Riding 290 kilometres for charity - sounds like a great idea. Riding it all in one day - sounds a little nuts. But that's just what Team Escape Velocity plans to do on Saturday as they attempt to ride the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island in one day.The circle tour will take the six team members attempting the feat from Kitsilano to Horseshoe Bay, then on to Langdale, Earl's Cove, Saltery Bay, Powell River, Comox, Departure Bay, Horseshoe Bay, and finishing back in Kitsilano.
If the team misses the ferry to Powell River, they will ride back the way they came under less severe time restrictions, still completing 288 kilometres.
The ride by the semi-pro team is in support of B.C. Children's Hospital, and completion will be dependent on riding very fast to make the ferries, especially on the Sunshine Coast portion of the trip. The crux of the ride will be the third leg between Saltery Bay and Powell River, which will require a very fast 42 kilometres per hour average speed to make the ferry departure. The team will leave Kitsilano between 5:30 and 5:45 a.m. and hopes to be back in Kitsilano by 10 p.m. Saturday night.
"It's always good to have these challenges. It makes you stronger and keeps riding and racing interesting," said team manager Jak New. "As long as the ferries are confident they can be on time, we'll be on time. If we land late, we'll have to make up the time."
The ride was attempted last year during the summer solstice weekend. Everything was going as planned, and the six riders who made the attempt last year were confident they would achieve their goal. But the Earl's Cove ferry was five minutes late and the toughest leg from Saltery Bay to Powell River was now even more daunting. The group rode valiantly through the rain, arriving in Powell River just as the ferry was sailing away. They stopped for lunch in Powell River and returned home, completing a still-epic, out-and-back, six-ferry-rides, 14-hour, dusk-to-dawn, 288-kilometre ride.
"Some of the guys who rode last year are riding again. They're determined to do this," said New. "These guys are at a high level of athleticism and are always training, so they know what they're in for, but of course, weather and the ferry times are certainly obstacles you can't control."
New said the team is pumped for completing the so-called "urban legend ride," but the charity factor is also key for the team.
"We're riding to support the kids and the good work of Children's Hospital. It certainly tugs at your heart strings a bit knowing that you can maybe make a difference in someone's life," added New.
Team Escape Velocity is a cycling club based out of Vancouver. It involves cyclists who are just there to ride, novice racers and high-level athletes. With about 150 members, it has been around for nearly 20 years. The team members pride themselves on their community involvement, their race organization, youth development and leadership activities.
New will be driving a support vehicle with extra wheels for the rider's bikes, food and extra clothing. Readers interested in helping the team out or donating to the B.C. Children's Hospital Foundation can contact New at [email protected] or phone him at 1-604-376-2751.
- With files from Tara Trigg, Powell River Peak
