/Men’s category.  55 years difference.  In the women’s 12 to 50.  38 years difference.  This is truly an amazing sport when you can race with someone 55 years older than you!  From 2 years old in the kids race to 71 years old in the masters race.  69 years difference.  All having a great time.  Pretty special!
* Malaika’s Schwinn.  
* Expert women also the only category to finish all starters at MLP!

Not Highlights

* Women’s re-start.  2nd year in a row for miss-direction on this course for this category.  Was really happy the way everyone sorted it out though and got re-started.  Good co-operation and sportsmanship by everyone.

Thanks.

MIVA Notes from President Corey:

Course Setup and Volunteers: a huge turnout, I’d like to think Ron and I putting the word out many times helped this but who knows.  Either way the club did seem to step up and come help out Saturday which was good to see. Ron delegated out tasks to 2-3 groups of us and each worker bee set off, it was efficient..

One thing I’ll say is the timekeeping/stats side of COTR blows my freaking mind.  I love it.  Done so quick so accurate and displayed perfectly on the site.  The whole COTR crew honestly looked PRO, like a finely tuned machine just churning through the races everyone calm and chill.

MIVA Highlight Notes from Race Director Ron:
Ken Olson’s top 5 consistency once he got a proper cx bike. MIVA membership kickin ass and really getting behind MLP. Each race in the entire series gets better each year. COTR has built a culture of improvement and there are no dicks, everyone is fun and supportive. That kid who raced Speedway in jeans and a SS dirtjumper geared way too tall. That picture of his buddy doing a full on faceplant (he was fine btw).  

2014 Series
A great wrap up in the BIG arena after the race for the series.  Major thanks to Peter Creighton from Cycles Lambert for helping me organize the order for the wash kits, Home Hardware in Brooks Landing for getting the buckets in time and Signage for getting the stickers printed in time.  Even BIGGER thanks to Wade Luksay for making the Youth Category prizing happen again this year with his contributions.  AND Jamie Cameron and Paul Brend for the little trophies. Joele for the Shimano brake kit and camera. Kestral Helicopters Mike Gillen.  Brad Head-Zed Wheels and SAM WHITTINGHAM—Naked Frame!! And Phillips for the Growlers and Root Beer.

Tight battles in Expert Men 2nd and 3rd Tie. And Expert Women 2nd and 3rd Tie. 14 points in Intermediate Women 1st and 2nd. 1 point in Intermediate Men 2nd and 3rd.  After 7 races….TIGHT!

It was nice to recognize “the Faithful” that have made the 50 races mark this year:
Derek Steel 52 races
Roland Rabien 51 races
Bill McMillan 50 races

That is some serious experience between that group!!

Rob Parkin wining the Most Improved this year….tough to judge as always with so many people getting better and faster.

Young Riley Pickrell winning Best Rookie Season with his win in U17 at the age of 13!  It will be interesting to see how he goes in Expert next year after winning the Intermediate Category as well as the U17 category. As Mark Nelson described Riley, “I couldn’t believe the power Riley put down on the back stretch on that last lap!  For 13 he can really pedal.”

COTR Series 2014 DONE
Sunday Sept 14 – Cumberland. Coal Cross DONE
Sunday Sept 28 – Victoria. Possible New Venue DONE
Monday Oct 13 – Bowen. Kona Kup.  Provincial Championships DONE
Sunday Oct 19 – Farmer Bills.  Port Alberni DONE
Sunday Nov 2 – Speedway. Binab Property Group GP DONE
Sunday Nov 9 – Shawnigan Lake School. Ronde Von Hogwarts DONE
Sunday Nov 23 – Arbutus Meadows.  My Little Pony Cross.  Series Final DONE
COTR Series 2015-Stay tuned for details in your 2nd e-mail of the week.

Hard to believe but even before this year’s racing is done our dedicated crew of race directors is already planning for 2015.   We have the schedule almost hashed out and we will fire it out in our last e-mail blast of the season.  Knowing it will be our 10th COTR race season as well as with SSXCWC in Victoria….it will be a season to remember for Cyclocross on Vancouver Island.

