Jack Leighton arrived at the Spoke last week to add weight to the anti HST protest. Too little too late perhaps but if there are still column inches being dedicated to the story no doubt politicians will continue to fight/talk against it. Having said that who are we to talk, it got us in the paper again.

The Broken Spoke was very happy to sponsor this year's wonderful Music Fest. It's a marquee event for Courtenay as well as the BC music scene and we were very happy to be involved in such a well laid out event. We donated a Cityzen Sub Zero bicycle for the raffle which is one of the ways Music Fest raises money to pay for artists and equipment. And happily for us the winner was Dian Smit of Nerds on Site IT services, a local girl who has just started her own business in the Valley and was volunteering at music fest to supply them with all their computer needs. So a just reward for Dian. Congrats

Its always nice to be on the front page of a newspaper, even if the reason is a rather ominous one. Here's a link  to the full story

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The rain was relentless but spirits were high for this year's Canada day parade. The cycling coalition got an excellent turnout, and with bikes decked in red and white made an favourable impression among the otherwise car heavy parade. It would be fantastic next year if we can get even more people out. Comment on how we can do that at the bottom. Thanks BS 

This Friday (June 4th) from 4 - 6pm at The Broken Spoke we will be welcoming riders who are fundraising for the Tour-de-Rock, and ending Bike To Work Week in style. It's all there on the poster below. See you this Friday on the corner of 4th and Fitzgerald!

Bike to work week kicks off next Monday. We'll have our tent out for the week with some goodies outside like free coffee and food to help all those cyclists who are admirably biking to work. We're also doing a tune up special. $35 tune up until June the 5. usual price is $50 so take advantage of our bike to week special.

As you can see, the website has had some twists, turns and changes. The idea is to keep all the latest things right on the front page where you can see them and strip away the rest to give an easier to navigate sight. Comments as ever are welcome and expect lots more changes in the coming days.
Happy riding

It looks as if i'm a seasonal bloggist if January and February's lack of content is anything to go by. They came, they went, we worked hard to get things ready for Spring. We even had a crazy week in February where the sun came out and five people came and bought bikes. Thanks guys.
But the 1st of March has always been the traditional start of Spring in my house. It's St. David's day for one thing, the patron saint of Wales. Everybody wears daffodils on  their shirts, talks about rugby and eats leeks. which is exactly the same as any other day in Wales but with daffodils on their shirts.
And so, to celebrate this early spring we've got our outdoor patio out. It's a south facing affair, so all day sun, with plenty of tables and chairs, a tent and a continental ambiance. Or at least it will have when 50 cyclist turn up and turn it into a little Italy within Courtenay. we're counting on you!
I've also got our first Ethiopian coffee of the year. From the Haile Selassie farm, and it scored a 93 (which is truly remarkable) when it was cupped by the cup of excellence judges! Its $45 a LB, $4 a cup, but i'm giving samples out to anyone who can quote this blog. Hell if i can't get a readership through my writing (and that's looking more and more certain) i'll get it through cheap tricks and bribery. 
All the best
keep riding
Mike
 

December has seen a wonderfully welcome influx of new customers. Could be Christmas, could be Tomiko's various media outings, if you havent seen them i highly suggest it, she makes a very reluctant but beautiful star. Or it could just be the word is out on the best coffee in the Valley. Either way, its approaching our 6 month anniversary and to keep seeing the number of customers expand everyday gives a feeling both of excitement and relief.  Our new neighbours open their doors tomorrow (on the same day as our half year birthday no less) and we welcome Lotus clothing to the block. With them and the mad chef opening across the road things are staring to look fresh and lively in the upper downtown. In the spring time we'll have to have a blok party. Anyway gotta go, dinner's ready, crepes tonight, how very French/Canadian 

Well, what has been happening in the Comox valley this week. Tomiko sent off a series of questions to the candidates for the local bye election as part of her work for the Cycling Coalition and all but one replied. You can check out all their thoughts on sustainable transport at www.cyclecv.ca.
In the shop we've been sprucing up the outside, erecting lots of new signs and hanging baskets. There is an awful lot of work to do but we're getting there little by little, and then Courtenay will have the best bicycle/coffee house in world. And no we're not the only one, there's a bike cafe in San Fran called Mojo. And it looks awesome so we have a high bar.
Happy riding everyone,