Last Gasp time trial concludes 2009 road cycling season

The win was nice, but for Trena Irving the most rewarding part about the final VeloNorth Cycling Club race of 2009 was the ride itself.

The win was nice, but for Trena Irving the most rewarding part about the final VeloNorth Cycling Club race of 2009 was the ride itself.

On Saturday, Irving placed first overall in The Last Gasp time trial’s sport women’s category, finishing with a time of 1:06:25 and in the process beat out fellow cycling rival Julia Gerlach.

Earlier in the season Gerlach finished ahead of Irving in the Carcross Cutoff time trial, however a new bike and a different approach helped the Porter Creek Secondary School teacher end the year on a winning note.

In addition to riding a lighter bike, Irving also took it easier in the first portion of the out-and-back race, before giving it everything she had in the final stretch to the finish line.

She said she found it easier saving her energy for the second part of the race.

“I found that a little bit better,” Irving said. “It’s just hard to learn to pace yourself because usually I am very excited at the beginning of a race and then I don’t pace myself accordingly.”

Seven keeners took part in Saturday’s time trial, which was held under what turned out to be close to ideal cycling conditions.

The race ran along the North Klondike Highway, starting by the intersection to the Takhini Hot Springs.

The course featured a challenging climb up the two-km “grizzly hill,” which riders then had to quickly turnaround and descend down the same hill. 

A kinder headwind than expected had the majority of the riders feeling like they posted a faster time making their way back to the finish line.

John Berryman finished with the fastest overall time, concluding the race in 55:53 ( 36.6 km/h). His time was good enough for first place in the expert men group. 

Bob Bowerman won top honours in the sport men category and was the only other sub one hour time, crossing the finish line in 58:52.

Competing in his second race of the season was Dirk Krumsiek, who posted a time of 1:22:27 in the recreational men category.

Irving, meanwhile, was the first rider to take off in the weekend race, but was eventually overtaken by both Berryman and Bowerman in the first section. Tim Arnholz also managed to catch up to her on the home stretch, but after that Irving buckled down and held off the remaining three riders.

This season marked her return to the sport after taking a year off to have a baby.

Her goal this year was to put 1,000 miles on her bike and after The Last Gasp race she has less than 150 miles remaining.

In addition to the usual bike apparel, Irving uses a mirror that’s attached to her helmet, which allows her to see what’s behind her.

She said she finds it helpful both in races and when she is just riding leisurely.

“I am always watching for anybody,” Irving said. “That’s one way that I push myself is if I see someone else coming I just try to go a bit harder and a bit faster. It doesn’t weigh anything and it’s a safety thing.”

Despite winning on Saturday, Irving said her season highlight came at the Southern Lakes Bike Loppet, which was held back in August.

“That’s a fun one,” she said. “I really hope more people will come out for it because this year I think there was a triathlon the day after, so some people chose do that instead, but I hope next year the triathlon people will maybe plan that for a different weekend, so we can get lots of cyclists out and maybe make it a little bit more competitive.”

The Southern Lakes Bike Loppet is an annual event organized by the five communities of Tagish, Carcross, Mt. Lorne, Golden Horn and Marsh Lake. The race was hosted in Tagish and a different checkpoint was featured in each community.

Despite the road racing season being over, Irving doesn’t plan to stop cycling. She also hopes to get into some coaching in 2010 and encourages interested kids and youth to contact her at Porter Creek Secondary School.

Complete results of
Saturday’s race:

Expert Men:

1.    John Berryman 55:53
____

Sport Women:

1.    Trena Irving 1:06:25

2.    Julia Gerlach 1:09:52
____

Sport Men:

1.    Bob Bowerman 58:52

2.    Tim Arnholz 1:02:46

3.    Bill Curtis 1:06:55
____

Recreational Men:

1.    Dirk Krumsiek 1:22:27

Race volunteers on Saturday included Scott Kerby, Lara Melnik, Bill Curtis and Darren Holcombe.