Bike to Work Week Grand Prize Winner Announced!

Congratulations Alex Roden, Winner of the GoByBike Grand Prize: an Exodus Travels Cycling Trip for Two to Portugal!

“It’s very surreal, winning a trip to Portugal in the middle of a pandemic, but I’m looking forward to going, whenever that will be!” says Alex Roden of Metro Vancouver, winner of the GoByBike BC Society and HUB Cycling Grand Prize of an Exodus Travels cycling trip for two to Portugal.  

Roden is an Office Administrator and works in Customer Support at Grin Technologies, an East Vancouver company that manufactures ebike conversion kits sold world-wide.

Cycling has been Roden’s main mode of transportation since 2013. “I started cycling because I was unemployed and didn’t want to pay for the bus. But I quickly fell in love with cycling. Then, I happened to get a job at Denman Bike Shop and fell even harder in love with cycling.”

“I love the feeling of wind on my face. Breathing in fresh air. Being more social and feeling more connected to people and things around me. Cycling routes are usually on residential streets, and so they are full of trees. I love cycling on forested paths outside the city and the quiet calm it brings.”

Roden says that cycling has played a significant role, helping her cope with depression and anxiety: “it’s overall great for my mental and physical health.”

Roden encourages more people to cycle, “the more people cycle, the safer it gets, which encourages more people to cycle. It’s cyclical!” If you are new to cycling, “ask for advice. I am always happy to give advice, and I’ve noticed that every cyclist I’ve run into is as well. Whether it’s the best route to take, how they deal with rain (invest in gear! doesn’t have to be expensive), tips for what to learn for bike maintenance and what to leave to the professionals… Cyclists are happy to help other people enjoy their cycling experience.”

“Ask for advice! I know how happy cycling has made me and everyone else I know, so I am always happy when I meet someone who takes up cycling.”

Roden has never been overseas, so she is excited to take her partner Greg Andrews with her to visit Europe: “I’m looking forward to the whole experience. Meeting new people, experiencing different cultures, meeting cyclists, eating the food. Seeing the view, by bike, down the coast of Portugal!”

Thanks to Exodus Travels for donating this grand prize trip, Roden and Andrews will be spending eight days cycling the Atlantic Coast of Portugal. “Everyone at Exodus is thrilled to sponsor GoByBike BC Society and HUB Cycling,” says Robin Brooks, Marketing & PR Director, Exodus Travels.

“At Exodus, we believe in supporting all the local communities we take our travelers to across the globe and protecting the world’s natural environments and creatures. No other style of travel is as responsible or sustainable as cycling is when it comes to roaming on land. And the health and wellness benefits of getting outside, being active and cycling can be lifechanging as so many GoByBike and Bike to Work Week participants know.”  

Exodus Travels has been supporting GoByBike BC Society for the past six years by sponsoring a grand prize trip, Brook says that the partnership is directly in line with their company values. “Exodus believes that a bike lets you travel at your own pace, has minimal environmental impact and, best of all, gets you outdoors (whether you’re a regular cyclist, on a commute, or opting to take a vacation).”

“A big congratulations to every one of you who participated in the event! It is great to see cyclists across the province come together. From biking aficionados to first time riders and families, seeing everyone come together at a safe distance in the spirit of making a difference is extraordinary. At the moment while travel must be on pause, we encourage you to stay safe, stay positive and stay active. And we can’t wait to see everyone again in the spring at the next GoByBike BC Society and HUB Cycling event!”

More About Exodus Travels

When travel is not on pause, this National Geographic award-winning company offers active small group, self-guided and private group tours to 100+ countries worldwide. In the spirit of making the most of the great outdoors, the 45+ year old company offers over 600+ bicycle, e-bike, Walking/Trekking and Responsible Wildlife adventures.  To learn more about Exodus Travels, please visit https://www.exodustravels.com/ca.

More About GoByBike BC Society

GoByBike BC Society (formerly Bike to Work BC Society) is a registered non-profit society that secures and shares resources to communities throughout BC to help them to deliver successful events that encourage people to use bicycles for everyday transportation. To learn more about GoByBike BC Society, please visit www.GoByBikeBC.ca.