Monster Track 2010 Website Opens

Looks like the "official" site for Monster Track 2010 is finally up. The date was announced last month at some point, but there was no mention of a site that would post updates closer to the day. Well, it's there now.

It would be cool to see a Vancouver team at MT this year. I'll almost definitely be too broke to fly out there, but someone should make it happen. If you do, please keep me updated on your escapades!

Reminder: Gastown Sprints Tonight!

This month's iteration of Gastown Sprints begins in a scant two hours! There's a bunch of loot to be won this time 'round!

"London To Paris" Premiere: The Aftermath

So the "London To Paris" movie premiere, and accompanying alleycat race, was held this evening.

On the race side of things, a grueling circuit of some of the steepest hills in Vancouver was on the menu. Starting outside the premises of legendary purveyor of track-related delicacies Super Champion Shop, racers threw themselves at the hills of North Main Street. Upon reaching 33rd Ave. (or thereabouts,) the valiant contestants had to mash their way up a steep, winding ascent to the top of Queen Elizabeth park. When this peak was reached, a challenge awaited!

Having been previously told to make sure they had a beer with them when they got to the park, racers were required to drink this beer through a beer bong when they arrived at the summit. Let me tell you this, friends: drinking beer through a beer bong whilst gasping for air is a challenging feat indeed.

Once the beer had been bonged, racers returned the way they had come, blasting down the serpentine decent all the way back to Super Champion. As far as anyone knew, this was to be the end of the race...but no! When the racers arrived, they were told there was yet another destination! Grandview Park, they were told, would be their next checkpoint.

Several rolling hills later, racers enter this second park, and had to hunt for the checkpoint marshalls. Eventually, they were located...on the polo courts, of course! No challenge to be had at this checkpoint, racers simply retraced their steps back to Super Champion, and then the race was at an end...for real this time!

Results:

First place went to cyclocross enthusiast and chronic sufferer of The Ginger, Morgan Taylor. Runner-up was the behooded Benoit, and third place was clinched by Nate and his handsome yellow road-conversion. First girl across the line was Haley, the brain behind the legendary Bridge Battle.

Post-race Shenanigans:

Once everyone was safely tucked back inside Super Champion, the film premiere began. I will leave film critiquing to those more qualified to do so, but I personally enjoyed it.

AHTBM's Interview with Spencer Canon

A little bit over a week ago, Stevil from All Hail The Black Market did an interview with Spencer Canon, who's the owner and director of Ritte Van Vlaanderen bicycle company and race team.

Needless to say, I have a new favourite team. Highlights from the interview include such bangers as "Hell, cycling fans are so bored that Garmin looks exciting for incorporating plaid."

January 15th: Alleycat + Movie Screening!

So, it seems there is to be some cycling-related goings-on this coming friday. First off, starting at 6pm, there's going to be a short alleycat; starting and finishing at Super Champion Shop, it promises to be an uproarious affair. Immediately after the conclusion of this race, the aforementioned Shop of Super Champions will be having an in-house screening of the much-talked-about London To Paris cycling adventure film.





So uhhh...yeah. Y'all should come out.

January 20th; Mo' Gastown Sprints!

It's coming up on that time again...Gastown Sprints time! January 20th at the Astoria, y'all will once again get a chance to spin your little hearts out. Rumor has it that there's going to be some prizes this month, too.

Be there by 8:00 if you want to race, and bring a fiver to get in the door.

Vancouver Courier Christmas Party 2009

I'll keep this brief, since this isn't really something most people will care about, but I just want to get this out. This evening was the Christmas party for Vancouver's bicycle messengers; the event included a potluck feast, a Pinata, and Messenger of the Year awards. All in all, a pretty solid party.

Think about this, though: How many Christmas parties can you think of that are held by/for an entire industry, rather than simply for employees of a single company? There are well over a dozen courier companies that employ bikers in Vancouver, and probably over a hundred people working as bicycle messengers. Come Christmas-time, all these people from all these different companies get together and have one big party, instead of the usual boring, hokey "office" party.

I guess I just think it's really damn cool. Solidarity, brothers.

-DXII

Bridge Battle 3: The Aftermath

Well, I just got home from Bridge Battle 3 - or more accurately, from the party that ensued at the end of Bridge Battle 3 - and am now ensconced in my couch, unlikely to emerge again for the next several hours. I had a blast, and look forward to participating again next year.

In previous years, the weather for this race has been nothing but dismal, but this year mother nature decided to cooperate a bit more. It was a reasonable temperature, with virtually no precipitation of any sort. As far as I know, everyone who started made it to the end, and there were no significant crashes. Bravo, racers, you survived!

The Results:

First place overall went to Cody and his hilarious pink wheels. He won some cash and first pick from the swag pile. Second place was out-of-town wildcard Mander, and rounding out the podium was Tim Wyatt in third.

First girl was Sarah, and James gets honorable mention for managing to rescue someone's stolen bike from the DTES, escort it to safety, and still finish the race in a position other than DFL.

A big thank you to all the checkpoint volunteers, especially Lyle for making those awesome checkpoint signs for the elusive Second Narrows checkpoint. And of course, a huuuge thank you to Haley, for putting this whole affair together, for the third year in a row. Hoorah!


-DXII

3rd Annual Bridge Battle! Yeeeeeah!

It's back, and it's as ball-busting as ever! All five bridges leaving the downtown core, all in one race! If it stays true to tradition, the weather will be horrendous! Wooooo!

Gastown Sprints: New Month, New Location!

Treachery is afoot. The current Gastown Sprints location has been lost! This is because Pub 340 is undergoing some sort of renovation, and thus cannot host it. Fortunately, for the December edition of your favourite roller races, a new location has been obtained! Wednesday December 16th, Gastown Sprints will be back, but this time they're at the Astoria.

Show up! Bring your friends! Spin until your legs fall off!