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Web3 Awards Night & Mixer: A Celebration of Web3 Excellence in Bengaluru 12-18-2024 09:08 PM CET | Business, Economy, Finances, Banking & Insurance Press release from: Getnews / PR Agency: 8ty6 - AI Drive Digital Marketing Platform Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/375c5a9ece266f52e3889ad809446a6b.jpg BENGALURU - December 18, 2024 - The heart of India's tech hub witnessed an extraordinary celebration as Orbis86 hosted the highly anticipated Web3 Awards Night & Mixer. Sponsored by Hedera, this evening of glitz, innovation, and collaboration brought together a stellar lineup of blockchain leaders, innovators, and enthusiasts at the iconic Hard Rock Cafe, Whitefield. This exclusive event marked a milestone in India's Web3 ecosystem, recognizing outstanding contributions and fostering connections among the brightest minds in Web3 and blockchain. With gourmet bites, free-flowing drinks, andelectric energy, the event solidified Bengaluru's reputation as the epicenter of blockchain innovation. An Evening of Celebration and Recognition Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/0d8b287483649279b2541ff7f9ed5b70.jpg The night kicked off with a warm welcome and an immersive check-in experience, followed by dynamic networking sessions. The showstopper of the event was the NEIRO presents GLOBLA Web3 Awards Ceremony, a grand recognition of innovators and game-changers shaping the future of blockchain and Web3 technologies. The event featured thought-provoking keynotes from a distinguished lineup of blockchain luminaries. Among the evening's highlights was the incredible giveaway, where one lucky winner received an India Blockchain Week (IBW) ticket, providing them access to one of the most anticipated blockchain conferences of the year. Industry Leader Awardees Image: https://www.globalnewslines.com/uploads/2024/12/732e7994e7f9102a2ee9ca2e08ec6f3c.jpg Award winners across categories were celebrated for their exceptional contributions,ranging from decentralization initiatives to sustainability-focused projects. Pushpendra Singh, Crypto Influencer, who shared insights into fostering blockchain adoption. Prasanna Lohar, Founder, India Blockchain Forum, emphasizing Web3's role in India's technological growth. Aditi Chopra, Founder, Superwomen DAO, advocating for inclusivity in blockchain. Sai Poorna, Co-Founder, Blymo.XYZ, discussing decentralized finance trends. Kashif Raza, Founder, Bitinning, offering a comprehensive view of India's crypto landscape. Amit Arora, Head of Partnerships, RAK Digital Assets Oasis, presenting global perspectives on digital assets. Mirzad Makhdoom, Founder & CEO, Tribe Academy, recognized for outstanding contributions to Web3 education and fostering blockchain literacy. Punit Agarwal, Founder, KoinX, leading efforts in digital assets regulatory compliance, ensuring adherence to global standards. SPONSORS The event's success was made possible by the generous sponsorship of key players in the blockchain and Web3 space, each contributing to the diverse and innovative solutionsshaping the future of Web3: Hedera [ https://hedera.com/]: As the Title sponsor, Hedera stands at the forefront of blockchain innovation. Its decentralized public ledger, powered by a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism, delivers secure, fast, and low-cost transactions for decentralized applications (dApps). Backed by major corporations like Google and IBM, Hedera drives real-world adoption with its scalable and efficient platform, setting the standard for decentralized ecosystems. GNUS.AI [ http://gnus.ai/]: was formed as a corporation that invests in ideas from geniuses. The first venture is in the cryptocurrency space with the launch of the GNUS A.I. Processing Crypto Token. Genius (GNUS) tokens are at the heart of a unique and patented blockchain and software system. The primary GNUS token is a multi-chain asset that can be used for decentralized GPU utilization. Also known as DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) GLOBLA [ https://www.globla.io/]: GLOBLA stands for Global Blockchain Leadership Awards. The GLOBLA awards will be dedicated to recognizing strong and innovative Blockchain startups, companies, exchanges, ICOs, IEOS and STOs operating around the world. The legacy of GLOBLA includes successful events held in Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand, showcasing the best in blockchain innovation and leadership. Xecret.io: Secures seed phrases by converting them into encrypted QR-Slices, with user-defined set sizes and recovery thresholds. These QR-Slices can be printed or digitally stored, protecting against hacks, loss, fire, and theft, and Xecret.io's SDK integrates with wallet apps. With