Thursday Anticipation

1) Spring Ride 2009

We are basically two-thirds of the way there. Johnny S is getting excited.



2) Nordic Cross

The next race is scheduled for Jan. 31. Billed as the Editor's Showcase, one can scarcely imagine what it might involve. It is safe to say you will not want to miss it. Unless you are one of those anal types who has a hard time dealing with seemingly arbitrary rules being made up on the fly. You guys should probably avoid the FGBC altogether, for that matter. Your tight sphincter chokes off our pursuit of good times.

The following day is Icebike 11 (note to promoter: you need to update your website; 2008 is over). The Impaler reports that the course is looking good. It all adds up to a sweet weekend of racing in the snow. Consider it a double cross weekend, Nordic Cross style.

Two weeks after that is the annual 24 hour spectacular--24 Hours of Coens. I hope Cohens too. Any ipods used during the race must be filled exclusively with Leonard Cohen's peaty voice. I believe this year's race is being hosted by the secretary. I've even heard a rumour that the course will cross the Red River into Kildonan Park. Might we have an update on how the planning is coming along?


3) IceTT v.2

As previously mentioned, Bill and Jonny G are planning it. It will be as sweet as ever. Stay tuned for more information.


4) Gianni's Grass Track Glossary

Omnium (with a bit about Flying 200m)

What do you get if you add up all the events we have learned about over the last few weeks? You get an Omnium.

Omnium is a multiple race event in track cycling in which all contestants compete against each other in five different disciplines, kind of like the bike version of pentathlon. Traditionally, an omnium consists of the following disciplines:

A 200m flying start time trial (flying start meaning you get a lap or 2 to “get up to speed” before entering the timed 200m segment).
A 5km scratch race (or the number of laps closest to 5km).
An individual pursuit with the riders seeded on how they finished in the scratch race.
A 15km points race with a minimum of five intermediate and the sixth final sprint.
A 1km time trial

Points are recorded in reverse order. The rider who finishes first in an event receives one point, the second rider will get two points and so on. The rider with the fewest points after all events is the omnium overall winner. When two riders are tied on points the recorded time of the time trials will make the difference between the riders. A rider needs to have ridden and completed every event in the omnium. When a rider fails to enter or finish one of the disciplines he or she is recorded as "Did not finish".

Now about the flying 200m. First, it's used to seed riders for the Spring event (I think that will be next week's entry). Second, riders go really, really fast -- up to 75km/h. Incidentally the world record for the flying 200m was held by Curt Harnett (from Thunder Bay) from 1995 to 2006. His legs were almost as beautiful as his hair. And here's a video of the guy who beat him:

5) River Trail Parade

Courtesty of Paul Jordan, via Gianni:

Parade & Party on longest river trail in the World !

. . . . if . . . . . if . . . . . if . . . if
- the weather cooperates
- the kids can shovel through to Assiniboine Park Bridge this week
- if the Zamboni doesn't konk out

DATE: Sunday, January 25th
TIME: 12:00 noon departing from The Forks through to Assiniboine Park
We will kick off a parade & party departing from The Forks and travel along the river trail to Assiniboine Park. Dress up in your winter finery (i.e., Nordic Cross and FGBC jerseys or MUCR skinsuits) - lace on skates, hiking boots, or whatever and join in at any of the many access points.

More info at the River Trail Website.