May 27, 2014 (Gore, Nova Scotia) – This past weekend the team attended the A-Gore-A-Phobia XC, the Provincial Championship hosted on the Blois Farm in Gore Nova Scotia. Once again we were treated to excellent race conditions with a dry course, cool temperatures and a light wind. The number of youths attending the event held strong at 40 under the age of 19 out of 106 racers. The A-Gore-A-Phobia course is known for its super owy, hard-packed singletrack that is so good you forget that in some sections you’re actually climbing!

The staging area runs along the finish line and starting straight away of the race course, thus gives a good view of all the riders going about their pre-race routine. As I glanced down the row of vehicles it reminded me of a conversation I had with a parent taking their child to their first event a couple of years ago. They mentioned that they found it to be an intimidating environment to break into, especially with all the racers looking so intent and serious as they were getting ready. I remember noticing that in fact all the riders did look pretty serious at that particular moment, but also noted that it was about 45minutes before the riders were going to be called to the line. To someone not familiar with the typical preparation routine, it could appear like racers are somewhat unapproachable.

Having a better understanding of a typical pre-race routine can take away from the perception of racers being unapproachable. The CJRT typically arrive at an event 2 hours prior to being called to the line. The first hour after arriving is for registration, social time and is when most take their last pre-race snack. There may be a few bike and equipment checks and some discussion on course conditions and strategy.

One hour prior to start time is when the group starts changing into their race gear and gets into the mindset to race. Also at this time, many senior racers have just arrived and are quickly getting ready. The moment in time observed by the first-event parent mentioned above was probably when most riders are looking for an elusive piece of their gear, their multi-tool or perhaps have noticed a problem with their bike. They realise they are about to roll out for the warm-up, and are scrambling a little to be ready. To the casual observer, they can appear pretty serious and unapproachable!

The reality is that racers love talking about their sport and are more than happy to help out a new rider in any way they can. Parents new to the sport arriving with their child often arrive at what experienced racers would consider the last minute, not realizing the amount of time it takes to be fully ready to race. What they are doing as the clock runs down to race time is likely very different compared to the experienced racers’ timeline. The racing community in Nova Scotia is incredibly welcoming, whether it’s any of the experienced young racers, the older sport racers, or the elite racers that are some of nicest and most approachable athletes one would want to meet.

Next time you look down the row of vehicles and see the racers looking like they are in their own little world getting ready, remember that they all share the common thread of a love of cycling. Don’t mistake a little bit of focus for aloofness or unapproachability! If you do have a question or need a little help, keep an eye for the Cyclemith/Bontrager tents and hopefully we’ll be able to help you out!

A-Gore-A-Phobia ran flawlessly, and the provincial champions were crowned for 2014. Now everyone’s attention will shift to the XC Point Series race for the best 5 out of 8 standings!

Results

Category A Men  
1. Jamie Lamb (Cyclesmith) 1:30:14
2. Terry Tomlin (Oakley Atlantic) 1:33:24
3. Robert Klue (Cyclesmith) 1:33:25
4. Martin Austin (Oakley Atlantic) 1:35:12
5. Dustin MacBurnie (Cyclesmith) 1:35:37
6. Jon Burgess (Oakley Atlantic) 1:36:05
7. Jeff Simms (Bike Monkey) 1:36:40
8. Luc Comeau (Cyclesmith) 1:37:47
9. Jason Legace (Bike Guyz) 1:39:38
10. Randy Gray (Cyclesmith) 1:40:59
11. Liam Whitman (Bike Monkey) 1:41:29
12. Colin Banks (Valley Stove & Cycle) 1:42:02
13. Brent Noble (Bike Monkey) 1:43:49
14. Mark MacDonald (Highland Bike Club) 1:48:11
15. Colin Ward (O’Regans Subaru) 1:50:18
16. Alan Miner (Valley Stove and Cycle) 1:54:49
17. Keith Croucher (Tipsy Toad) 2:10:00
DNF Calvin Turple (Cyclesmith)
DNF Geoff O’Toole (Cyclesmith)

Category A – Female   

1. Odette Comeau (Cyclesmith) 1:24:03
2. Mackenzie Myatt (Cyclesmith) 1:27:48
3. Anya Munro (Cyclesmith) 1:28:14
4. Lola Doucet (Trail Flow) 1:49:56

