Tuesday AM Sprints

[AlW]

Was chatting with Alec W this morning about the location of the sprints on the Tuesday AM loop. We agreed the current location presents some problems, so thought I would throw the idea out for discussion.

On a sprint lap, the pace starts to pick up on Cedar Hil Cross Road. Normally, traffic is non-existent, so rolling through the stop sign at Caddy Bay Rd is not a problem. Until this morning. That was pretty damn sketchy. Lots of people yelled "CAR", then all but a few back markers rolled through the stop sign (given the pace, it's unlikely the group could have stopped if they wanted to). Luckily the driver was paying attention and stopped. The last corner before the sprint, at Landsdowne and Henderson, is pretty tight as well, moreso given the pace and people jockeying for position.

Moving the sprint somewhere on Cedar Hill Cross road would probably be safer (the sign at the Henderson rec center possibly?)
- Less pressure to hit the Landsdowne/Henderson corner at speed.
- The final corner at Cedar Hill X/Henderson is much easier to navigate at speed
- The speed at the stop sign at Cedar Hill X and Caddy Bay is likely to be a lot lower after the sprint.

Comments?

[Lister Farrar]

Sounds ok to me. Plus Cedar Hill is wider, even than the widish Henderson, though we can't/don't use that width because of the pedestrian crossing bollard at the sprint line.

A sprint at the rec centre might be a bit soon after the corner. Can't recall what else is there though to suggest anything else.

[Rolf]

I like the idea. The proposed stretch has only the one access point for cars (after the church on the corner) and is usually clear of parked cars. Visibility front and back is significantly better.

The end of the Uplands Estates (the all-brick subdivision on the right) and the beginning of the golf course may be a good marker, allowing some room to decelerate before approaching the delicate turn either way on Cadboro Bay. I think there'd be a slight rise at the end, too.

However, we should probably approach OB Rec about putting a "Watch for Earlybird Cyclists" sign on the Henderson Rec driveway, as some weights-monkey may come shooting out of there one day, to ill effect.

[JohnT]

"Weight monkey"? Men in baby blue spandex (and pink helmets on occassion) should think twice before labeling the weight lifters.

I agree that we should give some thought to the sprint line. The Henderson exit probably isn't a good plan because of that rare car entering or exiting just as we're all glassy-eyed at top speed. The Cedar Hill X to Caddy Bay is probably the most risky corner, especially on a cold wet morning, so I am with those that favour the dog walk area towards the end of Cedar Hill X.

Listen to us! Like a bunch of teenagers ploting a rave or trying to figure out where to plant the marijuana.

[David Hill]

As a former Slocan Valley (Kootenays) resident, I strongly suggest planting the marijuana among the tomato plants...

As for the sprint, wherever it's easier to throw up is fine with me...

[Alec]

The road that separates the Henderson rec centre from the Uplands estates is too close to the corner, so I propose the 'finish' line should be the entrance to the Upland estates. This is not too close to the corner and it gives Bob a chance to celebrate properly before we turn onto Caddy bay road.