Hammer and Hurl is            November 11/2009

Safe Driving and Happy Pedalling!

Georgina Chipman

Williams Lake

The first ever Pedal by the Puddle is now history. It was a great day. The weather gods co-operated as fifty-four enthusiastic riders between the ages of 11 and 61 years of age enjoyed our 10 km “almost-all-singletrack” course a grand total of 203 times. The fastest riders put in 9 laps-that’s almost 90 km of singletrack in 6 hours! Participants included a past Canadian National Champion, a World 24 Hour Solo Championships qualifier, and even a 2 time veteran of the infamous Mount Seven Psychosis Downhill, but best of all there were over 20 riders out there who had never before participated in any type of organized cycling event-good job!

Many, many thanks to our volunteers, our sponsors, our organizers, the local riders and those who traveled from out of town to make our event a success. We’re hoping to do it again next year–see you then! Watch www.puddlebike.com for upcoming details of next year’s event.

PHOTO GALLERY: Click Here

WHAT THE RIDERS SAID: Click Here

GO AHEAD, INDULGE YOUR VANITY! Order a racing photo of yourself or someone you love from Craig Smith at About Face Photography:  www.aboutface-photography.com

FINAL RACE RESULTS:  www.zone4.ca

As a novice mountain bike racer, this was a great event for getting my wheels wet.  The mostly single-track course had a flow to it that made it a treat to ride.  There was a great variety of terrain, technical challenges (manageable for even my limited capabilities), and even some wildlife thrown into the mix.  The enduro format gave the event a festival atmosphere which could be enjoyed by riders of all abilities for the entire six hours.  Congratulations to the organizers on a great event.

Awesome single track course with technical sections of roots and rocks all set in a Douglas-fir forest typical of Williams Lake riding.

I thoroughly enjoyed the race and the superbly organized and smooth operation. I thought the course was excellent for all levels of riders, and everyone I have talked to agreed.

Looking forward to next year!

Sweet course, excellent organization and a fun group of riders made for a great race!  Just about all ingletrack with lots of stuff to keep the suspension working.  Recommend a full suspension if your closet has both types.  Can’t wait for next year!

The course was more fun and exciting than a triple loop roller coaster, combining the sweetest single track trails that BC has to offer, with technical climbs combined with some super fast and flowing downhill sections. The best course I’ve seen! Time keeping was spot on and professional. The trophies given out after the race were thoughtfully designed handmade original works of art! And the generosity shown by the event organizers in the way of prizes both for top finishers and random draws was really amazing; no other race that I’ve been to even comes close! I can’t wait for next year!!

$74.00 / night – for double occupancy

For the special rate, mention the “Pedal by the Puddle bike race” when booking

1 800 663 6898
250 392 3321
1118 Lakeview Cres. Williams Lake, B.C.

Scout Island Nature Centre provides a relatively secluded, natural place for wildlife and plant viewing. It is a special place in the heart of our community where you can hear the “unfurling of leaves in the spring, feel the rustle insect wings, and absorb the cry of the loon.” This is best done by walking the trails of the Nature Centre.

For wildlife to continue to feel “secure” at the nature centre, there are no bikes allowed on Scout Island Trails. The trails were not built to handle bikes. Bikes may disturb the sensitive plants and wildlife that inhabit Scout Island such as foxes, muskrats, wood ducks and our many anthills.

Scout Island Nature Center encourages the public to ride their bikes to the Nature Center or beach, then lock them at the provided bike racks and walk the trails and visit the NatureCenter.

Williams Lake is renowned for its many bike trails for all levels such as the River Valley and Fox Mountain Trails. Please contact the Info Center or Red Shred’s Bike and Board Shed at 398-7873 for more information or maps to these trails.

Thank you for your co-operation.

Scout Island Nature Center and the City of Williams Lake

WILLIAMS LAKE – The Williams Lake Cycling Club will be hosting a bike rodeo inBoitanio Mall April 14, and kids of all ages are invited to come out and ride the ramps. Along with the bike course, club members Sal Demare and Dwayne Chamberlain are planning to shave their heads (or upper-bodies in Sal’s case) to raise funds for the club and their Sprockids youth program.

The bike rodeo course will encompass about half of the lower level of Boitanio Mall and organizers plan to make good use of the floor space in order to give riders plenty of entertaining options.

“This is a great way to bring riders together early in the spring,” said club president Mark Savard. “We’re going to be selling club memberships, premiering new videos and just having a blast.”

