The VicPop ride is scheduled for the 5th April starting at 10am from the Velox Rugby Club house on Gordon Head Road. Below is more information (Press Release)
CYCLISTS WILL HAVE TO FIND THEIR ‘EASTER LEGS’ FOR 50K & 100K BIKE RIDES SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 5TH
VICTORIA, BC (March 26, 2015) — On Easter Sunday, hundreds of local cyclists will have to find their “Easter legs” to complete the Victoria Populaire. Organized by the BC Randonneurs Cycling Club, the “VicPop” is an annual mass-participation bike ride around Greater Victoria with 50-kilometre and 100-kilometre options.
“For many Vancouver Island cyclists, the VicPop is a springtime tradition,” says organizer Steve Mahovlic. “Last year we had 104 finishers; this year we are hoping for three times that. It’s a great excuse to get your bike out of the garage if you haven’t been riding all winter.”
Starting and finishing at the Velox Rugby clubhouse on Gordon Head Road, riders following the 50-kilometre route will do a loop incorporating Mount Doug Park, Esquimalt, and the scenic Dallas Road/Beach Drive waterfront before returning to Gordon Head while riders doing the 100-kilometre version will expand that loop by first heading out to Sidney and then turning around once they reach the Deep Cove Market in North Saanich.
“Both rides are extremely scenic,” says Mahovlic. “I rejigged our traditional routes to incorporate some quieter roads while still showcasing some of the most lovely places to cycle in Greater Victoria.”
First held in 2000, the Victoria Populaire is not a race but rather a fun introduction to the sport of randonneuring, a type of cycling known for its long distances and non-competitive nature. Regularly covering 200 to 1,000 kilometres during organized rides called brevets, randonneurs are to cycling what ultramarathoners are to running. Last summer’s VanIsle 1200 (also organized by the BC Randonneurs) saw more than 50 cyclists ride 1,200 kilometres in under 90 hours exclusively on Vancouver Island roads.
“While the VanIsle 1200 was an event for very experienced randonneurs, the VicPop is for everyone,” stresses Mahovlic. “We expect cyclists with a range of ages, abilities, and bikes to participate. Last year, a dad and his three kids did the 50 km ride on their custom-designed quad-cycle!”
VicPop cyclists will be issued turn-by-turn directions for their ride and a control card listing the “checkpoints” where they will need to stop and have their cards stamped and signed by a ride official. At the end of the ride, riders will turn in their control cards in exchange for a unique Victoria Populaire finisher's pin, another randonneurs’ tradition.
Advance registration for the ride costs just $15, or $20 (cash only) on the day of the event; participants under 16 pay just $5 but must be accompanied by an adult at all times on the ride. Online registration closes at 5pm on Thursday, April 2. Event day registration on April 5 is between 8:30-9:30 am for the 100k, and 10:00-11:00 am for 50k riders. Participation is capped at 300 cyclists.
Victoria Populaire finishers or cyclists looking for more of a Gran Fondo–distance event are encouraged to try the BC Randonneurs’ “Tour of the Cowichan Valley” 200 km brevet starting in Chemainus on April 11.
I rode the 100k course on Sunday, so give me a call or send me a note (CONWAY)I, if you would like additional information on the ride.
250 595-6790
Mark
Victoria Populaire 50K or 100K
Moderator: mfarnham