Bike for your Life
Wheel Life column - August 5, 2000
by Todd Litman and Suzanne Kort - Victoria Transport Policy Institute

The second annual Bike For Your Life ride will be held next Saturday, August 12, starting at the Parksville Community Park, 193 East Island Highway in Parksville. It should be a terrific event.

There are seven cycling routes to choose from, ranging from an easy 15 kilometers to a challenging 200 km, plus two distances for wheelchair users. The longer rides leave early: the 200 km riders depart at 6:30 am, while the 15 km riders wait until 11:00 am. Organizers suggest arriving about an hour before your scheduled departure to register and eat breakfast.

Registration fees are $10 for riders over 18 years of age, and $7 for younger riders. Registrants receive a route description, a full pancake breakfast, food and washrooms at checkpoints along the way, ice cream at the finish, and a commemorative medal for those who complete their route. Registrants are also eligible for valuable prizes, including new bicycles and holiday trips (one to Europe!). Part of the registration fee will be donated to the District 69 Stroke Recovery Club.

This event is hosted by the Bike For Your Life Vancouver Island Society, a non-profit organization that promotes recreational cycling. Organizer Leen van der Meulen, a former bike racing champion and still a keen cyclist at 63 years young, has an infectious enthusiasm for lifelong fitness that inspires the event. He is also extremely persuasive, having raised many thousands of dollars worth of donations and support. Organizers expect to attract more than a thousand participants this year. For more information visit the BFYL website at www.island.net/~bikelife or call 250-468-5517.

Here are some suggestions to ensure a safe and enjoyable long-distance summer ride:

• Eat and drink regularly along the way. The hotter the weather and the harder you work, the more liquid you need. Bring a couple liters of water or juice, and refill them along the way.
• Protect yourself from the sun by wearing protective clothes and sunscreen.
• Wear cycling shorts with padding in the crotch (never wear cut-off jeans or bikini underwear when cycling long distances or you risk developing painful sores where the seams chaff your delicate skin), cycling gloves that are padded in the palm, stiff soled cycling shoes, and a tight-fitting shirt that doesn't flap in the breeze. Bring a jacket even on clear days, in case the weather changes.
• Wear a properly fitting helmet to protect your most valuable asset.
• Make sure that your bike is appropriate for the conditions you plan to ride. For long-distance routes choose a lightweight road bike with narrow tires. Be sure that the seat and handlebar positions are adjusted to fit you for maximum efficiency and comfort.
• Ride cautiously and defensively. Watch for potholes and cracks in the roadway, and be especially careful when crossing railroad tracks and stormdrain grates that may catch a wheel. Slow down on wet or gravel road surfaces. Maintain eye contact with drivers, and anticipate their potential mistakes. Record and report the vehicle license number of any driver that threatens your safety.
• Maintain a steady pace. Don't sprint and go slow when climbing hills in order to conserve your energy. At the end of the ride you should still enjoy cycling, and be looking forward to more in the near future.