December 19/05 6:51 am - Cycling BC MTB Calendar & Ranking, IMBA Canada News

Posted by Editor on 12/19/05
 

Cycling BC Announces 2006 Mountain Bike Calendar and Ranking System
Courtesy Cycling BC

Cycling BC is pleased to announce the 2006 BC Mountain Bike Race Calendar and Ranking System.

A departure from the BC Cup Series held in previous years, the BC Mountain Bike Ranking System is intended to promote growth of participation in Mountain Bike Competition by providing incentives for cycling clubs to organize races and recruit new racing members. In addition to BC Cup events, Provincial Ranking Points are awarded for most races on the provincial calendar. The scale and depth of points awarded at each race corresponds to its level of sanction.

By making it possible to accumulate points at most races, Cycling BC hopes to encourage strong club-level racing in all regions of the province, making it possible for Cycling BC members to maintain a ranking by supporting local races, as well as some of the higher-level events. As such, Cycling BC affiliated Clubs are encouraged to register their events on the provincial calendar so that riders in each region of the province can earn more points.

All points accumulated by each rider between January 1 and October 15 are used to determine the provincial ranking in each eligible category for 2006. There is no minimum or maximum number of races, nor is attendance at any particular event mandatory in order to maintain a ranking.

For all Beginner and Sport ability categories, as well as the Senior Expert Categories, ranking points will be maintained for upgrade purposes.

Complete details of the Ranking System and 2006 Mountain Bike Calendar can be found on the Cycling BC web site (www.cycling.bc.ca). Cycling BC still expects to add more events to the Calendar as the winter progresses; new versions of the Calendar will be posted periodically.


IMBA Canada News

Canada Earns High Marks in 2005 IMBA Report Card

The 2005 IMBA Report Card awards Canada with an "A minus," just behind Scotland in the international category. The IMBA report, now in its seventh edition, utilizes input from IMBA's network of reps, online polling from IMBA members and staff evaluations to gauge the riding opportunities and advocacy strength in the United States, Canadian provinces and nations with significant IMBA activities. Check the international results here: www.imba.com/news/trail_news/18_4/itn_18_4_report_card.html#world


MEC/IMBA Canada Trailbuilding Tour - Promoting Ecological Integrity

In the second half of 2005, IMBA Canada received a grant from Mountain Equipment Co-op's Environment Fund to help fund trail education visits tofour provinces. The MEC/IMBA Trailbuilding Tour aims to train more than 200people in the art of sustainable trailbuilding by the summer of 2006.

Read about the Tour's first visit, in the National Capital Region:www.imba.com/canada/news/mec_trailbuilding_05.html


Capilano College to Offer Mountain Bike Operations Certificate

Capilano College (Sunshine Coast Campus) in British Columbia, will offer a
"Mountain Bike Operations" Certificate program in September, 2006. The
program is a full-time, eight-month program (26 credits) and covers courses
in tourism, risk management, event planning, first aid, mountain bike skill
development, trail design and trailbuilding.
http://www.capcollege.bc.ca/programs/sunshine/Mountain_Bike_Operations_Certificate.html


Tales From the Trails

This month's story features the Subaru/IMBA Trail Care Crew's visit to Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Read how crew leaders Nat and Rachael Lopes worked with clubs to improve racecourses in central Canada: www.imba.com/tcc/2005/manitoba_saskat.html


New IMBA Dealers and Clubs Near You

Please welcome the following list of dealers and clubs that have recently joined IMBA Canada!

Dealers

Radical Edge - Fredericton, NB www.radicaledge.ca/
Lunenburg Bicycle Barn - Lunenburg, NS www.bikelunenburg.com/
Martin's Bicycle Shop - Southampton, ON www.martins.ca/bikeshop.html

Clubs

Arrow Racing - Meaford, ON

To join as an IMBA bicycle club or dealer visit: www.imba.com/canada/membership/


Last Minute Christmas Gift

Give a riding buddy or loved one the gift of trails this Christmas. Buy a supporting level membership for only $30 CAD, and we'll send you (or your friend) a fancy new IMBA Canada T-shirt for free! That's $10 off the normal membership price of $40 CAD, and a great Christmas gift for both of you!

Canadian dollars for Canadian trails: stores.yahoo.com/imba/spofimmespsa.html


Donate to the IMBA Canada Annual Fund

IMBA Canada is taking mountain biking to the next level. Help us make sure that you have outstanding trails to ride close to home by donating to the IMBA Canada Annual Fund. Our immediate goal: raise $5,000 CAD before the end of the year to kick-start our work in 2006.

Contributors of $30 CAD or more will receive our all-new full-colour 2006 calendar: stores.yahoo.com/imba/caledefu.html


Mountain Bike Survey

Researchers at the University of Colorado, the University of New Mexico, and the University of Padua in Italy want to know about you and your mountain biking. The survey will help IMBA show land managers what kinds of riding experiences riders enjoy. One IMBA staffer in Boulder completed all the forms in five minutes, but don't attempt that pace unless you're an expert survey taker. bike.colorado.edu/