Bespoke (adj.) [ bi-ˈspōk] — one of a kind; made to fit a particular person.
Our mission is to have fun riding and racing bikes with our friends.
We all know each other and we get along as friends who have cycling in common.
As a club and race team, we want to create a safe space for people from all walks of life to enjoy the simple pleasure of riding a bike — or the intense, type-2 pleasure of competing in a bike race. Or using a shared love of bikes as an excuse to socialize.
Our members enjoy riding bikes of all kinds on different types of terrain. We ride mountain bikes, cyclocross bikes, road bikes, cruisers and stationary bikes. If it has two wheels, it’s probably fun.
On our list of values, the first is respect. Respect for our teammates, fellow cyclists and the community.
Our club mission will evolve as our club evolves. We are committed to promoting diversity in cycling — and to giving back to the community.
You can expect to see us at bike races of all sorts in the Lower Mainland and online, effective immediately.
FAQ
We’re fielding a lot of questions about the club and receiving plenty of interest regarding membership. Here are some answers to the questions we get most often.
Who are you?
We are a club of cycling enthusiasts who enjoy many different disciplines and riding styles. Cyclocross was the common thread that brought many of our founding members together, but we like all the bikes. We value diversity in the cycling community and acknowledge that it’s not especially diverse at present.
What does membership with Bespoke include?
Our goal is to create an environment where you always have a friend to ride with. With your membership you can expect:
- One of our eye-catching jerseys
- Weekly training rides (and chill group rides too) on the road in spring and summer, as well as ad hoc gravel and mountain bike rides all year round, organized via an app called Spond
- Training programs for race-curious members who want to get faster (in spring and summer)
- Ad hoc road racing clinics and practices
- Annual, professionally-coached cyclocross clinics and weekly cyclocross practices in the pre-season
- The support of team members at races, including a tent and equipment, especially at cyclocross races
- Discounts on equipment from a growing number of in-kind sponsors
- Invitations to our Slack group, where we chat, discuss rides and races and generally keep in touch
- A friendly group of fellow bike enthusiasts who emphasize fun with friends
What about your road program?
We are expanding our road program to help support our growing race team. Our goal is to help racers in the lower categories improve and enjoy the sport of bike racing. We are not an elite squad, but our members have a great deal of racing and training experience. We can help with your evolution from learning to ride, to learning to train, to learning to race. You’ll see more of us showing up at the local spring series races and crits.
How do I join?
The easiest way to learn more is to approach one of us at a race or when you see us out on a ride. We have a membership process that involves being reviewed by existing members. We do this to ensure positive vibes always and to keep our members feeling safe. We are currently focusing on growing our women’s team, so if you are interested, reach out! Use bespokecyclingclub[at]gmail.com.
What makes you different?
The vibe. Most of us race or are at least race-curious, but we all value the social aspect of cycling above all else. Perhaps most importantly, we do not tolerate the kind of misogyny that pervades too much of the cycling community at large. (see above re: keeping our existing members feeling safe. No jerks allowed)
Who is in your club?
A motley crew of cycling misfits, each of us one of a kind. We are a welcome place for cycling couples and people who prefer not to strictly join a road cycling club, mountain bike club, or the like. Most of us are a little older (this need not always be the case, it just is) and belong to the club because it’s a group of like-minded friends.
More specifically: A metric buttload of masters cyclocross racers, a growing team of women’s road racers, some folks who like hucking off stuff on bouncy bikes, some virtual racers and even (cough) some triathletes.
📷 @bespokecyclingclub
