5 Winter cyclists getting ready Daily commuting or just riding for fun? Don’t forget to dress properly By TAMMY ENGLISH neouver is a winter cyclist’s dream compared to most Cana- dian cities east of Chilliwack. All it takes is a desire to hop on your bike and a few wardrobe modifications. “What’s really important for cycling in winter is your base layer,” said Mark Costello of Mountain Equipment Co-op. Karen McCarthy from On The Rivet Cyclewear says anything made of me- rino wool is a winner. “It’s so practical and it works so well. Nine times out of 10, [people who try r4 4 it] love it and keep buying more.” What’s re- According to . Costello, once you ally im- have that, “you can p ortant for pretty much throw anything over top.” Ventilation is key to staying dry. McCarthy pointed cycling in winter is your base out that a hard- layer. shell waterproof jacket without un- MARK COSTELLO derarm vents can accumulate mois- ture inside. A more breathable — but not fully waterproof — option is to choose a windproof coat, which includes anything marked “Windstopper,” a fabric produced by W.L. Gore and Associates, the compa- ny that makes Gore-Tex. For casual winter cyclists who avoid riding in a deluge, water-resistant pants are a fraction of the price of Go- re-Tex and still “repel a significant amount of water,” according to Costel- lo. Combining them with fenders, sev- eral models of which can be installed without tools and cost under $20, will prevent a wet bottom. To keep hands toasty, Costello and McCarthy agree the best option is a two-layer system: a thin wool liner and a windproof outer glove. Your outer- most layer should have sticky finger- tips to ensure fingers don’t slip while shifting gears. McCarthy says her best sellers are merino wool socks. Vanessa Kroeker, an all-weather cy- clist and employee at Raiment Cycling Clothing, considers Gore-Tex booties essential. Although typically designed to fit snugly over cycling shoes, Moun- tain Equipment Co-op carries water- proof shoe covers that work with street a a mS YY TAMMY ENGLISH photos Clockwise from top-left: A Vancouver cyclist looking well-prepared for winter; a man who opted for shorts instead of waterproof pants; Vanessa Kroeker, winter cyclist and employee at Raiment Cycling Clothing shoes. For fair-weather riders who want cy- cling clothes to be street clothes, meri- no wool jerseys from Rapha’s urban cycling line could pass for a sweater and companies such as Swrve make cycling-specific jeans with articulated knees, stretch denim and a seamless gusset (meaning there is no uncomfort- able seam between you and the seat). “It’s a big process, getting all your gear on, but you feel invincible, all warm and dry riding through the streets,” said Kroeker. mn _ ke Tips With winter comes darkness; flashing lights and reflective tape are a must. Bi 1 2 A thin merino wool hat easily fits under a helmet, but remember to adjust the helmet fit. Don't hit the Slopes alone this season, Join a group Langara ski/snowboard group is looking for more members to join in the winter leisure activities By BILL EVERITT Then get your gear ready and join the Langara College ski and snowboard group this season. The ski and snowboard group is an unofficial club run by Langara students Mika Pelaez and Sarah Aljeboury. “We're just looking for like-minded people who want to get out and ride to- gether this season,” said Pelaez. Pelaez and Aljeboury put together a proposal to make the club official, but were told it would not pass the Langara risk and liability assessment. “We don’t want to be liable, and Lan- gara doesn’t want to be liable either,” said Aljeboury. Langara club coordinator Reba Noel was not available for comment by press deadline. Clayton Munro, dean of student ser- vices at Langara did not address the proposal directly, but said events and activities that oc- cur off-campus need to go through a special applica- tion process. “We do our best to support clubs and groups in the ways that we can, but our application pack- age is very clear that we are normally only able to endorse activities and events that take place on campus,” said Munro. There are no fees associated with the group. However, Pelaez and Aljeboury plan on holding fundraisers to raise money for transport to the different mountains in the Vancouver area. Kendra Magri, one of the Facebook group’s 25 members, said she was not aware that the group was not an official club. “Tt would be cool to be able to take part in club day because way more peo- ple would find out about it,” said Magri. “So many more people would join.” For more information on the group, check out their “Langara Ski & Board” Facebook page. D you like to ski or snowboard? SARAH ALJEBOURY Co-founder of the Facebook group So you think you're funny, huh? Langara offering stand-up comedy course for class clowns who want to take their skills to the next level By AMY JONES edy clinic can help anyone improve their talent for provoking laughter. The class attracts people from all backgrounds and according to long- standing instructor David Granirer, it is always full. Granirer said the class attracts people from all walks of life in- cluding lawyers, church ministers, ac- countants, 19-year-old students and stay-at-home parents. “It’s amazing how many people out there have had this desire to do stand- Leven eight-week stand-up com- up comedy,” said Granirer. The class teaches students to write, perform, edit and deliver a stand-up comedy routine. The first five weeks are devoted to writing jokes and per- forming them in class, while weeks six and seven are spent learning perfor- mance, delivery and timing techniques. Granirer has been teaching the class since 1998. He is also a counselor, au- thor, workplace speaker and founder of Stand Up For Mental Health, a pro- gram that teaches people with mental illness to use stand-up comedy to build confidence and fight social stigma. Despite all his other commitments, Granirer said he continues to teach the class because “it’s so much fun. It’s al- ways a great group of people.” Former student Eric Ayache took the class last year. His company, Guaran- teed SEO, does web design for Stand Up For Mental Health. Now he also per- forms stand-up comedy once or twice a month. “Tt was just a great new way to look at the world. When you do it, it’s this great, big, fat high,” said Ayache. “It’s sort of like putting on a mask. It’s not you. You can put on a mask and tell people what you think and that has a lot of power.” When the class is over, each of the students put on a live performance at Zawa Restaurant on Commercial Drive and receive a DVD showcasing their material. For those interested in signing up, the class runs again in January and May. Spots are still available. For more in- formation on the class, visit Langara’s web page and look under the perform- ing arts section. ea AMY JONES photo Comedy instructor David Granirer gives pointers on making a room full of strangers think you’re funny.