Issue 09/06                                                                        February 11, 2009

UPCOMING EVENTS

February 15 - Bermuda Century Ride - 6:30, 8:00 & 9:30AM starts

February 22 - Winners Edge National Mountain Biking Championship - Ferry Reach - 8:30AM

March 1 - Hill Climb Series #1 - Sayle Road - 8:30AM

March 1 - Conrad's MTB Series Prize Giving and Fun Race - Admiralty House Park - 3:00PM

March 8 - Hill Climb Series #2 - Harrington Hundreds Road (at Harrington Sound) - 8:30AM

March 15 - Hill Climb Series #3 - Fairmont Southampton - 8:30AM

March 22 - IBC Front Street Races - Hamilton - 8:00AM

CYCLING NEWS

BERMUDA CENTURY - FEB 15

The 2009 Bermuda Century fundraiser ride is this Sunday and we will take registrations and pledges right up to the start. Samantha Stephens is organizing this annual event that will benefit the BBA and St. John's Ambulance Brigade.  Members are encouraged to support the event as best as possible and the course this year is a 25 mile loop, allowing participants to ride 1, 2 3 or all four laps to finish 100 miles.  There is a registration form which should be completed and either dropped off at one of the BBA boxes or just brought to the start on Feb. 15.  You can either just pay the $50 donation yourself or collect pledges from others.  The person who raises the most will get a private tour of an ambulance hosted by Stephen Gunn and Jonathan Herring!

This event is open to anyone who wants to participate and BBA membership is not required.  So bring out some friends and recreational cyclists for a few turns abound Bermuda.

Volunteers are needed at the start/finish location on Front Street.  Please contact Samantha if you are able to come by for a while to assist with support.

Also, if you are willing to bring some refreshments (baked goods are always appreciated) then drop Samantha a note at shood47@hotmail.com

Entry Form

Pledge Form

Event Flyer

2009 MEMBERSHIP

Time to renew your membership for 2009.  Fees are remaining at a modest $20 per individual adult or $10 for juniors.  Family membership  (includes all household members) is merely $30.  If you became a member as part of a bike purchase in 2008 then the free ride is over.  The form can be downloaded here or you can get one at Winners Edge, Sportseller or Bicycle Works where completed forms can be put in the BBA drop boxes.

RACING MATTERS

2009 RACING CALENDAR - IT'S HERE!!!

Duncan, Jeff and Martin have done a great job of soliciting input on how the 2009 season should be structured and the calendar is now available here.  If there is a change or update to this we will inform you through the newsletter.

CATEGORIES: Adult categories will be Male A, Female A, Male B and Female B. We will also have s Social Cyclist category which will be for those who want to come out and participate but no points series, just bragging rights.  Junior categories will be Junior A, Junior B and Junior C.  Riders will select the category they will race for the season.  Juniors aged 15 and 16 may elect to ride in the adult categories.

DISTANCES: The expected range of road race distances by category are:

Male A: 30 - 50 miles

Male B: 20 35 miles

Female A: 30 - 50 miles

Female B: 20 - 35 miles

Social Cyclists: 10-20 miles

Junior A: 20 - 35 miles

Junior B: 10 - 20 miles

Junior C: 3 - 10 miles

POINTS SERIES: There will be 12 races in the points series that runs the entire season and the best 8 results will count towards the standings.

MID-WEEK CRITS: These are training races and no series associated.

VOLUNTEERS: Riders must provide at least 2 volunteers for road race events (not time trials) in order to qualify  for the series.

POINTS SERIES RACE DIRECTORS: Each adult (over age 16) rider must be a race director once during the season.  If you would like to volunteer for a specific date then contact Duncan (duncansimons@gmail.com), otherwise you will be assigned an event and be responsible for finding a replacement if you can't make it.

FEES: Adults, $10 per race or $60 for the road race series.  Juniors, $5 per race or $30 for the season.  Mid week crits will have nominal fee of $2, of which have the entry fees will go into a draw for all participants that day.

2009 RACE CALENDAR

WINNERS EDGE NATIONAL MOUNTIAN BIKING CHAMPIONSHIPS REGISTRATION

Time to register for the National Championships which will be held at Ferry Reach on Sunday, February 22nd.  This event requires advance registration and the form is below.

National Mountain Biking Championships Entry Form

MTB RACE #7  - ADMIRALTY HOUSE PARK

The last race of the Conrad's MTB Series was held on Sunday at Ferry Reach.  A few positions in the point standing shifted after all the racing was done and if you want to read Chelsea's exciting account of the morning's action the check it out below, along with race results.  Chief MTB Statistician Ed Jordan is still writing the program to calculate each category winner (between ski runs) and we'll have that for you next week.

MTB fans should note the date and time of the awards party from the calendar above.

Ferry Reach Results

Ferry Reach Write-Up

HILLS CLIMB SERIES TO START THE ROAD SEASON

The 2009 road season will start with three weeks of those delightful little hill climbs.  Beginning with Sayle Road, then Harrington Hundreds and concluding with the Fairmont Southampton (insert "Princess" somewhere if you are old enough).  This is a great way to get used to waking up for an 8:30 start and to see who has the early form.  Count on Arthur Pitcher to surprise but don't count out Mark Hatherley just yet.

Picture of the week

Dream Holiday.  Somewhere in the Mediterranean (I think).  Bike shop (most certain). Wife happy to be in bike shop during holiday (please don't wake me from this dream!).  Doesn't everyone want to be Miguel?

If you want to submit a picture or two for the next newsletter then please forward the image to newsletter@bermudabicycle.org.