BTAC + Cyclocross 101

Its been a month since I last updated everyone, the last month has been busy. The weekend after provincials I headed to Montreal for the Bicycle Trade Association of Canada's Trade Show--like any trade show, vendors in the bike industry show up, display their wares, and shop owners descend to check out the 2009 product. I got a chance to work for Shimano Canada in their booth doing product demonstrations for the new wheels, shoes, and component groupsets. Some of the highlights in our booth were the new Di2 Electronic Dura Ace, the new Saint Grouppo, and the Naked Bicycles bike that was built specifically to display the internally geared Alfine Group.

I flew home on Tuesday September 9th, raced the first local Wednesday underground cross, and then headed to Vancouver on Saturday for the first BC Cup where I finished up 5th after an epic battle with Melanie Vaughn. Drew double-flatted, walked half a lap, and then road through the field one lap down for a great workout, but a frustrating day. On Sunday we headed back to Nanaimo to race the first Island Cup at Beban Park. The Island Cup CX Series is an awesome series of races put on on Vancouver Island. They are headed up by Norm Thibault who does a great job rallying up local clubs up and down the island to put on races. I finished up 4th in the day after some tired legs and some smoother barrier work.

A weekend off from racing kept us in Victoria where Drew was race organizer for the Times Colonist Cycling Festival, I was responsible for registration for the weekend which kept both of us busy, with high blood pressure, and relief at the end of the weekend. The weekend went relatively weekend and thus far has gotten great reviews!

Last weekend the BC Cup in Vancouver was cancelled so we actually got to spend the weekend in Victoria. Drew set up a practice course and we spent Sunday racing with the Wednesday night crew.

This weekend we headed to New Brighton Park in Vancouver where Wedgewood Cycling put on one of the best courses of the year with tough off-camber corners, a sand pit, and awkward barriers. Off the line I tried to stay on Sarah Stewart and Kelly Jones' wheels, but lost them mid-way through the second lap. The rest of the race I sat in no-man's land 3rd but raced a solid race and finished up in a strong 3rd place, my best CX BC Cup to date! Drew finished up in 3rd place so the whole household was on the podium. There were lots of photographers on course so I hope to get some of the photos up soon!

Thats the crash course on the last month...we are off to Edmonton this weekend and I'll be sure to post a race report on the UCI race on Sunday!