I recently became aware of what looks like a really cool event coming up in September; The Whistler GranFondo. What is a GranFondo you ask? Well, I asked the same question:

Gran Fondo’s are mass participation cycling events that have enjoyed incredible popularity in Europe for decades, and are beginning to gain momentum in North America. The Whistler GranFondo will be the first of its kind in Canada (but the US saw about 9 Gran Fondo rides start up in 2009).

Loosely translated from Italian, GranFondo means “big ride.” Rides are often 100 km or more for a large number of cyclists at a variety of skill levels – everyone from the competitive cyclist to the amateur wanting to challenge themselves over distance and time enjoy these events. While these are not races, top finishers are often recognized.

Gran Fondo’s are judged by the challenges they offer… steep climbs, long distances and a combination of the two. The Whistler GranFondo will not disappoint with 2,400 meters of climbing over the entire 120 km route. And if that isn’t enough, the Whistler GranFondo will also offer primes (or mini timed races) along the way at particularly challenging sections to give riders that extra motivational boost. This will be a challenge worth bragging about and you’ll be rewarded with a Founding Riders Finisher’s Medal.

The Whistler GranFondo is taking place September 11, 2010 and will have a dedicated bike lane all the way from downtown Vancouver to Whistler! What sounds really neat about this is all skill levels are encouraged to participate. The event is as much a celebration of cycling as it is a race (although, as stated above, top finishers are recognized). You can ride the full 120km from Vancouver to Whistler, or do a shorter course (60km) from Squamish. For more details check out the Whistler GranFondo website.

Thanks Matt for sending the info in.

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Tags: Whistler GranFondo
Categories: Biking, Events
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I’m a few days late getting to posting about this, but on Monday night the Vancouver Dirt Jump Coalition received the answer they wanted from the Vancouver Park Board on  a proposed jump track in Vanier Park. Vanier Park, located in Kits Point, will be Vancouver’s first ’sanctioned’ mountain bike/ BMX park. The proposed track site drew some opposition from local residents and Squamish First Nation, but ultimately was approved by the board based on the recommendations of the Vancouver Park Board.

Vancouver is Awesome was able to get this quote from Chris Youg, lead member of the Vancouver Dirt Jump Coalition:

“Last night the Vancouver Park Board Commissioners voted unanimously in favour of the proposed Dirt Jump park in Vanier Park. With the Park Board office beyond capacity with BMX and Mountain Bikers, the group listened in on delegations presenting in favour of the park, with no parties speaking against. One-by-one the Commissioners expressed their positive thoughts about the project, and thanked those whose hard work has made this possible. Opinions were expressed to ensure that the park will be designed with elements for all levels of riding, from young children right up to advanced users. And, that the park should be designed in such a way to fit in with Vanier Park, which could be done with landscaping. The project was given the blessing by the Vancouver’s Bicycle Advisory Committee.”

“One of the delegates, a mother who came to express her thoughts commended the Park Board on the approval process. She was impressed, and expressed how pleased she was with the inclusion of the community, Vanier Park stakeholders, and interested parties all were heard on this proposal. Multiple generations were in the room with her to see a positive outcome, which will hopefully inspire more youth to be involved.”

“Very special thanks go out to Commissioner Sarah Blyth for her dedication to this project, and the rest of the Park Board Commissioners for keeping their promise of engaging the youth and keeping them active as one of their platforms. Mark Vulliamy and Park Board staff have also been vital to making the Dirt Jump park a reality.”

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Tags: BMX,Dirt Jump,Mountain Bike,Vanier Park
Categories: Bike Trails, Biking
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The ultimate event in mountain biking, the 2009 Kokanee Crankworx, will be taking place in Whistler August 8 – 16. This event is an annual favorite for many, and with good reason. There are a host of events, from the trick showdown to the Canadian Cheeserolling Championship. Coinciding with Crankworx is the Deraylor Music Festival featuring a huge list of artists from K-Os to Current Swell.

Whistler BC’s Kokanee Crankworx. The most ground-breaking gravity fueled mountain bike festival in the history of all things badass. Nine action packed days featuring the sport’s most fearless and talented athletes. A war for freeride glory in the only coliseum qualified for such prestige – the air and stunt infused dirt of the world famous Whistler Mountain Bike Park.

In the six years since its inception Kokanee Crankworx has become one of Whistler’s biggest annual events and the proving ground, inspiring heroes like Basagoitia, Gracia, Watts, Lopes and Lacondeguy to throw it down nuclear bomb style. This year we amplified things with our Canadian Open Enduro – the ultimate all-mountain test. One sees the world’s top slopestyle athletes push the limits of aerial ingenuity, while the other challenges racers with high-speed, head-to-head combat through the Boneyard’s cruel core. Off-road electricity hardwired to the soul of mountain biking’s next generation of backflippin, tailwhippin, 720 huckin’ superstars.

