OAK BAY BIKES VICTORIA WHEELERS NANAIMO NANAIMO BIKE RACING GRANFONDO AXEL MERCKX OKANAGAN

Great news for all those who rode in or contemplated riding the Granfondo Whistler: Axel Merckx, the famous son of Cycling legend Eddy Merckx and who is now residing in BC, has commenced organising the 2011 Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan, centred in Penticton in the beautiful Okanagan Valley. This premier granfondo is scheduled for Sunday, July 10th, 2011. Granfondos have generated a great deal of discussion on numerous internet sites, resulting in impassioned pro and con arguments. Those cyclists who have actually ridden these huge granfondos and who have experienced the wonderful sensation of speeding along closed roads, with lots of wheels to follow and people to chat with, are one hundred percent in favour of more of these massed start events, with a sanctioned competition  at the head to cater to the racing fraternity. The Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan will see most of these aficionados, especially those in BC, register for next year's inaugural event.  To ensure that you are one of the lucky 2,500 riders starting out from Penticton, in the 2011 Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan, Register as  soon as possible and. who knows. you may actually get to ride alongside Axel Merckx, ten time Tour de France participant and pro classics winner.

For information on next year's first annual Granfondo Axel Merckx Okanagan,  including registration details,go here.

WEEKLY RIDES IN NANAIMO

As the 2010 season winds down, many people have expressed interest in regular local recreational group rides, especially in the off-season. These rides would take place on various days and at various times to fit in with everyone's family/work/retirement activities. Our club is willing to undertake the task of coordinating these rides and working on meeting places / times / days / distances / speeds / leaders, etc.

All interested riders, please respond to pakamac@bikeracing.ca before October 30th. and we'll put together a plan

This is a great opportunity to finally get some real club runs going  on a regular basis in the Nanaimo region, with good numbers of participants.

CYCLE TOURING IN BRITAIN IN THE 1950's Some of you from across the pond who are old enough will remember what it was like to take the train to a distant destination and then cycle home with your riding companions. Here is a CTC (Cyclists' Touring Club) promotional film from that era. The rest of you can smile at the less sophisticated bicycles from the 1950's

CROSS ON THE ROCK PROVIDENCE PHOTOS Photos from Sunday's cyclo-cross at Providence Farm, Duncan  here.                            .

CYCLE TOURING IN THE EARLY DAYSWhen I first started serious cycling in the 1950's, our club organised a number of tours every year. Most of these used youth hostels as  cheap and convenient places to stay en route. As we used to combine our recreational cycling with training, we distanced ourselves from the "Tuggos"who loaded up their protesting bikes with front and rear panniers and saddlebags, preferring to travel with just a 'bonk bag' -a large shoulder slung bag, not unlike the courier bags in use today, usually made from deck chair canvas. Some of us would prefer to have a very light wire carrier on the back and carry our essentials in a small duffel bag attached to the carrier by the predecessors to bungee cords. We would send  the heavier stuff ahead to the hostels by way of  Her Majesty's Royal Mail Service.

For a more complete account of touring in the  'old days', go here.