We missed this from the last newsletter from Race Director Ron Hewitson for the season ender at My Little Pony Cross.

Thanks to Rob Bau and Arbutus Meadows for allowing COTR and Mid Island Velo Association to make MLP happen. To all the MIVA volunteers who worked so hard to make this go smoothly – thank you! Also a very special thanks to Norm, Roland and Katie for all of their hard work throughout the year. Having been race director it gives me a small glimpse into how much effort goes into just one race, never mind 7 a year!

The weather gods, Extreme Eats for the amazing burger, thick mud, sponsors for the prizes, I could go on suffice to say it went really well thanks to all of the hard work of those volunteers and thanks to everyone who helped smash the all time record of 264 participants!

This is the second of two e-mails finishing off the Cross on the Rock season this year. It is BIG….but worth it to go to the finish!

Don’t cry because it is over.
Smile because it happened!

This e-mail will cover: Who you owe a beer or a hug for the COTR series
this year.
Who you have to thank for contributing to our
prizing for 2014…..can not do it without these people!
Where to go if you want to keep racing this
fall and winter
What is up for COTR for 2015 (as we
mentioned…already working on it)
What is up for CX in BC for 2015 (Rough schedule)
And a couple of photos that somehow did not come
through last e-mail….will try again.
It will finish off….WAY at the bottom…with a
SPECIAL offer from Naked. Check….it…..out!

And if you want some BONUS material check out the Rob Parkin Intermediate
edit from MLP Cross on our FB Page.

AND EXTRA Bonus……a photo gallery from Patrick Burnham of 2014 crashes!!
Here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/palleus/sets/72157649252282232/#

AND EXTRA-EXTRA BONUS…..the timing sheet is up from the last race. Check out the lap splits!

Who you owe Beer or Hugs:

You might imagine the COTR Series takes a LOT of work.

The Race Directors who pull together the pieces.
Curtis Saunders and Lisa Ludwig: Coal Cross
Drew MacKenzie: Bear X Ing
Corey Piket and Sean Lunny: Kona Kup
Lee Blais: Port Alberni
Roland Rabien: Binab Property Group GP
Ian Craib: Ronde Von Hogwarts
Ron Hewitson: My Little Pony Cross.

The (Regular) Timers (Regular as there are a few more people that do help
out as well)
Joele Guynup
Tara Pollock
Christina Jones
Sylvia Story
Hillary Grant

The “Crew” that pull everything together for timing, registration and 100’s
of other details
Katie Rabien
Roland Rabien
(The series would NOT happen without these two people…so hugs AND Beer)

Awards
Paul Brend
Jamie Cameron

Special Mention
Jack Mar for pulling together the Super Master prizes this year!

• Series Sponsors (in no particular order….all important)
  Curtis and Straight Up Cycles for jumping in to the series after 1
  race and doing CASH and prizing.
• Dan and Steve from Outdoor Addictions and Jack from Island Cycles
  (Quadra Island) (55+ Men’s Category Sponsors)
• Pearl Izumi is one of the brands that Joele Guynup brings to support COTR
• It was a bummer that Paul Underhill our “Rumble”r could not race after breaking himself. Rumble sponsored our last not lapped and sometimes the “ready to Rumble” prize. Paul will be back NEXT year.
• Sean and Corey from Oak Bay Bikes Nanaimo. Besides putting on the
  KONA KUP, prizes and support OBB has a VERY important role for COTR. They
  give us a spot to park the equipment trailer. MUCH thanks!
• Cycles Lambert supports us through Peter Creighton. Peter does as much as he can with his limited budget doing prizes through supporting shops on the island.
• Still our #1 Video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbKmku-mugg)
  Phillips Brewery and Matt Lockhart do the BEER, Root Beer and growlers that
  have made Phillips an integral part of COTR
• Shimano…..you guessed it…Joele Guynup (and DH legend Elladee Brown). Prizes and support.
• Frontrunners…..a running shop…..that without it….COTR would be sunk! Cross’ers need to run. You need shoes. Buy them from Frontrunners PLEASE (or Stefan will get ANGRY with me spending all my time on COTR!)
• Nutcase……..JOELE again!! Nutcase supports the kids events. Almost every kid in those races has a Nutcase helmet by now….but we will keep pushing them ’cause they are awesome and do a lot to support KIDS and their brains!
• Time to get “Naked”. When you have a world famous frame builder like Sam Whittingham giving away a frame set…..it is AMAZING!
• Kona (through Rock Star Rep Dik Cox) has been there since the start. Our very first race. Before we were COTR. Before we were anything.
• We have yet to get Dan Brady out for a cross race but the The Howard Johnston Nanaimo and Elk Lake still support us when ever they can with room rates and gift certificates.
• Brad Head……another racer that makes great stuff! Zed Wheels….they even named a wheel set after the series!
• Win a BIKE at BPGGP…….How…..Trek Bikes Victoria. Pro City Cycles! That is how! Plus have you seen how many of their guys come out to race?
• Greg Inkster will always be the “anvil”…..Orange Sport Supply….Distributing great products from the west coast. A grass roots company supporting grass roots cycling!
• HUGE donation from Wake Luksay from Riverway Dental covering the Youth Categories and series prizing for 2014
• One more of our Super Masters sponsors: Quadra Island Cycling Coalition (QUICC)