flexible pricing, it offers a secure, user-friendly recovery solution that surpasses traditional social recovery methods. NEIRO [ https://neiro.ai/]: Neiro, the new Shiba Inu adopted by Kabosu Mama and the official sister of $DOGE, is making waves on the Ethereum blockchain. With a mission to unite dog lovers and Web3 enthusiasts, Neiro embodies a meme legend inspiring real-world impact and community-driven initiatives. Event Partners: The event partners played a pivotal role in driving the Web3 revolution by bridging the gap between education, entrepreneurship, and blockchain innovation: Blockchained India - Blockchained India is a premier community with 80k+ members and working towards adopting and promoting web3. They have worked and launched brands in India like ConsenSys, Polygon, CoinDCX, Binance, Axelar, Polkadot to name a few. Web3Preneur - Web3preneur by BlockOn is revolutionizing Web3 networking with its unique "stage-less, no-frills" format, fostering genuine connections among top industry leaders at premium side-events globally. HODLCC - World's first buy now pay later backed by crypto. Media Partners A heartfelt acknowledgment goes to our media partners who ensured the event received widespread visibility and coverage across the blockchain community. Their dedication to spreading awareness about the Web3 revolution was instrumental in making this gathering a global success. Our media partners included: Bitcoin World, CoinPedia, Voice of Crypto, CoinSpeaker, TUA Crypto, Crypto Craze, Bitcoin Insider, Crypto NewsBulls (CNB), Crypto Tion, Blockzeit, Coin Zebro, Bitcoin All, Crypto Papers, LuckyCoiner, Trade Base, The Bit Crypto, and AltCoiners.live. The Web3 Awards Night & Mixer transcended the boundaries of a traditional event, serving as a convergence of pioneering minds, revolutionary ideas, and transformative technologies that are shaping the next era of decentralization. It was a celebration of innovation and collaboration, amplifying the voices and contributions of individuals and organizations pushing the frontier of Web3. As the Web3 movement gains unprecedented momentum, events like this illuminate the collective aspirations of a global community united by a shared vision: a decentralized future that redefines governance, democratizes access, and empowers innovation. Such gatherings are not merely celebrations; they are catalysts for progress, setting the stage for the transformative ideas that will drive the industry forward. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every contributor who made this night a resounding success. Together, we are not just imagining the possibilities of Web3-we are engineering its reality. As we continue this journey, may the connections, inspiration, and innovations born here spark new milestones in the collective pursuit of a brighter, decentralized future. About the Hosts: The event's hosts went above and beyond to ensure its success, demonstrating their leadership in fostering blockchain adoption and entrepreneurship: Orbis86: A pioneer in Utility-as-a-Service, Orbis86 is committed to creating a unified cross-chain ecosystem. Through its global events, Orbis86 fosters community engagement and provides educational platforms for individuals to learn about and engage with Web3 and AI technologies. BrandPR: BrandPR specializes in elevating Web3 startups through strategic public relations and marketing. Their expertise helps blockchain innovators build strong narratives and achieve mainstream visibility in the competitive decentralized ecosystem. For more information, visit Orbis86 Media Contact Company Name: 8ty6.co Contact Person: Public Relations Email: Send Email [ http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=web3-awards-night-mixer-a-celebration-of-web3-excellence-in-bengaluru ] Phone: 408.253.4000 Address:San Jose City: Milpitas State: California Country: United States Website: https://orbis86.com/?utm_source=orbis86&utm_source=Orbis86%20-PR This release was published on openPR.South Carolina is off to an uneven start, but that hasn't obscured the steady rise of Collin Murray-Boyles. The 6-foot-7 sophomore will be the player to watch when South Carolina (6-3) hosts South Carolina Upstate (4-8) Saturday afternoon in Columbia. Murray-Boyles leads the Gamecocks in points (16.2), rebounds (9.4), steals (1.2) and blocks (1.1) per game. As South Carolina struggled to a 75-68 victory over East Carolina on Saturday, Murray-Boyles carried the Gamecocks, making all 10 of his shots from the floor and finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds. "He's been working on pivoting towards the basket and getting on balance and then making a strong move through some contact," South Carolina coach Lamont Paris said. The Gamecocks have been highly dependent on Murray-Boyles. In the two games in which he has fouled out, South Carolina lost to Xavier and Indiana. