Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 9:09PM Race results for the eQuinelle Grand Prix Criterium and the Dandelion Grand Prix Road Race.
Be sure to check out the photos from the criterium too!
Dandelion Grand Prix, eQuinelle Grand Prix in photos, results Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 9:17AM Just a reminder that Ride with Rendall is hosting the Mississippi Mills Grand Prix – an Ontario Cup stage race this coming weekend! As part of the Mississippi Mills Bicycle Month, this three-day stage race (four-stage for Elite Men) will take place in the town and surrounding areas of Mississippi Mills. The highlight will be Saturday night's downtown criterium in Almonte.
Cyclists will compete in each stage of the Mississippi Mills Grand Prix and their time in finishing each stage will be aggregated to determine the overall winner of the three-day race. An overall leaders jersey and an overall points leader jersey will be awarded at the end of each stage.
Again a reminder that registration closes at 11:50pm Wednesday May 30th.
If you are not racing, why not come out and see some of the racing. Go towww.ridewithrendall.com for details .
We are also looking for volunteers still so if you can spare some time, it would be appreciated. Contact Tasmina at tasminap@yahoo.ca if you wish to help.
Mississippi Mills, Ride with Rendall in road racing Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 9:37PM ;)
This past weekend, I travelled back to Killington with some of my Team IFG by Cyclelogik/Endurosport teammates to seek a little revenge. While I knew I had some decent form, and the support of 2 strong teammates, I was apprehensive after last year’s meltdown on the final climb. But the mood was good as we arrived to a forecast of 3 glorious days of weather, and a great house (shared with teammates in several fields and a couple of riders from other teams) that helped create a good vibe from the outset.
The 3-stage event includes a 90 km circuit race, a 17 km TT, and a 95 km point to point race with several big climbs and a mountain top finish. Stage 1 was a bit of a roll around, which went pretty much to plan. Last year I had spent much of the second half of the race chasing a break and fretting over my GC position when in reality, because of the fast finish, its nearly impossible to gain a sizeable amount of time. So this year we were very disciplined, and while I rode at the front on the KoM climbs to set tempo and discourage anything crazy like a big split, I generally rolled around the back and conserved for the huge efforts on the next 2 days. Sure enough, a break of 2 got away, and they killed it all the way to the line, getting 40 seconds on the peloton. Doug and Andy racing with me for the weekend, worked to keep the break in check, and while I was marginally concerned, sticking to the plan is almost never a bad idea. We all finished safely in the bunch.
Stage 2 is a 17 k TT that is slightly uphill almost all the way, 1-2% most of the time, and with a decent headwind on Sunday afternoon, was an absolute bear. Having raced it twice before, and inspected it again this time, I was reasonably confident of knowing how to mete out the effort. TT’s aren’t that complicated – you try to gauge your effort so as to arrive as an unconscious snot-bubble as you cross the line, and you check the scoreboard. With Ryder’s inspirational ride on Sunday morning, I was happy to be another Canadian to take the Pink Jersey, with a win in the TT, having put 30 seconds on second place, and over 90 seconds on each of the breakaway riders from the day before. Getting the jersey however is never as easy as keeping it…! Kudos to Andy in particular here as he went eddymerkx and still couldn’t achieve the elusive DFL!
David Gazsi, TTeam IFG in race reports Monday, May 28, 2012 at 8:58AM After two years of keeping the Ottawa bike community up to date on news and events, it's time to pass on the responsibility to someone new. The site needs new energy to keep it fresh and lively. Let me know if you are interested. I'll continue paying the hosting costs for the next year, and train you manage the site.
news Friday, May 18, 2012 at 1:18PM 
Download the updated Dandelion Grand Prix (PDF 530kb) and eQuinelle Criterium (PDF 797kb) technical guides. A quick note regarding the upcoming Dandelion race from the event organizer:
Due to increasing emphasis on limited liability for the OPP, the 2012 Dandelion Grand Prix has had to change its Citizens Race format for the 8am start wave. Previously there was an 8:00am open race an 8:02am sportif race and and 8:04am beginner event. Due to the very extensive increase in Police support to keep a yellow line rule from being imposed the morning categories have now been combined into one Open pack that will be racing 85.5km starting at 8:00am.
