FIRST MIVA MONDAY EVENING CLUB RIDE

Monday, thirteen people showed up at the Aquatic Centre for the first evening clubrun. Most of the participants were ten or more minutes early. Before the start, Coordinator Janna Gillick, who is MIVA's Directeur Sportif Feminin,  gave a short talk on the priorities for the run - safety, proper signalling to other road users and to other riders in the group, and stressed that hills could be ridden at each rider's own pace as the group would reform at each summit. We then took off (yes, your old fart of an editor went along too) and soon were on Nanaimo Lakes Road, one of the longer hills, with a number of steep sections. As promised, lead cyclist Colleen Wtorek made sure that we were all present after each climb and then we set off again.

The descent to Nanaimo River Road, halfway along the MIVA time trial course, was exhilarating and your editor was pleasantly surprised at the descending  and drafting skills shown by a number of the riders and the general level of fitness.

After reaching the time trial start location, we then turned onto White Rapids Road and enjoyed the fast ride down to the Trans Canada Highway at Chase River. Then it was time to head back to the Aquatic Centre as twilight was approaching. All arrived safely and it was obvious that everyone had enjoyed the 31km ride.

Next Monday, the clubrun will start at 6pm at Oak Bay Bikes and (hopefully for your ed.) tackle some somewhat gentler terrain.

Thanks to Janna and Colleen for an excellent job.