Participants in the Food Cycle Ride will hit the road on May 29 and chief marshal Rick Goodfellow cautions motorists to drive with extra care.
Recreational and road warriors will be riding Wellington County and Waterloo Region roads to raise funds for the Centre Wellington Food Bank.
That will create more cycle traffic than usual and for everyone’s safety cyclists and motorists need to stay alert.
The ride leaves Centre Wellington District High School on May 29, at 9:30am on a fund raising tour. It will take place in rain or shine, but not in the event of thunderstorms or extreme weather. Riders, volunteers, spectators, and drivers should check www.foodcycleride.ca on May 29 for last minute bulletins.
Two cyclists getting ready to tackle the shorter, 45km route are Tamzin Morris, of Elora, and Stephen Weber of Fergus.
Morris, who works at Devin Hair Studio, is a young health and fitness enthusiast and many aspects of the Food Cycle Ride appeal to her.
“Exercise, being outdoors, cycling, and I really like the idea of giving the food bank the chance to buy fresh food from local sources,” she said.
As a high school student she volunteered for the food bank and has a nothing but praise for it. She is a recreational cyclist, but does not think the route will be too difficult for her: Besides, she likes a challenge.
Morris has enlisted some of her co-workers, notably, boss Doris Kelly, to join her on the ride.
Weber has lots of recreational cycling experience.
He started as a runner, but found cycling easier on the knees and made the switch years ago.
He expects the 45km route to be a challenge but for him, participation is all about the opportunity to give back to the community, which has supported his business and his family.
“When my granddaughter, Lorissa, was battling brain cancer two years ago, the community was fantastic. It’s been a tough time, but Lorissa is doing really well now”.
Weber and his wife, Penny, operate Hometown Sears, Fergus. In addition to putting his cycling skills to the test, the Webers have organized a “Fill the Fridge” promotion. Residents are challenged to fill a fridge, donated by Sears, Canada, with non-perishable goods for the food bank.
Contributors have a chance to win the fridge, itself. The winner will be drawn at CWDHS on May 29 at the ride lunch.
The ride presents challenges to all levels of cyclists.
The 70km route travels in a circle that takes cyclists through Fergus and Elora, continuing to the West Montrose covered bridge, south to Maryhill, east back through Marden, and then north to CWDHS on Jones baseline and County Road 29.
The route turns back after the covered bridge, returning to Elora on County 21. It then retraces its steps to Fergus. Recreational riders may turn back at any point when they have had enough fun. At the high school a lunch prepared by chef Chris Jess and his students will be waiting.
Both the 45 and 70km routes have the same start and finish location that permit multiple laps of any combination of routes.
The event’s website www.foodcycleride.ca provides detailed maps of the route
The Food Cycle Ride is not a race. It is an opportunity to ride area roads on a course supported with marked routes, route marshals, and a couple of rest stops for those who need to replenish water bottles or use the facilities.
It is a mass participation event with different routes for road cyclists and casual riders that is held for the benefit of those in need of the services of the Centre Wellington Food Bank.
Proceeds will support the Centre Wellington Food Bank programs.
Priority for the funds will be given to buying food products from local farmers and using the food bank’s community kitchen to prepare foods to add to its food baskets.
There are opportunities to participate individually, or have by joining friends, family, or co-workers to ride and raise money as a team.
While early registration ended on May 20, individuals can also register at CWDHS, starting at 8am on May 29.
