January 2003 v7i3

Inside...

Publisher�s Musings P2

A Cautionary Tale... P2, P3

Chain Gang Rides P4

Chain Gang News P4

Meeting Schedule

All meetings are held at BowenPark, Act. Room One at 7:00 pm

The next General Meeting isJanuary 15, 2003

SpokeloreThe Greater Nanaimo Cycling Coalition

A member of The B.C. Cycling Coalition

HHHHHappy Nappy Nappy Nappy Nappy New Yew Yew Yew Yew Year!ear!ear!ear!ear!Evolve to a Higher State and

Renew your Membership!

www.microcosmpublishing.com Portland, OR

Mountain Bike Rides P5

Tour BC P6

GNCC - Where do we go

now? P7

Haslam Creek Bridge P8

SpokeLore January 20032

Publishers Musings - Another year!

Gay Cunningham

I hope you have all had a great fes-tive season....now it�s time to cycle offthat turkey with all the trimmings! Oneof the great joys of my job is the gener-osity of my clients and their penchantfor giving away really good chocolateat this time of year. December 31 al-ways brings new hope for the upcomingyear - like world peace, environmentalawareness on a massive scale, goodhealth, prosperity and the creation ofnon-fattening chocolate!

I know lots of our members havebeen on some great rides this year, wehope to have a slideshow of some of thehighlights at one of our next meetings.If you�re tired of the same old humdrumcycling adventures, may I suggest youlog on to www.tourdafrique.com. Howdoes 100 days cycling from Cairo toCapetown in Africa sound? It�s only$7000.00 US and the purpose is to raisemoney for environmental, ecological andeducational charities throughout Africa.

You�ve missed this one - they leave Janu-ary 18th - but there�s always next year!

Many thanks to Tom Hocking for thefollowing story, a reminder to us all toalways wear our helmet, and also to haveID and an emergency number with you- just in case! Having that number madesure that the police were able to contactJanice right away.You never know, asTom discovered in November. SafeCycling in 2003!

Monday, November 4th, 2002. It was yet an-other one of those glorious days we’d beenhaving this autumn. I felt joyful because lifewas good and I was out riding my bike. Intwo week’s time my wife Janice and I wereplanning to toss a couple of mountain bikesand our beloved tandem onto our van and headsouth to Arizona for a month, and participatein a tandem bike event in Tucson. Since Janicehad to work today, I thought it would be funto blow the dust off my road racer “half-bike”and I was also feeling the need to blow someof the cobwebs out of my own ever-ageingbod. This could be accomplished by doing abrisk 50K ride with some long hills added tothe mix.I’d started out from home and rode south aboveNanaimo on the Island Parkway to the Cedarinterchange. I turned around and continuednorth, back over the long hill up to the univer-sity. The hill climbing was feeling good. I’dbeen able to stay on top of the gear while re-maining seated for most of the way. I crestedthe summit and pushed the pace for another16 km until I came to the lights at SuperiorRoad where I decided to head for home. I was

A Cautionary Tale....

Or

�Get your stinkin� scissors away from my jacket!!�

by Tom Hocking

strong, the day had been fine, and I was think-ing about how much I loved being out on mybike. As I turned for home, a quick glanceupward revealed an ominous trough of low-pressure cloud closing off half of the sky. Itlooked like the dreaded monsoon was finally

going to make its cool, soggy appearance. Theafternoon was wearing on and, with the sungone, I decided to switch on my LED taillightto be more visible to vehicles approachingfrom behind. I recall thinking that, despitethe noise and the fast moving traffic volume,this stretch of highway, with its wide pavedshoulder, really was quite a safe roadway uponwhich to travel. When my odometer read 42km I knew I was about 20 minutes away fromhome where a nice hot shower and cup of tea

would be a fitting end to another fantastic,life affirming ride.The impact comes without any warning. I feelas much as hear the sound of crumpling sheetmetal. My instantaneous reaction is one oftotal surprise. At some deep, primal level, Irealise that I have been struck hard from be-hind and my reptilian brain feels the intenseneed to retaliate.Then everything goes black.Distant voices are now speaking. A voicesays, “One, two, three...LIFT!” My eyes openand I am staring at the ceiling of a motor ve-hicle. I am vaguely conscious of a small groupof individuals working over me with clinicalprecision and professional concern. I amdimly aware now that I’d been struck by alarge, fast moving vehicle.I am feeling no pain, or discomfort of anykind. A technician’s face comes near and hespeaks, “It looks like your bike is OK, man.Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of it foryou.” I feel strangely comforted and reas-sured by the idea that my bike has survivedintact. My awareness seems to be coming inshort film clips.

