InFocus Magazine

Their competition season is in the summer months.  In August 2009 at the Provincial Time Trails, Duncan won gold in the U15 category (age 13-14) against competitors including his friend Jake van der Vliet. Wakeling was also a gold medal winner in the U17 (age 15-16) category—remarkable achievements considering they have only been racing for a year.

Last year was the first year at the provincial level for both riders.  “I did club races over the past few years,” says Jordan.  “Then last year we traveled to races—we’ve traveled for the provincial series for mountain biking last year.  There was one in Whistler, one in Kamloops, one here on Mount Washington.”

Plans for this summer include “some of the big island races—they are really chill races!” says Wakeling, who is sponsored by the Trail Bicycle-Eatmore Sprouts racing team. All the local bike shops contribute support to the events, and prizes to the competitors. “And the BC cup races after that and whatever else I feel like doing!  People give me ideas about what I should try.”

Duncan’s summer plans include a lot of road racing. “In April I’ve got the Escape Velocity Spring Series stage race over in Vancouver—that’s going to be my first big race,” he says.  “The biggest race this year will be the tour of Enumclaw in Washington State, a three-day stage race.  That’ll be one of the only races that has my age category in it.  Quite a few of the races I’ll be doing will be in the Vancouver area, racing against everybody—no age limit!  There’s just not that many of us juniors on the road.”

Both Wakeling and Duncan encourage more young people to get out on their bikes.  “I try to get my sister out riding,” says Duncan.  “There’s definitely a lot more young people in Vancouver and Victoria that like to ride.”

Wakeling agrees.  “I have cousins who think it’s pretty cool that I’m into cycling and support me,” she says.  “The main thing is have fun, that’s what matters—don’t overdo it, but have fun!”

The Valley is a well-known hub for cycling of all kinds.  “There are a lot of places to ride here,” says Duncan, “especially if you’re on your road bike.  You can go so far—you can go all over the place! On my mountain bike I definitely like Cumberland, there are a lot of trails there that are really fun.”  Wakeling agrees about Cumberland, but adds, “The whole Comox Valley is pretty awesome!” Long distances are no object for either of these enthusiastic cyclists.  Duncan has completed a century ride (165 kilometres).  “That’s probably the longest ride I have done, it took about four hours… well, maybe five hours!” he concedes.  “I think we averaged 32 or 33km per hour.”

Wakeling tried the century ride, but says: “I did this crazy long race the weekend before, a 50km mountain bike race—just insane!  It was pouring rain, super hard and long, it just kept going on forever,” she says.  “Then the next weekend I wanted to do the century ride…!”

Both have dreams of more racing, and travel as well. “Junior racing really gets going at the U19 level,” Duncan says.  “Eventually I’d like to go to Australia—cycling is huge there.  And obviously Europe, but Australia is really cool, that’s where so many cycling champions have come from that are now on the tour.

“More people should get into cycling, it’s a great sport!” he adds.  “I got into it since I was growing so fast, running was hard on my knees, and cycling is a great low-impact sport.”  Both are so active they spend little time indoors in front of a TV or computer, though Wakeling says, “you’ve got to chill sometime!”

Both have a network of support from family as well as from the cycling club.  Wakeling’s dad, Glenn, says, “What the kids learn through cycling is incredible.  It’s very much character-building.”

Duncan’s mom Joanna agrees.  “They learn responsibility for sure,” she says. “They have to maintain their bikes for example, and gain a fair amount of independence—I can’t go out and ride 100 kilometres to be with them!”

Both families are now participants in the sport as well.  “The neatest thing for me is that I don’t have to sit on the sidelines and watch,” says Glenn Wakeling, who grew up in New Zealand.  “I took up mountain biking when I moved to this part of the world.  It’s now a real love for me.  It’s one of the best places in the world to live—we’re extremely lucky to have the cycling opportunities we do.  There’s a very vibrant trail-building community as well in places like Cumberland, where you can see the benefit of adding to the network.”

“That’s happened in our family too,” says Joanna Duncan.  “My husband rides a lot.  As an adult he’s taken up a new sport; it’s not something he did before.”

The families travel through the province to follow the competitions. “I think last year we traveled to about nine or 10 events,” says Joanna Duncan.  “Especially if you try to get the kids racing with other kids.  There just aren’t a lot of kids their age racing road, so you have to travel a bit more.”

The Comox Valley Cycling Club provides invaluable training and structure to the young cyclists, says Glenn Wakeling.   “Otherwise they’d be out there on their own, and you wouldn’t really know what they could achieve—the club gives them access to a huge bank of knowledge.”

“And ways to connect with other kids,” adds Joanna Duncan, “that they might not otherwise meet when they’re out riding.  Now they organize their own rides—get togethers without all the adults!”

Although the afternoon is drawing to a close, the two talented 15-year olds are heading out for another bike ride, to Cumberland, with CVCC Coordinator Andrew Brown.  “The most important aspect of the club right now is the development of the junior cyclists,” says Brown.  “We want to highlight the remarkable achievements of these amazing kids.”

For more information visit comoxvalleycycleclub.blogspot.com. You can also find the club on Facebook.  Find out about upcoming rides and events, including an upcoming road racing clinic at Trail Bicycles.