The club has other events planned throughout the spring and summer including:

• Weekly rides for youth, ladies and advanced riders
• Bike repair and riding workshop through leisure services
• Trail maintenance
• Fall Fair Demo – Team Norco Demo
• An enduro race

The Williams Lake Cycling Club has been in operation for two years and currently has many local members. The club is actively involved in organizing events for youth and representing cycling in local land-use planning. More information on the club and all the exciting events they have planned can be found on their web site at www.puddlebike.com. The site also has tons of photos of talented local riders exploring all the amazing riding opportunities Williams Lake has to offer.

The bikes have been donated by members of the public in Williams Lake to go through the Sanctuary Foundation, assisted by the Canadian International Development Agency, to a Third World Country.

The bike club over the years has been collecting old bikes and parts, which were repaired and put together and then given to kids without bikes, or kids whose bikes had been stolen, Mark Savard, of Red Shred’s said.

“Late in the summer we had more than 100, 10 and 12 speed road bikes, and one of my sales reps from Vancouver said he wanted to send bikes to a Third World country, where kids were dream candidates for these unused steeds,” Savard said.

“They came up with a U-Haul for a load and now they’re trying to do another northern sweep with a bigger truck. Then they’ll do an exchange program. Where kids can come here to work on the bikes so we’re not shipping junk. So the bikes will go to people that can use them in Cuba.” he said.

The Sanctuary Foundation has been working with CIDA for the last two years to implement a technology exchange with the Cuban Ministry of Education. The project is designed to create infrastructure for a bicycle industry. Bicycles are the main form of transportation in Cuba, Where there are 12 million people and about four million bikes on the road.

Williams Lake has more than 50 bikes ready for the next load, Savard said.

Debbie Demare, City Councilor 2005

Last night a huge overflow (200 maybe?) crowd attended the Mountain Bike forum at City Hall. The demographic definitely leaned to the 15- 30 age group and several like Sal ..wannabee of that group:-) There were also many elected officials, government officials, several doctors, at least two pharmacists, and a plethora of other professional and business people there.

There were two hours of presentations: Ministry of Forests (3 presenters), Land & Water Inc., Adrenalin Mountain Adventures (commercial recreational tenure coming), our Economic Dev. Officer, Mark Savard (passionate as always got a standing “o”), Sal DeMare (committed to youth, as always), Mark Nairn (Cattlemens), Bill Stafford (Rancher), and Keith Bennett (the Brian Carruthers in Whistler).

The bases were covered:

• The Law
• Why the structures were taken down
• How we have a Tourism/Commercial Opportunity
• How our Mountain Biking is one of the top five in BC
• How our Mountain Biking has evolved and is on the “leading edge” of riding in North America • How unbelievably involved our youth are…..
• How the ranchers want to work WITH mountain bikers to accommodate all land uses
• How legalizing trails will protect them from logging
• How using International Mountain Biking and Whistler Standards will diminish liability issues
• How Whistler does it cooperatively and so on…

The youth sat through ALL of the two hours. Listening and often, I’m sure, trying to understand the “legalize”. I bent over and asked one young fellow – Is this boring? – “Very” came the answer – but you know, that young fellow there was still there at the end trying to listen and understand the complexities.

Then these young folks got up and asked tough questions, in a manner, while direct, often way more courteous than I’ve seen adults do in similar circumstances. Folks we missed something here – our asset is not just these trails – our asset is also these young(er) people. Committed and passionate enough to endure a meeting most adults would never get through. Committed and passionate enough to listen and allow themselves to be influenced in a positive way.

They love Mountain Biking. Many have biked elsewhere – even the youngest – Whistler – at Sun Peaks – and they KNOW WHAT WE HAVE HERE!!!! Most impressed by a young pharmacist (Under 30) who stood up and told us why he chose Williams Lake to live (his wife is a biologist) – you got it – Our Mountain Biking.

In the end there was a complete exploration of all the issues involved in Mountain Biking. I would suspect that everyone there learned something and were influenced in a positive way by what other people on the “opposite side” said. It says something about communicating with each other in person instead of in the newspaper.

I suspect what will now happen is an advisory committee will form – after seeing the positive and constructive approach of these young people, I am going to strongly recommend that it include several of them as well as the obvious “stakeholders”.

That committee will need to work through the winter to come up a model for trails management that is a “Made in the Cariboo” model.

Highest recognition needs to go to Brian Carruthers – who set this up and facilitated it in an exemplary manner so that it stayed totally constructive and fair.

I’m just elated and so excited about the future of Mountain Biking in this area. A positive, positive night!!!

Debbie DeMare City Councilor