Name a bike race on the Island this year and SaanichB次元官网网址檚 Roland Rabien will probably be in it.

The 34-year-old amateur cyclist plans to enter 40 to 50 events in the upcoming race season, mostly on the Island but also on the mainland and in Washington.

The Victoria Cycling League season kicks off on Sunday (March 11) with the Caleb Pike Road race. Coincidentally, mountain bikingB次元官网网址檚 also kicks off on Sunday, with the Pro City Racing cross-country race at Hartland Park.

Rabien will race the latter, though the majority of his season will be in the

ItB次元官网网址檚 not uncommon for cyclists such as Rabien, who started with mountain biking, to compete in a variety of disciplines: road, cyclo cross, cross-country mountain biking, time trial and track (velodrome).

There are few, however, who are as heavily involved with organizing the IslandB次元官网网址檚 race scene.

B次元官网网址淚 started lending a hand where I could and it slowly grew to the state itB次元官网网址檚 at now,B次元官网网址� Rabien said.

A computer programmer by day, Rabien is lending his time to nearly a dozen races in 2012.

His work ranges from director of the Pro City Racing Cyclocross Race at Western Speedway (part of the Cross on the Rock series) on Nov. 20, to helping out with four Pro City-held races in the Victoria Cycling LeagueB次元官网网址檚 2012 race schedule (the Observatory Hill Climb, as well as three in Metchosin). Add Jumpship, the Tour de Victoria, the Sidney Time Trials and ongoing support for local cycling websites to the list of things that keep Rabien spinning.

B次元官网网址淗onestly, there was no conscious decision to start volunteering. I just couldnB次元官网网址檛 say no.B次元官网网址�

HeB次元官网网址檚 the same way with his training regimen. Rabien throws himself into as many local races as possible, which meant 50 in total last year.

B次元官网网址淭he plan was to race myself fit. It worked, so IB次元官网网址檒l do it again.B次元官网网址�

A lot of cyclists who race alongside Rabien might not notice a significant, but subtle variation to his bike. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no left brake lever. Instead, both the front and back brakes run through the right lever. Likewise, both gear levers are rigged on the right side of his handlebars.

Rabien first took up mountain biking at UVic as a 19-year-old. It was his first serious foray into sports since he was 14, when a roofing accident nearly took his left arm.

He can close his left fist, but thatB次元官网网址檚 about it.

B次元官网网址淚 have limited functional grip. I canB次元官网网址檛 put too much weight on it, but itB次元官网网址檚 not that big a deal for road racing,B次元官网网址� Rabien said.

Clearly itB次元官网网址檚 not.

In 2010 Rabien rode to silver at the para-cycling nationals in Quebec. And in 2011 he was first in the Bastion Square Grand PrixB次元官网网址檚 Category 4.

Where he does have to compensate B次元官网网址渁 little moreB次元官网网址� is the ups and downs of cross country and the constant dismounts of cyclo-cross B次元官网网址� though he races in the expert class of the Island mountain biking series and almost has enough points to move up to for Cat. 3 road racing.