April 15th is the start of the regular program of club events. To participate you must be a member of MIVA and hold a CyclingBC license/membership, so please follow this link to sign up before hand. OR you can try two MIVA events as long as you sign a waiver first, then decide if you want to join. Resistance is futile.

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Saturday Coal City Cycles Gravel Group Ride
April 15th 9am
Location: Coal City Cycles (CCC)

This week's gravel ride starts in the parking lot of Coal City Cycles at 9am and will be the usual 2.5-3hrs in length. From CCC the only way to the gravel is up, so expect a lot of climbing and maybe some wet weather this time of year. Fire season is still a few months away. Barring maybe a tornado the CCC gravel ride always has enthusiastic attendies. Please check the calender for the weekly start location.

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Sunday Social Group Ride
April 16th 9am
Location: Rock City Cycles (RCC)

This weeks Sunday Social for the B&C groups is the same route that the C group did last ride, 2 weeks ago. It is a 34K figure-eight within Nanaimo. This town is not flat, so expect some hills, over 500m worth. The ride leader may alter the route, maybe adding more hills, if her/his group doesn’t mutiny. For safety consideration the road rides may be cancelled due to rain/wet roads.

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Monday Night Development Ride
Monday April 17th 6:30pm-8:00pm
Location: 124 Westwood Rd

Do you want to learn to ride safely in a group?
Do you want to learn some techniques to ride smoother and easier?
Do you want to meet some like-minded friendly people.

These are just a few of the reasons why you might want join us for the MIVA Monday night group ride. Typically the participants are divided in up to 3 groups based on skill and cycling fitness. This means there is a group just right for most people. It is important that you are competent on a bike but you do not need to be fast, it is a “no drop” ride. These rides are led by at least one experienced MIVA rider who is there to guide you and help you feel comfortable but hopefully also challenged.

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15K River Road Time Trial.
Thursday April 20th 6:30pm-8:00pm
Location: 1099 Nanaimo River Rd

Thursday night is for Time Trials (TT) or Hill Climbs. Time Trials pit riders against the clock along a measured stretch of Nanaimo River Road. Riders can compete to win, or just to beat last week’s time. Points will be awarded at each race and totaled at the end of the series.

Please check calender for time and location plus type of Thursday event: TT or Hill Climb.

Time Trials and Hill Climbs require a $10 per event fee. Only cash is currently accepted.

Our AGM will be held via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87104467050) on
Wednesday April 12 @ 7:00pm.

We encourage all to attend as we review the past year and hear important updates about the coming year. We are still in need of members who would be willing to step up to a board position, and/or lend their time and expertise to ensure that the club can continue to run smoothly.

Unsure what is it the board does? Here are some of the examples of activities and/or expertise that could benefit the club whether as a board member, or on a volunteer basis:

Website and communications (email, social media, etc)

Accounting, banking and financial planning

Societies act filing and compliance

Insurance and sanctioning applications

Safety plans

Regular and Event planning (Draw prizes, Vendors, shopping)

Registration set up (CCN/ Webscorer)

Ride Leading and coordination

MIVA Unpaved planning committee and day of support

Hot Cross Bunnies

Cycling kit coordination (ie Jackroo store)

Racing Coordination

Sponsors/fundraising

MIVA Wednesday April 23, 2023 AGM agenda:
MIVA2022_AGM_AGENDA.docx (Though the year is 2023, it is called 2022 agenda)

AGM April 12 @ 7:00 pm

Our AGM will be held via Zoom on April 12 @ 7:00 pm. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8710446705

We encourage all to attend as we review the past year and hear important updates about the coming year.

We are still in need of members who would be willing to step up to a board position, and/or lend their time and expertise to ensure that the club can continue to run smoothly.

Unsure what is it the board does? Here are some of the examples of activities and/or expertise that could benefit the club whether as a board member, or on a volunteer basis:

• Website and communications (email, social media, etc)

• Accounting, banking and financial planning

• Societies act filing and compliance

• Insurance and sanctioning applications

• Safety plans

• Regular and Event planning (Draw prizes, Vendors, shopping)

• Registration set up (CCN/ Webscorer)

• Ride Leading and coordination

• MIVA Unpaved planning committee and day of support

• Hot Cross Bunnies

• Cycling kit coordination (ie Jackroo store)

• Racing Coordination

• Sponsors/fundraising

If you’d like to chat further about being on the board or other volunteer opportunities, please reach out to miva.admn@gmail.com.