The impact comeswithout any warning.

3

is published nine times a year bythe Greater Nanaimo CyclingCoalitionUnit 130, #34-1150 N. Terminal Ave.Nanaimo, BC V9S 5L6phone: (250) 722-4665emails: info@thegncc.org

membership@thegncc.org

spokelore@thegncc.org

web: www.thegncc.org

The purpose of the GNCC is to pro-mote and improve conditions forcycling in the Nanaimo area, by:l providing a unified voice for all

cycling interests in the areal operating as a citizens� advocacy

group in cycling-related mattersl promoting more cycle-friendly

roads and recreational riding op-portunities

GNCC Board of DirectorsKeith Brown, Gay Cunningham,David Grey, Odette Moreau, DonOliver, Signy Parkin, John vanBeek

Questions regarding content or ad-vertising may be directed to the pub-lisher, Gay Cunningham, at theabove address.If you would like to contribute toSpokeLore , please call GayCunningham at 722-4665, oremail �guardian@myexcel.ca�.

Views expressed in SpokeLore arenot necessarily those of the GNCC.

SpokeLoreI am in the ER of Nanaimo Hospital. A nurseis nearby and I ask her for a blanket and aglass of water. She produces a heated blan-ket and I seek comfort in its life-givingwarmth. She tells me that water is prohibiteduntil they determine the extent of my inju-ries. She inserts an IV of some colourlessliquid that I assume must be saline or glucose.Now Janice appears at my bedside. She tellsme that the RCMP phoned her from the scene,having found the ID and emergency contactsI always keep stowed in my seatbag. I reas-sure her automatically that the accidentamounted to nothing, really, just a bump, andstate that I expect to be back to riding on theweekend. Then I send her off to look aftermy bike.A nurse approaches with a frighteningly largepair of shears and informs me that she intendsto cut my clothes away from my body. I re-member that I am wearing a brand newpolypro shirt under my irreplaceableRandonneur’s club jacket. This jacket earnedits stripes in 1999 during my first 1200KmParis-Brest-Paris ultra-marathon race and Itell her emphatically that her scissors will notcome any closer to my jacket. She seemsannoyed and disappears momentarily, only toreappear with an assistant who helps her toundress me the old fashioned, one-arm-at-a-time way.For the next several hours I am poked, prod-ded, examined, and X-rayed. Gradually thepain and stiffness begins creeping in.My mind begins to drift back to the accident,but the circumstances are incomprehensibleto me. I have a bit of a headache; there is anache in my pelvis that makes moving diffi-cult. I know I’ve got some pretty serious abra-sions, but over-riding all of this is a very soreright shoulder. I ‘m sure that I was on theright side of the white line, that there was awide, paved shoulder to my right, and thathigh-speed traffic was moving past on my left.Why, then, was it my right side that was sobattered? It didn’t make any sense.The attending physician parts the curtains,introduces himself and states that the X-rayswere negative, nothing is broken and, as I havenot exhibited any obvious signs of a head in-jury, no CAT scan is needed and I can be dis-charged this evening.Prior to my release, an RCMP officer takes aseat near me and informs me that I was struckfrom behind by a Dodge pickup truck travel-ling at highway speed. The driver had fallen

