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.

This post was to be labelled "full results" but, since there are no wiunners or losers in this type of event, the complete stats. will be presented without comment. 5o Kilometre event

3 hour group:  Leigh Blaney ,Kim McCarley Jennifer Gordon 3h 27',Allen Henderson, Ian Grant 2h 25'

2 hour group: Paul Callow 1h 57,Sarah Davidson 2h 5', Brian Cashin, Gareth Slocombe, Mike Mann, Dave Patterson 1h 35', Keir Graaton 2h 10'

100km event

4 hour group: Jason Hare, Paul Thompson, Patrick Burnham, Janna Gillick, Russell Berg 3h 40', Bruce Mitchell, Shane Lorenz, Lori Baildham 4h 00', Doug Routley 4h 55'

SlowSpokes Nanaimo is a group of Nanaimo cyclists that are interested in organizing and participating in social/recreational no-drop bike rides in the Nanaimo area. Everyone (they have no age limit) is welcome to join them on any of their rides. They are not racers and slow riders are more than welcome (hence the name). Their mission is to ride and then ride some more. They normally have at least two to three rides per week on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays and also do an invaluable job helping the Hub City Bicycle CO-OP to keep their store in order. Contact them at www.slowspokes.ca