So you want to keep racing this Fall and Winter.

Here are some options:

In Victoria

Semiprestige Winter CX Series
Sunday Nov 30th – Semiprestige CX Race
Friday Dec 26th- Boxing Day CX TT
Sunday Jan 25th- Blubber Burn CX Race
The second-annual Stuckylife Semiprestige Winter Cyclocross Series.

Presented by the good people at Broad Street Cycles, our three-race, unsanctioned cross series will bring some late season grassroots racing to the Van Island CX community.
The first event, a DIY riff on a classic cross race will offer 45min of lung-burning excitement, and a social Sunday afternoon.

Semiprestige CX Race
SUNDAY NOV 30th, 2014
Mary’s Farm & Sanctuary
1128 Finlayson Arm Rd.
-11am
-A & B race
-$10 entry
-All abilities, bikes and ages welcome. Spectating encouraged!

The course is on a new venue, kindly offered up by Mary of Mary’s Farm & Sanctuary <http://www.marysfarm.ca/> . It will be a Vancouver Island variation of a classic CX course: twisty, flowy, grassy and off-cambered. More tubular-friendly than last year’s mossy rock fest, and set in a large rolling pasture, it should provide a fantastic mix of challenging features, and lung-searing laps. Think maximum flow, crazy Belgian off-camber lines, and natural grass bowls.

Parking: Riding out to the race is encouraged, though limited parking is available at the Farm & Sanctuary. Likely room for 15-20 cars MAX.

The Broad St. boys will be leading a group ride from their shop up to the race. Rolling out at 9:30am from the shop (1419 Broad St).

As well, Broad Street Cycles will be on hand for “neutral” support solutions.

Bring a backpack with warm clothes and drinks. We will have a few tents set up, possibly some warming beverages on tap, and are planning on making a day of it. Lights for the ride home might be a good plan.

Free entry if you take a ferry to get here!

Schedule
9:30am- Group ride from Broad St Cycles to the race course.
11am- Course open for pre-riding
11:45am- B race (35+min)
12:20- Course open for pre-riding
1:00- A race (45+min)
2:15- Podium! Champagne! Revelry!

Bring some cash with you. Purveyors of baked Belgian batter, Wannawafel <http://www.wannawafel.com/> , will be on course and serving hot Liege waffles.
–
As well, Dead Beetz <http://www.deadbeetz.com/> food truck is going to make an appearance. This excellent local food truck makes all kinds of delicious menu items, from burgers to fried root vegetable chips, etc.
Come hungry.
–
In more big news, local purveyors of precious liquids, Driftwood Brewery <http://driftwoodbeer.com/home/> have stepped up with an incredible show of support. There will be loads of potable prizing for the Semiprestige, as well as some sweet Driftwood swag to snag.