asleep and drifted onto the paved shoulderbetween me and the concrete barrier border-ing the ditch. It was the driver’s side mirrorthat struck my upper back near my right shoul-der. The force of the blow was sufficient totear the mirror off. It was later located somedistance away. The police sketch also showsfresh damage to the box of the truck. I hadbeen unconscious for approximately twelveminutes.The officer hands me my gear one bit at atime. My favourite Giro helmet is broken infour places. The right lens of my goggles isopaque with scratches from sliding acrosssome surface, the pavement or possibly thetruck itself. My right glove has been buffedthrough in several places, while the right thighof my tights looks as if it took a direct hitfrom a shotgun. Even my right sock has ahole at the outside ankle. My shoes, how-ever, are fine. I mourn the loss of my faithfulhelmet, which was my constant companionon all of my countless training rides and en-durance racing over the past four years. Fare-well, friend. You died saving my life.The weekend came and went and I was notable to get back on the bike. As I write this, aweek has passed since the crash. I feel likeI’ve been hit by a truck. It hurts to walk. Myright shoulder is still very painful. I’ve gotreal, honest-to-gosh, pro peleton-style roadrash on my right knee and elbow. Manyfriends have been saying how lucky I was tohave escaped more serious injury, but to beperfectly honest, I’m not feeling all that lucky.I’m just not there yet. Nor do I dwell on‘What if the truck had been two more feet tothe left and had hit me square on?’ I am, how-ever, certainly glad that my helmet and glassesdid their job. My last serious collision camewhen I was just 13 and during the past tenyears I have ridden over 50,000 km withoutonce kissing tarmac. Yet now I feel angryand frustrated to have suffered painful inju-ries, and I am impatient to heal.Perhaps when my shoulder stops hurting andI am once more able to ride I will assume amore philosophical perspective. My trainersays it’s going to take time, but I haven’t en-tirely given up on the idea of riding in theTucson event. After all, I’ve still got my oldRandonneur jacket which is going to lookgreat topped off by a new Giro helmet.

Editor’s note: I am happy to report Tom andJanice did ride in Tucson, and did very well.

SpokeLore January 20034 Y E S!Y E S!Y E S!Y E S!Y E S! I WANN I WANN I WANN I WANN I WANNABEE ABEE ABEE ABEE ABEE parparparparpart of the GNCC!t of the GNCC!t of the GNCC!t of the GNCC!t of the GNCC!Your contribution will help us (and you) takea pro-active approach to creating a morehospitable cycling environment in Nanaimo.

As a member, you will get:

SpokeLore SpokeLore SpokeLore SpokeLore SpokeLore newsletter nine times a year.Find out what�s going on and who�s

involved.

Better cycling facilities.Get involved or support those who areworking to make our region morecyclist-friendly.

$15 per member, $10 for students &seniors and $5 for the unemployed.25% off the total price for two or moremembers in the same household.

Make cheque or money order payable to theGreater Nanaimo Cycling Coalition and mailto:

GNCC MembershipUnit 130, #34-1150 N. Terminal Ave.

Nanaimo, BC V9S 5L6

Name____________________________________

Address_________________________________

City __________ Postal Code _______________

Phone (h) ________________________________

(w) ______________________________

email: ________________________________

WaiverDuring GNCC activities, I will be responsi-ble for my own safety and, if cycling, willobey all the rules of the road.I will participate only in those activities forwhich I am physically fit enough and forwhich I have suitable equipment.I release the GNCC from all claims made byme or my successors regarding death, in-jury, or loss or damage to my property dur-ing any event or activity for which I was aparticipant or a volunteer.

Signed:__________________________________

Signature of parent or guardian if 18 or under:

_________________________________________

Contact name/phone in case of emergency:

44444

Chain Gang Ride Schedule

We are still looking for members to form a Rides Committee to keep the ChainGang organized and maintain the rides calendar. A chairperson is also required forthis committee. Anyone interested in participating in the Rides Committee shouldcontact David Grey at dwgrey@hotmail.com

Chain Gang News

There was nothing posted as of press time. Visit our ride calendar at:www.calsnet.net/GNCC for the latest ride schedule.

Everybody is Welcome, from beginners to hardcore randonneurs.