The Pro/Am Women's 10:30 102.6km race and the Pro/Am mens 171.km race are unaffected. Unfortunately for this year we are unable to facilitate more than one pack on the road at one time.
I apologize for the change and I know that this change may make it difficult for some to participate in the event for this year.
Please come out and help support the event and the athletes that are competing. We are still looking for volunteers to help with rider sign on.
Thank you for being such a supportive cycling community.
Ryan
Dandelion Grand Prix in road racing Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 3:10PM A reminder that Gran Fondo Gatineau Online registration ends at midnight on May 17. Save 10$ by registering online! After that, registrations will be accepted on site from 8 to 5 on Saturday 19 and from 6:30 am on Sunday 20th. The Gran Fondo Gatineau starts at 8 am Sunday and the Medio Fondo starts at 8:30.
For more information or to register: www.gpcyclistegatineau.com.
Gran Fondo, Grand Prix Cycliste Gatineau in events Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 3:02PM 
photo courtesy CAN-BIKEAs part of Bike to Work Month, EnviroCentre are hosting four cycling presentations for residents living through the City of Ottawa. These events are FREE and open to everyone.
Enjoy a healthier, stress-free commute
Increase your productivity at work and happiness at home
Save money with no parking fees
Presented in association with CAN-BIKE by commuter cyclists, participants will learn:
The three remaining presentations are in Kanata, Barrhaven, and Ottawa City Hall. Details follow below:
Barrhaven
Bike to Work Month, Envirocentre in events Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 8:08AM ;)
click for bigger
Email tasminap@yahoo.ca if you can help out.
Mississippi Mills, Ride with Rendall in news Wednesday, May 16, 2012 at 8:04AM ;)
For those heading down to Hardwood on June 2nd, Canadian National Mountain Bike team members Amanda Sin (SCOTT-3Rox Racing) and Catherine Vipond (Norco Factory Team) will host 45 female youth riders between grades 4 to 12 for a morning of inspiration at Hardwood Ski and Bike. This will mark Fast and Female's second mountain biking event ever.
"I love being a part of Fast and Female and seeing girls excited about sports," said Sin a resident of Collingwood, ON who took part in the inaugural Fast and Female cycling event held in Canmore last year. "Participating in sport and being an athlete has had such a positive impact in my life. I want to pass that on," added the cyclist who finished third at the Pan Am Games in 2011.
The Fast and Female Mountain Bike held at Hardwood Ski and Bike will run from 9:15 to 12:00 and include team building activities, inspirational presentations, zumba dancing, mountain biking, and autographs. The activity will be happening in tandem with the Trek Store Canada Cup featuring eight hundred participants who are expected to compete on Sunday June 3rd.
Started in 2005 by cross country skiing gold medalist Chandra Crawford, Fast and Female is intently focused on delivering programming to inspire and motivate girls stick to sports. Research shows that girls are six times more likely to drop out of sports than boys.
"Growing women's cycling is a focus at the forefront of the Ontario Cycling Association's mandate," said Brendan Arnold, the OHPSI Head Coach. "In collaboration with the Canadian Cycling Association, we are thrilled to support Fast and Female with their camp at Hardwood Ski and Bike."
Girls with all mountain biking skills are invited to register online until June 1 at http://ffjune2hardwoodhills.eventbrite.com/.
Fast and Female in events Monday, May 14, 2012 at 8:39AM Two more events have been added to the ottawabikes calendar:
Capital Velofest, Ride of Silence in events Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 12:19PM ;)
click for biggerJoin the 2nd Annual Blessing of the Bikes celebration! Visit the Church of the Ascension, 253 Echo Drive (just south of Pretoria Bridge), next to the Alcatel Bikeway, on May 20, presicely at 12:00 p.m to have your bike blessed.
Cycling is one of the things that makes Ottawa such a great city. Yet cyclists in "By(k)town" face many challenges: the weather, the traffic, bike lanes that disappear into nowhere.....We need all the blessings that we can get.
So once again, Church of the Ascension is organizing a Blessing of the Bikes service to celebrate the blessing that cycling provide us (e.g. fun, travel, adventure, exercise, clean air!) and to pray for those who ride. There will be a brief blessing for riders and bikes, a moment of silence to remember cyclists who have been lost in the past year, and a chance for everyone to ring their bicycle bells in celebration of cycling.