Lastly, Birzman tools <http://www.birzman.com/> , manufacturers of slick CNC’d bicycle tools and accessories have offered up a couple of wares for a couple of lucky racers. Come out and win win win!

Still don’t know what the hell we are talking about? Click HERE <http://www.stuckylife.com/2013/12/semiprestige-1-cx-race-recap-semi.html> for a race recap from last year.

In SEATTLE (Really “Tacoma”):
* We have the final details for Waves for Water Cyclocross
Collaborati…on on December 6th & 7th in Tacoma, WA in place.
* Full website is
here:http://www.mfgcyclocross.com/wavesforwater-cyclocross-collaboration/
* Technical Guide is complete. If you have a question it is answered
here:http://www.mfgcyclocross.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Waves-for-Water
-Cyclocross-Tech-Guide.pdf
* Preregistration with USA Cycling is available
here:https://www.usacycling.org/register/2014-2792Online registration closes
on Thursday, December 4th at 5:00 PM PST. UCI Elite Men and Women must
preregister.
* Day of Registration will be available for all other categories.
* Course Maps are up: December 6th – Liberia Project –
http://www.mfgcyclocross.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Liberia-Project-Cour
se.pdfDecember 7th – Nepal Project –
http://www.mfgcyclocross.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Nepal-Project-Course
.pdf
* We look forward to seeing the west coast’s best at this stop of the
US Pro CX calendar in Tacoma, WA.

In Bellingham:
Cascade CX 2014 http://cascadecross.com/
* Zombie Xmas Cross ~ Dec 13th
<http://cascadecross.com/races/zombie-xmas-cross/>
* Woolley Cross ~ Jan 10th
<http://cascadecross.com/races/woolley-cross/>
* Bandit Cross ~ Jan 31st
<http://cascadecross.com/races/bandit-cross/>

COTR Series 2015-As Promised.

This is how it is looking. Keep in mind. Venues are NOT firmed up but it
is the dates are pretty much set at this point:

Sunday, September 13 COTR #1 – Cumberland with the Night Crit
before and possibly an Enduro in the Day. Weekend!!
Sunday, Sept 27 COTR #2 – Ladysmith CONFIRMED
Monday, Oct 12 COTR #3 – Thanksgiving Monday
Speedway (Probably)
October 25 COTR #4 – This one is up in
the Air. Topaz, MLP, Port Alberni, Parksville, Cowichan FairGrounds….Or
Bear X Ing.
Nov 7/8 COTR #5 and #6 DOUBLE
HEADER FINALS: Beban-Arubutus Meadows with an OBB party in the night.
Sunday, Nov 15 COTR #7 Finals: Shawnigan Lake
School (Fingers Crossed)

NOT part of the series BUT really important:
Nov 21/22 Most likely date but not confirmed for the
SSCXWC

AND possibly a summer cross race at Diver Lake, Nanaimo, Mid Week, Mid
Summer…..
Plus there is always the chance for NICSSCOTU

CX in BC for 2015

Again….ROUGH schedule but this is how it is looking for BC.
November 2015 is going to be a HUGE month for Cyclocross in B.C.!

SEPTEMBER
Saturday, September 5th Aldor Acres Season Opener
Sunday, September 13th COTR #1 – Cumberland
September 19th Castle Cross
September 26th Burnaby Foreshore or New Brighton.
Sept 27th Whistler
Sunday, Sept 27th COTR #2 – Ladysmith

OCTOBER
October 3rd Burnaby Foreshore or New Brighton
October 4th Vanier Park
Monday, Oct 12th COTR #3 – Thanksgiving Monday
October 18th Mahon Park
October 25th COTR #4
Oct 31/Nov 1 BC Premier Cyclocross Series Pumpkin
Cross Maple Ridge

NOVEMBER
November 7th Aldergrove Lake CX
Nov 7/8 COTR #5 and #6 DOUBLE HEADER
FINALS: Beban and Arbutus Meadows
Sunday, Nov 15 BC Premier Cyclocross Series
Interior Cross Kelowna
Sunday, Nov 15 COTR Finals Quite possibly Shawnigan
Lake School.
Nov 21/22 Most likely date but not
confirmed for the SSCXWC
November 23rd Confederation Park CX Series Finale.