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No Social Sunday Ride April 9 2023

There will be no formal Social Sunday ride April 9 due to the holiday. If you are looking for ride buddies you can always post on Discord https://discord.gg/9WAmYb7ufp

We are still looking for ride leader volunteers for Sundays and Monday evenings, particularly for C group so please contact miva.admn@gmail.com if you’d be willing to help out.

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Ride Leader Course- Registration closes Friday April 7

Cycling BC members interested in leading recreational club rides can register for Cycling BC’s Ride Leader course to help create safer group riding experiences for their club. This recommended course is designed to meet the needs of Cycling BC’s recreational adult cycling clubs for both road and off-road activities.

As ride leaders are so critical to the safety and enjoyment of our rides, MIVA will reimburse the cost for any members who take the course and commit to leading at least 4 rides this season.

You can find more information about the course and future dates here: https://cyclingbc.net/coaching-commissaires/coaching/ride-leader-training/

Or feel free to email miva.admn@gmail.com with any questions. More registrants will be needed for the course to run. Carpooling to Sidney may be available. 

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Spring Challenge Saturday April 22 2023

The Spring Challenge is back! We hope you’re as excited as we are for the start of a new MIVA road season. Dust off your road bike and join us for a great ride to welcome in spring and get back on the road. We’re riding 50km or 100km routes, starting and finishing at Maffeo Sutton Park. Start times can vary depending on your anticipated ride time. The goal is to be finished is between 12-12:30pm, recommended 8am for 100km and 9:30am for the 50km.

See the routes here
50 km: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42408672
100 km: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42408673

Sign up is here.
https://www.webscorer.com/register?raceid=310151

Last Sunday’s Energetic Group

Currently the weather looks good for this April 2nd Social Sunday Group Ride. Ride starts in the Rock City Cycles parking lot at 9am.

The A & B Group are heading North to enjoy some punchy hills in Nanoose.
A&B Group Ride: GPX Google Map

The C group is staying in town, but as we all know Nanaimo is hilly, so expect a workout.
C Group Ride: GPX Google Map

(Google Maps courtesy of one of our members, thanks!)

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A - This will be a group for the speediest among us, with an average speed in the 28-30km/h range. The plan is to regroup at the top of the major climbs, but maintain paceline through the flats and rollers. This will be fast and spicy, so if you find it's a bit too much, you can drop off (let the group know!) and odds are good you can be picked up by the B group.

B - This group will be travelling at around 25km/h and maintains the supportive no-drop format.

C - Expect an average moving speed around 22km/h but we will do our best to stay together as a group. This is a good group to start in, particularly if you are newer to group riding. Not too much climbing to ease us into things, unless we decide we are feeling up to an extra challenge.

All groups will meet at 9:00am at RCC. Riders are expected to be prepared for longer rides, carrying supplies for basic mechanicals, fuel and hydration. If applicable, load or study the route ahead of time. Rides may have a formal ride leader (subject to availability of volunteers) but every participant is expected to look out for other riders so that the experience is as safe and fun as possible for all

For our first Social Sunday ride this March 26 we are pleased to offer 3 groups:

C- This group ride will follow the no-drop, social and supportive format DIVA format, but open to all genders. Expect an average moving speed around 22km/h but we will do our best to stay together as a group. This is a good group to start in, particularly if you are newer to group riding. Not too much climbing to ease us into things, unless we decide we are feeling up to an extra challenge. 27km route.

B-This group will be travelling faster at around 25km/h, and will likely be longer and/or tackling more hills, but still maintain the supportive no-drop format of the C ride. 39km route..

A-This will be a group for the speediest among us, with an average speed in the 28-30km/h range. The plan is to regroup at the top of the major climbs, but maintain paceline through the flats and rollers. This will be fast and spicy, so if you find it's a bit too much, you can drop off (let the group know!) and odds are good you can be picked up by the B or C groups following. 64km route.

All groups will meet at 9:00am at RCC. Riders are expected to be prepared for longer rides, carrying supplies for basic mechanicals, fuel and hydration. If applicable, load or study the route ahead of time. Rides may have a formal ride leader (subject to availability of volunteers) but every participant is expected to look out for other riders so that the experience is as safe and fun as possible for all.

If the weather decides not to co-operate we will do our best to post a cancellation notice here by 8:00am Sunday.