The Guelph Lake I and II triathlon events are some of the most successful ones in Southwestern Ontario and the GTA. The Olympic race today was very well attended and a good time was had by all. And that is good.
However: I'm convinced that one of these days somebody is going to get killed in that race. The out-and-back on Wellington RR29 is a deathtrap; you basically have people riding two abreast (one passing, one being passed) both ways on a two lane highway also occupied by some of the most impatient drivers around. Today I was coming down a gentle downhill at 55km/h, passing somebody, and a jackass pickup driver with a large trailer insisted on weaving his way by me and the person in the opposite direction also passing somebody. And things like this happen every time I do that race. I understand somebody did in fact get run of their bike today, but fortunately was able to finish the race, and the driver was later found and charged.
Add to this the state of Watson Rd, which gets worse every year and which the county obviously has no interest in improving - coming back today I hit the first crack and both my saddle and aerobar decided to angle themselves downward - and you have one hot mess of a bike course.
And before you say: let your wallet do the talking and don't race there, two things: one, this was a qualification race for the duathlon worlds in 2019, and two, I like having events in my neck of the woods and racing close to home. What I think should happen is that Wellington County improves Watson Rd, and that the OPP does a better job policing RR29. If that can't be done Trisport Canada should look into another bike course.
I'll put all this in an email to Trisport Canada as well. If you raced Guelph Lake today, or are planning to race the sprint tomorrow, and have the same experience, please do the same.
Citizen of the world, former drunkard. Resident Traumatic Brain Injury advocate.
However: I'm convinced that one of these days somebody is going to get killed in that race. The out-and-back on Wellington RR29 is a deathtrap; you basically have people riding two abreast (one passing, one being passed) both ways on a two lane highway also occupied by some of the most impatient drivers around. Today I was coming down a gentle downhill at 55km/h, passing somebody, and a jackass pickup driver with a large trailer insisted on weaving his way by me and the person in the opposite direction also passing somebody. And things like this happen every time I do that race. I understand somebody did in fact get run of their bike today, but fortunately was able to finish the race, and the driver was later found and charged.
Add to this the state of Watson Rd, which gets worse every year and which the county obviously has no interest in improving - coming back today I hit the first crack and both my saddle and aerobar decided to angle themselves downward - and you have one hot mess of a bike course.
And before you say: let your wallet do the talking and don't race there, two things: one, this was a qualification race for the duathlon worlds in 2019, and two, I like having events in my neck of the woods and racing close to home. What I think should happen is that Wellington County improves Watson Rd, and that the OPP does a better job policing RR29. If that can't be done Trisport Canada should look into another bike course.
I'll put all this in an email to Trisport Canada as well. If you raced Guelph Lake today, or are planning to race the sprint tomorrow, and have the same experience, please do the same.
Citizen of the world, former drunkard. Resident Traumatic Brain Injury advocate.