Vancouver Hub & Spoke
Some of the members from Victoria left our meeting spot in Cordova Bay at 6:05 am for our 2016 Hub & Spoke adventure in Vancouver. One hour and 5 minutes later we were at Swartz Bay, waiting for the 8 AM ferry to Vancouver. After a ride along the river bank to the pick up spot for the 11:30 AM Bike Shuttle through the George Massey Tunnel, we were on our way to Vancouver. After a minor hiccup (falling off the bicycle trailer while loading the bikes), we were on our way to UBC. Because Marine Drive was closed we rode to UBC on the 37th Avenue bike way, arriving shortly after 2 pm.
Most of the group staying at UBC were in the Totem housing, while some of the couples (ourselves included) stayed at the Ponderosa commons. We were lucky to be on the 18th floor (penthouse) with wonderful views, no less! A large lounge with 180 degree views was also on that floor; several of our Vernon companions took advantage of their luck and made their dinners, brought them, and ate up there for two nights.
On Tuesday morning we set off in a drizzle for the first full day of the hub & spoke to the meeting place at the Kitsilano Community Centre. Sadly, it was to get worse. Dianne and I chose to do the Neighbourhood Ride led by Allan Buium. Allan has a great depth of knowledge on the neighbourhoods of Vancouver; we all learned a lot during the ride. He was to take us through a number of different neighbourhoods, stopping at various locations. 
Allan (back to us) pointing out the neighbourhood in South Vancouver on the way to Richmond.
I could not believe the changes to an area near where I had once lived, along Cambie and King Edward where the single family residential area has now been replaced by 6 storey condos. We retreated to a coffee break on Granville Island to dry out and enjoy the treats to be offered there. From there we rode along the seawall to the Adanac bike way, on to our lunch stop at the Uprising Breads bakery.
We cycled by a number of unique older homes and murals near the Adanac bike route. All of us soaking wet, we then rode back to the University, however the rain and stopped and by the time we got back, we were once again dry and warm, as it was about 17 deg. out.
Wednesday saw us pick two of the different rides available: I cycled to SFU with a large group of participants (20+), while Dianne joined a smaller group visiting the gardens around Vancouver. Our large group heading to SFU left the recreation centre headed East along the waterfront bike route through to Olympic Village where we crossed over to the Adanac bike route. We stopped for coffee at the delicious Uprising Breads bakery (where most of us picked up lunch for our picnic stop at Burnaby Lake). 
Burnaby Lake stop for lunch.
One mechanical bike breakdown casualty just before the climb up to SFU on the Burnaby Mountain Parkway,looping the campus and new University Village before descending on Gaglardi Way to the Central Valley Greenway and our lunch stop at Burnaby Lake. One flat tire at the summit at SFU, then one more casualty coming back in on the greenway when one of the group decided to try the shortcut through one of the bollards (final score: bollards 1, cyclists 0). The cyclist with the breakdown finally found & rejoined us at Burnaby Lake. At Trafalgar street those of us going to UBC continued along the water through the Jericho lands and finishing back on campus. The sun was finally back from the otherwise cloudy day.
Wednesday night most of the group of about 60 went to a nearby restaurant on the campus for dinner and drinks.
On Thursday Dianne and I and the other Victorians, along with others, picked the ride to Steveston with Allan. We stopped for a coffee in South Vancouver, then over the Arthur Laing bridge into Richmond and along the waterfront to Steveston with a stop at a model farm. A very quiet, pleasant ride out to Steveston. From there, those of us going for the Ferry continued along the Fraser river to the pick up point for the Bike Shuttle through the tunnel and back along 64th street to the Ferry dock at Tsawwassen.
It is some 6 years since I last did the Vancouver Hub and Spoke. Big changes have come to Vancouver. The cycling infrastructure is greatly improving, making it an interesting place to explore by bike. And see the drastic changes on the landscape of Vancouver (still amazed at the changes along Cambie, King Edward, SFU and UBC). Allan and crew have done another wonderful job of the rides again this year. I look forward to returning again in the future.
Brian Collier