The lights of the airport terminal are in the distance.
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Here's a tale of our cycling exploits, started three years ago. It's now an annual event...! The following was submitted by one of our illustrious authors the first year we did it:

Cycling Santa Breaches YVR Security

Suspect and 18 accomplices remain at large after ride-in

Arctic Cycling News (ACN), December 18, 2004 - A cycling Santa and 18 bicycle-mounted accomplices poorly disguised as reindeer breached one of Vancouver International Airport's high-security zones early Saturday morning after bribing a security guard to gain entry to the airport's departure level.

The daring pre-dawn ride-in occurred on one of YVR's busiest days. The motives are still unclear, although one eye witness said that the riders, all middle-aged males except for one female riding a fenderless bike, were very friendly.

"Santa was really nice and gave me a hug and a candy cane and I got my picture taken with him and everything," said Samantha Durgenhorst, 4, of Invermere when contacted by telephone in Maui where she is now vacationing with family. "But I know he wasn't the real Santa, because he was too sweaty and sticky."

Although the riders did no harm other than leaving a few tire marks on a newly carpeted section of the departure concourse, YVR security officials are taking the matter seriously and are promising a full investigation.

"Yah, well, one of them gave a traffic control officer two candy canes, then the entire bunch rode through the front door," reported Kerry Fraser, Acting Deputy Chief of Security of YVR. "Unfortunately, the officer is diabetic and after eating both candy canes he spent the remainder of his shift in the airport infirmary."

The cycling Santa and entourage pedalled the length of the domestic and international departure areas before sneaking out a side door and have proved to be as ellusive as they were bold.

"We immediately scrambled two helicopters, but we lost track of these jokers near the Dinsmore Bridge. They were travelling at high speed and low cloud conditions did not permit close pursuit," said Fraser.

When asked why YVR's new bicycle-mounted quick-response team was not used to track down the group, Fraser said the officers were attending a training seminar on fixing flats at the time. The security breach is under investigation and Fraser expects to locate the culprits and take action soon.

An anonymous source told ACN that a group of similarly attired riders was later seen at a Steveston restaurant consuming large quantities of rum and eggnog and chanting "Vive Le Peloton."

© 2004 ACN. Practically all rights reserved.