Winston hopes to lead peloton

Winston Willy has challenged all schools to a stationary bike competition based on the most kilometres ridden from March 27 to April 6. The mascot at Winston Churchill School set an example by taking a spin on a bike on Monday. Geoff Lee Meridian Source

 

An object in motion stays in motion. 

Students involved in the 2023 Lloydminster Public School Division (LPSD) cycling challenge might inadvertently learn about Newton’s first law of motion.

The main lesson behind the challenge, however, is not educational, but to generate school spirit in the community.

“We are competing against other schools in the division to see who can get the most kilometres in a nine-day span over the next two weeks,” said teacher Craig Blythe at Winston Churchill School during the division-wide challenge kickoff on Monday.

“We’re still working on what the prize will be, but definitely bragging rights for the winning school.” 

Blythe says this a different challenge from the one schools had last year when they competed against each other at College Park School.

“Last year, we also had a green vs. gold competition in Winston Churchill (Winston vs. College) and now instead of being against each other, we’re all together competing against other schools,” he said.

Even the LPSD division office will log a few kilometres for fun.

The bikes are connected to Bluetooth and the Zwift cycling app that keeps a tally of the distances travelled by each rider in the challenge. 

A champion school will be declared on April 6 after nine days of cycling.

“I know Rendell Park is gunning for us, so we are going to try our best to beat them,” said Blythe.

At Winston, every single student will be on the bike over the next two weeks including the school’s mascot Winston Willy who inspired kids like Emily in Grade 4 to give it a turn.

“This morning was my second time,” she said.

Emily can’t wait to ride her own bike that her parents just spray painted so she can show it off when it’s safe to take it outdoors.

“They don’t allow me in the winter,” she said.

Blythe says the kids rotate through every five or 10 minutes and try to use the flattest route on Zwift to keep everyone moving as quickly as they can.

“There are no real rules other than keeping the kids moving through the whole day,” explained Blythe.

Emily’s classmate Mohid offered his testimonial after stepping off one of the bikes in the hallway. 

“It was good, just sometimes the gears get a little loose and you work too hard, but after that, you feel really good,” he said.

Mohid said they’ve been on the bike a few times before but stipulates, “this is the first time this year we have done a challenge.”

The challenge is well timed for him personally as he lamented, “My bike is broken, the gears broke off, but I ride a scooter.”

Blythe said his school’s parent council helped to raise funds to buy bikes suited to kids.

“We are very thankful to Jim (Taylor) at Grindin’ Gears for all the work he has done in selling us the bikes, tuning up the bikes and giving us some support with the bikes,” said Blythe.

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Geoff Lee
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