For Wheely Good Foodwheel into the WindwardNeighbourhood Pub14� 1 58814 � 1 58814 � 1 58814 � 1 58814 � 1 588Boun d a r yB oun d a r yB oun d a r yB oun d a r yB oun d a r y

C r e s c e n tC r e s c e n tC r e s c e n tC r e s c e n tC r e s c e n t

DonDonDonDonDon�t F�t F�t F�t F�t Forget to renew yourorget to renew yourorget to renew yourorget to renew yourorget to renew your2003 Membership! W2003 Membership! W2003 Membership! W2003 Membership! W2003 Membership! We de-e de-e de-e de-e de-pend on you, our members,pend on you, our members,pend on you, our members,pend on you, our members,pend on you, our members,to help us carrto help us carrto help us carrto help us carrto help us carry on the greaty on the greaty on the greaty on the greaty on the greatwork of the GNCC!work of the GNCC!work of the GNCC!work of the GNCC!work of the GNCC! Bob & Dorothy Simpson [Tel: 754-4191

Now in the Dorchester Hotel., Nanaimo, B.C.

BIKES, KITES, GAMES & MORE

FUN STUFF FOR FUN PEOPLE

PACIFIC WINDS

5

Nanaimo Mountain Bike Club - Ride Schedule� January 2003

Date Ride Time Meet12 Sunday Rider�s Decide 11:30 Co-op14 Tuesday Jamison Road Ride 6:30 Jamison Road15 Wednesday Westridges 6:30 Westwood Lake16 Thursday Westridges 6:30 Westwood Lake18 Saturday Night Race 6:30 McGarrigles19 Sunday Rider�s Decide 11:30 Co-op21 Tuesday AMC Trails 6:30 Greig Road22 Wednesday Abyss 6:30 Dog Pound23 Thursday Doumont 6:30 Moto X26 Sunday Rider�s Decide 11:30 Co-op28 Tuesday Doumont 6:30 Dawg29 Wednesday Doumont 6:30 Moto X30 Thursday Abyss 6:30 Dog Pound

* Please phone John Thornhill (390-9223), Mike Taugher (754-2294) orJanice McAllan (729-7021) for any clarifications. You can also get theschedule on the web at: www.nanaimomountainbikeclub.com/rides.htm

Please contact Janet Oxler to receive the ride schedule via e-mail:janet_oxler@hotmail.com Please also contact Janet regarding any phonenumber or address changes from last year. Thanks.

Bill Oterson www.stupidstudio.com

Check These Sites out...

If you like the cover graphic,it�s a sticker and they have somegood ones at:www.microcosmpublishing.com.Check them out!

Here�s a favourite of TomHocking�s for all you roadies outthere - you can subscribe to a freeemail newletter as well.

www.roadbikerider.com

Take the Nature Challenge atwww.davidsuzuki.org

Sadly, and ironically, renowned sportsphysiologist Edmund R. Burke,Ph.D.died of an apparent heart attack onThursday, November 7,whileparticipating in a group bicycleride in the Colorado Springsarea.Burke, 53, made great contribu-tions to the sport of cycling throughhis research and application of exer-cise physiology. For a more completestory and a picture of the late Burke -who was a columnist forADVENTURE CYCLIST, - go to:http://www.bicycleretailer.com/b i c y c l e r e t a i l e r / h e a d l i n e s /article_display.jsp

A FALLEN COMRADESubmitted by Tom Hocking

SpokeLore January 20036

Hi Everyone:

It is that time again � time to startthinking about your summer vacation andTourBC. This year, we are visiting a partof the province not yet visited. We will betravelling up the Sunshine Coast, crossingover to the big island, riding to the westcoast of Vancouver Island, and returningto the lower Mainland.

Check out the information posted onthe website (it should be up there shortly� http://www.tour-bc.net). Here is abrief summary:

Day 1 � North Vancouver to Sechelt �60 km /36 miles (includes Horseshoe Bay-Langdale ferry)

Day 2 � Sechelt to Powell River � 95km / 57 miles (includes Earl�s Cover-Saltery Bay ferry)

Day 3 � Powell River to Port Alberni �115 km / 69 miles (includes Powell River-Comox ferry)

Day 4 � Port Alberni to Ucluelet � 108km /65 miles

Day 5 � Ucluelet to Tofino return � 80km / 48 miles

Sunshine &Whales

July 13-19, 2003

7068 Mawhinney Cl, Burnaby, BC V5B 4W2Tel: (604) 737-0043 Fax: (604) 737-0374Toll Free � 1 � 877 � 606 � BIKE (2453)www.tour-bc.net email: tourbc@tour-bc.net

