Calvin Harris began cycling years ago. The activity became a daily habit before becoming an “on-and-off thing,” he said. After a brief hiatus, which featured a few months carved out of the year to train for the Boston Marathon, Harris hopped back on his bike.
It’s been full steam ever since, he told the Sun. But there was something missing. Unlike in a bike race, where contestants are shoulder to shoulder pedaling for miles, biking on the Central Coast can be at times a lonely activity.
“I realized then that there’s a lot of riders across the coast but nobody’s really kind of creating an organized way to get together and ride,” he said.
So Harris approached his bosses at Vivid Financial Management in Orcutt, where he is a vice president. His pitch: sponsor a club for local cyclists. He framed it as a chance to give back to the community while still offering what he called “the white glove service” the company already provides to clients.
The company bought in, and now the Vivid Cycling Club boasts more than 25 members and meets up twice a week. Rides start at 5:30 a.m. each Tuesday and Thursday. Club members meet up at Vivid’s office in Old Orcutt (340 E. Clark Ave.) for coffee before hitting the streets. Every first week of the month also includes a group breakfast pre- and post-ride.
The club also does weekend rides. On the second week of October, one group met up to make the trek to Cambria while another rendezvoused before biking down to Santa Barbara.
On Oct. 5, a portion of the club met up in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they embarked on a 12-hour, 150-mile ride, with more than 20,000 feet in elevation gain.
“It was pretty intense,” Harris said.
Membership is $60 to join and comes with a kit that includes a jersey, bibs, jacket, and cap.
“That’s what’s nice about doing it on behalf of the firm,” Harris said. “This is an expense for us that we’re comfortable spending, and it makes everything in the club more or less subsidized. It’s pretty awesome.”
A core tenet in Vivid Financial’s culture is to live intentionally, Harris explained, which transfers to the club as well.
“This is a good platform to live that through in action,” Harris explained. “Besides, we’re definitely happy to be reinvesting back into the community.”
Hightlights:
• The Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce is calling on local business owners to vote in the upcoming November election. “We recognize that the outcomes of these elections, both in terms of candidates and measures, can have significant impacts on jobs, the state of our economy, and the health of our individual businesses,” the Chamber stated. The organization endorsed two local measures (Santa Maria’s Measure U, or public safety sales tax initiative, and Measure Y, the Allan Hancock College facilities bond).
• The seventh annual Santa Barbara County Veterans Stand Down will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 20 at the Santa Maria Fairpark. Veterans Stand Down offers veterans–particularly those who are homeless and at-risk–hot food, showers, clothing, hygiene items, and medical examinations. Veterans also will receive access to more than 100 service providers offering social services, legal aid, resume-building, and job opportunities.
• San Luis Obispo-based insurance company, Morris and Garritano, announced it had received two industry awards on Oct. 10. The firm was named one of Insurance Journal‘s “best agencies to work for,” while National Underwriter awarded the company its coveted Agency of the Year prize.
• First United Methodist Church of Lompoc will host a chili/bake sale and church bazaar on Saturday, Oct. 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Staff Writer Spencer Cole wrote this week’s Biz Spotlight. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, mail, or email at spotlight@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Oct 18-25, 2018.