VicPop Pre-riders
Photo: Steve Mahovlic

Island Randonneurs Spring Social a Success
March 22, 2015
by Holland Gidney

Drawing Vancouver Island randonneurs and friends from as far away as Tofino and Nanaimo, the Island Randonneurs Spring Social held this past Sunday was a great success. Preceded by a morning pre-ride of the 100K route for the upcoming Victoria Populaire by 14 cyclists, the afternoon gathering at the Fernwood Inn in Victoria ended up attracting some 34 people in total. The event was organized to provide an opportunity for riders to socialize off their bikes, to celebrate last year's successes, and to serve as an official "kick-off" for the 2015 randonneuring season, which everyone knows is a special one due to Paris-Brest-Paris.

In addition to the popular New Year's Day Populaire, Victoria Populaire (April 5) and Cowichan Populaire (June 13), Vancouver Island is hosting more than a dozen brevets this year. Running April 11-17 and based out of Chemainus, Hell Week will be the first chance for local riders to qualify for PBP. As a result, there was lots of discussion about who will be doing which rides and who's committed to the whole shebang. Of note, this year's Hell Week will feature some new routes, including the deliciously named "Coastal Goat Cheese" and the scenic-sounding "Parks and Trees."

The social also provided an opportunity for Vancouver Island Brevet Coordinator Mike Croy to acknowledge this year's winners of the Roger Street Trophy, Stephen and Carol Hinde of Nanaimo, whose passion for randonneuring led to the first brevets on Vancouver Island and whose incredible volunteering and enthusiasm over the years have helped build the strong community of Vancouver Island randonneurs that exists today. In addition, Mike Croy, aided by Steven Croy, presented 2014 Super Randonneur medals to David Campbell, Brynne Croy, Mike Croy, Holland Gidney, Graham Fishlock, Phillip Lennox, Craig Lylack, Jim Runkel, and Michael Tilitzky, recognizing their each having ridden a complete series (and in some cases, two full series). Congratulations as well to Ken Bonner, Mark Ford, Luke Galley, and David White who are the Island's other Super Randonneurs.

Thanks to everyone for coming out.

March 24, 2015