All are welcome. The service starts at 12:00 noon sharp; it is wonderful but very brief, so come a little early! There will be fair-trade espresso and live jazz too.
Check out the video from last year's event.
For more information, please contact Dwayne Hodgson @ 613-761-9437 or dh@learningcycle.ca.
Blessing of the Bikes in events Thursday, May 10, 2012 at 12:49PM 
The tecnical guides for the upcoming Dandelion Grand Prix events are now available:
Wednesday, May 9, 2012 at 3:16PM The OBC spring Reliability Ride is on Sunday, May 13. It is an 88-km loop pitting riders against their estimated time to complete the course. The usual Sunday tours will start at 9 a.m. from Billings Bridge Plaza, plenty of time to make the 9:30 registration time at the Old Hawthorne/St. George Cemetery on Russell Road about 1 km east of the Russell Road/Hawthorne intersection. The ride starts at 10 a.m. Parking is limited at the cemetery, so riders are encouraged to park at Billings Bridge and ride to the short 8 km to the cemetery. Good luck to everyone!
A reminder that this, and other OBC events are for members only, for insurance purposes. To become a member, please visit the OBC Membership page.
Get more information and maps at the OBC Reliability Ride page.
OBC, Reliability Ride in events Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 11:41AM ;)
Hey cycling fans, I wanted to write a quick review of the Tour of the Dragons this past weekend down in Bennington and Manchester, Vermont.
One of my teammates from Team IFG by Cyclelogik/Endurosport wrote a race report here(www.teamifg.com), but since this is Ottawa Bikes, I wanted to send out a bit of an update too, most of all, to promote this excellent race to our community.
The first stage is a 17km TT that is an absolute rollercoaster of suffering fun. How did I win the stage at only 42 kph? Because there’s everything on this course… long climbs, punchy climbs, wickedfast descents, and numerous corners thru some beautiful roads make this about the most enjoyable TT course I’ve ever ridden. We climbed a total of 237 meters, with a net gain of almost 90 meters, so that explains the average speed. I was on a really good day, taking 2 minutes out of last year’s time, and winning by almost a minute – yellow jersey!
The second stage the same afternoon is right downtown in Bennington, traditional 4 corners but with 2 ascending legs, and one very fast descent into corner 3, so it made for some exciting racing. As crits go, it was pretty normal too… my teammates kept me safe as possible and all the rubber stayed on the road, however while I typically curse people that sprint for 15th, this day, I cursed them for sitting up, thereby gapping me and costing me a few seconds on GC – my bad, gotta be at the front!
Sunday’s road race is gorgeous – a single loop 100k with 5 categorized climbs, beautiful quiet roads, and wicked descents. I was comfortable defending the jersey all day – either me or my teammate Cary rode on the front of every climb, while my other teammate Andrew covered the dangerous early moves and took the sprint prime to boot!... and when there were attacks from the 2 or 3 GC threats, I was able to close them down – I had good legs, good protection, everything went to plan. Cary even finished second in KOM points, and with 20 to go, and the GC danger all but behind us, we tried to give Steve Proulx from the Cyclery some rope to get away… and he did for a heroic 15 k and maybe a minute gap, but eventually the stage hunters brought him back with about 5 to go. Cary and I lead the peloton home to the final sprint and then got out of the way, having wrapped up the first GC win of the year.
So think about checking this race out for next season – the promoter is making lots of improvements, the courses are great, the area is great, and it’s a beautiful drive thru the Adirondack Park if you chose. Race link here (www.tourofthedragons.com).
David
David Gazsi, Tour of the Dragons in race reports Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at 11:36AM 
photo courtesy Nina NesdolyRace report from Nina Nesdoly from the Granby TT and Brossard Crit:
This past weekend, Infinit (and Stevens, some from Ottawa) riders were racing in Quebec, at Granby TT and Brossard Crit. We had a great weekend, Infinit finished the TT with all riders in the top 15 out of 24, and Veronik Bourgon in 2nd! In the criterium Courtnay Romkey and myself went for the sprint and finished 8th and 11th.
Nina Nesdoly, Team Infinit in race reports