The Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society January 2024, Volume 41, Issue #1
HUB AND SPOKE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
From the Hub and Spoke Director’s Desk – February 2024
2024 is off to a strong start with two Hub and Spokes already approved by the Board. The first of these will take place in Ottawa in May 2024 and is intended to bring together CCCTS members from across Canada and the US to enjoy the Tulip Festival and other sights of Ottawa. This event will be followed by a pannier tour from Ottawa to Kingston and back – it is expected that out-of-town guests may wish to sign up for both of these rides. Our second Hub and Spoke will take place in June 2024 in the Nicola Valley of BC; this event is a highly anticipated 3rd annual BC Interior gravel ride featuring amazing backcountry scenery in the grasslands of BC.
Have you got an idea for another Hub and Spoke? Feel free to contact me to discuss what you have in mind. I’m also happy to support ride coordinators to develop their hub and spoke concepts.
Lastly, changes are now in place regarding registration fees and leader compensation, drawing on the feedback provided in the Fee Survey last spring. The following changes were implemented on Jan. 1, 2024:
- Minimum registration fees increased to $50 for hub and spokes (minimum fee for tours was increased to $100 earlier this year)
- Registration fees are now refundable for both tours and hub and spokes if you are on the Wait List
- After a tour or hub and spoke, any unspent registration fee funds may be returned to participants or to CCCTS, depending on the amount
- Organizers of hub and spokes may seek leader compensation for a portion of their accommodation costs, up to $500 for each of two leaders
For more information, see the AGM presentation on this subject, which provides the background on each of the above changes. On-line guidelines for tours and hub and spokes will be updated in due course (once your delinquent hub and spoke director finds some spare time!).
Linda Graupner
Director, Hub and Spokes
In Recognition Of Outstanding Members
This month we are recognizing George and Jeanetta Zorn, a tour leader couple who share a passion for cycling and for the Shuswap region and southern British Columbia.
Since their first CCCTS tour in 2013 this couple has organized or co-lead 5 Hub and Spokes, all in B.C.’s southern interior. In 2022 and 2023 George, with the help of local CCCTS members, also led two grasslands gravel road Hub and Spoke events in the Clinton-Lillooet region. For George and Jeanetta leading rides is a way to share the beauty of the Shuswap, North Okanagan, and other regions of Southern Interior B.C., with cycling friends old and new. Their love of the region goes beyond the beautiful scenery as they have also invited special guests to provide local knowledge including a Shuswao First Nations Elder, local Naturalists in Lillooet, Merritt and the Shuswap and a Salmon Arm Historian. These guests provided a deeper connection to the areas that the group experienced on their bikes.
George and Jeanetta are not afraid of venturing off the beaten track. Avid cross-country skiers and hikers they are ready for most any adventure and are happy to lead gravel rides or road bike rides into lesser-known spectacular B.C. back-country. Unknown challenges can always crop up – like last May when George’s car (one of the Hub & Spoke’s SAG vehicles) got stuck in a deep mud hole heading into the Harry Lake Aspen Provincial Park. Nobody got too concerned, despite some getting mud up to their knees. They simply hooked the car up to a tow line with plenty of laughter and cheers and another SAG vehicle pulled it out of the mud hole.
This active couple doesn’t just hike, bike and ski. They also volunteer in a variety of local organizations – a thrift store, the local X-C ski club and their church, and they have helped to settle refugee families from Syria in Salmon Arm. CCCTS also benefited from George’s contribution as the Hub and Spoke Director on the Board from 2018 to 2022, a role in which he encouraged the development of Hub and Spokes through mentorship and support of other leaders and aspiring leaders.
When asked for advice for other Hub & Spoke and Tour organizers, George and Jeanetta recommend starting with a small group e.g. 12 people, involving cycling friends in the planning, and seeking advice from the Tour or Hub and Spoke Director. They recommend offering to co-lead with an experienced and willing ride leader, and to take advantage of tried and true destinations like the Shuswap region’s Sorrento Centre that provides comfortable, affordable accommodation and adjacent great cycling routes. Aspiring leaders can also find inspiration and ideas in the many trip descriptions and trip reports on the club’s website, including the Newsbrief archives.
Congratulations George and Jeanetta and thank you for your many contributions to CCCTS!
Upcoming Tours
- 2024 Grand Coulee Dam Loop
Status: Registration opens Mon, 12 Feb 2024 5:00 PM
Dates: Mon, 10 Jun 2024 ‐‐ Sat, 22 Jun 2024The Grand Coulee Dam has been called “man’s greatest creation” that turned the mighty Columbia River “into a slave of man.” A book published five years later called it “the eighth wonder of the world.” It first opened it’s spillway June 1, 1942 to a crowd of 10,000 onlookers. Beautiful little lakes of various shades of blue lie throughout Washington as we travel south. Our journey gives us the opportunity to cycle the Great Coeur D’Alene Trail and the Centennial Trail before completing our loop and returning to Grand Coulee Dam
- Rideau Canal Pannier Tour 2024
Status: Registration opens Mon, 12 Feb 2024 5:00 PM
Dates: Mon, 20 May 2024 ‐‐ Sun, 26 May 2024The Ottawa chapter of CCCTS invites you to join us for a self-supported “pannier tour” following the Rideau Canal from Ottawa to Kingston and back.
