Great news!  

Our club clothing design is complete and the online ordering site is up and running. As mentioned previously, we have decided to use a different supplier, VOMax. The quality seems excellent and they manufacture their custom kit in the US. I think that the club will appreciate some of the VOMax features, like the leg grippers and the less bumpy chamois. The colour scheme and design will remain similar to last year so that members with 2012 kit won't feel out of place. The only change, apart from the supplier, are the new sponsor logos and a maple leaf behind the MIVA logo on the front of the jersey. Proofs can be seen here: MIVA 2013 proofs

In order to ease the burden on our directors, we have elected to go with online ordering so, if you want 2013 kit, you need to order it in the next two weeks. This is how it works. Some time between now and Sun 21-Apr, you will go online and place your order, paying via credit card. On 22-Apr, VOMax will collect all the orders and start manufacturing our kit. Once all the kit is ready (~4wks), they will send it to MIVA in one package. MIVA will then arrange to get the kit that you ordered to you. (Primarily at the TTs or Crit, but we can make other arrangements too)

URL: http://www.BikeReg.com/19219 

Password: MIVA2013

Attached are the VOMax sizing charts. (MIVA VOMax Sizing Guide) Generally speaking, the jerseys are true-to-size, but some members may find them short.  No vanity sizing with the shorts. I'm not going to lie; the shorts are small. I (Janna) have a drawer full of size medium shorts, but I am definitely a large in these. (The medium looks like ten pounds of potatoes stuffed into a five pound bag) The skin suits also appear to be true-to-size, but I've only tried the thermal skin suit, which is a slightly different material than the other items. I know that online ordering can be a challenge for some so I have a set of samples from VOMax, Men's small through XL and Women's small through large. Sometime between 14-Apr and 20-Apr, I will try to have a "sizing open house" where those interested in trying the kit can stop by our house. I will also bring it to the 18-Apr time trial.

Feel free to respond with any questions in the comments section here or contact me via email. If you'd prefer to vent without me knowing, please do so on the MIVA Facebook page.

-Janna

For 2013, Marin has agreed to provide bicycles at a wholesale price to MIVA members who are competing in club  or provincial cycling an/or triathlon events and have a documented training schedule. Go to the Marin Cycles web site here for information on Marin's current road, cyclo-cross and MTB line-up. Here is the latest retail price list.

Any club members who feel they qualify should submit their names and, upon approval by the MIVA BOD, they will be given the discounted price for any selected bike(s)

The club has a table and tent at the Hub City Coop Bike Swap next Saturday. They do need volunteers for this event and they also see it as a great opportunity for members to take their old and unwanted parts etc. down and see if they have that certain thingy they have been looking for. If any members  are available at any time during the day or if any unwanted parts, etc. are looking for a new home, please email info@bikeracing.ca

BTW having  a MIVA presence at these events is a great recruiting toll.

on June 8th. and 9th. the Vypers cycling club is organising the provincial youth road cycling championships in Comox. MIVA is assisting them with a supply of volunteers. Any MIVA members who are able to assist with this event, please email info@bikeracing.ca. Since this is a two day series of races, accommodation is available in a very nice facility for only $25 per night. Spouses are welcome.

This is a great way for the club members to get involved in race organisation. This is important for MIVA because the club is putting on a two day omnium event in the Nanaimo area in August

See if you can complete your chosen distance within your chosen time. On Sunday, March 24th. MIVA runs its first timed group rides. Both the 50 kilometre and hundred kilometre rides  start and finish at the Longwood Brew Pub, one of MIVA's sponsors. The fifty km goes up to Parksville Serious Coffee and back, for the most part avoiding the Island Highway. The hundred km continues past Parksville and continues through Errington and Coombs to turn back at Qualicum Beach,  and follow the Sunshine route to Parksville and on to the finish. 50km participants can choose to complete the ride in under two or three hours, while the 100km cyclists can choose to finish their ride in less than three, four or five hour, five or six hours. The start times are staggered so that all finishers should arrive between one and two in the afternoon. To ensure that all participants do the entire course, all are given route cards which should be filled in as they pass various check points.

Start times

100km:  in 6 hr.- 8am, in 5 hr.-9am,  in 4 hr.-10am, in 3 hr.-10.30am                       50km:  in 3hr.-10.45am, in 2 hr.- 11.30am

Registration opposite the Longwood Brew Pub opens at 7.45am. Entry fee for either distance is $10. Non club members need to take out a full or associate mebership as you must be covered by our insurance policy while doing the ride. Membership forms will be available at registration.

For further information info@bikeracing,ca

There will be a social gathering in the upstairs room at Longwood Brew  Pub. where you can order food and drink.