Going the Distance - Fundraiser for Local Charity

Please see below, in case you would like to support Justin in his ride across Canada.  We met Justin last summer on the Tyler Hamilton ride.  For those of you doing the math, he needs to average 200km per day for 30 days.  Wild Rose is also going to help him out, although hopefully not during the ride.  That could get ugly.  Feel free to pass this on if you know anyone else who might be interested.  Thanks, Mike

Hi All!

As some of you may already know, this summer I’ll be attempting to ride my bike from Vancouver to Halifax in 30 days. I am doing this ride as a means to raise funds for a local charity called Two Wheel View. TWV uses the bicycle as a tool to deliver high quality programs which serve youth over multiple developmental years – a “cycle of success” that begins in local neighborhoods and extend to communities abroad. TWV engages youth 11 to 17 years of age in after school “Earn-a-Bike” programs and bicycle expeditions in Canada and abroad.

100% of the funds donated to Two Wheel View via Going the Distance will be used to establish a perpetual scholarship fund to be awarded annually to deserving youth as means to participate in a Two Wheel View bicycle expedition program abroad. Please help us reach our fundraising goal of $50,000!!

The establishment of this scholarship will help to fund youth who show interest in learning about the themselves and the world around them from the seat of the bike, but do not have the financial means to do so.

Also, if you are a user of social media, by following and sharing my social media outlets, you can help me get the word out! Please check out my website and follow my blog and on Facebook & Twitter as I prepare for this adventure.

For those of you that might have a child in this age group and would be interested: Two Wheel View is leading Bicycle Expedition programs for youth ages 14-17 this summer in Alberta, Argentina and Quebec. On these trips, participants learn leadership, teamwork and communication skills; are involved in the daily planning of their trip, are exposed to new communities and cultures and encouraged to connect with their natural environment. If you’d like to learn more about these opportunities for a young person in your life please let me know.

  

www.goingthedistance4twv.com

Twitter  /  Facebook   /  Blog  / Donate!

 Please let me know if you have any questions or would like any further information about the ride or Two Wheel View’s programs, and please pass this on to anyone you know that would be interested in supporting this journey!

Thank you all so much in advance for your support!

Justin

Ride Tomorrow

I apologize for being slow in setting everything up officially with the ABA for the Draughters this year.  I will try to get that sorted out over the weekend. 

In the meantime, the forecast looks good and Andrew has wisely suggested we go for a ride.  So if you want to ride with Andrew and I tomorrow, we’re meeting at 2:00 pm in the parking lot at the corner of 37^th Street and Highway 22X.  We’ll likely do something like Road to Nepal, Leighton Art Centre, or the like.  If you are planning on joining, please send me an e-mail so that we know who to look for.  A reminder that my cell number is 403 660 9463 if you are running late and want to let me know.

Gord McMorland is going to lead our mountain biking rides this year (thanks Gord), Carber is taking care of clothing (thanks Carber) and I’m going to try to convince Andrew to try to lead the road riding (Andrew???).  If anyone else wants to volunteer for anything please let me know.  I look forward to see everyone out on the road and trails this year. 

Mike

Membership has its privileges

Draughters,

 

First of all, I’ve edited the distribution list down to those people who have actually come out for a ride or event in the last year, and whose name I actually recognize, so congratulations, you made the cut.  Please take a look at everyone on the distribution list, and if you think I’ve missed anyone, or you know of someone that would enjoy riding with us, please let me know.

 

More importantly, as ambassadors for Wild Rose, you and a guest are cordially invited to the grand opening of our new brewery this Wednesday.  If you can attend, please RSVP to the address on the invitation.  I hope to see you there.

 

Thanks and best regards,

 

Mike

 

 

 

Nothing to do tonight...then come watch the Dark Knight Cross at COP

The top 6 Reasons to come watch tonight:

 

1.       Wild Rose is sponsoring the race.  Yes, it’s like we have our own race, except we’ve done no work to set it up.  It’s like a dream come true.

2.       There will be lots of action, with lots of riders (65 in Category C) and a tight course, so it should be fun to watch.  Kids are also welcome.

3.       I have signed up to race in Category C, so you can cheer me on when I look like I am about to cough up a lung, which will be pretty much the entire race.

4.       There will be beers at some time during the evening, either at the race or at the taproom.  Please don’t let me drink alone.  Kid’s aren’t welcome for this part.