Canada�s Premier Cycling Experience

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________ City: ________________________

State/Prov: _______________________ Country: _____________________________ Zip/Postal: __________________

e-mail: _______________________________________ Tel./Fax: __________________________________________

Birth date:(dd/mm/yr) ______________________________________ Sex: _______________________

Registration fee: $Before January 31, 2003 - Cdn $800/$530 US(After January 31, 2003 - Cdn $850/$560US)

______________Subtotal: $

Add G.S.T 7% (refundable*) $

TourBC 2002 Sugoi Jersey: Cdn $80/$55 US $ Size:______

TourBC Photo CD: Cdn $35/$25 US $______________

TOTAL: $ (cheque or money order payable to TourBC)

VISA # ________________________________________________________ Expiry ___/___

Signature_______________________________ Print name as it appears on the card___________________________

Day 6 � Ucluelet to Port Alberni � 108km / 65 miles

Day 7 � Port Alberni to North Vancou-ver via Nanaimo � 107 km / 64 miles(includes Departure Bay-Horseshoe Bayferry)

It is a very scenic, and challenging670+ km/400+ miles. The roads are oftennarrow and twisting and there will be afair amount of tourist traffic on theroads as this is a popular loop.

I am offering an �early bird special�to anyone who is on my mailing list, butyou must sign up by January 31, 2003.So, don�t let this note get buried underthe holiday mail. If you are planning onjoining us this year � now is the time tomake the commitment. If you have anyquestions � just give me a call or email.

Hope we see you on the tour this year.

Cheers,

DANELLE LAIDLAWTour Director

7

The main goal of the GNCC is to pro-mote cycling in all its forms. Based onpassed successes, Bike Week should becentrepiece of our promotional activity.However, unless the initiatives duringBike Week are promoted throughout theyear, this event tends to have a limitedimpact. In the year ahead, other goals thatsupport transportation/utilitarian/recrea-tional cycling could include:

• Bike to Campus day or day(s) atMUC. Getting staff and students tohost this with minimum of direct in-volvement by the Board would behelpful. Routes and Technical Com-mittee could supply logistical sup-port in the form of maps of bikeroutes and other technical support.

• Community outreach eventssuch as the Miners’ Days Picnichosted by the South End Residents’Association. This is an excellentway to encourage transportationcycling among low-income familieswho cannot afford private cars.Broadening our involvement be-yond fixing children’s bikes wouldbe a worthwhile goal. Again, RaTCcould provide logistical support: forexample, by providing informationon bike routes, the critical impor-tance of wearing a helmet, basic in-formation on safe urban cycling andso on. Pro-cycling campaigns couldalso be aimed at other sectors of thecommunity such as those seekingalternatives to the car for environ-mental reasons (e.g., the Car ShareCo-Op/Green Communities) orthose considering cycling to im-prove fitness and health (e.g., medi-cal professionals).

• Continuing to sponsor transpor-tation projects such as “Go GreenChoices” .

• Projects to encourage cycling inthe secondary and elementaryschools such as the one being runby Better Environmentally FriendlyTransportation (BEST) in GRVD.

While the GNCC is primarily con-cerned with advocating for improvementsto the cycling environment, we shouldbring more attention to the incidentalenvironmental benefits that are generatedthrough cycling and reducing car use.Transportation cycling is possibly themost cost effective means to improve airquality and to reduce greenhouse gasemissions. Therefore selling the environ-mental benefits of cycling, particularlyas a means of meeting Canada’s Kyotocommitments, should be seen as a usefulstrategy for securing greater funding forcycling.

For these reasons, it is imperative thatthe GNCC take measures to once againbecome more actively involved in theBritish Columbia Cycling Coalition. TheBCCC is our provincial voice and with-out a strong provincial representative wewill make little progress in terms of gov-ernment support for cycling. For exam-ple, it wouldn’t take hundred of millionsof dollars for the federal government toimplement a national cycling strategy asBritain has done, but the benefits in termsof the environment, public health and fit-ness, and the quality of urban communi-ties would be monumental.

