Article by Guest Writer Jill Moffatt, Canadian Olympic Athlete, Fuelled by Cheeseburgers
Every month I cover topics that are important to both me, and Big Wheel Burger! We align on so many community initiatives so why not put them all in writing. I thought I would share what it was like to be an Olympian and the how important community support is. Thanks for reading along and joining me on my journey to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games!
Hello!
Happy Pride Month! This June, Big Wheel Burger will be supporting the Victoria Hospice Society and Nanaimo Community Hospice with their Cycle of Life Tour fundraiser to help give back to the community. As someone who uses biking as a tool to train for the Olympics, I thought I’d share my top tips for biking, my favourite Island routes, and top biking equipment!
Getting Started
If you haven’t biked in a long time – there is no better time than now to get started! With warm weather you’ll be sure to enjoy your time on two wheels. But first you need a bike! I recommend checking out Facebook Marketplace or local bike shops to buy a new or used bike. There are loads of different styles (road, mountain, gravel, etc.,) but no need to get caught up in all that. Any bike will do to get started, and a lower price point is ideal until you are ready to invest. Other than a bike, you will need a helmet. This is non-negotiable as helmets save lives. I’d recommended spending more money on a helmet as the higher price point reflects increased safety, and you only have one head! Plus they are easy to resell if you don’t fall in love with biking.
How To Approach Biking
Biking is a ton of fun and a great way to explore Vancouver Island. I didn’t start road biking until COVID first hit, but I fell in love with it once I got going.
I’d recommend teaming up with a friend who wants to start biking as well, or someone who is a good biker and ask them to take you out on your first ride. I think it’s a lot more fun biking with friends, and a great way to socialize. I’d also first youtube common bike hands signals beforehand, such as stopping and turning, so that drivers know what to expect. The best thing that you can do to stay safe (and keep others safe), is by knowing the rules of the road and how to communicate with others.
Like all things in life, start off slow and steady. It isn’t a race! Just biking for 20 minutes at a leisurely pace is better than not biking at all. It can be nerve racking going from a nice paved road, to a bit of gravel, so going slow is the best way to start. I’d try out your first ride on a quiet street, or bike paths that run throughout the Island, such as the lochside trail or the galloping goose. Bring sunglasses to help protect your eyes and make sure winds/dirt doesn’t irritate them, and always remember sunscreen and water.
My Top Routes
So now that you are a pro, I’ll share my favourite routes for you to try. I would recommend the app Strava, to log your rides (if you’re into that), but they also provide popular routes which are helpful. Most bike shops have routes on their website, or you can google routes to try some yourself (check out https://www.10adventures.com/road-biking/victoria/).
My favourite loop is the lochside trail. You can ride this mostly groomed path all the way from the ferry terminal and out to Sooke (connecting via the Galloping Goose). This is a great trail for beginners and experts!
My top bike purchases
- Bike shorts: If you get into biking, you will learn to love the padded bike shorts that look like a wrestling outfit. Bike shorts can be expensive, but your butt will thank you. I love the IRIS bike shorts that you can purchase from Broad Street Bikes (local store). They have great padding and are of incredible quality (plus women run and founded).
- Bike shop: Broad Street Bikes, they are an incredible group of people who can help you get started or help you maintain your bike. That being said, every bike shop on the Island has incredible folk who can help you out.
- Must haves: helmet (I love my POC brand helmet), sunscreen, water or sports drink, sunglasses, and always bring some form of ID/wallet!
- Bike recommendation: I love my LIV bike (same brand as Giant), they make bikes specific for women and our ergonomics. They have price points for everyone, and would be my first recommendation if you are looking to get into biking on a regular basis – they also have a store in Victoria!
How To Take Part in the Fundraiser
Now that you are ready to go, you can take part in the Cycle of Life fundraiser or donate. The ride is 200km so if you are taking part I’d recommend training beforehand to make it an enjoyable experience – it is long, but totally doable! The easiest way to take part is to enjoy a meal with a feature burger from Big Wheel for the entire month of June, as $2 will be donated to the Victoria Hospice Society and Nanaimo Community Hospice with their Cycle of Life fundraiser. Have fun on the roads!
Until next month!
My name is Jill Moffatt and I am an Olympic rower living in Shawnigan Lake, B.C. Big Wheel Burger is supporting me on my path to the Olympics and in exchange I’ll be sharing parts of that journey with you! Follow along each month for behind the scenes stories and other things outside of rowing that I am passionate about. Thanks for reading along and joining me on my journey to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games!