Ottawa Kids Triathlon

Healthy activity for “kids of steel”

A GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS is making sure Ottawa children get a chance to have fun and test themselves in the Kids of Steel triathlons, duathlons (run, bike, run) and clinics this summer.

The volunteers, who call themselves the Ottawa Kids Triathlon, have organized 19 tri races since 2001. The races – for children from six to 15 – are sanctioned by the Ontario Association of Triathletes.

The group says it expects to have about 5,000 participations of children from six to 15 at races and skills clinics at its Westboro Beach Kids of Steel Triathlon and FunDu on August 19. The group received a $35,000 Trillium Foundation grant in 2004 to buy equipment; the Foundation relies on other cash and in-kind sponsors each year to keep entry costs (they range from $15 to $30) down to ensure that all kids who want to enter are able to do so.

For more info check out www.triathlonontario.com and www.ottawakidstri.ca.

Volunteers supervise the bike mount area. The swim, bike and run distances vary for each age group.

On June 11 about 25 athletes aged five and under participated in a Fun Du (run-bike-run) at the Goulbourn Recreation Centre in Stittsville.

It takes about 50-75 volunteers on race day to help out with the check-in, swim, bike and run segments, transition zones, postrace snacks and awards, first aid and announcements.

Making molehills out of mountains MOVE YOUR BUTT

BY FRASER MOFFAT

TELL ME IF this sounds familiar: you’re riding your mountain bike along a nice stretch of dirt singletrack, and suddenly a steep and rocky hill appears in front of you. You take a deep breath and start pedaling hard to make the ascent. About half way up, you spin your rear tire out in the dirt and run out of steam. You get off and push the bike and yourself up the rest of the monstrous hill. Most mountain bikers have found themselves doing this time and time again until they finally figure out how to climb properly.

One way to learn how to climb on Climbing hills on a mountain bike a mountain bike involves riding with is difficult because the laws of physics stronger riders – keeping close behind and trail surfaces are working against them and trying to see how they do it. you. Your centre of gravity changes as This works, but it takes time and can be you move uphill and traction is lost if so frustrating and painful that you keep you stay in the standard riding position. the bike safe and dry in your basement Add in loose dirt, gravel and rocks and for a long time and don’t return your whatever traction you have left becomes riding buddies’ phone calls. nothing but a fond memory.

A more rewarding way to learn is to read the rest of this article, take your newfound knowledge with you out on the trail, then practise, practise, practise. Soon enough, you’ll be out front on your group “The bicycle is a curious vehicle. Its passenger is its engine.” ~John Howard rides instead of bringing up the rear. You’ll need to apply “body English”

Hill climbing on a mountain bike is to overcome these forces of nature. not just about gear selection, although Here’s how. this is important: When approaching First, move your butt forwards on a hill, you need to select a gear that the seat so the nose of the seat is in the will allow you to maintain a steady vicinity of your tailbone. You want to be pedal stroke all the way up. Feel free to more “fore” than “aft,” so your centre of change gears in mid-climb, but use the gravity stays in front of the rear axle of rear derailleur instead of the front unless the bike. you want to pick pieces of your chain up Second, lower your chest to the from the trail. handlebars as you move your butt

forwards on the seat – another strategy to keep your centre of gravity forward.

Third, bring your elbows close into your body. This allows you to maintain efficient control over your bike and keep it pointed in the right direction without much effort.

Now practise these three techniques on a small incline. Choose an appropriate gear and exaggerate the body and arm positions. Move on to bigger and steeper hills, and keep on practising these techniques. For steeper hills, move your butt further forward on your seat, your chest closer to the handlebars and your arms closer into your body. With lots of practice, you’ll be able to change your position easily to adjust to different conditions and climb most hills with relative ease.

At this point, you have become a Jedi master of mountain bike climbing with no need to avoid rides with your buddies. Happy trails. ≈ Fraser Moffat is an experienced cycling instructor who has explored many of Ottawa’s best trails.

A WALK IN THE FOREST IS A NATURAL HIGH.

TENT AND CAR CAMPER’S HANDBOOK – ADVICE FOR FAMILIES AND FIRST-TIMERS.

Buck Tilton, with Kristin Hostetter (The Mountaineers Books), $19.50.

CAMPING WITH THE kids. Camping for the first time. Umm, yes, sounds fun, but wouldn’t it be nice if you knew what to expect, and what to do to keep things happy in and out of the tent? You don’t want to blow it and be condemned to a lifetime of motels. This book can help.

Buck Tilton, a longtime contributing editor to Backpacker Magazine, has an extensive list of books and articles to his credit as well as 35 years of camping. Kirsten Hostetter, Backpacker’s gear editor, is a writer and mother of two. They deliver much more than the expected. They include topics like what to wear, how to build a memory collection, and how to organize the camp kitchen.

Cooking? Try a folding unit that provides storage, shelving, and counter space. Discover the versatility of a Dutch oven and the opportunities that come with using foil, spits or sticks. And they recommend a multipocket carpenter’s apron to store eating and cooking utensils.

Parents could use the practical guidelines on what to expect from children in different age groups. For hiking, the authors recommend that five- to seven-year-olds can cover from three to six kilometres (depending on terrain) while 10- to 12-year-olds can tackle 12 to 16 kilometres at a moderate pace. There are tips on keeping children safe. Here are several: give them enough to drink, and slather them with sunblock and insect repellant. And cook up a strategy of what to do if they get separated from the group.

No narrow focus here; the writers look at biking, fishing, canoeing and orienteering, as well as basic camping. The biggest hit of all could be the list of 50 “boredom busters” to reach for when your ideas are going down the tank, and the kids are grating on each other and you.

Besides the standard storytelling and card games, the book shows how children can create a nature collage by using glue, paper, and treasures from the trail, or try their hand at crafting miniature furniture from twigs to furnish a doll-sized log home. And then there are the natural wonders to be seen by inquisitive young eyes through a magnifying glass.

The practical information includes the different types of U.S. campgrounds and Canada’s comparable offerings with their different national designations, making the book useful for campers on both sides of the border.

Camping books abound, but this one offers not only its focus on families and novices, but combines it with something for seasoned campers too. For example, who would have thought of using an old garbage can lid as a grill? Or finding your way past the ultimate challenge – packing your vehicle effectively. Highly recommended.

≈ Ottawa area writer Jo-Anne Mary Benson specializes in travel literature, nature books and material about the outdoors.

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AVOID THE HIGH SEASON. YOU JUST MIGHT SEE SOMEONE ELSE.