Series is Organized by the Cross Council:
With the following cycling clubs; ASS, Pro City Racing club, MIVA and Trail
Bicycles-Eatmore Sprouts Cycling Team

Supported by:
Straight Up Cycles in Victoria
Outdoor Addictions in Campbell River
Dodge City Cycles in Cumberland
Ozzie’s Cycles in Port Alberni
Trek Bikes Victoria. Pro City Cycles in Victoria
Oak Bay Bikes in Victoria, Westshore and Nanaimo
Trail Bikes in Courtenay
Experience cycles in Duncan
Cowichan Cycles in Duncan
Cycle Therapy in Duncan
Frontrunners in Nanaimo

Sponsored by in 2014:
Straight Up Cycles
Outdoor Addictions and Island Cycles (Quadra Island) (55+ Men’s Category
Sponsors)
Pearl Izumi
Rumble
Oak Bay Bikes Nanaimo
Cycles Lambert
Phillips Brewery
Shimano
Frontrunners
Nutcase
Naked
Kona
The Howard Johnston Nanaimo and Elk Lake
Zed Wheels
Trek Bikes Victoria. Pro City Cycles
Orange Sport Supply
Riverway Dental (Youth Category Sponsors)
Quadra Island Cycling Coalition (QUICC) (55+ Men’s Category Sponsors)

Two days away from the last race of the COTR series for 2014. It seems like just yesterday we were all cooking in Cumberland and Bear X Ing. We have had a great season. #1 in Canada. Most racers per year. Highest average racer # per race in our 9 years. More than 3.5 X the number of racers coming out now than in 2006. It still feels “close” though. Harder to know everyone’s names with the (muddy/dirty) faces. But we know the faces and we know the names on the call up sheets. As a Cyclocross “community” we have built something great. Inclusive. Competitive. Fun. Hard. Friendly. Hard! Racing is supposed to be hard. We love to push ourselves. We love to earn our “rewards”. We love to race! The amazing difference for our series is how it is “wheel to wheel”….but it is with admiration, respect and a handshake or hug at the finish line. Let’s keep this the focus of Cross on the Rock and everything else will be a bonus. Can’t wait for Sunday!

Series Final-My Little Pony Cross – Sunday. Arbutus Meadows. Nanoose.

The trailer is in place on site. Incoming race director, Ron Hewitson is meeting outgoing race director, Peter McCaffery today to finalize the course. Fingers crossed it is “turny”, muddy, technical and hard! The M.I.V.A. club will gather tomorrow to set up the course. Roland and I have a million details and jobs to do to get everything ready….they will be
ready!!

Tent town should be along the paved road like last year….but I will confirm and post on FB tomorrow. All tents should be staked and secure.

A soccer group is using the main arena/barn during the day so be aware of that group. We will have it later for the awards.

We have heard rumours of possible special guest appearances from past COTR racers that have moved away. We have heard rumours of possible special guest appearances from past COTR racers that have not been able to race this year.

* Nanaimo Bar Hand Ups https://www.flickr.com/photos/palleus/10768819854/in/set-72157637498021653
* Mustache hand ups
* Amazing Venue
* Double points (anything can happen)
* Series standings
* Growlers
* Root Beer
* A LOT of draw prizes….think Shimano, Howard Johnston
* Event draw prizes from our great sponsors
* Series draw prizes. Zed Wheels. Naked Frame.
* BIG Barn/Stadium for the final awards
* CUSTOM series final awards
* Best Photo Contest
* Perfect weather forecast.

I will post some more course information on our FB page tomorrow afternoon after the kids and I go check it out.

The big news is that the famous Naked Sam Whittingham will make his season debut and last race of the season this Sunday on his brand new, just built, Ti COTR fighter. He has been given the green light from his Dr. after a bad crash late in the summer. Since Sam is coming he can do the draw for a Naked CX Frameset. The last draw of the day. Each time you raced this year your name went into this draw. Brad Head from Zed Wheels is adding a set of wheels for the bike as well…..just to make it even sweeter!

