On June 17th, MIVA is organising the first annual Cobblestone Classic criterium in downtown Nanaimo. This event has been granted the top Cycling BC sanction  and will attract top pro am  riders from BC, the other western provinces and the Pacific North West. Our first organisational meeting is tomorrow night and one of the most important items on the agenda is the formation of a committee to run the event. Any local cyclists who are interested in being on the committee,email pakamac@gmail.com.

April 1st. is the last of MIVA's Spring events on the Duke Point Highway. This one is different. If there are ten or more registrations, the race will be run as a massed start event with all riders starting off together and covering three laps of a fifteen kilometer up and back course, total distance being 45 km. If there are fewer than ten registrants, the event will be run as a fifteen kilometer time trial. To give the organiser some idea of expected riders, you can preregister at pakamac@gmail.com or 250 244 1779. Those who register on-line get a discounted entry fee of $3.00. On the line entry is $5.

This may be the last chance you will have to ride on the Duke Point Highway so take advantage of this opportunity.

It was a clear, sunny, c-o-o-l morning as seven riders showed up at Oak Bay Bikes for the Saturday morning club ride. Peter also showed up but, since he was on his scooter, still recovering from a broken rib, he didn't count. This is the best turn-out to date  and everyone arrived on time, including habitually-tardy Phil, who brought a couple of friends with him. First to arrive was Lorrie, who did a couple of the Saturday rides last summer and then Sean who was to lead the ride. Drew from Pacific Sport showed that he revels in the cool weather as he arrived in shorts!

At 9am prompt, Sean led the group out towards the Island Highway.

Many riders were dismayed when the city of Nanaimo Engineering Department nixed the use of the popular Boxwood criterium circuit due to traffic lights at each end of Boxwood Road that would result in "increased traffic flow" in the vicinity of the circuit. After doing a traffic survey on the circuit on week day evenings, organiser Peter McCaffery approached the city again about use of the course this year. He was asked to submit a permit application which would be discussed and a decision made based on the new information. keep your fingers crossed!

As cyclists, most of our readers will doubtless be affected in a number of ways as the average temperature creeps up over the next few years. We'll sweat more on rides and battle against or be blown along by winds of increasing velocity. We are well aware that the climate is changing but the causes are being argued by both scientists and various groups with vested interests. For a thought provoking and informative video on global warming, go here.