Now that spring is well underway and summer is right around the corner there are many cycling events coming up in the Metro Vancouver area in the next few months. June is
Bike Month throughout Canada and there are many events scheduled around this theme for the month of June. A full list of upcoming Bike Month events is available at http://www.bikemonth.ca/events.html.
Here is a list of a few other cycling related events going on throughout the next month.
Golden Ears Bridge Completion Celebration Sunday, June 14, 2009
This long awaited and much debated crossing to Pitt Meadows/Male Ridge is finally here. The bridge is scheduled to open to traffic on June 16, but Translink has schedule a pedestrian only bridge opening party on the bridge deck itself on Sunday June 14. This bridge is also important to cyclists as several groups including the VACC lobbied hard to have safe cycling lanes included in the planning which is extended to the roads and approaches to the bridge as well. The VACC will also be joining the party to hand our maps and other cycling materials. Car parking with shuttles as well a cycling valet service will be provided to participants. Secure bicycle valet services are provided by
The Bicycle Valet. More information is available at
Translink's website.
Langley side Parking and Shuttle Service - Bike Valet Map
Promotional PDF Brochure
Central Valley Greenway Opening
The
Central Valley Greenway is a 25 kilometer route from Science World in Vancouver to Westminster Quay in New Westminster. This bike path route has been in the planning and construction phase for a few years now and is scheduled to be completed this month. An opening day ride is planned for June 27th and would be a great opportunity to enjoy a wonderful new cycling oriented route through the Vancouver, Burnaby and New Westminster.
More information about the greenway is available
here.
"Canada Day 142" Populaire
From the BC Randonneurs Cycling Club Web site:
This year's route is 142 km long to celebrate Canada's 142th birthday. (Route available later - here's the 2008 route.) The start & finish location is at the Fort Langley Lions Seniors Hall on the corner of Glover Road and 88th (entrance to parking off 88th). There will be 3 controls along the route and each will have water, fruit and some type of sweet (cookies and/or cake). The route offers a mix of terrain and mostly quiet country roads taking you from scenic Fort Langley through Matsqui and quaint Clayburn, across Sumas Prairie, up Sumas Mountain, through Veddar Crossing, returning across Sumas Prairie, through Huntington, Aldergrove and back to Fort Langley. Wednesday, July 1, start time between 8-9am
Start/end: Fort Langley Lions Hall, 23022 88th Ave (at Glover)
BC Randonneurs Cycling Club Canada Day ride 142km covering
scenic Fraser Valley back roads. $20 entry.Snacks.
Everyone welcome! Roger & Ali Holt 604-946-8438,
aliholt@telus.net.
www.randonneurs.bc.ca
MEC Great Rides
MEC and the
VACC have teamed up to organize "Great Rides" from July to October this year. From the
VACC Great Rides web page:
"MEC
Great Rides are circular routes taking in beautiful country lanes, vibrant city centres and fun local festivals. The rides range from 25km to 50km along quiet roads and dedicated bike routes (some of the rides will have the choice of longer or shorter routes) and are a family-friendly way to get out on your bike this summer.
Celebration Stations around the route will provide food, drink and encouragement to keep you going and there will be fun things to see as you go. We want to make the event days as worry-free as possible for riders, so we will be providing mechanical support at the Celebration Stations, plus mobile mechanical support should you have difficulties en route (or need a ride back to the start for whatever reason...) In addition, on the ride day you will get a goody bag with safety equipment from MEC and other cool SWAG, a Great Rides route book, bike valet parking and more...plus a whole day of fun and exploration."
There will be 4 scheduled rides, one each month from July through October as follows:
Sunday July 12th - Countryside, Caribbean music and the Golden Ears Bridge. Bike over the brand new bridge between Maple Ridge and Langley. Have fun at the Caribbean music festival in Maple Ridge and explore the quiet lanes of Langley.
Saturday August 15th - Pitt Meadows - Farms, bees and biking the Fraser River Dikes. Taste local honey, or see a bee beard at the honey festival. Bike by farmland surrounded by mountains and along the dikes beside the Fraser and Pitt Rivers.
Sunday September 27th - Port Coquitlam - Bike the Rivers and Trails Festival. Music, rivers, trails and festivities. Enjoy the September weather on your bike along the PoCo Trail.
Sunday October 4th - The Bikennale! A combination bike ride and cultural event, ride between monumental sculptures, music and performance events. Explore the bike paths from Stanley Park to Jericho Beach and beyond to UBC and Queen Elizabeth Park.
Register for one or more of the rides at the
VACC Great Rides registration page. There is a cost to these rides as they are partially supported rides with refreshments and mechanical support at the various community stations. See the
VACC Great Rides web site for more information.
Velo-City: Vancouver & the bicycle revolution June 4 to September 7, 2009
Vancouver Museum, 1100 Chestnut Street
Vancouver's human-powered revolution that's changing the way people experience and relate to the city, their neighborhoods, and to their own bodies. 604-736-4431,
http://www.museumofvancouver.ca/exhibition.php?id=6
Valley VeloRiders Group Ride
We also have a Valley VeloRiders Group Ride scheduled for Saturday June the 20th (
Corrected Date) and participants are invited to my home at the end of the ride for lunch and fellowship. Here are the ride details.
Ride Type: Leisure-Medium
Meet: Reimer Student Centre Cafeteria
Time: 8:00 (We leave no later than 8:30 AM)
Duration: 3-4 hours depending on stops
Planned Route: http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/VVR-Golden-Ears-Bridge-Route
Distance: 57 km
This is a new route that will not have been ridden by anyone yet as it takes us over the Golden Ears Bridge which will be opening to traffic on June 16th. Because parts of the route around the bridge are not yet mapped we will have to play things by ear a bit as the roads and approaches are so new. We will also be starting earlier this morning than previous rides.
The ride will take us around Pitt Meadows following the Fraser and Alouette Rivers along the dyke road. As this ride could incorporate riding on some non-paved bike paths, bikes with skinny road tires are not recommended. Mountain bikes or hybrid bikes would be best for this ride. The route is mostly flat with a 1.2 km climb near the beginning and a longer less steep climb into Forest Hills.
I would like to also invite anyone joining on the ride to stop at my home on the way back for lunch and refreshments before riding the last 4 km to TWU. Please RSVP if you are wanting to stop for lunch at my place so that we know how many people to prepare for.
Richard.
