The SLCF's Second Life World Road Championship

 
By Rosie (RougeRedHead01 Resident)

     On April 11, our own Dancerina Starlight took part in the Second Life World Road Championship. The event included many residents all fighting for first place. This was her first race and she came in 10th!! Congratulation Dancerina!!

The top three winners were:
1 - Claire
2.- Le Sweetie Brook
3 - Elsie Valeska

     Claire now gets to wear the special rainbow jersey but only until she loses a race and then it gets passed on to the next winner when there is one. What impressed me was a comment she made at the end of the race, “yes tough race (smile) well done all.” I must admit that a smile appeared on my face because it was so nice to see Claire, after winning, congratulate the rest of the cyclists.

     A big thank you to Sophia’s for sponsoring the race. There was also a party at her club, to celebrate. There was dancing!

     I had a chance to speak with BillJobs64, the president of the Second Life Cycling Federation who was able to provide more information about the cycling federation. He tries to have at least one event per week. There are weekly challenges people can participate in. Prizes are given such as cash or medals but the most coveted award is the rainbow jersey. He has big plans, for instance they are building roads in the sky to organize road races with the possibility of having a Tour deSL race at some point in time.

     The next championship will be held in two months. Will Claire be able to hold onto the rainbow jersey or will she have to pass it to someone else who can peddle faster?

Rosie
 

Reader Submitted: International Women’s Day Cycling Criterium

 
Report and pics by Claire (aka Atomic Infinity)

March 8th saw an exciting new event for International Women’s Day, held by the Second Life Cycling Federation (SLCF) at their Destiny region race track. One of the many IWD missions is to celebrate the achievements of women in sport, and promote equality and visibility, and while our sport might be ‘virtual’, it still counts!

An international field of six women lined up for the 10-lap race on the road circuit, supported by their partners, friends, and representatives from Wuud On club who sponsored the event to help promote International Women’s Day in Second Life with us. The grey ribbon of asphalt laid out before them consists of straights, hills and technical curves to test the riders skills, technique and tactics. Each rider was supplied with a special edition Zephyr racing bike built by event organizer Bill Jobs (of BJ Bikes and president of the SLCF), and a unique design race cycling outfit to celebrate the day.

The start of the race saw some jostling for position on the road, with each aiming to get a good line through the first few corners. The riders soon began to string out, forming a sinuous line that flowed around the course. The leaders, members of the SLCF and practiced at racing, not surprisingly started to break away from the peloton although even over 10 laps the chasers were never far behind.SLCF rider Claire took an early lead and managed to keep hold of it all the way to finish the 10km distance in 12 minutes 46 seconds. Le Sweetie in second place was a mere 5 seconds later, and Elise in third was not far behind. Artemis, Kyara and Inesye each then crossed the line to further applause.

The award ceremony followed with all the riders being awarded another very special bike by Bill with an exclusive paint finish called Rose & Fire. Then Claire, Le Sweetie and Elise stepped up to the podium to receive their trophies and prizes.

Thanks must go to Bill for holding the event, building the venue and the bikes, and to the Wuuds On club for their generous support to promote International Women’s Day with us. Also thanks to all the participants and onlookers which made the day very special.

I hope all involved felt elated at the celebration of our women racers, and may it be the first of many such events. I certainly felt elated from where I was standing, which lucky for me was the top step of the podium. Sorry for no action photos in the race, I was too busy pedaling!

The Second Life Cycling Federation is open to join and race at no cost. Bikes are provided free, so why not join in with one of the events, or try your skills at the ongoing time-trial timer which is always available.

More photos on Bill’s Flickr page at https://www.flickr.com/photos/192235040@N04/

Claire

Scenes From The Steampunk Land and Sky Race

By Bixyl Shuftan

Sunday June 25 was the day of the Relay for Life "Steampunk Land and Sky Race For a Cure" event, hosted by Team Sunbeamers at the Pacific Waters sim. While the Sunbeamers usually hold a "Road Rally" event at the sim every year for the Relay, this time the decision was made to ramp things up.

