Since the forecast for Sunday looks to be cold and wet, but people are keen to ride, we have decided to have a group ride on Saturday afternoon, April 22nd.  The weather forecast for Saturday looks good.  The ride will start from the Kelowna Cycle parking lot at 1:00 PM.

This is a one time event as we hope we can get back to our normal group ride times next week.

As the weather forecast for the Sunday Group Ride doesn’t look that great, it’s probably a good idea to clarify some details regarding all Killer Beez Group Rides.

These are informal, recreational rides without a formal leader or standard route.  We are simply a bunch of cycling enthusiasts meeting at a designated time and location, deciding on a route and heading out – followed by coffee and gossip, of course !!

Please be aware that during the spring, especially if the weather isn’t favourable, attendance may be minimal or zero.

Be safe out there.

The Killer Beez Group Rides will officially start at 10 AM on Sunday, April 23rd from the Bean Scene on Dickson Avenue.  The weather is warming up nicely and most of our routes have been swept, some for a second time.

Here are a few warm up exercises to try before riding.  Some are a bit tough so don’t hurt yourself.

Look forward to seeing everyone on Sunday.

Unfortunately the cross country ski season is rapidly coming to an end. 

But……there’s good news associated with that bad news !!   Its time for a PARTY.

All Ski Beez and spouses are invited to celebrate the wonderful ski season we just experienced by coming to Leslie and Mel’s (3-980 Dilworth Drive) at 5 PM on Saturday April 29th (5 PM to 7 PM).  According to the standard Killer Beez party formula, please bring an appie you would like to share plus your favourite party beverage.

We are in townhouse number 3, on the right as you enter 980 Dilworth Drive.  Unfortunately visitor parking is limited so carpooling is recommended.  If necessary, additional parking is available at 950 Dilworth Drive (YMC Daycare Centre).

We look forward to seeing everyone then.

It’s almost time to register for one of our favourite group rides.  Online registration for the 2023 Okanagan Shuswap Century Ride starts at 6 AM on Monday, April 3rd.  The ride occurs on Sunday, May 28th with a start time of 9 AM.  Further details and online registration is available at this link.

https://www.traditionrolex.com/7

Set your alarm so you won’t miss out as it can sell out fast.

With cycling season rapidly approaching it might be interesting to know if your fellow riders would consider you to be a bike snob.

Not me.  Of course not.

Note:  If you are planning to participate in the Victoria Group Rides scheduled for August 24 – 27 and haven’t registered,  please send us an email at victoriaride2023@gmail.com with the names of the riders (with email addresses) and the motel you you are staying at.

See you out on the highways and byways soon.

How about trying a new approach for our major, multi-day, group ride in 2023 like basing ourselves in one location (Victoria), and doing various loops from there? 

Starting all our rides in Victoria offers the following benefits:

• support vehicles will not be required
• non-riding spouses can enjoy other activities Victoria offers
• participants can pick the days they want to ride and come and go as they please
• shorter and partial routes are available

Numerous interesting, scenic and diverse routes can be accessed from Victoria.  Lawrence Berg has an intimate knowledge of these routes having ridden them many times with his Victoria cycling friends.   He has kindly provided us with the following routes for our consideration:

• 2 Ferry Saltspring Island Route
• Oceanfront – Lakeside Route
• Metchosin – William Head – Pedder Bay Route
• Lands End Road Route

Based on the above routes we can have a total of 4 consecutive days of cycling.  This event has been scheduled for:

August 24th – August 27th.

Many thanks to Lawrence for providing us with these great routes.  He has also indicated that he and some of his riding buddies may be available to lead us.

Rides would start from Beacon Hill Park at 9 AM.  Following are some 2 and 3 star hotels located within 1.5 km of the park:  James Bay Inn Hotel, Helms Inn, and Quality Inn.  These hotels range in cost from approximately $170 to $260 (before taxes) per night.  Unfortunately hotels are not cheap in Victoria and block booking for groups is not available.  

The maximum number of riders will be 30.  A minimum of 20 riders will insure that this event proceeds.  In order to register for this event please book your hotel as soon as possible, due to limited availability, and send an email to

victoriaride2023@gmail.com

indicating the names of riders, email addresses of riders and which hotel you are staying at.  When you are booking a room/s please ensure that you are able to cancel for a full refund 48 hrs prior to arrival.   Based on the number of registrants we hope to determine by March 1st if this event will proceed or not.

Stay tuned for further information.

 

Mountain biking might not work in downtown Kelowna, but it certainly seems to in Medellin, Columbia. 

Hair raising, to put it mildly !!

Strap in and enjoy the ride.

After two very successful group rides in the Kootenays, it seems as though the Killer Beez are interested in considering another out-of-town group ride in 2023.  One of the areas suggested was Vancouver Island.  Some of us participated in a very enjoyable 6 day Vancouver Island Ride in 2014 which was organized by Michael Malkowski and Bob Perra.  I recently met with Michael and Don Brown, who also participated in the 2014 ride, to discuss the possibility of another Vancouver Island Ride.  Since the 3 day ride format used in the Kootenays was so successful, we mapped out a 3-4 day loop for consideration which can be accessed through the following links.

Day One – Sydney to Lake Cowichan via Salt Spring Island.

Day Two – Lake Cowichan to Sooke.  This could possibly be broken into two days with a layover in Port Renfrew.  However, accommodation there is limited.

Day Three – Sooke to Sydney.  This is partly on the Galloping Goose Trail.

These routes are subject to fine tuning and are intended to show approximate distances and elevations only.

Cars (except support vehicles) would be parked at the Tsawwassan ferry terminal.

I look forward to receiving your comments in this regard.