Mount Tolmie Community Ride
Wheel Life column - 20 May, 2000
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

The Bastion Square Cycling Festival sizzles through town next weekend with excitement for everybody. This is a major competitive event that will draw Canada's elite racers now honing their skills for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It has expanded from previous years to include three major races and a community ride open to everybody.

The activities start Friday, May 26, with the Mount Doug Hill Climb, which runs from 6 to 9 pm. You can watch anywhere along Churchill Drive, the curvy road up to the mountain peak. The most exciting spots to watch are toward the top, or at any sharp corner. Please stay completely off the roadway, to avoid crowding the racers, and leave your car at the large parking lot off Cordova Bay Road, or better yet, arrive by bicycle.

On Saturday, May 27 you can watch the Mt. Tolmie Road Race for free anywhere along the course (see map), or better yet, join in the Mt. Tolmie Community Ride. Both events leave from the main stage at the base of Mt. Tolmie Park, at Cedar Hill X Road and Gordon Head, across from the University of Victoria campus. Please park cars at the University, or leave them at home. The race begins at 8:00 am, and the Community Ride follows at 8:08.

The elite men and women racers ride the 87 km course, with an added circuit to conquer Mt. Tolmie's heights and steep descents. The rest of us can ride either the full 87 kilometre course (without the mountain climb), or a shorter 47 kilometre option, while still enjoying the proximity to glory and the scenic, rolling Saanich Peninsula. The community ride finishes at the event's main stage on Cedar Hill X Road, right before the start of the hotshot's Tolmie climb.

Registration for the Community Ride costs $40. Family discounts are $75 for a family of 3 or $90 for a family of 4. Registrants receive tee shirts and ride support. Individual riders must be 15 years or older for the 87 km route or 13 years or older for the 47 km option, but children can join their parents on trail-a-bikes, trailers or bike seats. Registration forms are available at bike stores and recreation centres, or on-line at http://www.canadiancyclist.com.

Catch the excitement again on Sunday May 28 from 7:00 am to 3:00 p.m. downtown at the Bastion Square Grand Prix. This is a criterion race, which means multiple laps on a short course that includes Government, Yates, Fort and Wharf streets. It's a particularly fun type of race for spectators because the action is very fast, technical (riders must have excellent bike handling skills in addition to strength), and practically non-stop: zoom, zoom and more zoom!

"Crash Corner" at Yates and Wharf streets is a favourite place to watch. Announcers will provide commentary to highlight the action, and you'll be able to see the many racers prepare for and recover from the competition. There are more than a dozen categories, with new races starting every half hour. Amateurs will ride during the morning and the professional races begin about noon.

Mt. Tolmie Community Ride organizers are looking for more than 100 volunteer road marshals. Perks includes a cool t-shirt, good food and company, and a post race party and barbeque. Call Susan at 598-8218 or Sandy at 595-2883 if you can help.

The Festival is sponsored by the Times-Colonist, PacificSport Group, Victoria International Bike Racing Society, 100.3 The Q, the New X 91.3, CHEK TV, Subway, Revelstoke, Shepard Computers, Tim Horton, VancouverIsland.com, Canadian Cyclist and Laurel Point Inn. For more information, visit http://www.pacificsport.com/bastionsquarecyclingfestival or phone 360-BIKE.