Promoting recreational cycling – roadand off-road, mountain biking, BMX, etc.– should continue to be an important goalin the coming year. The Chain Gang of-fers excellent opportunities for cyclistsinterested in recreational rides – both roadand off-road rides. The GNCC shouldtake every opportunity to support theChain Gang and to encourage its partici-

pants to become involved in other aspectsof the GNCC.

Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands,and the Sunshine Coast are one of theworld’s premiere cycling destinations.Unfortunately, the full potential of thisarea for attracting touring cyclists is notbeing realized. Much could and shouldbe done at the municipal and provinciallevel to promote this area for cycle tour-ing. Some possible goals for improvingthe quality of the cycling environmentthroughout this region could include:

• Designating the Sunshine Coast– Little River – Nanaimo loopas an official bicycle route simi-lar to Highway 1 along the Or-egon Coast.

• Improved parking/storage facili-ties onboard ferries and at ter-minals and improved bike-friendly transportation on buses,railways, and other forms ofpublic transit.

• Securing the creation of officialhiker-biker sites at ProvincialCampgrounds along this route.

• The creation of bike trails, per-haps on old rail lines like theKettle Valley.

These are some of the goals that Ithink the new Board should consider forthe coming year. These proposals areaimed at stimulating discussion, ratherthan setting out a list of priorities for thecoming year. It will be the new Board’sresponsibility to develop an Action Planfor the coming year and we hope to getlots of input from our members.

Presented by David Grey at the Octo-ber AGM.

The GNCC in 2003 - Where do we go from here?David Grey

SpokeLore January 20038

Cycling history was made onNovember 22nd when two

former ChainGang members were thefirst cyclists to ride the newly-openedbridge across Haslam Creek, south ofNanaimo. Pete Calijouw and TomParkin were part of a party inspectingprogress done on the project, which

removed another of the �missing links�in this island�s Trans Canada Trail(TCT), a recreation route linking theHub City with the capital.

Local riders have already mademuch use of completed portions ofthe trail trail because of the need tobridge both Nanaimo River andHaslam Creek. Now, a 47.5-metre sus-pension span makes the leap acrossHaslam¹s deep gorge botheasy and spectacular. �This project re-ceived $50,000 from the Province ofBC,� said Joan Michel, trails co-ordinator for the Regional District ofNanaimo, �the last, of this province¹sTCT budget. Additional funds werecontributed by the Trans Canada TrailFoundation ($15,000) and the RDN (inexcess of $60,000).� Many dedicatedvolunteers also put in labour, both onthe bridge and on adjoining trails. Help

Trans Canada Trail¹s Haslam Creek bridge opensBy T.W. Parkin

with sprucing up the trails is still re-quired, should any GNCC memberswant to participate. Haslam bridge isnow open to cyclists and walkers. With5 ft-sides, it can be crossed whilemounted. Access from the south (the bestapproach), is from the gated gravel pitat the end of Timberlands Road. The

trail from this pointto Ladysmith is infinal stages of negotiation withWeyerhauser. OnTimber West landsbetween HaslamCreek andNanaimo River, theroute is still underconstruction.

That intrepid duo, Peteand Tom, neverthelessforged on,trusting theirknowledge of local terrainand using internal com-passes. They report that thefirst section to TimberlandsLake is rideable along log-ging roads. Soon past thelake, the trail enters thebush, where it is well-marked but cleared only ofdeadfall. It is quite walkablealong a ridge reminiscent ofthe Abyss, but required anhour of pushing by bike. Itemerges on Spruston Roadeast of McKay Lake, fromwhere a circular route can becompleted by crossing to theTimberlands area again viathe foot bridge just upstream

of the E&N. To avoid the unbuilt por-tion of the trail, mountain bikers can ridebush roads past Crystal and McKayLakes, a route which connects to the endof asphalt on Spruston. The NanaimoRiver has yet to be spanned. The RDN¹sMichel estimates she will have maps ofthe entire TCT from Ladysmith toNanaimo available early in the new year.To volunteer labour, or to obtain a map,call Joan at (250) 752-7199 or the RDNRecreation and Parks office in Parksvilleat 1-888-828-2069.

Thanks to Jeff Ainge at the RDN forsubmitting the photos of the bridge (left)and the view of the gorge (below), andmany thanks to Tom Parkin for the story.