The Hub & Spoke April 2024

Apr 7

The Hub & Spoke - April Cycling News

THE HUB & SPOKE

APRIL 2024

Congratulations to Geoff Murray on organizing a successful first edition of the Gran Fermento Brewery Bike Tour last month!

The Gran Fermento was a production of Geoff’s Isle Ride Cycling Club - the new home of Thirsty Thursdays and Cycling PEI’s newest affiliated cycling club!

Learn more about CPEI-sanctioned cycling clubs (and how you can start your own!) here.

Pre-Registrations now open for Rigid Riders & Youth High Performance Programs!

It's April, we’re starting to dust off the bikes and are pleased to announce that applications are now being accepted for both our Rigid Riders MTB Club and Youth High Performance Program! Please see below for more information.

Rigid Riders

Rigid Riders is Cycling PEI’s flagship all-ages cycling skills club. Meeting Tuesday evenings at the Brookvale MTB Park from June through August, Rigid Rider Leaders guide their skills-based groups through the development of cycling skills over 10 weeks while enjoying the beautiful trails of Brookvale.

This is a "pre-registration" call for Rigid Riders. If there is any shortage of capacity this year relative to the number of applicants, spots will be allocated primarily based on the order in which Expressions of interest were received. Only ONE form needs to be completed per household.

Fill out the Rigid Riders Expression of Interest form here

Youth High Performance Program

Are you between the ages of 11 and 23, love cycling, a good challenge and being part of a team of others who share this passion? Do you want to develop your athletic ability and experience the excitement of competing both locally and in other provinces?

If so, Cycling PEI and our new Youth Cycling Development Coach Sue Rodgers we would like to encourage you to apply to Cycling PEI’s Youth High Performance (HP) Program this year!

We are accepting Expressions of Interest for the HP Program right now - please complete this form if you are interested! https://forms.gle/6eV7WSc9TF4gKUQh9

NOTE: We will be holding an Identification Camp for those interested in the Youth HP Program at the West Royalty Elementary School on April 20th & 21st - see the form for more details.

Hopping Big News!

Cycling PEI launched our HopOn program in 2023 as part of a nationwide rollout of the games-based cycling skills program for school-aged children. Already in our first year, 300 children completed a HopOn course through one of three schools and two community programs!

In 2024, the HopOn program will be even bigger! Thanks to a grant received from Sport Canada’s Community Sports for All Initiative, Cycling PEI is planning on organizing up to nine FREE HopOn Bikefests throughout PEI this spring and summer, followed up with a series of multi-day HopOn courses for those who want to take their cycling skills further.

HopOn Bikefests are free events geared to children aged 6-12. They will include cycling games led by our qualified HopOn instructors, as well as opportunities to get bikes checked by a mechanic and take home some cool free bike accessories! All Bikefest participants will be offered discounted registration on full, 4-session HopOn courses which will also be taking place in communities throughout PEI.

Mark your calendar for the following Bikefest and HopOn course dates coming up in May:

May 1st Bikefest - 6pm @Spring Park Elementary (in partnership with Bike Friendly Communities) - to be followed by a HopOn course the following four Wednesday evenings.
May 4th Bikefest - 10:30am @Cornwall Town Hall (in partnership with the Town of Cornwall) - to be followed by a HopOn course Saturday mornings May 11, 25, June 1 & 8.
May 4th Bikefest in partnership with the City of Charlottetown - time and location to be confirmed. To be followed by a HopOn course Saturday afternoons at 2pm May 11, 25, June 1 & 8.
May 12th Bikefest @Glasgow Hills in the afternoon (time to be confirmed). Head over earlier to partake in a Mother’s Day brunch at Piper’s Restaurant at the golf course!

Be sure to check our Facebook page and Events calendar for updates on HopOn events and courses!

Do you have a passion for cycling and working with kids? Then why not become a HopOn instructor with Cycling PEI?!

Our NCCP-trained Instructors teach kids the skills and help them develop the joy of cycling in both community and school settings.

HopOn Instructors are paid for their work, and all training time and costs will be covered.

Please email hopon@cyclingpei.org for more information!

Support Your Sport PEI (SYSPEI) is a weekly gold rush fundraising lottery, with 30% of every ticket sale going to support the sports organization of the purchaser’s choice (like Cycling PEI!).

With two consecutive weeks of rollovers, this week’s SYSYPEI pot is already over $18,000 and will set a new record come draw time this Thursday at 1pm!

For a chance to win while supporting your sport, please go to https://causable.io/syspei.

REMINDER: Gran Fondo PEI Small Grants Applications open until April 15!

Gran Fondo PEI - the organizers of PEI’s largest annual cycling event - has, for the first time, opened an application process so that any PEI non-profit, cycling club or resident can submit a proposal for up to $5000 in grants towards initiatives that support Youth Cycling or Cyclist Safety!

Please click here for more information on the grants and how to apply. The application deadline is April 15th, 2024.

Want to get more involved in this marquee cycling event, which also raised funds in support of local youth cycling and cycling safety initiatives? Gran Fondo PEI is seeking a couple of additional board members to join the current team (Jordan Bober, Karen Rose, Ron Skinner and Cory MacLeod). Write to president@granfondo-pei.ca for more info if this could be of interest to you!

Save the Date for these Upcoming Community Cycling Events!

Join our friends at Bike Friendly Communities on April 20th as they premiere their Bike Safety short videos! Please RSVP at www.bfcpei.ca/events.

Save the Date! REACH Foundation Bike Swap and Sale May 10th!

The PEI REACH Foundation, which operates a bike refurbishing (“ReCycle”) program as a social enterprise, will be holding a big spring sale and bike swap on the afternoon of May 10th (likely 2-6pm) at their West Royalty Business Park location at 49 4th St.
Stay tuned for more updates!

Not only will you be able to purchase an affordable bike, but there will also be an opportunity to to trade in outgrown kids bikes for bikes of the right size for your growing young cyclists!

Can’t make it there on May 10th? The REACH Foundation bike shop is open 8am-4pm, Monday to Friday. They have a wide range of bikes available for sale at affordable prices, with subsidies available for those on low incomes.

Cycling PEI is pleased to host Prince Edward Island’s first (Gravel) Ride of Hope, Sunday June 23 at 10am.

Get ready for a fantastic morning of riding, local heritage and great company in support of the Terry Fox Foundation and raising funds for cancer research.

We welcome riders of all levels and abilities to join us on this free fundraising ride! Please see www.cyclingpei.org/events/terry-fox-ride-of-hope-pei-gravel-edition for more information and registration (available by April 15th).

The Benefits of Cycling PEI Membership

Did you know that Cycling PEI Membership comes with ALL THIS:

Member discounts at participating local businesses (2024 benefits to be published soon!).

Access to optional additional insurance protection during your individual cycling activities.
Discounted registration for Cycling PEI-organized events.
Full Member Privileges including voting rights at Annual General Meetings and eligibility for Cycling PEI’s Annual Awards.
Subscription to our monthly newsletter, the Hub & Spoke.
FREE access to LinkMyRide app to connect with other cyclists.
Membership in Cycling Canada, Canada’s national cycling organization.
Support Cycling PEI’s work to enhance the cycling experience on PEI, through our events, youth programs, trail building & maintenance, and advocacy.