HCC September 2003 Newsletter

The short turnaround timeline between the July and September newsletters had us working on September just after July’s mail out.

September’s newsletter is a lot smaller as our season draws to a close. I’ve put together a few stories including one on our year-ending highlight…the World Road Championships.

Not that I’m complaining, but if as I’ve said in the past you have a story or race report for the newsletter send it off to me. It’s our club…so be involved.

I do love writing stories and putting the newsletter together each month, but I must say that it’s my wife Maria who really makes it look good, and after being in front of a computer all day she’s a real sport to help me format our newsletter.

The daylight is getting shorter as we head into cyclo-cross season and eventually cross-country skiing. So enjoy the fall and this newsletter.

At the time of writing we had just finished up our Tuesday night time trial. On the final night we had the draw for the week long gold pass to the Worlds, and Zack Morris fresh off a 22.31 drew Fred Pepper’s name…congratulations Fred.

White Sawn Road has been good to us this, thanks to all who came out and made it successful.

Thursday’s crits are also wrapping up. I’ve heard a mix of reviews on this venue, good and bad, but all and all a good first year I think. Any constructive feedback is always welcome.

By the time you read this we will have had our Sydenham Road hill climb. Should be some good times posted on the new pavement if we have the daylight to go with it.

On August 13^th, sunny, clear sky, Snake Road hill climb…6 riders? Something didn’t add up. As a time trial uphill this was not a venue geared towards my strength. To ride well on hills you should train and race on hills right? A slightly different course this year started at the base of Snake Road on a bridge over the CN train tracks. Rob Cheskey recorded 8:25, so either the course was shorter or Rob is getting faster. I’m sure he’d take the latter. Fred Pepper wasn’t too far off followed by Garth Logan, Zack Morris, myself and Rob Zych.

On August 16^th, the 80km Hogben time trial took place in Falkland. As far as I know the 80km event had one rider contesting while some others did the 40km. Check out the web for results.

There is a small OCA rule that I see being overlooked so much it’s almost a non-issue. The rule for racing is that a rider must wear their sanctioned club or team jersey at all races. At most Ontario Cup events I would say about 20% adhere to this rule. Some even register under a store name. Of course if a store is supporting you the idea is you hold up your end of the bargain by displaying the store colours, fair enough.

This does make it hard (almost impossible) for me to pick you out, but I have a solution. Next race e-mail or write me a small story from the race and mention your sponsor assuming its one of the stores who supports our club.

Anyway enough politics. I was recently at Dagmar for the Ontario Club mountain bike #5. I did notice the club kit of Philip Barnett as he finished up 10^th, HCC’s Carl Clarke continued his good results coming in 6^th. I rounded out the club contingent in 17^th place.

In the 50+, Frank Morrow came in 13^th even after a close encounter of a dirt kind on his last lap trying to negotiate a tricky drop-off.

The next week I was off to Bromont for the World Masters MTB championships where I placed 24^th in the 40-45. As I started into my third 6km lap I was passed by Steve Tilford of the USA who was headed off on his fourth and final lap towards his fourth title.

Steve is a really approachable guy who can be seen at the finish area sharing tips and stories with fellow riders. A real down to earth fellow who never seems to look down upon anyone. Bromont is a real beautiful place to ride – both trails and roads. If you get the change to visit don’t pass it up.

At one of the last road scheduled events, the MultiLaser GP took place on September 6 and 7 with HCC’s Mirek Mazur placing 2^nd in the Master B with Brad Nickorick also in the B,C,D race coming in 8^th. The always improving Zack Morris came in a fine 9^th place in the junior event.

Recently at the Locke Street Festival in Hamilton, I spoke to a gentleman who is marketing an electric bike/scooter made in China. He was good enough to let me take one out for a drive. They handle very well and as a form of "green" transportation it would be great to see them become popular here in Canada. Jacques Lauzon can be reached at the following number. Contact him if your interested in this mode of transportation.

By the time you get this newsletter the World Road Championships should only be a couple days away. This year will mark the 70^th running since Alfredo Binda won the inaugural event in 1927.

The winner of the course has the distinction of World Champion and will wear the coveted rainbow jersey throughout the next season. This past year that winner was Italy’s Mario Cippolini. Italy has also hosted the championships a record 10 times, most recently in Verona in 1999 when Oscar Freire of Spain won. He won again in 2001 and has his sights set on Hamilton.

If Freire were to win this year he would join only three other riders, Alfredo Binda, Rik Van Steenbergen and Eddy Merckx as 3 time winners.

As a professional cyclists’ career is a short one, three world titles is a huge milestone, of those three men only Van Steenbergen, whom passed away earlier this year, has won back to back.

These championships have for the most part been a European affair, only arriving for the first time in North America (Montreal) in 1974. That year Eddy Merckx won his third title beating out Merino Martinez, the father of Miguel Martinez, former world mountain bike champion and now teammate of America’s Tyler Hamilton, who consequently will not be in Hamilton due to a hard season of racing and injuries,

Personally, my fondest memory of the world championships was in 1987 when Stephen Roche of Ireland won in Austria completing his triple crown having also won the tours of France and Italy. This accomplishment is so rare and by today’s modern standard may never happen again, peaking for and winning just one of these prestigious events is enormous.

What an honour for us to host this year’s championships. Do your part to get out there and welcome the world to Hamilton.

The HCC banquet date has been set for December 6^th. We are presently looking for a Hamilton venue to hold the event, if a club member has an idea and/or access to a small hall please contact an executive member with any information.

The AGM will be held at "The Dickens" in Burlington on December 13^th.

You are in no way obligated to run for a position, however if you are interested in a position, come on out and hear what it’s all about. Free brunch as well.