December 11/02 11:13 am - Hell & Back Story, UCI BMX, Anti-Dumping, Correction

Posted by Editor on 12/11/02
 

Fourth Annual Mike Barry's "To Hell and Back" Challenge
Courtesy Peter McCaffery

Organized by the Midweek CC

Fifty hardy souls lined up at the Box Grove community centre in Markham on December 8th, wondering what lay in store for them over the next one hundred and forty kilometers of roads and trails. The weather seemed ideal, with a temperature of just around freezing and a medium west wind. But that was the best it was going to be. By the end of the route, they had been treated to blizzard conditions, a stern cross wind, and a severe drop in temperature. The only compensation was that, as the wind speed increased to nearly fifty kph, it switched to the north west and blew the competitors rapidly homeward.

By the halfway point, near Lake Simcoe, there was a leading group of four riders, including: Peter Morse (Midweek CC), Ryan Roth (Sympatico/Jet Fuel) and independents Kevin Lehman and Stig Somme. Lehman stood out, as he was riding a fixed wheel track bike, which didn't seem to hamper him at all, even through the snow. This rapid quartet had managed to detach itself from pursuers Heath Cockburn (La Bicicletta), Kevin Speacht (Midweek CC) and OBC's Aaron Fillion.

The four stayed together until the Roseville Tract, just over thirty kilometers from the finish, when Roth,with the advantage of his wider tires, rode up a tough,long hill that reduced the rest to carrying their bikes, gaining nearly three minutes on the chasers. The trio chased but failed to reduce the gap on the speeding Roth, who won comfortably in a time only sixteen minutes shy of Andrew Randall's record time of 4h 33'14", posted last year.

Somme, Lehman and Morse were left to sprint for second place, with the Midweek rider just pipping the Toronto courier on the line. Over twelve minutes behind, Kevin Speacht beat Fillion by four seconds, Cockburn fading to finish a further two minutes back.

In the women's category, Verizon's Julia Farrell showed her class by beating runner-up, Lisa Hoskins (Team Hardwood) by thirteen minutes, with US rider Jennifer Stephenson another minute back.

In the master's 40 plus, Everest veteran, Jim Elzinga (Midweek CC) showed his great endurance by taking nearly twenty minutes out of second place Dave Dermont (True North), and by finishing eighth overall.

Of particular note was Josh Hall's incredible ride on a Swedish Kronin bicycle. This forty five pound plus behemoth was originally developed for the Swedish Army and sported steel fenders, generator lighting (he almost needed it!), and a heavy duty carrier, complete with lunch pail and a six pack of sponsor (St. Ambroise) beer. Josh won the lanterne rouge, finishing last in just under seven and a half hours.

Many thanks to marshal coordinator Geoff Gadd and his stalwart band of assistants; to Brian Holt, who worked for weeks, dealing with local authorities and course modifications; to Krys Hines and Ian Starke for soliciting prizes and organizing the evening awards dinner; to Kit McCaffery for doing registration; and to La Bicicletta and BBB for putting on the HQ product display.

By the way, L.B's Henry Erlichman showed up at the finish on a bike but no-one recognized him with his hemet on!

Photos courtesy Don McCulough
Start
Riders


UCI Launches New BMX Race Series
Courtesy UCI

Beginning in 2003, the UCI will launch a new series of BMX events called the UCI BMX SUPERCROSS, which will replace the former UCI BMX World Cup (1996-2000).

The UCI BMX SUPERCROSS series will be held on specially designed BMX tracks, made only for the very top-level athletes of BMX racing. These downhill BMX tracks will feature obstacles, jumps and high speed that will bring BMX racing to another level.

The pilot event will be held at Camp Woodward (Pennsylvania) USA, 19th to 20th September 2003. Camp Woodward is the premier BMX Freestyle facility in the world, and the UCI BMX SUPERCROSS will be held on their very well known and respected downhill BMX track.

The event will be open for Elite Men and Junior Men (17 years and older). With a prize purse of over 20,000 Swiss Francs ($21,265 C), and the fact that the race will count for UCI International ranking points as well as AA-Pro points in the NBL National Series, the UCI BMX SUPERCROSS will be one of the most important races on the 2003 International BMX calendar.

A major TV production and distribution has been secured. The first event will be produced by Insider TV, UK (event production arm of Chilli) with an already guaranteed viewing in many countries such as USA, Australia, Great Britain, France, Japan and the Netherlands, to name a few. Furthermore, news satellite uplinks and highlights will be made available rights-free to global news stations, agencies and sports magazine shows.

UCI have together with the National Bicycle League (NBL), reached an agreement with Camp Woodward to host this event at the Woodward track in Pennsylvania for the next three years.

The UCI BMX SUPERCROSS series will be extended in 2004 with an event on the European continent and in 2005 the series will be held on three different locations around the world.


Canada Continues Anti-Dumping Tariff on Bicycle Imports

The Canadian International Trade Tribunal, under the provisions of subsection 76.03(3) of the Special Import Measures Act, has conducted an expiry review of its order made on December 10, 1997, in Review No. RR-97-003, concerning bicycles, assembled or unassembled, with wheel diameters of 16 inches (40.64 cm) and greater, originating in or exported from Chinese Taipei (formerly designated as Taiwan) and the People's Republic of China, excluding bicycles with an FOB Chinese Taipei or People's Republic of China selling price exceeding CAN$325, and bicycle frames originating in or exported from the aforementioned countries, excluding bicycle frames with an FOB Chinese Taipei or People's Republic of China selling price exceeding CAN$100.

Pursuant to paragraph 76.03(12)(b) of the Special Import Measures Act, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal hereby:

(1) continues its order concerning bicycles, assembled or unassembled, with wheel diameters of 16 inches (40.64 cm) and greater, originating in or exported from Chinese Taipei and the People's Republic of China, with an amendment to exclude bicycles with an FOB Chinese Taipei or People's Republic of China selling price exceeding CAN$225 and to exclude bicycles with foldable frames and stems originating in or exported from Chinese Taipei and the People's Republic of China; and

(2) continues its order concerning bicycle frames, originating in or exported from the aforementioned countries, with an amendment to exclude bicycle frames with an FOB Chinese Taipei or People's Republic of China selling price exceeding CAN$50.


In a nutshell: the price point for anti-dumping duties on Taiwanese and mainland China bicycles has been reduced, but not removed. Independent Bicycle Dealers (IBDs) will still find it difficult to compete directly with mass merchants at the entry level, but at the enthusiast level there will be little effect on pricing.


CCA Board Correction

It has been brought to our attention that Jim Bratrude, Officials Committee Member at Large for Mountain Bike is now based in Alberta and not Nova Scotia.