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks are unbeaten in the six games in which he has collected at least eight rebounds. "He's still growing and it's exciting to see," Paris said. "He's got phenomenal natural touch." Also emerging lately have been Norfolk State transfer Jamarii Thomas, who had season highs of 22 points and seven assists against East Carolina, and Morris Ugusuk, who has hit 10 of 14 shots from 3-point range in the last three games. South Carolina Upstate has been sparked by a pair of guards who each have won multiple Big South freshman of the week awards. Carmelo Adkins had 31 points and 12 rebounds in wins last week over Division III Brevard and at Western Carolina, while Mister Dean leads the Spartans in points (15.7), rebounds (5.6) and steals (2.0) per game. "He sparks runs because he'll make a dynamic dunk," Spartans coach Marty Richter said of Dean. "He brings energy with how he scores the basketball, in a hurry. He can score in bunches." The Spartans enter on a high as the win over Western Carolina was Richter's first over a Division I team. South Carolina Upstate is 1-8 all-time against South Carolina. This year, the Spartans are winless in four games against power conference schools. In an 85-80 loss a month ago at Wake Forest, however, they led for much of the second half. --Field Level Media

Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of Gavin’s political careerSouth Carolina is off to an uneven start, but that hasn't obscured the steady rise of Collin Murray-Boyles. The 6-foot-7 sophomore will be the player to watch when South Carolina (6-3) hosts South Carolina Upstate (4-8) Saturday afternoon in Columbia. Murray-Boyles leads the Gamecocks in points (16.2), rebounds (9.4), steals (1.2) and blocks (1.1) per game. As South Carolina struggled to a 75-68 victory over East Carolina on Saturday, Murray-Boyles carried the Gamecocks, making all 10 of his shots from the floor and finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds. "He's been working on pivoting towards the basket and getting on balance and then making a strong move through some contact," South Carolina coach Lamont Paris said. The Gamecocks have been highly dependent on Murray-Boyles. In the two games in which he has fouled out, South Carolina lost to Xavier and Indiana. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks are unbeaten in the six games in which he has collected at least eight rebounds. "He's still growing and it's exciting to see," Paris said. "He's got phenomenal natural touch." Also emerging lately have been Norfolk State transfer Jamarii Thomas, who had season highs of 22 points and seven assists against East Carolina, and Morris Ugusuk, who has hit 10 of 14 shots from 3-point range in the last three games. South Carolina Upstate has been sparked by a pair of guards who each have won multiple Big South freshman of the week awards. Carmelo Adkins had 31 points and 12 rebounds in wins last week over Division III Brevard and at Western Carolina, while Mister Dean leads the Spartans in points (15.7), rebounds (5.6) and steals (2.0) per game. "He sparks runs because he'll make a dynamic dunk," Spartans coach Marty Richter said of Dean. "He brings energy with how he scores the basketball, in a hurry. He can score in bunches." The Spartans enter on a high as the win over Western Carolina was Richter's first over a Division I team. South Carolina Upstate is 1-8 all-time against South Carolina. This year, the Spartans are winless in four games against power conference schools. In an 85-80 loss a month ago at Wake Forest, however, they led for much of the second half. --Field Level MediaWASHINGTON (AP) — The Commerce Department’s efforts and to American-made advanced computer chips have been “inadequate” and will need more funding to stymie their ability to manufacture advanced weapons, according to a published Wednesday by the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. The Biden administration to limit the ability of China and Russia ability to access U.S.