If I had a 1 in around 250 chance of winning a FREE Naked CX frameset or a pair of Zed Wheels…..all I had to do it show up and race the series final……I would make the trip.

Pre-registration here: http://www.raceonline.ca/events/details/?id=732 and as it normal Pre-Registration CLOSES at 7:00 Saturday night.

Series Points
HIDDEN PAGE—-SECRET!!

Roland has done his magic on the Series Standing results page so you have a TRUE idea of where you are at before this Sunday’s race. If you have already done 5 races…he has crossed off your low score so you know who you have to beat to move up and who you have to stay a head of to not move back. Check it out!
http://www.crossontherock.com//php/series-results/?series=2014&of=4

COTR Series 2014
Sunday Sept 14 – Cumberland. Coal Cross DONE
Sunday Sept 28 – Victoria. Possible New Venue DONE
Monday Oct 13 – Bowen. Kona Kup. Provincial Championships DONE
Sunday Oct 19 – Farmer Bills. Port Alberni DONE
Sunday Nov 2 – Speedway. Binab Property Group GP DONE
Sunday Nov 9 – Shawnigan Lake School. Ronde Von Hogwarts DONE
Sunday Nov 23 – Arbutus Meadows. My Little Pony Cross. Series Final
COTR Series 2015
Hard to believe but even before this year’s racing is done our dedicated crew of race directors is already planning for 2015. We have the schedule almost hashed out and we will fire it out in our last e-mail blast of the season. Knowing it will be our 10th COTR race season as well as with SSXCWC in Victoria….it will be a season to remember for Cyclocross on Vancouver Island.

Felt like there should have been a cross race yesterday. Strange feeling.
Instead I washed my bike and helped my BB turn (again…like after every
race). Looking forward to the series final. Making preparations. Also
seriously looking at MFG’s race in Seattle for the first weekend in December
to close off the wicked CX season.

Shawnigan…..totally different course this year!! The thing about the
series is that with 7 races none of the courses are the same and some are
QUITE a bit different. It does not get that far apart as the Binab GP with
50+ corners per lap to Shawnigan Lake School with FLAT out sections and some
great stairs and climbing. And the weather……also far apart. Some
exciting racing to watch. The group at the end of lap 1 of the Expert Men’s
race. The size of the Beginner Categories…both men’s and women’s. The
young guns! All highlights.

Can’t wait for the series final!!

Photo Contest

For years capturing images of our races has become an important part of the
events themselves. Roland pulled up page stats from our web site this week
and the photo page is the second most popular behind results.

So……..Photographers……the time is NOW to get your photos in for our
annual contest. Please e-mail them to me before November 18th. Photos will
be judged on:

* Quality
* Composition
* COTRness
* And of course awesomeness

I have a SPECIAL prize that Roland hunted all over Victoria to locate for
this year’s winner.

Lost and Found

Andy has a few things that were left in the pits on Sunday:

1) a clincher wheelset. Dura-ace hubs, tied & soldered spokes, Fango tires.
2) A Blackburn floor pump (which may go with the bag of tubes that was also
left).

Anyone who wants their stuff back can contact Andy at andyachuff@gmail.com.

Also I have
1) a Camelbak Podium Bottle
2) A Polar RS100 Heart Rate Monitor with Black BBB arm warmers rolled
up in the band

We are also missing Dave Novak’s Trail Bikes jacket if you want to check
your stuff.

In the trailer there is a SUPER muddy pair of free ride shoes left over from
Binab GP….if you are missing yours.

Ronde Van Hogwarts at Shawnigan Lake School

Racing in short sleeves in November….what a grand day it was at Shawnigan
Lake School!!

Check out Erik Dierten’s edit of the Expert Categories:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0FWpykONno

Patrick Burnham has his gallery up here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/palleus/sets/72157648818085867/

Geoff Robson has a LOT of photos from Hogwarts:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/geoff_robson Some serious B&W ones in there
too!