Check out the website for more details, schedules and contests.


Kokanee Crankworx — © MyPlanet 360°

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Tags: Crankworx,Kokanee,Mountain Biking,Whistler
Categories: Biking, Events
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It seems the topic of biking has been a hot one around Vancouver lately. Last week there was news of a bike stolen off a bus, car free days were approved by council for certain areas on weekends, the Burrard Bridge has recently been approved for a bike lane trial, it seems Vancouver will be getting a bike share program, and then I saw this interesting article from CTV. (The guy might helped his own cause by not throwing eggs at the TV crew, no?)

A Lower Mainland businessman, who runs a service that claims to reunite people with their stolen bikes, is being accused of encouraging bike thieves.

Gord Blackwell claims he’s returned over 250 stolen bikes through his Bike Rescue program. According to his website, Blackwell finds the stolen bikes by scouring the internet for “too good to be true bike deals,” and purchases the merchandise back from thieves.

He tries to reunite the bike with its original owner but resells the bikes when he can’t find them.

With 1,579 bikes reported stolen alone in Vancouver last year, it could amount to a tidy business.

Peter Dartana calls Blackwell “a hero.” His stolen bike was returned by Blackwell after Dartana posted an ad on the community site Craigslist.

Blackwell emailed Dartana to say he had located his stolen bike, calling him “one of the lucky ones.”

“He found my bike hanging inside someone’s living room, wanting to sell it to him,” he said.

Blackwell bought the bike back from the supposed bike thief for $200 and then gave it back to Dartana free of charge.

But cyclists like Brian Powell say that’s a problem.

Powell’s bike was stolen outside Library Square on West Georgia Street in downtown Vancouver. Powell believes Blackwell’s Bike Rescue program is actually encouraging the market for stolen bikes.

“He puts on an aura of citizen good duty but at the same time he’s making himself available for stolen property,” he said.

Powell found his stolen Rocky Mountain bike for sale at Blackwell’s warehouse in New Westminster, where the cyclist says Blackwell tried to sell him his own bike back for $1,000. Powell called police and Blackwell gave up the bike.

Powell says Blackwell told him he had been called by a man on a cell phone, and then met that person at the Braid Street SkyTrain station.

“Didn’t get a phone number, didn’t get id and purchased the bike and went on his way,” Powell said.

CTV News tried interviewing Blackwell last week, but he declined to answer questions — instead throwing a dozen eggs at a CTV News crew.

It’s illegal to knowingly purchase and possess stolen property but Blackwell admits on his website he consistently finds and purchases bikes he believes are suspect.

Gordon Blackwell has a criminal record for fraud in Ontario and Vancouver Police told CTV in 2008 he was on their radar.

But a year later Blackwell is still in business, with nearly 50 high-end bikes for sale.

There is also a video on the CTV website.

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Tags: Bike Lane Trial,Bike Rescue,Bike Share,Bike Theft,Car Free,Stolen
Categories: Biking
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A local rider is warning Vancouverites to keep a close eye on their bikes after he had his bike stolen from the bus bike rack last week. His $1,000 bike. Ouch.

When Chris Allcock loaded his bike on the yellow rack on the front of a bus last Sunday he tried to stay as close as possible to the front windows to keep an eye on it, but the bus was crowded and the driver told him several times to move to the back, he told CBC News.

Allcock complied, but when he reached his stop his bike was gone and when he asked the driver if he saw what happened, the the driver showed little concern, he said.

“I was upset and confused and I asked the bus driver what happened, where the bike got off, who stole the bike? He said he wasn’t paying attention,” said Allcock.

“He didn’t really sound too upset about it, didn’t apologize. Just said he wasn’t paying attention and that the bike got off about eight blocks or eight stops ago,” he said.

No locks allowed

Allcock said his bike was insured, but the next person might not be so lucky, and he thinks the Coast Mountain Bus Company’s policy against locking bikes to bus racks should be changed.

“I’m sure, if this happened to me, it’s happened to other people. It just seems ridiculous, I’m trying to help this city all I can and a company like TransLink is disinterested completely in my security and my possessions’ security, so it’s frustrating,” he told CBC on Wednesday.

Coast Mountain Bus Company spokesman Derek Zabel said the theft was unfortunate, but there’s little the company can do to prevent these kinds of thefts.

“It’s a tough situation, no doubt, and I do have a lot of sympathy for the person that did have their bike stolen,” said Zabel.

“There’s a lot of people that do get on and off the bus at all times and the drivers have a lot to be aware of.”

Victims of bike theft can register a claim with TransLink, but ultimately it’s up to bus riders to be responsible for their property, he said.

Also related, here’s a good read from the Tyee about the bike theft problem in Vancouver, and a former bike rescuer who has ‘disappeared into the shadow’s of B.C.’s Gotham City’.

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Tags: BC Transit,Stolen Bikes
Categories: Biking, News
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