People at HUB

I grew up cycling in '80s Beijing when there were more bikes than cars, then took a break from riding before rediscovering my love for bikes on the streets of Vancouver.

Cycling has since become one of my favourite ways for exploring cities, islands, and nooks and crannies of the world. It's been a treat as a bike ed instructor to facilitate and witness the remarkable moments of joy, courage, connection, freedom and self­reliance people find on their bikes.

I consider myself to be an incredibly fortunate person to have been born and raised in the spectacular city of Vancouver and the lower mainland. With our mild climate, mountains, ocean and lakes I have been able to take advantage of an array of outdoor activities throughout my life. One of which has always been cycling. What was once a means of transportation as a young child has become an integral part of my lifestyle. From biking to / from work, participating in fund raising rides such as The Ride to Conquer Cancer”, to camping adventures and to stay healthy and fit. 

Cycling has been part of my life since the age of 6. That’s a lot of commuting, touring, errands, mountain paths, and navigating congested city streets. Cycling is a part of my everyday work and fun with family and friends. I am driven by my passion for making real change to benefit our environment, enhance opportunities for healthy living, and decrease our dependence on the car. With HUB Cycling, I will help students confidently make cycling a routine and safe life skill.

My "love" of bikes is a practical one. Growing up, it was simply an inexpensive way of getting around town that didn't rely on my parents or bus fare. My cycling got more serious when I took a job as a bike messenger in Winnipeg, MB. At that stage, I needed to get the gear and bike maintenance skills to deliver packages across this prairie city through wind, rain, snow and sun. Since moving to the West Coast, I've left that behind for a 7-gear, Dutch-style bike that will get me from point A to B in comfort.     

This job combines two of my greatest passions: teaching and cycling. Cycling is so much more than transport or exercise, it is a representation of what a better future might look like. The economic and environmental implications of a society built around human powered transport are extraordinarily positive. Rising house prices and cost of living in our city coupled with the looming prospects of the climate emergency therefore illustrate the importance of educating youth on the capabilities of the bike.

Cycling has always been in my life since a kid! From the day I learned to ride through Pedalhead's summer camp I've always enjoyed the freedom of cycling and the satisfaction of teaching others how to enjoy cycling as well! I began volunteering with Pedalheads at 13 and once I became an instructor at the camp, went on to teach for another 5 years! Now I am proud to represent HUB and teach cycling to new riders in brand-new ways and environments!

Started riding bicycles at 5 years old. It meant freedom with my friends. We rode everywhere. Then from 6 to 10 I rode to school every day until we moved across the street from my school. Riding just for fun until 15 when I got a job as a caddy and then at 16 at Safeway, riding as a bike commuter. By now I inherited my brother’s Raleigh 3 speed which I loved and cherished. 

At 16 I got my drivers licence and the bike got parked except for the occasional ride for pleasure. 

First learning to ride on a Schwinn Stingray with "apehangers" in Yosemite National Park, my love affair with the bike has evolved from family camping trips to commuting and mountain biking internationally. Whether getting to school on the west and east coasts of the US, teaching English in Japan or living in Vancouver since 2000, the versatility and fun of "going by bike" has been a constant pleasure.

I am a recent transplant to Metro Vancouver from the rural interior. I have enjoyed the feeling of freedom and excitement of cycling since I was a kid. I remember stealing my older brother's super awesome BMX to rip around our family farm and around my hometown after school to the swimming hole or up a logging road. When I moved to Kelowna ten years ago for university I started commuting to and began to see the health and community benefits of cycling. There is no better way to experience a city and interact with the landscape than from the seat of a bike.

Am I a cyclist? Hmm, not really. I grew up on a farm driving grain trucks - not much opportunity for bike riding. In university, biking was a mode of necessity, not an identity. Do I enjoy the freedom of biking instead of being stuck in my car in traffic? For sure. Do I like rockstar parking in front of the grocery store? Yup. Do I enjoy skipping the gas bill? 100%. Do I relish being fit enough to keep up with the kids? You bet. So….maybe I am a cyclist. Sometimes. And more often now. You could be too.

Working with HUB following a 30 year career in public education Phil is delighted to have the opportunity to combine his love of cycling, his joy for teaching and learning, and his desire to make the world just a little bit better all in one place.

Mahshid comes with a whirlwind of diverse experiences. From studying Drama and fine art in Iran to delving into TV and Video Production in Canada, her journey has been nothing short of adventurous. As an art teacher abroad and dabbling in roles like a Radio Technician and Studio Camera Operator in Canada, she’s had the opportunity to explore various paths. But now, it's time to share her ultimate passion for cycling with all of you!

I grew up on Coast Salish territories, in so-called South East Vancouver, and have been avidly riding my good ol’ Kona mountain bike since I was 15. Biking has been my primary mode of transport, through the different neighbourhoods of the city I have lived in my early adulthood. I love to bike fast with my roommates and friends. Following a big crash with a parked car when I was 15, I have gotten a lot better at not turning my entire bicycle when looking behind me to check if my friends are still there.

My first biking experiences began on a farm in Northern Alberta riding the windy, gravel roads with my trusty CCM Mustang named Apollo. With a transistor radio swinging from the handle bars and hockey cards stuck in the spokes, I discovered that unforgettable feeling of independence and freedom peddling across the big sky horizon to play a baseball game in town or find the next best spot to search for arrowheads and cow skulls!

My relationship with cycling began in Toronto in my early 20’s. Dodging streetcar tracks and bad drivers while commuting was my only exposure to biking. After moving out to “Vancouver'' in 2018, I quickly made connections within the bike community through volunteering at Kickstand Bikes and Chill Rides. I have been slowly teaching myself bike mechanics and I love going into Kickstand to work on my bike and learn new things. After moving out west I also discovered the bliss of bikepacking and have embarked on a variety of wild adventures on my two wheels.

I was always a fan of cycling - doing little touring trips as a kid with my parents in Lithuania, as a teenager observing in awe my older brother pulling tricks on a bmx, or as an adult ditching my car commute to work for a bike ride in the summer months.

Salutations! I'm Grace and I'm excited to work with the community through bike education. I love moving by cycle and bicycling has really moved me!

Hey, I’m Quin (They/Them). I fell in love with biking when I moved to “Victoria, BC” from southwestern Ontario, in my early 20’s. It was a fun and fast way for me to get around the city. Fast-forward 10 years to now, and I’m still stoked about bikes and cycling. Excited to be part of the HUB Instructor team; let’s go!