Kaden Hopkins and Caitlin Conyers have been named male and female riders of the year by the Bermuda Bicycle Association.

The 2019 awards were announced on Tuesday during the BBA’s annual meeting, which was held via videoconference.

The BBA release follows, including comment by president Peter Dunne on the relaxation of shelter-in-place regulations and what that means for the cycling community.

Male Rider of the Year — Kaden Hopkins

2019 finished for Kaden on the highest of notes, taking the gold medal at the Elite Caribbean Cycling Championships time-trial event in Havana, Cuba. What made this extra impressive was that he did this in his first year in the elite event, besting many far more experienced athletes. Locally, he won the national championship title in the time-trial and the Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race.

Female Rider of the Year — Caitlin Conyers

2019 was another stellar one for Caitlin as she tested herself against ever higher levels of international competition. From early experiences at the Pan American Championships and the Vuelta Femenina Guatemala, she took the lessons of those events to sterling performances in Lima, Peru, at the Pan Am Games. She was seventh in the time-trial and tenth in the road race. The end of her 2019 campaign was the gold medal in Havana in the Elite Caribbean Cycling Championships time-trial.

Most Improved Junior — Alexander Miller

Zander’s improvement has been recognised locally and he has put his stamp on international racing. His success at the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships, with gold and silver medals in time-trial and road race respectively, capped a year of great improvement. We expect even more from Zander in 2020.

Most Improved Adult — Maddie Durkin

Maddie capped a year of significant growth with her performance in the Presidents Cup, where she was the top female and sixteenth overall. The progress she made on the bike was more than just adding strength, but in her race tactics.

Junior Rider of the Year — Nicholas Narraway

Nic’s dedication to his training and racing at the highest possible level continued in 2019. He was selected to be a part of a combined team for the Junior Tour of Ireland, where his team manager was effusive in his praise for Nic’s enthusiasm and positive attitude in a tough event. Nic took two medals in the Junior Caribbean Cycling Championships and demonstrated that in 2020 he will be the man to beat.

Race Organiser of the Year — Fat Tire Massive

The FTM team have continued to lead MTB racing events with enthusiasm and creativity. They have developed new trails and broadened the racing fields, continuing to adapt and adjust to keep the off-road racing scene competitive and fun.

Lifetime Race Official Award — Nigel Godfrey

Nigel has contributed to our sport in many ways over the years, including helping develop the officials education material and acting as a race official. His calm demeanour and clear thinking have enhanced the experiences of our riders for many years. This award is a small reflection of the gratitude the local racing community has for his years of service to events and riders.

Club Person of the Year — Bermuda Rouleurs Cycling Club

We were thrilled that the BRCC established the youth racing series for 2019, a wonderful entrance to the sport of cycle racing.

President’s remarks on shelter-in-place

With the news from the Bermuda Government of a phasing in of more activities following the shelter-in-place orders, many cyclists are thinking about group rides and team training sessions. But for the preservation of public health and the perception of cyclists in the community, it is important that we don’t get ahead of ourselves here.

As of Saturday morning, we are entering Phase 1 of the Government’s plan. The good news is that we can ride on the roads again. But there remain restrictions on the numbers permitted in a group — ten — and at all times social-distancing should be maintained.

That social-distancing is six feet when standing still. When riding, that number, although not explicitly stated, should increase significantly.

The attached graphic indicates that when within maybe as much as 50 feet of a rider ahead, you are still in their “plume”. That’s where the droplets are. Don’t be in their plume!

A group of six riders with the appropriate distancing would require more than 250 feet of road from front to back.

Let’s take this step-by-step, or pedal stroke by pedal stroke, and be happy that for now we can be on the road again.