- 2024 Slovenia – On The Sunny Side of The Alps
Status: Ride is full, wait list only.
Dates: Tue, 10 Sep 2024 ‐‐ Tue, 24 Sep 2024Join us in September, a perfect time to discover this special little country of Slovenia, a green jem squeezed between Italy, Austria, Hungary and Croatia! On a bike is a great way to do it! Turquoise lakes, the Adriatic Sea, the Julian Alps, alpine and medieval villages, the capital Ljubljana guarded over by its castle, turquoise rivers, mountain valleys, terraced vineyards….. We will have two weeks to sample it all, especially Slovenia’s native wines and wonderful cuisine!
- 2024 Trail of the Coeur D’Alene’s including Route of the Hiawatha
Status: Ride is full, wait list only.
Dates: Tue, 3 Sep 2024 ‐‐ Thu, 12 Sep 2024This tour involves three cycling segments. It begins in Harrison Idaho with two days of cycling, then moves on to Wallace, Idaho for two more day rides, including the Hiawatha trail, and ends in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho with a two-night pannier ride on the Centennial trail to Spokane, Washington. The scenery will be lovely all along the way.
- 2024 Portugal – Alentejo and the Algarve
Status: Ride is full, wait list only.
Dates: Wed, 17 Apr 2024 ‐‐ Thu, 2 May 2024
- Dolomites cross-country ski tour 2024
Status: Registration closed
Dates: Wed, 24 Jan 2024 ‐‐ Thu, 1 Feb 2024Swap out your cycling gear for cross-country skis and join us for our first CCCTS cross-country ski trip – in the Dolomites region of Italy! We will ski through the gorgeous valleys of the Dolomites, on well-groomed trails, with the mountains as our backdrop, staying 2 nights in each pretty Tyrolean ski village. Come for the beauty of the area and the Tyrolean culture…and a chance to ski with your cycling friends.
- 2024 Cycling South Korea – Seoul to Jeju
Status: 6 slots are available.
Dates: Mon, 22 Apr 2024 ‐‐ Mon, 6 May 2024This 15 day cycling tour is the ultimate exploration of South Korea – discovering both the old and the new – as we traverse 615 km of varied terrain from the vibrant capital, Seoul, to peaceful Jeju Island.
- 2024 Sri Lanka Tour – Negombo to Columbo
Status: 16 slots are available.
Dates: Tue, 15 Oct 2024 ‐‐ Wed, 6 Nov 2024This adventure is the final word in Sri Lanka cycling tours! Over the course of 23 exhilarating days we explore the island’s pristine beaches, ancient rock fortresses, temple-studded cities, lush national parks, and tea field-covered mountains. We leave no stone unturned as we delve deep into Sri Lanka’s rich heritage and natural beauty. We will also spend 1-2 days dedicated to a service project for a local Sri Lankan community.
- 2023 Columbia River Loop
Status: CompletedCycle in beautiful inland Washington and Oregon – through mountain, desert, and high-plateau farmland areas. Ride along the mighty Columbia River and through Washington wine country. Stay in the scenic towns of Hood River and The Dalles, Oregon. Weather is normally sunny and warm this time of year.
- 2024 Ireland Mizen to Malin
Status: Ride is full, wait list only.
Dates: Fri, 6 Sep 2024 ‐‐ Fri, 20 Sep 2024The west coast of Ireland is rich in awe-inspiring landscapes, fascinating characters, and foot-tapping music. Cycling Ireland End to End from the most southerly point to the most northerly will leave you with rich memories, new friends, and a thirst for more!
Upcoming Hub and Spokes
- 2024 Everett H&S
Status: Registration opens Mon, 12 Feb 2024 5:00 PM
Dates: Sun, 19 May 2024 ‐‐ Thu, 23 May 2024Four days of cycling in beautiful rural Snohomish County based out of Everett. Enjoy a lovely variety of rides in north Puget Sound, including Whidbey Island, Snohomish, Monroe, Mount Vernon, Arlington, and Index. Farmlands, coastal scenery, and the foothills of the Cascade mountains. Don’t miss it.
- Ottawa 2024 Hub and Spoke
Status: Registration opens Thu, 1 Feb 2024 5:00 PM
Dates: Sun, 12 May 2024 ‐‐ Sat, 18 May 2024 - 2024 B.C.’s Nicola Valley Grasslands Gravel Roads Hub and Spoke
Status: Ride is full, wait list only.