The event was given a steampunk theme, so the WW2 era fighters that are usually on the field were stored away, and Great War biplanes and craft worthy of a H.G. Wells or Jules Verne story took their place.

People attending, such as aircraft maker Jessicabelle Dayafter were encouraged to wear Victorian/steampunk style outfits, or pirate ones. Note Steelhead resident Darlingmonster Ember in the background.

An airborne racing course was set up, with a guiding red line to help keep racers on track.

Two other teams were invited to take part. The one who did was "Meli's Maniacs. Their co-captain Violet Solano was among those who showed up. Also in the picture, Prettykitty Gumbo of the RFL leadership team, Cynthia Farshore and Shockwave Yareach who did the work of setting up the airport and racing courses, and the Sunbeamer's resident succubus Valkyrie Ice.

Sunbeamer Team captain Rita Mariner was there. Normally she wouldn't appear in pink, but she was still under the terms of a "Bid Me" a few days earlier.

Cynthia Farshore, the owner of the Pacific Waters sim and Farshore Field, did the majority of the work on the racing grounds

 Shockwave Yareach helped her out.

Cynthia taking her Flying Dutchman out for a spin.

Jessicabelle did the race in her Fokker Dr.1,

Then proceeded to do some acrobatics.

Cynthia had a Nieuport, but there never was a dogfight.

 There were some free bicycle blimps available, designed by Shockwave.

 They could be used to race on the ground.

Or in the air.

Rita had this double balloon and long basket.

More "Dieselpunk" than steampunk, but it works.

 We had some unusual looks dropping by, such as a platypus.

And a pirate parrot.

Beryl Strifeclaw (Gager Resident) of the Maniacs showed up in a different look than I usually see the person in.

Cynthia does the air course in a pre-WW2 trainer.

Anoher steampunk contraption of Jessicabelle's.

 Other contraptions took to the air.

 Cynthia then took to the road with her old-time roadster.

 Some of the turns were a bit tricky.

Jessica brought out her own motorcycle, one worthy of a steampunk madgirl.

She decided to take that onto the track as well.

Jessicabelle would get the fastest time for a motorbike on the course.

After the races, it was time for the music and dance party.

Cynthia provided the tunes, steampunk themed ones such as "Time Machine" and "Just Put On Some Gears and Call it Steampunk" alongside classic rock.

 Dusk, usually with the Sunbeamers but whom was helping the Maniac this year, was present.

 Others showed up just in time for the song and dance as well.

Oldesoul Eldemar showed up as a tiny, steampunkish Dalek. Unlike his larger cousins, this one seemed devoid of hate.

 Oops! It seemed the other Daleks found out about the party.

But they didn't last long.

Over the course of the event, a lot of donations had come in. When the race started, the total amount raised by the Sunbeamers was 412,000 Linden dollars. We were well into Gold, but 150,000 short of Platinum level. During the race, there were several large donations that brought the team to less then 100,000 left to go to the next level. That must have encouraged the donations to keep coming. In the second hour of the party, we finally did it. For the second time ever, and for the first time before the Relay Walk, the Sunbeamers made Platinum rank fundraising this year. Our event had raised the Sunbeamers 154,000 Linden dollars. The Maniacs also did very well, making Silver rank, and at this time are at 209,000 Linden dollars raised.

For those of us lucky enough to be at Cynthia's Road Rally/Air Race today.  We made PLATINUM!  We cracked the level at the dance down in the Goblin Cave, while listening to great music, DJ'd by Cynthia.  Oldesoul and several members of other teams showed.  We even helped Meli's Maniacs make SILVER.  All in all a very successful event.

Thanks to team Captain Rita Mariner, Shockwave Yareach, numerous other Relayers in and out of the Sunbeamers, and most of all the industrious Cynthia Farshore, once again "the little team that could" had done it once more. And it was an event that will go down in Sunbeamer history as it's best event.

Bixyl Shuftan