Records
The past Sunday’s race broke it’s attendance record from 2013 by 26. It
also set a record for the biggest race we have had in November on it’s way
to becoming #3 biggest race of all time. It came close to getting onto the
top 10 for biggest categories…just needed a few more people in Masters Men
or Intermediate. I am pretty sure it set a record for biggest Beginner
Men’s and Women’s categories though!! Thanks to everyone that made it such
a success!!

From Race director: Ian Craib

Big THANKS to:
* Scott Milnthorp from OBB YYJ helped me out by assembling and
distributing the prizes prior to the event.
* Tom Skinner and Andy Achuff who coordinated the course set up on
Saturday.
* Matthew Ronald Jones who helped me with the course clean-up.
* Joe Guard, Lesley Berkenstock, Richard Barrass
<https://www.facebook.com/richard.barrass.33?fref=nf> who worked like dogs
all day.
* Heath MacKinlay for liking my stash and helping with the set-up.
* Bruce Falk, Hilary Grant and Tara Pollock
<https://www.facebook.com/tara.pollock3> . – timing
* Brent Hooper for helping out from beginning to end and bringing a
van bigger than Norms (editor: barely…it is just newer-WAY MORE $$)
* Geoff Robson – images (haven’t seen anything yet) Can find them
here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/geoff_robson
* Karl for supporting this from the beginning and providing the
resources.
* Curtis Schlossberger thanks I know he was there
somewhere….(Donated the CASH for the Expert Category again through
Straight Up Cycles)
Apologies to anyone else who I forgot.
Prize donations:

Major contributors
Oak Bay Bikes – Karl Ulrich
Oak Bay Bikes Westshore – Chris Dickensen
Live to Play Sports – Steve Pukesh
Cycle Therapy – David Beggs

Shawnigan Lake School – David Robertson (head master of Hogwarts), Ronnie
Brown (got the approval for us being there), Mary Stack (made sure the
facility was ready), Ken Gillam (sports facility manager….he’ll repair the
damage to the grass DOUBLE THANKS!!), Greg Perry (loaned me the sub-par pa
system)

James the kitchen manager who made sure we had 400+ muffins.

Drumroaster Coffee – Geir Oglend <https://twitter.com/geiroglend> supplied
all the coffee and cream/milk (no sugar because it should never be added to
a good cup of coffee)

Minor contributors
Cowichan Cycles – Robin Dutton
Experience – Will Arnonld
Broad Street Bikes – Parker

Series Final-My Little Pony Cross – Looking Forward

If I had a 1 in around 250 chance of winning a FREE Naked CX frameset or a
pair of Zed Wheels…..all I had to do it show up and race the series
final……I would make the trip.

That is just ONE of the wicked reasons to come out next (NOT THIS) Sunday
for the 2014 COTR Round #6 and series final at Arbutus Meadows.

The Mid Island Velo Association are working hard to make the course even
better than last year.

We will be doing the series draw and category prizes as well as prizes for
My Little Pony….so a LOT of prizes!!

Full preview to come to your in box next week.

Pre-registration here: http://www.raceonline.ca/events/details/?id=732

COTR Series 2014
Sunday Sept 14 – Cumberland. Coal Cross DONE
Sunday Sept 28 – Victoria. Possible New Venue DONE
Monday Oct 13 – Bowen. Kona Kup. Provincial Championships DONE
Sunday Oct 19 – Farmer Bills. Port Alberni DONE
Sunday Nov 2 – Speedway. Binab Property Group GP DONE
Sunday Nov 9 – Shawnigan Lake School. Ronde Von Hogwarts DONE
Sunday Nov 23 – Arbutus Meadows. My Little Pony Cross. Series Final

Has anyone seen or have Corey Maciver’s Black Giro Savant helmet with a light mount on top of it after last weekend’s race.  If you do….can you please let me know.  He misses it and so does his brain.