-made chips after nearly three years ago. The agency’s Bureau of Industry and Security, according to the report, does not have the resources to enforce export controls and has been too reliant on U.S. chip makers voluntarily complying with the rules. But the push for bolstering Commerce’s export control enforcement comes as the incoming Trump administration says it is looking to dramatically . President-elect has tapped entrepreneurs and to lead a new to dismantle parts of the federal government. The Trump transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. BIS’s budget, about $191 million, has remained essentially flat since 2010 when adjusted for inflation. “While BIS’ budget has been stagnant for a decade, the bureau works diligently around the clock to meet its mission and safeguard U.S. national security,” Commerce Department spokesperson Charlie Andrews said in a statement in response to the report. Andrews added that with “necessary resources from Congress” the agency would be “better equipped to address the challenges that come with our evolving national security environment.” on Wednesday, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, chair of the subcommittee, pointed to an audit of Texas Instruments that showed the Russian military continued to acquire components from Texas Instruments through front companies in Hong Kong to illustrate how the export controls are failing as an effective tool. The committee’s findings, Blumenthal said, suggest that Texas Instruments “missed clear warning signs” that three companies in its distribution chain had been diverting products to Russia. Texas Instruments did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “While Congress must provide BIS more resources to undertake its critical mission, it is long past time for BIS to make full use of the enforcement powers Congress has conferred upon it and take aggressive steps to cut the flow of U.S. semiconductors into the Russian war machine,” Blumenthal wrote. It’s not just Texas Instruments that’s the issue. The subcommittee in September published a report that found aggregated exports from four major U.S. advanced chip manufacturers nearly doubled from 2021 to 2022 to Armenia and Georgia. Both of those countries are home to front companies known to assist Russia in acquiring advanced chips made in the U.S. despite export controls. China, meanwhile, has created “vast, barely disguised smuggling networks which enable it to continue to harness U.S. technology,” the subcommittee report asserts. Washington has been gradually expanding the number of companies affected by such export controls in China, as President Joe Biden’s administration has encouraged an expansion of investments in and manufacturing of chips in the U.S. But Chinese companies have found ways to evade export controls in part because of a lack of China subject matter experts and Chinese speakers assigned to Commerce’s export control enforcement. The agency’s current budget limits the number of international end-use checks, or physical verification overseas of distributors or companies receiving American-made chips that are the supposed end users of products. Currently, Commerce has only 11 export control officers spread around the globe to conduct such checks. The committee made several recommendations in its report, including Congress allocating more money for hiring additional personnel to enforce export controls, imposing larger fines on companies that violate controls and requiring periodic reviews of advanced chip companies’ export control plans by outside entities. ___ Boak reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Aamer Madhani And Josh Boak, The Associated Press

Published 1:25 pm Thursday, December 26, 2024 By Eric Johnson By Regina Medina Kris Bolle is living the “van life” these days with Annie his mini Australian shepherd. Bolle, 46, bought a 2020 Dodge Ram ProMaster cargo van this past fall. The Hayfield resident planned, essentially, a studio apartment inside. The van with a high roof has room for a full bed, a small kitchen area and a writing desk. He saves money by forgoing rent, but there is a cost — isolation. It’s a lifestyle he’s grown accustomed to since he had to hide his sexuality over the years, including in the Navy under the now defunct “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy which allowed gay and lesbian service members to stay in the military as long as they weren’t out, he said. “I had to be very, very tight-lipped about me ... so I’m used to it,” Bolle said. “But yes, it wears on you. It wears you down, and you feel isolated and you feel left out.” About 48 percent of Minnesotans feel left out some of the time or often, according to the “Minds of Minnesotans” survey conducted by APM Research Lab. The poll also finds that about half of Minnesotans feel lonely, at least some of the time. More specifically, 13 percent say they “often” lack companionship and another 35 percent lack companionship “some of the time.” The APM Research Lab included these questions in the survey, conducted this year between July 20 and Nov. 22, to better understand what the U.S. Surgeon General has called “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation.” The three questions used in the APM Research Lab survey were replicated from the widely used UCLA Loneliness Scale to help assess Minnesotans’ state of mind in the post-pandemic era, and possibly to help identify groups of Minnesotans that are faring better or worse with feelings of loneliness and isolation. In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a report calling loneliness an epidemic, posing significant health risks akin to tobacco usage, obesity and addiction. Carrie Henning-Smith is an associate professor in the Division of Health Policy and Management at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. She conducts research on rural populations as the co-director of the University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center and the Rural Health Program. Loneliness intersects with various aspects of people’s lives, she said. “Social isolation and loneliness have profound impacts on health, on mortality risks, on all of the ways that our lives play out within health, within that sphere but in so many other ways too,” Henning-Smith said. According to the U.S. Surgeon General report, “the physical health consequences of poor or insufficient connection include a 29 percent increased risk of heart disease, a 32 percent increased risk of stroke, and a 50 percent increased risk of developing dementia for older adults.” A lack of social connections increases the risk of premature death by more than 60 percent, the report added. Mary Jo Kreitzer, the founder and director of the Earl Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing at the University of Minnesota, said the report is significant. “Just by him [Murthy] touching that subject, everybody remembers that he did,” she said. “People remembered that. Because I’m sure that everybody has somebody like that in their life, or they themselves are feeling lonely.” There’s also a stigma surrounding the idea of loneliness. “People are reluctant to admit that they feel lonely. It somehow means like that you’re unlikable or unlovable or there’s something wrong with you,” Henning-Smith said. “It’s important to have these conversations, because the truth is, just about everyone will feel lonely at some point in their life.” she added. “It’s a universal part of being human.” Kreitzer said the data reported by APM Lab is comparable to other global and U.S. data on the subject. “Other studies, like this one found that loneliness peaks in younger age groups,” she said, calling it “a very interesting finding.” The survey found that the Gen Z cohort of 18 to 27, were the most lonely. “That surprises a lot of people, but I think it’s consistent with other data,” Kreitzer said. She said people assume that older people suffer from loneliness because they lack the social connections they once had earlier in their lives. The survey data, instead, showed that baby boomers, currently aged 60-78, are the least lonely of adult age generations in Minnesota: 63 percent score as “rarely lonely” and only seven percent indicated frequent loneliness. “Sometimes, like in the boomer generation, when people have retired, they actually have more time to build and strengthen connections,” Kreitzer said. “Boomers can be great at joining groups, pursuing interests, be that hobbies or fitness activities or book clubs or volunteering, and all of those are ways that can really help us build social connections.” She said her local YMCA in Grand Rapids is a hub of activity with engaged older folks. She sees them playing cards, working out, swimming and more. Gen Zers, however, are experiencing numerous life transitions. “During that age, they’re expected to separate from their family, to find a partner, to launch a career,” Kreitzer said. “So there’s been a lot of disruption in social connections that they probably have had in their life for a long, long time.” Henning-Smith called the loneliness rates among young adults “concerning.” Social media and technology may explain part of the higher rates. “People who live their lives online, people who are digital natives and were born into a world where they’re living their lives online, have fundamentally different ways of connecting with other people,” Henning-Smith said. “I worry that some of those skills and some of the infrastructure for connecting with people in meaningful ways and in-person connections might be lacking for some folks in younger generations.” Kreitzer suggests to those who may have frequent bouts of loneliness to acknowledge the feelings. Don’t ignore them. She advises them to reach out to family and friends to try to build or rebuild social connections. She also encourages people to join groups based on their interests. Kreitzer highly recommends volunteering because of the health benefits associated with it. “There’s actually research on that that, like, volunteering helps improve our own well being,” she said. “It can actually