President's Message November 2011

New Club Executive for the 2012 Season

It's now official! At the Annual General Meeting the following people were elected and/or acclaimed to the executive for 2012 season. Your new Club Executive is as follows

• Racing Director - Dave MacIsaac
• Touring Director - Gene Vandal
• Womens Ride Director - Kate Tinkler
• Rough Road/Cyclo Cross Director - Rick Sklazeski
• Coaching Director - Clyde Tuyl
• Secretary - Bill Ulakovic
• Treasurer - Mary Ellen Ripley
• Web Director - Phyllis Dalgleish
• Promotions Director - Mike O'Connor
• President - Frank Wilson

The new executive will hold its first meeting on Nov 22 to begin planning for the coming year. First on our list is to organize a strategic planning workshop to set goals, identify ideas for improving the Club and expanding the membership, and then priorize these initiatives. The ideas/suggestions provided at the AGM will be used as the starting points for this workshop. Stay tuned for more information on time, date, venue and agenda for this strategic workshop.

To those executive members who have completed their term; we all owe them a big debt of gratitude. They are: Dave Pinner, Berto Pasciullo, Pam Dawes and Katie Spittlehouse. Without their efforts, this Club would not have been able to provide the high caliber and variety of events that it has throughout the past seasons. So do take the opportunity to personally express your thanks to these folks.

I look forward to working with the new executive and with the others who volunteers. For it is they who make this club run effectively and it is they would provide safe and enjoyable events for members of all levels and interests. I and the executive always welcome comments from the members our pictures and email addresses will be posted on the web shortly.

Please email or phone me with your ideas for improving the Club and if you wish to help out in any way.
Frank Wilson
President 807-475-9425
president [at] tbaycc.ca

President's Message Sept 28 2011

Autumn is here but don't fear there are many more days for us to get in more pedaling. Although most of the Club activities have come to a close, there is still the opportunity to try out the new Cycle cross and Roubaix events, These events are new to the Club and we hope all members will come out and see what they are all about. Dates and locations and other info will be posted and updated on the club web site and hot line 626-8725.

Let me also extend a warm invitation to all members to attend the end of season Club social on Oct 29 at the Nor Wester Hotel. This is a great way to dine and chat with fellow club members. This is the chance to see what we look like without spandex and helmets. Various presentations and stories will add to the entertainment. There are even a few door prizes.

If you are interested in learning what happened over the course of the 2011 season and wish to offer suggestions on improvements for 2012 come out to the Annual General Meeting. This meeting is an opportunity for members to chat with the board members and to discuss ideas for the coming year. The meeting is being held on Thursday Nov 3 at the Oliver Rd Community Centre (2 blocks south of Balmoral) we hope all members will come to this town hall style meeting.

As a member, I have enjoyed the 2011 season. The club has offered a variety of events and activities for all levels and interests. These events would not have been possible without the numerous volunteers. So a big thanks to each of you. I hope that members will continue to step forward in 2012 to volunteer and to serve on the Club executive. Let me finish be saying that it has been my honour to serve as the President and work along side a great group of fellow board members.

If you have any suggestions and or would like to discuss volunteering please contact me by phone at 475-9425 or email president@tbaycc.ca

Happy Cycling
Frank Wilson
President

P.S If you have an unused or discarded bike, please donate to Bikes For Humanity. The Thunder Bay Chapter continues to ship repaired bikes to non profit groups in various African countries. You can drop off your bike on Sat Oct 1 10 to 4pm at 605 Chapples Lane on north side of Victoriaville Centre or phone 344-9798

President's Message July 6 2011

Well the biggest cycling event in Thunder Bay Area just got bigger! Yes the Caribou Charity Ride for Cancer has attracted the largest field of Thunder Bay cyclists of any event. Now in its 3rd year the cap has been again expanded to accommodate up to 400 riders. This event has sold out since its inception 2 years running. Why ..read on.

Don't miss out, enter now. on line at www.cariboucharityride.com

As a reward for entering on line before Monday Aug 15, you will get a draw ballot to win a Trek Madone 4.5 bike and a draw ballot to win a flight for two anywhere that Westjet flies. But wait there is more. All early entries will also receive a $25 gift certificate to the Caribou Restaurant.

What, still sitting and thinking this over!
Well let me remind you that this is a quality fun event for everyone who has a bike and a safety helmet. Grab several friends and come out and enjoy cycling the rolling rural Highways in the Oliver Papoonge area. This event starts and ends at the NorWester Resort Hotel on Highway 61. You bike at your own pace. There is a 50 km and 100 km route with aid and refreshment stops along the way. However you can decide on route when you wish to turn around and head back. All entries get a high quality technical T shirt and a post ride lunch plus a $10 gift certificate to the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium.

Most important the funds raised from this event go directly to the Northern Cancer Fund. The money will be used to provide patient care, education and prevention programs across Northwestern Ontario Cancer is a disease now estimated to strike 1 out of every 3 people. Let's make cancer history.

What more needs to be said?
Looking forward to seeing you at the Caribou Charity Ride on Sunday Sept 11 2011

Check out www.cariboucharityride.com

" I and other Board members are always interested in hearing comments and suggestions from club members. I can be reached at president@tbaycc.ca on by phone at 475-9425"

MONDAY JUNE 6th

The Thunder Bay Cycling Club is making a short 10 minute presentation to City Council on Monday June 6 in support of expanding the bike lanes across the City.

The City Staff will be recommending to City Council further expansion of existing 10 kms of bike lanes by creating 9 kms bike lanes along the following streets; Victoria Ave Syndicate Ave Shuniah and John St and possibly Francis St. This is in keeping with the implementation of the City's Active Transportation Plan which the club has worked with the City and others to develop and foster.

