By CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION (Westmeath) — A Whitewater Region community event is beginning and ending in Westmeath to celebrate Canada 150.
The Tour de Whitewater is a leisurely cycling event with things happening throughout the day, said organizer Mike Wendorf.
It is on Saturday, July 8 and begins at 8 a.m. with a big breakfast and ends with speeches and prize draws around 2 p.m., all at the Westmeath Arena.
Mr. Wendorf said a year ago, he, wife Maryanne and Cheryl Spotswood organized the Whitewater Active Living Group and were asked to do something for Canada Day .. it was decided to have a family bike ride. There were 30 adults and 10 children.
When plans got underway for this year’s Canada Day event, there was another opportunity to have a bike ride. However, not wanting to interfere with the event again, they moved the date for the Canada 150 event bike ride to July 8.
“It grew from a little social gathering to a blow-up,” he said with a laugh. “Quite overwhelming.”
Various people and businesses have become involved, including Cranky Kids, GearHeads, Ottawa Valley and Active Association with Ish Theilheimer, Jackie McGregor, Cameron Dube, Ron Moss and Neil Nicholson.
There’s about 15 people in the group organizing the bike ride, however, it’s happening under the sanctions of the Westmeath District Recreation Association (WDRA).
“It’s definitely a joint endeavour,” he said.
The Road Warriors will leave Westmeath Arena at 8 a.m. These are the cyclists participating in the 100 kilometre bike ride.
An hour later, the Leisure Riders will depart, which is the 50, 30, and 10 kilometre cyclists.
At 11 a.m., the Cranky Kids events start.
The 4-H is having a barbecue and 50/50 draw. There will also be various draw prizes from people and businesses who have donated them, he said. Since this is not a race, Mr. Wendorf noted the donated prizes will just be through a draw. He said there are “very generous” people and businesses in the community.
“We’re not out to make money,” he said. “Any money made goes back to the WDRA or the 4-H club. At the end of the day, our bank account will be empty.”
This is a community event because it takes people through much of Whitewater Region, Mr. Wendorf said. He noted the 100K riders will go through Beachburg and Foresters Falls, up the Queens Line and near Cobden, but it was decided not to have them cross Hwy. 17. The routes will be clearly marked, he said.
“It’s more of a get people on the roads in Westmeath,” he said. “We have such a beautiful place down here. There’s lots of activity as far as cycling is concerned.
“Where do you find paved highways the way we have them down here with less traffic,” he said. “I can go for a 50K ride any day of the week after 9 o’clock and the people have gone to work, and other than a couple of farmers’ tractors or couple of vehicles, that might be all you see.
“We’ve got some beautiful country here. People don’t appreciate how beautiful it is. Every time I drive to Lil’s (Beachburg Restaurant), which is about three times a week to have breakfast, there’s always something changed in the fields.
“There’s a different odour, different this, everything starts to flower. One day it’s green and the next day it’s tilled and the next day corn is coming up.
“I just find it so fascinating, it’s unreal,” Mr. Wendorf said.
Currently there are 106 cyclists registered, he said. While there is no law adults must wear a helmet, Mr. Wendorf suggests it may be a good idea.
“My goal at first, I said if we don’t get 150 riders, I’ll feel like it’s a failure,” Mr. Wendorf said. “And I think we’re going to make it. We have four weeks to go and the serious riders have not yet signed up.
“We’re expecting 80 to 100 riders just for the 100K.”
The fast riders will average 40 kilometres an hour, which would be a completion time of about two hours.
The 100, 50, 30 and 10 kilometre rides will be all on paved roads, he said.
“I’m not an off-road biker,” Mr. Wendorf said. “You’ve got your BMXers, you’ve got the fancy bikers who do the fancy jumps and tricks; you’ve got your mountain bikers or the off-road with fat bikes or mountain bikes and then you’ve got the road bikers.
“Not too many of them cross-over. You’re either an off-roader or an on-roader.”
Eric Price from Pembroke developed the route maps, he said.
The Riverview Seniors Club is sponsoring any children cyclists, who are 12 and under.
The deadline to register to be guaranteed a t-shirt is Friday, June 16. So, for $20, you get the t-shirt and the barbecue lunch. There are people coming from all over – Ottawa, Gatineau, Deep River Stittsville, Chalk River, Pembroke, and of course Whitewater Region.
Mr. Wendorf noted this is the second year for a bike ride, even though it’s being held on different days. It will have to be the committee that decides if it will become a yearly event.