Category B  – Men

1. Chris Price (Lunenburg Bike Barn) 1:17:35
2. Barry MacInnis (Highland Bike Club) 1:18:42
3. Noah Patriquin (Bike Monkey) 1:18:53
4. Mike Avery (SMB Physiotherapy Race Team) 1:19:44
5. Benjamin Hewins (Valley Stove and Cycle) 1:20:17
6. Dave Marshall (Trailflow) 1:21:16
7. Banjamin Cumming (Bke Monkey) 1:23:59
8. Aaron Neaves (Highland Bike Club) 1:24:11
9. Kyle Arsenault (Bike Guys) 1:24:15
10. Mark Craig (Rigid Riders) 1:25:36
11. Brad Cameron (Hub Cycle) 1:25:48
12. Simon Myatt (Cyclesmith) 1:25:50
13. Randy Comeau (Cyclesmith) 1:27:28
14. Anthony Lacopia (Cyclesmith) 1:27:30
15. Luke Tudor (Bike Guys) 1:27:50
16. Isaac Benvie (Bike Monkey) 1:28:02
17. Michael West (Independent) 1:28:34
18. Drew Spinney (Hub Cycle) 1:29:19
19. Clint Snell (Pictou County Cycle) 1:30:48
20. Craig Loge (Pictou County Cycle) 1:31:47
21. Matthew Fraser (Highland Bike Club) 1:32:24
22. Chad Smith (Independent) 1:35:10
23. Simon Fraser (Highland Bike Club) 1:43:53
DNF Thor Durning

Category B – Female   

1. Joanne Cyr-Allen (Cyclesmith) 1:01:12
2. Tammy Slauenwhite (Framework Racing) 1:03:33
3. Sue Boutilier (Bike Monkey) 1:07:31
4. Janelle Knickle (Bike Barn) 1:09:32
5. Nancy Munro (Cyclesmith) 1:10:06
6. Kelly Burgess (Independent) 1:12:48

Category C – Men   

1. Jeremy Henderson (Pictou County Cycle) 58:25:00
2. Jeff Deuville (Bike Monkey) 59:35:00
3. Matthew Allen (Cyclesmith) 59:53:00
4. Jeff Sangster (Cyclesmith) 1:00:34
5. Joshua Brown (Independent) 1:01:18
6. Daniel Cook (Bicycles Plu) 1:01:29
7. Darren Belliveau (Bike Monkey) 1:02:21
8. Craig Bezanson (Independent) 1:02:37
9. Patrick Vandermeulin (Bike Monkey) 1:05:53
10. Shawn Patriquin (Bike Monkey) 1:10:49
11. Trent Bates (Bike Monkey) 1:11:17
12. Derek Ozon (Cyclesmith) 1:11:23
13. Lonny Currie (Valley Stove and Cycle) 1:11:40
14. Roddy Archibald (Bike Monkey) 1:13:26
15. Edward Hewins (Valley Stove and Cycle) 1:13:42
16. Urs Ritter (Independent) 1:17:05

Category U17 – Male   

1. Elijah Bellliveau (Bike Monkey) 56:59:00
2. Tim Shea (Pictou County Cycling) 57:45:00
3. Iain Myatt (Cyclesmith) 59:20:00
4. Samuel Garron (Independent) 1:53:33

Category U17 – Female   

1. Janessa Rathgeber (Bike Monkey) 1:14:32

Category U15 – Male 

1. Peter Vandermeulen (Bike Monkey) 29:19:00
2. Ben Sangster (Cyclesmith) 30:27:00
3. Devon Bates (Bike Monkey) 30:42:00
4. Jeremy Allen (Cyclesmith) 33:00:00
5. Brett Deuville (Bike Monkey) 35:53:00
6. Cody Matthews (Independent) 36:49:00
7. Duncan Ferguson (Kings-Edgehill) 39:11:00
8. Daniel Avery (Bicycles Plus) 45:34:00
9. Phoenix Doucet-Bernard (Trailflow) 45:38:00
DNF Calvin MacEachern (Sweetride)
DNF Jacob Taljaard (Kings-Edgehill)

Category U15 – Female   

1. Maura Whitman (Bike Monkey) 31:26:00
2. Isabelle Allen (Cyclesmith) 34:40:00
3. Madeleine West (Cyclesmith) 38:29:00

Category U13 – Male 

1. Andrew Craig (Rigid Riders) 18:57
2. Jessie Cameron (Hub Cycle) 20:11
3. Jack Morrison (Bike Monkey) 20:33
4. Evan West (Independent) 21:32
5. Will Flemming (Kings-Edgehill) 24:41:00
6. Rowan Durning (Independent) 28:47:00
7. Darian Ozon (Cyclesmith) 31:27:00
8. Noah Benvie (Bike Monkey) 32:55:00
9. Aiden Bezanson (Independent) 39:28:00

Category U13 – Female   

1. Reina Placer (Bike Monkey) 33:40:00
2. Ocean Doucet-Bernard (Trailflow) 39:28:00

Category Fat Bikes   

1. Bruce Roberts (Hub Cycle) 58:51:00
2. Roderick MacKinnon (Hub Cycle) 1:07:40
3. Roy Rasmussen (Hub Cycle) 1:13:51
4. Daniel Harrington (Hub Cycle) 1:20:30