Ride The Hurricane!

when: August 1, 2010

where: Olympic National Park – Port Angeles, WA

what: an 18 mile ascent up Hurricane Ridge Road

cost: $25 by July 15th

visit: Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce

fun potential: high

personal reward potential: massive

breaking barriers

This morning was the Self-Transcendence Tri and Duathlons out at Elk Lake.  Our very own Francis registered for the Duathlon, which was a 5 km run, a 40 km bike ride, then a 10 km run!  

With not a lot of hardcore training leading up the event, Francis definitely transcended personal limits; we’re awfully proud of him for ‘givin’ ‘er’, and finishing in 2 hours and 45 minutes.  He placed 29th of 42 in his division, 32 overall out of 62.  Way to go, FH!!!!  I applaud all the folks who had the courage to sign up for it, do what they needed to do to get ready for it, then give it their all.  Just the fact that folks ran, biked or swam their hearts out is incredible, even if they couldn’t finish.  If they finished it in twice the amount of time than the fastest person, so be it… they were there, they DID it, which is the greatest thing, and what this event is all about – doing your best for who you are.

Joe went out to see Francis off at the start at 7 a.m., and cheer him on, and he also took some photos of Francis’ race face. Way to go, Francis.  Maybe next year you can rally up a North Park team! Hope you can walk tomorrow.

Race results here.

now THAT’S what we call bribery!

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Feast your eyes on this:

Yepper.  That is a real-sized pen on a real-sized slab o’ Callebaut chocolate.  A whoppin’ ELEVEN POUNDS!  A gift to Joe.  I guess someone wanted their bike fixed real fast!

Blackberry Ramble

It’s that time of the year again to start planning for the Annual Blackberry Ramble Ride; a bike ride in and around Saanich to raise funds for the Saanich Peninsula Hospital.

Funds raised from the 2009 ride will be used to renovate and expand the operating rooms at the SanPen.  The hospital opened in 1978.  There has been equipment purchased for surgical purposes over the years, but no updating has ocurred.  They are more than 75% towards their goal of raising $4 million!!  All pledges will be used for this necessary upgrade.  Last year, the ride raised over $37,500!!  Way to go, Ramblers!  Go on then, what are you waiting for???

Registration fees: participant $30, family ride $40, wine tour $50.  Minimum pledges required are: participant $75, family $100, wine tour $150.

DESCRIPTION: There are five scenic routes from easy 10 and 25 km rides, a moderate 50 km challenge, to a challenging 100 km, and a lesiurely 40 km guided winery tour.  All routes are located on the Saanich Peninsula.

Please visit their website for more details.  Please also consider supporting a fantastic cause and helping us help them.

(note Joe in the background of the first photo!  We provide mechanical support for them each year.)

Bike to Work Week

We donated a bike to BTWW (Bike to Work Week), and the lucky winner of our Rocky Mountain Metro 5 was Charmaine Lovell, who won the bike for The Garth Homer Society. Congrats, Charmaine!

Le Chateau in the Bay Centre, Victoria, BC was so kind to ask us to lend them a bike for a few weeks in support of BTWW. We delivered an Electra Townie 7 in orange, which unbeknownst to both parties, totally matched their window’s colour scheme!  Thanks for making the Townie hippier than it already is, Le Chateau!