Cyclists took off in front of the legislature on Saturday morning for a ride across 10 municipalities in the capital region.
Ryder Hesjedal’s Tour de Victoria, in its 12th year, hit another attendance high, selling out all 2,450 available spots for routes that go up to 160 kilometres, said event director and Olympic cyclist Seamus McGrath.
McGrath said he doesn’t keep track of his times whenever he participates. “I just ride for the pure enjoyment.”
While some take the event seriously, Tour De Victoria is meant for people of all ages and abilities, he said.
“Our youngest rider is two. Our oldest rider is 90,” he said. “Everyone’s smiling. It’s such a positive event.”
All Tour de Victoria routes start and end near the B.C. legislature. Parts of Belleville Street were turned into a post-ride beer and burger garden, and a third of the legislature lawn was converted to bicycle parking. A DJ booth provided high-energy music.
“It’s Disneyland for cyclists,” said Kimberly Morrison, an event volunteer.
There were plenty of cycling families.
Kate Landreth reached the finish line on Saturday afternoon with her 21-month-old son Maxwell in the back, who was just waking up from a 30-kilometre nap.
Landreth said she was inspired after watching Maxwell’s dad ride the 100-kilometre event last year. “I wasn’t quite ready to ride, but I got motivated seeing a lot of moms riding,” she said.
Later that day, Julia Hincks jogged next to her three-year-old son Quinn, who was tackling the afternoon kids ride for the first time.
Hincks said she’d love to do a Tour de Victoria ride some day, but she’s happy to run with her child for now.
An announcer on site encouraged participants — most of whom were under the age of five — to go as many laps as they want on the route, which was about a block long.
“Try not to bump into each other, and have a great time,” he said. “As a rule, parents have to take their kids out for ice cream after the ride.”
Quinn decided to call it quits after one lap in front of the Hotel Grand Pacific.
Hincks said she didn’t mind. “I’m really proud of him for giving it a shot.”
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