Dec 8: 4th Annual Backpack Ride for the Mustard Seed

[mfarnham]

Hi folks,

Tripleshot will be holding its annual Backpack Ride on Friday, December 8th. If you're new to the club, here's the drill:

Show up for the Friday December 8 ride wearing a backpack containing non-perishable food for the Mustard Seed food bank. We will have a vehicle on hand (thanks Mark Ford!) to collect all the food and deliver it to the Mustard Seed. Mark will be present at both the start and finish, though Strong Persons of Winter shall, of course, do the full ride wearing the heavy backpack a la Fozzy. Bonus points to riders who turn up with their bikes decked out in Christmas lights.

Note that cheques made out to the Mustard Seed Street Church will also be accepted, but we cannot accept cash. You may also donate to the Mustard Seed through their website...if you do it this way, let Mark Ford know, so that we keep rough track of the club's effort.

For a list of items that the Mustard Seed especially likes to receive see http://mustardseed.ca/donations/#146058 ... 6ca26-fa35

In a twist, we have challenged our friends in the Victoria Wheelers to see if they can match or even exceed the generosity of Tripleshot. They will be holding their backpack ride the following morning, Dec 9, during the OBB Saturday Ride. Tripleshot members who are unable to make our Friday ride are welcome to show up to the OBB ride instead, and vice versa.

In one recent year Tripleshot pulled in 800lbs of donations...we'll need all hands on deck to beat that and the Wheelers...let's try!

The Management

p.s. Discussions are underway to move this annual event to a time of year when both need and number of cyclists on the road would be greater. We'll keep you posted. For this year, it remains a winter holiday event.

[Claire]

The forecast for the rest of the week is for lots of cold and dry. I'm really hoping for a lower dew point than this morning as apparently the Farmers got spooked by sparkles and the dew was heavy enough in Caddy Bay as to have made a mess of my summer bike

[mfarnham]

For those worried about ice or generally averse to the cold, here's a safe and convenient alternative option for contributing to the Mustard Seed.

If you go to their Donate portal: https://mustardseed.ca/donate-to-the-mustard-seed/

you can make a direct contribution by credit card there. Please select "Tripleshot/Wheelers Fundraiser" when prompted for whether you are giving as part of a particular fundraiser. Right below that, type "Tripleshot" in the text box labeled "Details of who your donation is for".

While it's somewhat unromantic compared to riding intrepidly with heavy packs, there's a pretty good case to be made for giving cash--rather than stuff--to charities. Mustard Seed and groups like it can generally make a dollar go further than we can, because of bulk purchasing and supplier relationships that they've built over time. Also, they can spend monetary donations on exactly what they need, whereas we're all kind of guessing (though see my original post for a link to recommended food donations).

Regardless of whether you give cash or cans, show up with a backpack on Friday. However we contribute, we're all in this together to give something back to the community that (mostly) tolerates our lycra-clad butts all over the road. If it's too icy for riding, come out for coffee at least. I'm afraid I'll be out of town Friday, but the Backpack Ride is in good hands and I look forward to hearing the reports. And remember, don't let the Wheelers beat us in their first year doing this! Let's show them how it's done.

Cheers!
Martin

[barton bourassa]

The farmers got spooked after my bike slid out from under me just past Glen Lyon school! Little damage to me and none to my bike and kit but a bit of a shock I tell you. I soft pedaled down Oak Bay Ave with Mary then gently to the office. The weather stations said the spread between air temperature and dew point was a couple degrees. I failed to take into consideration the temperature difference from a weather station that is up off he ground to the actual temperature at road level.

I had so wanted to stay upright this winter! Ah, well little damage and lesson learned, again. And I am really looking forward to the return of the rain.

Barton.

[Louise Wallace]

Glad that you are okay Barton!

[barton bourassa]

And Jim too. Glad he did not go down. He was right behind me.

[mfarnham]

The Wheelers are taking this thing seriously, it seems.

http://www.oakbaynews.com/community/obb ... tard-seed/

Martin

[barton bourassa]

Excellent! Game On! I am challenging myself and doubling up on my puffed wheat load! Goooo!!!

[AJ Neale]

TTT Report: The ring road this morning was partially wet with an icy patch near the stop sign. The temperature was 3.2 and the Dew point 1.7 for reference for tomorrow. Andrew

P.S. Watching the back wheel of a bicycle ridden by a 240 lb rower slide around is not a reassuring sight. Early coffee today! Gloating points for Mikael who carried on solo.

[JTyre]

Over every imaginable surface I managed to stay vertical on Wednesday's cross ride only to wipe out on the way home in front of Willow's Elementary. School kids and 30-something mothers running to my rescue, picking me up, asking me questions, going through concussion tests -- very adorable, but highly embarrassing -- a month of Oak Bay excitement packed into thirty seconds.

Lessons: 1) If the ice wants you it'll get you. 2) When it does, hope for a secluded spot.

Looking forward to tomorrow's Backpike ride. I'm decking out my cross bike whether there's a cross ride or not. Trails rather then sprints for me at the end.

John F.

[Bosie]

Great idea John. Cross backpack ride if its icy (and even if its not.)
My commute in on my single speed was fairly sketchy- felt like Cross with my back wheel skidding out on multiple occasions.
See you tomorrow.

[Gerry L]

I saw a commuter last year on a snowy day with training wheels on the front and rear of his bike. The wheels on the front were raised a few inches. Just add studded tires and no more worries about icy roads.

Gerry

[Rolf]

Sorry to hear you went down yesterday, John. I still think it's better to have a bruised ego than fractures or contusions that could keep you off the bike!

Slick wooden bridges aside, the cold usually only adds an enjoyable crunch to the grass and dirt during a morning cross ride. I'd much rather be in the woods these days, than negotiating curves in the road at speed.

I hope to make the start tomorrow and maybe get a little cross in. It would be great to get to Moka House, see all the food collected, and possibly some spontaneous nuptials in breach of a court order. It's that kind of place.

[JTyre]

Spontaneous nuptials, the beard -- Rolf, you do know I married don't you?

Cross on,
John

[Rolf]

Did you say you hit your head yesterday, John? That non sequitur went right over mine.

[mfarnham]

If you missed the Backpack Ride this morning, there's still a chance to give...

If you go to the Mustard Seed Donate portal: https://mustardseed.ca/donate-to-the-mustard-seed/

you can make a direct contribution by credit card there. Please select "Tripleshot/Wheelers Fundraiser" when prompted for whether you are giving as part of a particular fundraiser. Right below that, type "Tripleshot" in the text box labeled "Details of who your donation is for".

The Tripleshot/Wheelers radio button will remain there through Sunday.

Best,
Martin

[mfarnham]

Hi folks,

Congrats on a great job with the Backpack Ride on December 8. It was an icy morning and yet enough brave souls turned up to give ~300lbs of food to The Mustard Seed. The Wheelers roughly matched us on food contributed. On top of that, the two clubs together raised $830 in monetary contributions. Of that $755 came from Tripleshot members. So looks like we can chalk that up as a win for Tripleshot. But great to have our friends in the Wheelers joining us in this effort, and we know not to let our guard down next time!

Both clubs are talking to the Mustard Seed about a good summer or back-to-school date to hold this event next time. It will be easier for people to participate with kinder weather, and need is apparently great in summer when school lunch isn't available, and around back-to-school when family budgets get stretched.

Thanks again for showing that Tripleshot is a club that cares about its surrounding community.

Martin