May 26th, 1973 — In the very old days newsrooms of newspapers were open to anyone who wanted to walk in with a story. Junior reporters had their desks closest to the door and had to deal with these people whose stories were usually tenuous at best. At the Edmonton Journal one of the regulars was Wobbling Wally Watts who was attempting to ride across Canada on a unicycle. Normally he rode his latest bike into the newsroom to attract attention. I say latest because the first versions of his unicycles, if I remember right, didn’t get much farther than Vegreville before breaking down. Wally’s arrival in the newsroom was also announced by junior reporters running from their desks to the bathroom to avoid doing another story on him. So imagine my surprise, being safely away from Wally in Vancouver, there he was in The Province newsroom, about to begin again another cross country attempt. Since I had experience photographing Wally and was at that time the junior photographer I got the assignment. I can’t remember if Wally made it to Halifax that year but between 1976 and 1978 he was credited with riding around the world, a journey of 12,000 miles.
Bunny hop
November 21st, 2009 — Sven Sturm bunny hops a small log during the fourth annual Escape Velocity Grand Prix of Cyclocross at Burnaby’s Foreshore Park. Later this week I’ll upload a slide show from this event.
It’s over
October 25th, 2009 — Rider heading back to his car after the Local Rider cyclocross race in Maple Ridge with either a spare bike — a very serious rider if it is — or the bike of friend too sore to ride back himself.
Cyclocross
October 25th, 2009 — Most riders jumped from their bike and carried it over this two foot wall at the Local Rider Cyclocross race in Maple Ridge but a few, including Nick Berry of Mighty Riders, just rode over it.
Sandra Walter
October 25th, 2009 — Just because Sandra Walter is a nationally ranked mountain bike rider doesn’t mean she doesn’t take cyclocross racing seriously. It’s just that this event was the Local Riders Pumpkin Ride and there were prizes for style. Sandra finished fourth in the elite women’s class.
Stephanie Ossenbrink
Aug 13th, 2009 — Stephanie Ossenbrink of the Glotman Simpson cycling team sprints to a win at the Escape Velocity Tuesday night criterium at the University of BC.
Effort
June 7th, 2009 — Two riders on Team Evolution lean into the turn onto 16th Avenue during the 2009 Westside Classic bicycle race through the streets of west side Vancouver.
Justin Kerr
June 7th, 2009 – New Zealander, Justin Kerr of the Liquid Fitness Cycling Team, crosses the finish line almost 20 seconds ahead of his nearest rival to win the 2009 Westside Cycling Classic through the streets of west side Vancouver.
Cat 5
June 2nd, 2009 — The leaders of the Category 5 (Novice) mens class turn at the top of the finish line hill during a 2009 Escape Velocity Tuesday night bicycle race at UBC.
Trevor Linden
May 19th, 2009 – Trevor Linden is retired from the Vancouver Canucks but he still keeps in shape and was fit enough to win a Category 5 (Novice) race at the Escape Velocity Tuesday night bicycle races held each Tuesday evening at UBC. This may have been his first ever win on a bicycle. Photograph shows him sprinting towards the finish line on the last lap of the race.