Team Escape Velocity Cycling Club

So, something called Get Out There apparently has some fantastically discerning readers. Because for 2011, those readers chose things. And one of the things they chose was us.

Despite very low temperatures and icy roads, Escape Velocity's annual Toy Ride ran as scheduled on November 19, 2011. Even in the face of these conditions, riders did come out!

The Tim Hortons Community Cruiser provided coffee and snacks to the hardy participants, and we raised $1300 for the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau, who provide toys, clothing and food for needy families.

Our sponsoring bike shops stepped up, with La Bicicletta helping us collect donations, and Wentings Cycle & Mountain Shop donating a gift certificate door prize. The lucky winner was Doug Brons.

Thanks go to all the riders who didn't let little things like freezing cold deter them from supporting a good cause. And we'd like to extend a special thanks to our friends from Wedgewood Cycling Team, who continue to support this event generously, as they have for many years.

EV has big plans for this year's Spring Series. Very big plans. Would you be excited if we told you that it might get so big, Spring would no longer be able to contain it? Well, you should be excited by that!

Behold this photo:

That's Garneau Evolutionist David Gerth, recent winner of the club sportsmanship award, repairing the wheel of Tristan Hughes, recent co-winner of the mechanically declined award. For bonus points, David is doing it with the only cone wrench that was at hand, which was, uh, part of the mechanically declined trophy. Not only is it beautiful, it is also useful.

Every year, in one of Escape Velocity's best-loved and most hallowed traditions, our members gather at some place with good beer and generous portions, so that we can take awkward photos of them eating. Here are this year's pix:

Also, we shame or glorify some deserving individuals.

Mechanically Declined