Issue 09/01                                                                        January 7, 2009

UPCOMING EVENTS

January 10 - Tokio Youth MTB Series - Arboretum - 4:00PM

January 11 - Conrad's MTB Series Race #5 - Hog Bay - 8:30AM

January 18 - Tokio Youth MTB Series - Ferry Reach - 2:30PM

January 18 - Conrad's MTB Series Race #6 - Ferry Reach - 3:30PM

January 21 - Road Race Season Planning - Casa de Amaral - 6:30PM

January 31 - Tokio Youth MTB Series - Arboretum - 4:00PM

February 1 - Conrad's MTB Series Race #7 - Admiralty House - 8:30AM

February 8 - Conrad's MTB Series Race #8 - Ferry Reach - 8:30AM

February 15 - Bermuda Century Ride - Get Training Now!

February 22 - Winners Edge National Mountain Biking Championship - Ferry Reach - 8:30AM

CYCLING NEWS

2009 MEMBERSHIP

Time to renew your membership for 2009.  Fees are remaining at a modest $20 per individual adult or $10 for juniors.  Family membership  (includes all household members) is merely $30.  If you became a member as part of a bike purchase in 2008 then the free ride is over.  The form can be downloaded here or you can get one at Winners Edge, Sportseller or Bicycle Works where completed forms can be put in the BBA drop boxes.

IT'S TOKIO TIME AGAIN!

The fourth event in the 2008/9 Tokio Youth Mountain Biking Series will be held this Saturday at the Arboretum, starting at4:00PM.  Bring your primary school children and their friends to this great chance to ride, learn some skills and do a bit of racing.  If you don't have kids or just can't find them then please come along and volunteer, Ed and Neil need all the help they can get.

BIKE MAINTENANCE CLINIC

Now that you bought it you might as well learn how to take care of it

Winners Edge is offering a bike maintenance clinic to BBA members (so fill in the membership form, pay the coins and drop off as described above) as follows::

With a lot of new bikes and riders on the scene after Christmas, it is a perfect time with 'winter' on its way to take pro-active action in taking care of our bikes. The anticipated weather will take its toll and as such I will be holding a maintenance clinic at Winners Edge next Tuesday, January 13th starting at 5.30pm. The clinic will include, cleaning your bike, proper lubrication, basic adjustment, repairing flats, covering topics such as checking for wear and importance of correct tire pressures and and more.

Open to all members, coffee and cold drinks provided.

-Greg

NOTE FROM BBA PRESIDENT

Tomorrow I am heading to Havana, Cuba to represent Bermuda at the Pan American Cycling Federation General Assembly that takes place on Saturday.  At the meeting the attending countries will elect the executive and board for the next four years and, unfortunately, there is no proxy or absentee balloting so if you want to vote you have to be there.  While this is generally an event the BBA would not attend as our focus is less on the "super regional" cycling issues, this year presents an interesting opportunity for us.  As the election is being contested, various parties are lining up their friends and supporters.  Last October at the elite CCC in St. Vincent I had the opportunity to meet the current COPACI president Jose Manuel Pelaez Rodriguez as well as Mike Plant, a USOC representative and candidate for one of the board positions  Obviously they would like us to support their candidacy this weekend.  Since October I have been in regular contact with USA Cycling about several items, including coaching certification and access to training programs and facilities.  They appear eager to assist us with these types of needs.    Since there will be no BBA funds used for this trip (travel and accommodation are being covered), the BBA board and executive have agreed to have me represent Bermuda and to support the current Cuban executive and USA Cycling nominees.

Unfortunately I will not be able to send updates on the trip as the internet connections are rumored to be not so hot.  But next week I will include a report on the meeting as well as the trip in general.

SPRING RIDE IN NEW YORK

After researching costs for the New Paltz century. $800 seems to be about right, that includes Flights to JFK, accommodation based on two sharing and car hire(van) this could go up by a little, if less than 4 people decide to go. We will be based in Poughkeepsie at the Courtyard Marriot, a single room supplement of $250 will apply if anybody is shy. Deposit of $400 to be paid by February 6th.

If you think this is of interest then contact Chelsea at ride@bicycleworks.bm or stop in to see him.  Open to anyone who is interested.  Prefer to drive and watch cyclists toil up mountain roads?  Always looking for support vehicle drivers!

RACING MATTERS

2008 RACE SURVEY - QUESTIONS, RAFFLE AND PIZZA

Before the 2009 calendar and race formats are set the Racey Boys (Duncan, Jeff and Martin) thought it prudent to take the temperature of the members on how the 2008 season went. They have compiled the survey with the help of Heather Cooper and request that all members complete it.  This can be done very easily by clicking on the little monkey above or gopaste the following address in your browser:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ITmPRnEXlEuuFIaKdW8WEA_3d_3d

As an incentive to complete the survey, all those who take the survey will be entered into a draw for some big value gift certificates.

And if that isn't enough, the boys are planning a pizza night to discuss the findings and get more in depth details on the format for 2009.  This will be held on Wednesday, January 21st at Jeff Amaral's house and is open to all members who want to come along and make a contribution.  The pie is on the BBA so why not venture out and voice your opinions on racing?  If you want to attend please RSVP to Jeff at jeff@conrads.bm.

Picture of the week

No local entries this week so in anticipation of my Cuban adventure I give you 2008 Olympic points race silver medallist Yoanka Gonzalez (she's from Cuba).  Maybe some day we will have a velodrome .....  Right after the 50 metre pool!

If you want to submit a picture or two for the next newsletter then please forward the image to newsletter@bermudabicycle.org.