Overcoming Setbacks

Driving the Loco with Chris and Webster in tow.

Photo: Keith Bayly

This weekend's Bow Cycle "School of Cross" Alberta Cup was cancelled due to problems in securing the venue. The organizers managed to secure the same course at SAIT last year which proved to be a great course, but this year the contacts didn't pull through and the race had to be dropped. This is a very unfortunate turn of events as Alberta's cross season is relatively short as it is and to make it worse this is the second race cancellation this week as the Midweek Mayhem event was also cancelled for virtually the same reason. We are fortunate in this province to have a depth of talented and resourceful individuals willing and able to put on great events, however those with the real power, the land owners, are slow or unwilling to react to requests to use their space. I feel that as a cycling community we have perhaps jumped the biggest and most fundamental hurdle in getting a diverse range of race organizers established. Without them we would be completely lost, now we just have to work to create more of a public understanding of what out sport entails, the benefits it can have for the community and the minimal impact that a well designed cross course has on ground surfaces. Fortunately there are quality events from now until November, meaning deposits to the pain bank will come frequently enough.

Since this weekends race was cancelled, in perfect tune with what was stated above, one of the city's finest cyclocross course designers decided to organize a small gathering of enthusiasts to put in some quality time and fill the gap in the calendar. The idea was great and the venue chosen was exceptional. The course was well marked with flagging and a portable double barrier set to add to the authenticity of the event. The racing was short lived however as the resident groundskeeper, after initially giving us the go ahead, deemed the bicycle tracks to be too invasive for his liking. It was very understandable and justified as we were growing concerned ourselves. In the end about half of us did some laps of another course in the area to rip into the legs and lungs. This was followed for myself with a couple of extra hours on gravel and asphalt with Webster in Springbank.

The weather today was incredible and it ended up being as solid day on the bike despite the numerous setbacks. For now all eyes are on the Tuesday night race hopefully going ahead this week and then the double header events in Edmonton this coming weekend.