With Alpine Way turned into a temporary gravel road, potential Loonie riders got a taste of what was in store for them at the RBC/Gone Bakery Toonie race, which was about to start at the Alpine Way cul de sac. It was Thursday (Aug. 19) and this was going to be the 16th Toonie of the season.

It’s winding down quickly now, people. We’ve got four Toonies plus a Halloween ride left in the 2010 season and then it’ll be time to start waxing those planks. OK, let’s not think about that just yet.

This was the second Alpine Way start of the season and the question is which one was harder. Two weeks ago racers had to climb all the way up to the Flank and then get down via Billy Epic or the Alpe d’Huez switchbacks, whereas this time the climb only went high enough to get into Cat Scratch Fever. This one is probably slightly more of a technical ride. Cat Scratch is an excellent technical descent and of course, Mandatory Suicide is just that. But after doing Scratch and Suicide, Get Over It was still waiting and according to John Blok, doing Get Over It backwards— i.e. north to south — is just wrong. A bit of a surprise awaited those who thought that all was done after finishing Bob’s Rebob, because instead of moseying down to the parking lot, the course went back up to the Flank to cross over on 21 Mile Creek Bridge and come down via the Rainbow Trail.

As it was, the finishing times were in the 30s to 40s again, with junior Mahon Lamont finishing in 40 minutes, 33 seconds. Joanna Harrington did it all in 38:40, followed by Lindsey Burch and Marilyn Manso who came in with 48:40 and 49:36, respectively, for the ladies. On the testosterone side, Dave Burch, keeping the evening all in the family, came in with a time of 32:03, following right on the heels of Chad Miles, who posted 32:02. Matt Ryan had come in a little before that, finishing in 31:42.

It’s getting colder in the evenings again and I, for one, was happy that the après was held outside the Gone Bakery premises instead of Rainbow Park or vicinity. Even in the Village, it got cold enough to break out the jackets and long pants. Gone Bakery did themselves proud with the après serving up real European sausages or veggie burgers, fried onions, a choice of salads and some exquisite desserts. Whistler Brewing was again front and centre with its malted beverages — something to remember the next time you’re in the liquor store!

Tonight (Aug. 26), the Whistler Community Services Society, Fineline and Scandinave Spa will guide us up North Secret and down the Green Lake Loop to get to Spruce Grove. See you at the Wedge parking lot.

On Sept. 2, WORCA will organize the race on the Lost Lake trail system. WORCA will take advantage of the situation to introduce us to the PassiveHaus, which is where the après for the evening is planned. WORCA and the Whistler Nordics will get to share some of the space in the PassiveHaus, each in their own particular season. Come and see what it’s all about.