improve our overall positive outlook, our mental health and well being.” Back in Hayfield, Bolle said he tries to find community to fend off his loneliness. His location is a challenge because he finds groups in the Twin Cities some 90 miles away. He belongs to a spiritual group that meets once a week in Rochester, but that’s a 52-mile round trip, so he only goes from time to time. Bolle also prepares himself to encounter situations that bring on feelings of loneliness when he goes to Rochester on his weekends to run errands. “When I see families out having fun together, or groups of people, groups of young people you know out together and having fun, that can trigger pangs of loneliness,” Bolle said. “I just feel like I’m missing out on human connection.” He said when he was younger, he bought into society’s emphasis on rugged individualism. “But it just doesn’t work, because you will almost ultimately, always end up feeling lonely,” he said. When he traveled the world with the Navy, Bolle said he saw community and family as top priorities in other countries as well as in the Mexican and Latino communities of southern California where he grew up. “You really do need that connection with other people,” he said. “It’s almost as important as food and shelter, you know?” The data and the heart appear to agree. Editor’s note: Detailed poll results and complete methodology are available in a report prepared by APM Research Lab, MPR News’ sister organization.Liberals jostle ahead of likely leadership spill

US effort to curb China's and Russia's access to advanced computer chips 'inadequate,' report finds

Growth Trends in the Electric Tractor Market 2025-2030 - Electric Tractor Market Anticipated to Surpass USD 2 Billion by 2030 Amid Growing Eco-Conscious Trends

Undefeated Oregon and No. 23 Texas A&M will collide Tuesday afternoon in Las Vegas in the second game of the new Players Era Festival. Both teams are in the "Power" group of the eight-team event. All eight teams are receiving $1 million for their name, image and likeness (NIL) collectives, but placing fourth or higher in the tourney in order will net them anywhere from $1.1 million to $1.5 million. The Aggies (4-1) opened the season with a three-point loss at UCF, but since then have won four straight, all in convincing fashion. Texas A&M upset then-No. 21 Ohio State 78-64 on Nov. 15 at home in College Station, Texas. Then the Aggies crushed Southern 71-54 last Wednesday, when Wade Taylor IV led the way with 17 points and six assists. All of Texas A&M's wins have been by double digits. The Aggies and Ducks (5-0) have split the two previous meetings against each other. Until March 2022 in an NIT second-round game, they had not met since the 1970-71 season. Texas A&M tied the overall series with a 75-60 win at home in 2022. The only player on the Ducks' current roster who played in that game was 7-foot senior Nate Bittle, who has been one of Oregon's best players so far this season. Bittle's 16.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game lead the Ducks so far this season, and the big man also averages two blocked shots per game. Texas A&M guard Zhuric Phelps, a transfer from SMU, leads the Aggies in scoring at 16 points per game. Taylor adds 14 points per game. The Aggies could be the best defensive team the Ducks will have seen this season. A&M is allowing teams to shoot only 36.6 percent in games. Head coach Buzz Williams and his staff are hoping the team gets better at taking charges on defense, as the Aggies have just one so far this season. "I guess the thing that you work on most is verticality around the rim," Texas A&M assistant coach Steve Roccaforte told KBTX television. "‘Hey, once you get there, if you try and take a charge, it's going to be a block. Just jump as high as you can, stay vertical, try to go chest-to-chest. Make it a hard shot.'" Oregon is coming off a 78-75 win at Oregon State, the Ducks' first road game of the season. The Ducks trailed by 10 points at halftime but, as they have in several games this season, they found a rhythm on offense in the second half and came up with a comeback win. Bittle's 23 points and 14 rebounds led the way. Jackson Shelstad had 15 points and Jadrian Tracey and Keeshawn Barthelemy both added 10. "We started rebounding the ball a little better. Nate really got it going inside and our guys got him the ball," Oregon head coach Dana Altman told the school's athletics website. "He had a heck of a game." --Field Level MediaBarbara Morris doesn't really remember much from her Hour Record attempt. "I've forgotten everything about how it felt during (the ride)," she said. "I remember before, I remember feeling quite nervous about the whole thing. Then you breathe, then you go, then you're done." And when