Just back from Las Vegas and Interbike, the largest bike show in North America that showcases all of the new technologies, products and ideas for triathlon, road cycling, mountain biking and more. While it was exciting to see the 2010 bike colours, frames and upgrades, new nutrition items and accessories galore, the two most exciting revelations for me were events.
Graham Fraser the architect of Ironman North America and bike manufacturer Cervelo announced a new cycling series called Centurion Cycling. The idea behind these events is small tours for the everyman. It?s based on the European concept of gran fondos where traffic is restricted, technical and medical support are in the caravan, officials time and judge the event, food is excellent, and riders are treated like professional cyclists. The experience feels like riding in the Tour de France for a day. Details can be found at
www.centurioncycling.com . Visit often as event locations, including some in Canada, will be added as the series develops.
The second event and one I got to watch was Cyclocross. To sum it up in a word borrowed from The Incredibles character Rusty (kid on the trike) ?THAT WAS WICKED?! Cyclocross is a combination of dirt biking and steeplechase all done on a road bike frame with knobby, near mountain bike tires. The courses are undulating grass fields with natural or added obstacles, through the woods and in any weather. Vegas Cross was held under the lights and had three events. The first was a mixed gender all-comers, next the pro women and finally the pro men. All races were held on the same course but for a different time limit. Bikers raced hard from the gun covering the undulating hills at up to 45 kph, approaching the obstacles without slowing, hoping off and shouldering their bikes while jumping over the gates all in one swift movement. Cyclocross is a challenging, athletic, fresh sport with numerous events throughout the season. Learn more about it at
www.cyclocrossontario.com.
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Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon participants were Norm Sellers (3:44:41), Katherine St.Pierre (5:01:45), Rhonda Cassibo (4:41:15), Jamie Mutton (3:59:29), Steven Griffin (3:47:30), and Peter Cusolito. They were joined in the half marathon by Mary Lou Roy (2:21:07), Dee Nguyen (1:56:37), Robert Stokes (2:08:16), Heather Hedley (2:43:41), Susie Bojko (2:22:38), and Margaret Christine (2:54:44) and were joined in the 5k by Madi Sellers (31:13), Ben Allin (18:39), Jennifer Freymond (24:47), Celine Griffin (24:26) and Debbie Greig (29:32).
The Liberty! Bicycles off Road Squeezer is an annual Mountain Bike Race held in St.Catharines on the final day of the Niagara Grape and Wine Festival. Derek Zandstra of Trenton won the overall event in 1:08:42 besting 768 other racers. Melissa Jane finished in 2:33:46, Bryan Waite in 2:00:47 and Joni Baker in 3:18:11.
Missed but not forgotten was Jutta Merilainen who finished second woman overall at the Army Run Half Marathon in Ottawa on September 20th. Crossing the line in 1:20:29, Jutta was first in her age group, 27th overall and 8 seconds behind first woman.