Dates: Sun, 9 Jun 2024 ‐‐ Sun, 16 Jun 2024Based from Merritt, B.C., we’ll explore six scenic, Nicola Valley Grasslands ranch roads. These are mostly gravel road routes on the dry side of B.C.’s Coast Mountains, between Kamloops and Princeton. Bring your camera and binoculars for a series of BC backroads cycling adventures!
Videos
To whet your appetite for the upcoming Everett Hub and Spoke
Tour Trip Reports
- CCCTS 2023 St. Augustine Florida Tour
November 7-15, 2023 Prepared by Chris Hayes, critiqued by 21 riders First, a quick timeline of notable St. Augustine periods: The First Spanish Period, 1565-1763 The British Period, 1763-1783 The Second Spanish Period, 1783-1821 The U.S. Territorial Period, 1821-1845 The CCCTS Period, November 7-15, 2023 Cast of characters: Linda, Tim, Chris H, Donna, Geoff, … Continue reading CCCTS 2023 St. Augustine Florida Tour
- Central Europe Tour Report 2023
Central Europe Tour Report Overview Our Central Europe tour organized and led by Alen Augustin (Sitnica Tours) departed Cesky Krumlov in Chechia (the Czech Republic) August 22nd and ended in Budapest, Hungary on September 4th. The 14-day tour consisted of 12 cycling days and 2 rest days. There were 15 riders in our group – … Continue reading Central Europe Tour Report 2023
- 2023 Japan Tour – Kyoto and Noto Peninsula
Leader: Robin Howe Co-leader: Dan Carey Tour Contractor: Spice Roads Trip Dates: Sun, 8 Oct 2023 — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 Trip Classification: Intermediate It may surprise you to know that Japan consists of a total of 14,125 islands and a population density of approximately 340 persons per m2. Our trip covered a … Continue reading 2023 Japan Tour – Kyoto and Noto Peninsula
- 2023 Croatia Tour – Adriatic As It Used To Be
2023 Croatia Tour – Adriatic As It Used To Be Trip Dates: Mon, 18 Sep 2023 – Wed, 4 Oct 2023 Participants: Maureen Angen, Ted Angen, Anna Brettell, Sandy Brodie, Barb Brousseau, Barbara Hall, Tom Hughes, Nancy Luitwieler, Jean Macdonald, Monna-Leigh McElveny, Robb Polloway, Eamonn Ryan, Rhonda Ryan, Dianne Schneidmiller, Gene Schneidmiller, Jacob VanDerHeide, Colleen … Continue reading 2023 Croatia Tour – Adriatic As It Used To Be
- 2023 Columbia River Loop Tour
Blowin’ up to Bickleton by Chris Hodgson Bickleton is a village on the Columbia River Loop tour which meandered through Washington and Oregon, an eight-day jaunt led by Robin Howe and Dan Carey in early September. Here’s the bare facts: 19 experienced cyclists; six days of cycling over a distance of give-or-take 500 kms.
New Members
Some of these folks are not brand new. Rather they have returned to the fold.
Others are brand new and we bid you all welcome (or welcome back as the case may be).
| Andrew | Clark | Port Moody | Metro Vancouver |
| Cathie | Glisinski | Campbell River | |
| Donna | Robertson | Campbell River | |
| Pat | Shaley | Nanaimo | Greater Victoria |
| Jaynie | Miller | North Vancouver | Metro Vancouver |
| Jean-Marc | Boudreau | White Rock | Fraser Valley |
| Gordon | Kuzniak | Bala | The National Capital Region |
| Karen | Shafer | Coquitlam | Fraser Valley |
| Phil | Shafer | Coquitlam | Fraser Valley |
| Chris | Taylor | Ottawa | The National Capital Region |
| Alison | Goss | Ottawa | The National Capital Region |
| Donna | Magnolo | Surrey | Fraser Valley |
| Charles | Woodcock | Ottawa | The National Capital Region |
| Sylvie | Argouarch | Victoria | |
| Len | Gal | Winnipeg | |
| Karen | Scullion | Ottawa | The National Capital Region |
| Bill | Dun | Vancouver | Metro Vancouver |
| Maureen | Quinn | Rockville | United States |
| Sharon | Skitch | Surrey | Fraser Valley |
Published at least ten times a year by The Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society, a non – profit organization for retired people and others who enjoy recreational cycling.
Items for the NEWSBRIEF must be received by the 28th of the month. The Editor reserves the right to edit for clarity, brevity and suitability of publication. The views expressed in the “NEWSBRIEF” are not necessarily those of the CCCTS or the Editor.
Submissions for NEWSBRIEF should be emailed to alaird212@gmail.com