she was done, she was sitting with a new Canadian record distance for her category. For the uninitiated, the Hour Record is a cycling race where riders attempt to ride as far as they can in an hour. The race is a distillation of cycling into its purest form. The racer rides a fixed-gear track bike around a velodrome continuously for an hour in an attempt to go the furthest distance. But something as simple as riding a bike in a circle for an hour is also one of the cycling world's biggest challenges. The Hour Record has been pursued since at least 1876, when an American rider named Frank Dodds rode 26.508 km on a penny-farthing. Since then, the top names in cycling have attempted to one up each other, pushing the limits of human endurance, technology and fitness to astounding heights. At the bleeding edge of the sport today, the record stands at 56.792 km and is held by pro racer Filippo Ganna, and the elite pro women's record is 50.267 km, held by Vittoria Bussi. But the race isn't just for the world tour pros. Every year, there is an event called Day of the Hour in Milton, Ont. where athletes can test themselves against the clock. In August, 2024, Comox Valley cyclists Barbara Morris and Derek Steel both took to the track in Milton and made their attempts, and they came away quite successful. Morris now has the Canadian record for Women aged 65-69, riding 38.838 km, and Steel has the world record for men aged 80-84, travelling 39.836 km. "Giuseppe Marinoni was the first person in Derek's age group to set the world record," Morris said. Marinoni, a well-known figure in Canadian cycling, is also the founder of the Marinoni bike brand. Steel said that if he and Marinoni were to have started at the same time, Steel would have lapped Marinoni a few times over. Riders have to train to maintain a high cadence (pedalling speed) and hold themselves still in an uncomfortable, aerodynamic position for the entirety of the race. They do not get to monitor their pace, except through their coaches yelling split times every lap or so and have to endure a lot of physical pain to pull it off. They also have to train for years to build up their endurance and stamina for the event. "You're keeping your body in position and trying to be as aerodynamic as possible," Morris said. "After 30 minutes on the loudspeaker they would say it was half over, and I was like 'only half?' " "I heard the announcement saying there was 15 minutes to go, and it felt like I'd been there for two hours already, just being in that position," Steel added. At this level of competition, the gear plays a large role in the event. Some consider the race to be a test of the limits of equipment as much as it is a test of the human limits. Through testing, van der Vliet determined the optimum cadence for both riders and chose gear ratios to maximize that. He also considered things like chain friction and the number of watts the riders would save if their chains were going around larger gears that would cause fewer articulations. However, at the end of the day, it was all about the rider. Steel's bike is more than 15 years old, and Morris', though newer, is not at the level of a rider like Ganna (Ganna's kit cost more €75,000, or $109,795.87 Canadian). There is only so much technical innovation that can go into a track bike, which has fixed gears and doesn't even have brakes. The journey to even attempting an Hour Record is long. Steel started training two years ago, but had to postpone his attempt due to an injury. Morris joined him a year later. Under the watchful eye of coach John van der Vliet, they did everything from hill repeats to motor pacing (riding behind a motorcycle or scooter to reduce air resistance) to get their speed and endurance up. The pair also travelled to Victoria to train in the outdoor velodrome there. But to Morris and Steel, riding bikes at a high level is just what they do. Steel, at 81 years old, will be racing cyclocross this weekend in Nanaimo and has already signed up for the 2025 Trek BC Gravel Series for 2025. Morris, in her 60s, will be helping spread her knowledge to upcoming generations of riders and training for a full season of racing in the new year. Both are members of the Comox Valley Cycling club, which is actively seeking new members (and they don't have to be racers). "I want younger people to look at me, at 81, and see something they can aspire to," Steel said. "I'm racing against 55-year-olds next weekend. If we were to cut off the point series right now, I'd be in eighth place over all ... that's why I do it. Don't give up, age isn't that important. It's just a mindset." For more information on the Comox Valley Cycle Club, visit comoxvalleycycle.club .US energy infra firms set for record gains as AI power demand soars