Other citizens will be making presentations and submitting petitions containing their objections to bike lanes. (The loss of street parking is a key concern)

On behalf of the Cycling Club Board of Directors, we are asking cyclists like yourself to express your support of bike lanes as one means of promoting and facilitating cycling. We are asking for your endorsement of the following statement:
"As a resident of Thunder Bay I support the expansion of bike lanes in the City as one means of promoting and supporting people of all ages and abilities to participate in cycling as a safe economical, healthy and enjoyable activity and means of transport."
Please submit your response email to president@tbaycc.ca by noon June 6 quoting the above statement and your support for or against it and any other comments. Include in your email your name and address so your emails can be bundled together in the form of a petition.

Also you may wish to show visible support by attending the City Council Meeting on Monday June 6. The Council Meeting is on the 3rd floor of City Hall on Donald St. As the topic of bike lanes is in the later half of the agenda, it will be addressed some time past 7 PM. To be identifiable as a cyclist you might wish to wear a cycling jersey or any bright coloured shirt.

The last topic on the Council agenda is Councilor Ruberto and his recommendation that City promote Active Transportation or non motorized activities by doing 2 feasibility studies into A/ closing Lyon Boulevard from Algoma to Arundel during July and August, and B/ closing 2 of 4 lanes of a major north south arterial road during August.

If questions etc. please email or phone me.

I hope that you will take this opportunity to show your support for cycling in our City. And I look forward to receiving your emails prior to noon on June 6.

• Bike Lane Support Letter
• Bike Lane Slide Presentation

A slow spring but people are out, riding and things are happening.

Club Hotline and Web Updates

Be sure to check the Club Phone Hotline before heading out to a club event. This Hotline provides the latest updates on the activities for the coming days. This phone line is the most effective way to keep people informed of alterations in dates, and locations of scheduled rides, time trials, races and bike clinics etc. It also informs you of new events. Pam Dawes is the director who keeps the phone messages up to the minute.
Here is the Hotline Phone # 626-8725

Also, Phyllis Dalgleish our new Webmaster is working diligently to update the info on our web site. Although she has updated all the schedules, there are still some dates and locations that will need to be amended and updated as the season progresses. So be sure to phone the hot line to get the fast breaking updates.

Support Proposed Multi Use Recreational Trail Thunder Bay to Nipigon

Recently I attended a public open house on the proposal for a multi use recreational trail from Thunder Bay to Nipigon. It is proposed to use the decommissioned CN Kinghorn railway line as the trail corridor. The open house was very informative and I met with several of the municipal councilors and staff who are coordinating this initiative. After reading the concept report, and after discussions at our March 1 meeting, your Board of Directors are endorsing this proposal in principle and will continue to provide our input and support to further refine this proposed multi use multi seasonal trail system. I prepared a short 2 page overview of this trail proposal .Click here

We urge all our members and the public to learn about this proposal and to provide your comments by filling in the on line survey. www.surveymonkey.com/s/3K3RK2V

Bike Clinics

Hope that every member takes advantage of the coming bike clinics. The first one on changing flat tires is on Wednesday May 11 at the West Arthur Community Centre starting at 6:30 p.m. Later there will be clinics on various aspects of cycling. Clyde Tuyl and his team are working hard to make sure that these clinics will be top quality. For this reason, they will be rescheduling these clinics to later dates. There are always things to learn and things we need to be reminded of. We don't know what we don't know until we are open to learning as a life long pursuit. So come out and learn so you can maximize your enjoyment of cycling this season.

Lets all cycle safe so we can share in the fun and fitness.

Cheers
Frank Wilson

Let's Get Rolling into a new Season of Enjoyable and Safe Cycling!

Welcome to the 2011 cycling season! There is quite a host of activities being organized for the coming season for riders of all levels and interests. Whether you are a past member or someone with an interest in cycling, the Thunder Bay Cycling Club offers something for everyone. See the schedules posted on this web site.

The club is a not for profit organization run by a volunteer board. As we have no staff, it is crucial that people step up and volunteer to help organize the various activities. The new and returning board members are listed on this web site along with the program area which each board member is organizing.

To kick off the new season, everyone is invited to the open house on Thursday March 24 at the Oliver Rd Community Centre. Drop in from 6:30 to 9 PM and learn about our events for 2011. The club offers road touring, women's only rides, racing including time trials, road races, a junior development program plus new this year cyclo cross and off pavement Roubaix rides. During the season a series of bike clinics will be offered on a variety of topics to improve your cycling enjoyment and safety.

At the Open House you will be able to sit and visit with a board member who will explain which of the above activity that they lead and answer your questions. Adam Krupper, the Active Transportation Coordinator for the city, will update us on the city program of creating additional cycling routes. So join us and bring along a friend to two who may be thinking of taking up cycling. For more info on the March 24 public open house check out the brochure posted on this web site

The membership fees for 2011 are the same as those for 2010. Despite increased costs in some areas the Board has capped overall expenditures at the 2010 level. (For example the club is being charged a $2.50 per member increase in our fee to join the Ontario Cycling Association) Holding the line on expenditures will mean more reliance on support from volunteers and from sponsors new and old.

Membership applications are available on this web site. The Club is again offering to non members, the opportunity to try out for free our various activities. So try out an activity before deciding if you want to become a member. See the Schedules for the specific date of these free try outs.

On a personal note, I have been a member for 10 seasons and have enjoyed partaking in the wide range of club activities. I am honoured to serve the Club and its members in the position of President. And I am all ears to hear your thoughts and suggestions on improving our club and fostering safe and enjoyable cycling for all riders.

A big thanks to Dave Pinner for serving as President for the past 2 years. And special thanks as he has agreed to stay on the Board and serve in the capacity of Past President.

Best Wishes on a great 2011 season of cycling.

Cheers
Frank Wilson