5.       It will make for a good story on Monday morning in the office when people ask you what you did on the weekend.

6.       Secretly you want to do a CX race, and this will be a good chance for you to check one out.

 

Here is all the information you need to know http://www.albertabicycle.ab.ca/uploads/files/2013%20Tech%20Guides/DK%20-%20Tech%20Guide%2013.pdf.  If you do come down please send me a text on 403 660 9463 and I’ll track you down after my race.

 

Mike

Upcoming Rides

As the riding season gets compressed into fewer hours of daylight (break out your lights everyone), here is what the Draughters have in store over the next few weeks:

 

·         22 September @ 11:00 am - Airdrie TTT.  We will have a masters men’s team, and hopefully a women’s team entered.  Our plan is to ride hard and then go to the taproom.  Once we find out our start time we will let you know our ETA at the taproom, in case you want to join us.  This would be a great time to have a season end beer/soda/water.

·         Face Punch rides are done for the year.  Thanks to everyone who showed up.  You were awesome to train with.

·         25 September @ 6:30 pm – Mid-Week Mayhem.  I’ve ridden one race so far (yesterday was cancelled) and it is really fun and super laid back.  No standings are kept beyond the first 5 places.  Also no issue if you want to ride on a hardtail mountain bike.   Go here for more info http://midweekmayhem.wordpress.com/.  Someone please come out, because no one would go for a beer with me last week, and that’s just not right for a CX race.

·         28 September – Cupcake Cross, more info for the cross races at http://www.albertabicycle.ab.ca/events

·         29 September – Bici Rodeo Cross

·         05 October – Dark Knight Cross

·         06 October – Cadence Coffee Classic Cross

·         You get the picture, now go dust off your hardtail mountain bike or buy a CX bike

·         12-13 October – I’ll be in touch regarding rides depending on the weather

 

For those people training through the winter I am trying to figure out a cloud based location to share a basic training program.

 

Ride on,

 

Mike

Tour of Alberta and Ride Tomorrow

Please send me an e-mail if you are still interested in watching the stage live today.  The spot I was thinking of going to (the last big hill heading South on the Road to Nepal, just before you turn West onto highway 549) looks to be somewhat accessible by car (I’ve had enough riding in the rain today after our TTT training ride), and the riders would go by twice.  I am planning on trying to be there by 2:30 pm.  If you would like to be part of my ill-conceived plan to go watch pro cycling in the rain, please let me know, or if you have a better plan, that would be good too.

 

Tomorrow there will be a two hour ride leaving at 7:00 am from the SW Corner of the Westside Church Parking lot (3939 69 Street SW).  Hopefully the weather will be better than today, and that will give everyone enough time to sign their kids up for archery lessons, take them to hockey practice, and still make it down for the finish of the Tour of Alberta.

 

Ride on,

 

Mike

 

Viewing the Tour of Alberta

Hi everyone

Last email for awhile. This is about watching the Tour of Alberta this weekend.

Saturday - Stage 4

We are planning on watching Stage 4 (Saturday) from the highest point of Road to Nepal. This will mean the riders will pass us twice, plus we will be able to see some attacks unfold - see orange arrow in picture below.

Tentatively, based on the Tour of Alberta timetable, it seems like they will pass the viewing point around 2:30. However we note that yesterday's stage finished an hour early.  We are guessing that parking at the ditch at 22x and 37street will be full. Our alternative parking spots are: Red Deer Lake Church or Red Deer Lake School/Third Academy, both of which are a little further west on Highway 22x. We will park at one of those spots and bike in. 

If you are interested in joining, please drop me an email.

Sunday - Finish

If you are interested in going down to the Festival which starts at noon and goes until 6 pm downtown, please drop Mike an email (murquhart@stratavera.com).  Information is attached - there will be live bands, beer tent, food trucks, lots of stuff for families to do (bouncy castles, bobsled track etc) plus some amazing bike shops are exhibiting. I understand there will be a chance to compete and show your power output. And there are some bike shops that are bringing down some pretty sweet rides for people to demo. This is your chance to sit on that $10,000 bike you were thinking of buying.

Riders are expected to hit downtown at around after 3 pm, and finish after 4 pm. They are doing a few laps around the downtown area so if you get a good vantage spot, you might be able to see them 3 or 4 times, or see them sprint to the finish once!  

Ciao,

Lorraine

 

 

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LORRAINE CHAN CA ICD.D

Partner & Chief Financial Officer

T 403 261-8080 ext 342

C 403 701-3998

F 403 261-8085