With only TWO races left all you awesome cross racers are already thinking about; the end game.  Series points.  Pre-race Rumble. Double points at the final.  Battles with your buddies.  Getting a few more of your friends out to race.  Next year’s bikes.  SSCXWC2015.  The MFG race in Seattle the first weekend of December.  “Epic Battles”. Photo of the year.  What will be the series prize. How to keep the rubber side down.  Wattage. Tire selection.  Skill.  Podiums.  Last-not-lapped.  First SS.  Holeshots.  Power sections. Post Race Phillips. Will there be a T Shirt.  No brakes left.  Run Ups.  Off camber.  Wafels.  Pizza Truck.  And of course…how to increase your odds for the Zed Wheels and the Naked frame (only one way…..race the last two races!!).

While you are thinking about ALL these things and more check these out:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/palleus/sets/72157649114678705/

Ronde Van Hogwarts at Shawnigan Lake School 

Register BEFORE 7:00 on Saturday night for less paper work.  Less $$.  Easier day-of-race.  http://www.crossontherock.com//races/2014race6/ 

A few things to remember:

• Kids race is at 12:20.  NOT 12:45.
• Expert Women are racing again with the Expert Men.  2:15 (but for 45-50 minutes)
• Do not.  And I repeat.  DO NOT ride your bike across any playing field or “nice” grass area at Shawnigan Lake School.  We will DQ you.  If you have not yet raced….so we can’t DQ you….you will be not allowed to race.  Respect for the Venue.
• No bike shoes in the club house.
• We are REALLY lucky to be able to use this AMAZING venue for our cross series.  It only takes 1 bad COTR’er to ruin it for everyone.  Don’t be a bad COTR’er!

Also:

• The pizza trailer will be there again.
• Coffee from Drumroaster
• Muffins from the school 

Registration is in the Rugby Club House again.  Check the season race bible for more information with regards to directions, parking, venue etc.

Binab Property Group GP – the look back.

Norm’s Notes:

There are only a few times in the 54 COTR races that I can honestly say I enjoyed EVERY second of a race.  Racing is HARD.  It is supposed to be HARD.  But when you have a HUGE smile on your face (even if it does not show through the mud or it is mostly “internal”) racing is amazing!  Amazing is how I felt about the race, venue, course and atmosphere last Sunday at Western Speedway.  A true coming together of a great and unique community we have built together on Vancouver Island.  A homecoming.  I am really looking forward to the last two rounds of this year’s COTR series!

Notes from Race Director Roland:

It’s good to be back and Western Speedway later in the season when there is some rain and some mud. We mixed the course up a bit this year and the changes got a lot of positive response. The 50 wide start was gone, but we added some new sections. The mud behaved in unexpected ways, some was slippery, some deep and sticky, some like quicksand. This course is destroyer of brakes, and a destroyer of bottom brackets. Get your maintenance done before Sunday.

Roland’s big “Thanks to”:

Huge thanks to our event sponsors Jason Binab & all the guys from Trek Bikes Victoria – Bill, Troy, Scott, Mitch, Regan.

Getting the flyover setup is a huge amount of work. Thanks to Scott, Curtis, Cam, Richard, Laura, Glenowyn, & Warren.

All our day of setup / teardown volunteers: Richard, Nathaniel, Sylvia, Cam, Scott, Drew, Joele, Jen, Erik, Eric, Holly, Glenowyn, Lief, Pete, Jenine, Jon

Our registration crew: Deb & Linda

Timing: Christyna (as always), Joele, Laura, Alex, Ed, Camille, Deb, Simon

Results: Katie, Sylvia.

Baby sitting: Holly & Tarryn

DJ Sean, Announcer Bill, bartender Sabrina and first aid Martina.

I know I missed a lot of you who just pitched in on the day — thank you as well And thanks to Norm who somehow keeps this whole thing going. 

COTR Series 2014

Sunday Sept 14 – Cumberland. Coal Cross DONE
Sunday Sept 28 – Victoria. Possible New Venue DONE
Monday Oct 13 – Bowen. Kona Kup.  Provincial Championships DONE
Sunday Oct 19 – Farmer Bills.  Port Alberni DONE
Sunday Nov 2 – Speedway. Binab Property Group GP DONE
Sunday Nov 9 – Shawnigan Lake School. Ronde Von Hogwarts
Sunday Nov 23 – Arbutus Meadows.  My Little Pony Cross.  Series Final