The fifth year of time trials on the Nanaimo River Road course starts on Thursday April 19th. at 6.30pm. Registration opens at 6.00pm.  There was some confusion, created no doubt by your editor, who was preoccupied with the Cobblestone Classic budget.

Many thanks to all the Nanaimo cyclists who donated some of their old cycling clothing to this worthy cause. We now have three large boxes that are being sent to the programme coordinator. It is great to see the local cycling community helping out in this way.

Many riders, new to group ride, are intimidated by the "fast guys" who start off at top speed and leave all the novice group riders grovelling in the dust.  To introduce riders to group rides in a somewhat gentler way, Janna Gillick and Colleen Wtorek are leading a series of Monday evening beginner rides.  Each 60-90min ride will have a lead, a sweeper and a be a no-drop format. The route will be planned in advance, we will regroup at any major intersection and at the top of significant climbs. This will allow the group a short section to push the pace a little.The schedule is as follows;

Date	Start Time	Start Location	Start Address
Monday, April 16, 2012	6PM	Aquatic Centre	741 3rd St
Monday, April 23, 2012	6PM	Oak Bay Bikes	Island Hwy at 106th St
Monday, April 30, 2012	6PM	Aquatic Centre	741 3rd St
Monday, May 07, 2012	6:30PM	Oak Bay Bikes	Island Hwy at 106th St
Monday, May 14, 2012	6:30PM	Aquatic Centre	741 3rd St
Monday, May 21, 2012		Victoria Day - No Ride.
Monday, May 28, 2012	6:30PM	Oak Bay Bikes	Island Hwy at 106th St
Monday, June 04, 2012	6:30PM	Aquatic Centre	741 3rd St
Monday, June 11, 2012	6:30PM	Oak Bay Bikes	Island Hwy at 106th St
Monday, June 18, 2012	6:30PM	Aquatic Centre	741 3rd St
Monday, June 25, 2012	6:30PM	Oak Bay Bikes	Island Hwy at 106th St

For more information email info@bikeracing.ca.

This morning a representative from Pie in The Sky pro team was on the Duke Point Highway. He had been visiting relatives in Ladysmith and had evidently lost his way looking for the Departure Bay Ferry. He happened to pass the lead group in the Duke Point Road Race and followed them for a while. When he glanced down at his speedometer, he couldn't believe his eyes - those guys were moving faster than Floyd Landis after half a dozen beers and a rum and coke. To cut a long story short, he stopped at the line  where Peter was waiting to judge the finish and, after getting the riders' names,  said that he would shortly be offering them a contract to ride with his squad although he stated that he would have to find better domestiques as his present support riders would not even be able to service the MIVA riders as they were simply too fast! He said that his name was Aunley A. Rumar and that he was returning to Europe onMonday. Needless to say, we will be impatiently awaiting his email.

We recently posted on our web site and our Facebook page a request for unwanted cycling clothing, shoes etc.for aboriginal riders. I am sending the unsold MIVA 2011 clothing plus a bunch of other jerseys, shorts, jackets etc. off to the programme on Friday next. if any of you have unwanted stuff in good condition and clean, please bring it round to my place or drop off at Oak Bay Bikes before Friday. Thanks a lot in anticipation of your generosity.