Next Thursday is the final session at Pleasant Valley School for this winter. MIVA is very fortunate to be able to rent such a great facility for a very small price and all who have come to one or more sessions over the last three years have commented favourably on the set-up and the opportunity for a great workout.

Curiously, the attendance numbers this year started out quite low and after the end of November plummeted to two or three. Perhaps some of our readers can explain this and offer suggestions to make the programme more attractive.

For next winter, the sessions will be free to all paid-up members, so the indoor trainer nights will become a benefit of membership. MIVA is one of the few clubs that will do this.

This documentary on the legendary Eddy Merckx, perhaps the best road cyclist of all time, gives a vivid view of the sixties and seventies era of era of road racing when Eddy was the king. The film is often grainy and the French commentary gives viewers a chance to practise their school French. However, if you want to soak yourself for a while in the days of toeclips, friction shifters and Mafac centre-pull brakes, click here

See how many of yesterday's stars you can spot, make a list, with team and time spot on the video, and  submit to info@bikeracing.ca. The most complete list will win it's compiler a MIVA skin suit! Deadline for entries - March 1st.

NEWS RELEASEFebruary 12, 2013 For additional information, contact: Pieter at 250-792-2874 or boomerslegacy@gmail.com Boomers Legacy Announces Registration Now Open for 2013 Bike Ride Fundraiser Courtenay—Boomer’s Legacy, a Comox-based Foundation, announces the 7th annual  Boomers Legacy Bike Ride fundraiser is scheduled for June 14-15.  Registration opens February 15. Boomer’s Legacy is a foundation started in 2006 by Comox residents Maureen and Hans Eykelenboom in memory of their son, Andrew, who was killed in Afghanistan during his tour as a medic. Ms. Eykelenboom was inspired to start the Foundation to raise funds for troops to help civilians in areas where they are deployed; this was an effort started by Andrew when he asked her to send money to help the soldiers help people in local villages—telling her that even the poorest people in Canada have more than the people where he was deployed. The two-day, 240-kilometre event begins on the Friday at Canadian Forces Base Comox and finishes at the Brigadier Sergeant Armoury in Nanaimo. On Saturday, cyclists will continue the ride, finishing in downtown Victoria. Hourly rest stops will be incorporated along the route to ensure riders are properly hydrated and fueled for the subsequent leg. The Boomer’s Bike Ride is not only a fundraising effort to provide funds for Canadian Armed Forces to “do good” where they are deployed, but the Ride also serves to honour military members who have given their lives while serving in Afghanistan. Each cyclist will ride in memory of two fallen soldiers, displaying a picture and bio on his/her bicycle. Boomer’s Bike Ride unofficially began in 2007 by one military member who rode from Victoria to Comox with the aim of building greater awareness of the Foundation. Since then, Boomer’s Bike Ride has grown steadily in the number of participants, pledges and donations, adding more sponsors wishing to be part of this important cause.

Mid Island Velo Association is forming a Cat 4 women's team to participate in Race the Ridge April 27-28 in Maple Ridge.  

More information about the team here: MIVA Team

More information about the race here: http://www.localride.ca/wp/category/races/rtr/

-Janna

Over the last two weeks, there have been very few participants at the MIVA indoor trainer sessions. The time and effort to set these up is considerable. In addition, the club has already paid the booking and only breaks even if  a reasonable number attend. There are three sessions left until the end so, if these sessions are to continue, anyone intending to participate should email info@bikeracing.ca  - there is room for at least 25. If there is no interest, the clubwe will have to consider cancelling the remaining sessions.