Author: Mel Saari

Update: Since we do not know what capacity the pub has and since riders will be finishing at different times, please bring some snacks, a coffee thermos and a blanket or chair to hang out in the park with a small picnic afterwards. There are also rumours floating around about a bake-off …

You may have heard that one of our favourite rides: The Okanagan Shuswap Century Ride in Armstrong,  has been delayed until September 12th, this year, due to the pandemic.  However, some of us can’t wait that long and therefore we are scheduling a Killer Beez ride in Armstrong on Saturday, May 29th beginning at 9 AM (weather permitting).  Starting point will be Memorial Park in Armstrong.  Click here for the route choices.

So, if you are into rolling terrain and gorgeous scenery combined with the occasional scent of cow manure, you are going to love this ride. 

See you there.

Thanks to Michael Malkowsky for agreeing to lead us on a tour of West Kelowna on Monday, May 24th (Victoria Day).  The ride will start at 9:30 AM from the Starbucks located at 101-2231 Louie Drive.  The route is approximately 53 km.  Click here for the route details. 

Be prepared to climb (it’s hilly over there on the West bank).  However, Joyce knows some shortcuts.

NOTE: Michael will be starting up the Friday West Kelowna rides on May 21st.  Starting time is 9 AM.  Pritchard Park is the new starting location.

Killer Beez Sunday group rides will commence this Sunday at 10 AM from the plaza in front of the Landmark 6 building (next to the Bean Scene) on Dickson Road.   With the exception of face masks (wear them if you want), Covid 19 safety protocols must be adhered to by all participants.  This means no pace lines and practising recommended social distancing pre, post and during rides.  Riders will break up into groups of 10 maximum based on desired distance and average speed. 

Please be aware that all participants assume personal responsibility for any  incidents, accidents or injuries that may result during the ride.

Hope to see you on Sunday.

We all know that cycling is one the funnest things you can do with your clothes on.  This fact is now confirmed by Trek’s latest ad which you can view here. 

So let’s get at it.  Time to rinse out the chamois and don the latex for another season.

The first Killer Beez Wednesday evening ride from Kelowna Cycle, will start at 4 PM this Wednesday, April 7th. 

Dates and times for other Killer Beez group rides will be announced later this week on this blog.

Start your Engines.

Thanks to Tom Ferguson, who has volunteered to lead us on a hike around Black Mountain on Friday, April 2nd.   The weather forecast looks decent for Friday – cloudy with a high of 12, but no rain is predicted.  We will gather at the intersection of Mackenzie and Swainson Roads (familiar to cyclists as the Mailboxes at the top of Mackenzie hill) at 9:50 AM to be guided to the trailhead. 

Come out to enjoy a great hike.

Here’s something totally different from what normally appears in this blog. Never mind, you have to read it anyway.

Some of you may have heard that our little cousins, wild bees (not a rival gang), are facing adversity. Wild bee populations are being threatened by the following factors:

• Loss of natural habitat due to urbanization and other human development.
• Diseases due to importation of bees from other countries.
• Use of pesticides harmful to bees.

Why are wild bees important? About eighty percent of the plants we eat depend on bees for pollination. Without bees, many fruits and vegetables would no longer be available. Wild bees are also very important to biodiversity in nature. We must not allow them become extinct. Fortunately, there are a number of ways we can help our little cousins.

We can grow plants native that attract wild bees, monarch butterflies, and other pollinators. For plant recommendations click here. We can also monitor our insecticide use closely (or not use them at all) — even if it’s labeled “organic” — and follow all label instructions before use. For bee-safe insecticide recommendations click here. If we have a garden, we can let it go … just a little bit! Allowing our veggie and herb plants to flower and some dandelions to bloom, will offer forage opportunities for bees. Lastly, we can educate our children, relatives, friends and politicians about the importance of bees and what we can all do to help them thrive.

Let’s make an effort to help our wild bee cousins. It’s for our benefit as well.

Besides being an alternate method to get to a coffee shop, there may be 10 other benefits to cycling.  Who knew?

By the way, there are only about 60 sleeps until the start of cycling season for you hardy ones out there, 90 sleeps for the softies – if you’re counting that is. 

In the meantime there is snow to play in.  Contact Biggi or Mel for snow-play dates and times.