125 kilometres never felt so great. I suppose that the full police motorcade escorting us down the highway didn’t hurt.
Sunday was the mock tour, like a dress rehearsal for the Tour de Rock. It was a chance for all 24 riders to experience riding together as a team, and if I may be so bold: We rocked it!
It all started with a morning debrief between riders, trainers and our support crew outside the Inn on Long Lake in Nanaimo around 8:30 a.m.
The main message was, do not pass the pace car and stay even with the rider beside you. Oh yeah, and smile and wave to the cars who are making way for you on the highway.
We set off at 8:56 a.m. (yes, our schedule is that military-style precise) and it was a short, three-kilometre bike to our first stop, the Longlake Chateau retirement home.
The elderly residents were lined up outside the home clapping, cheering and ringing cowbells.
Already I had tears in my eyes, as I am still so blown away by the support all over the Island for the Tour. We chatted a bit with the residents before rider Carla Johnson from Island Radio introduced the team and thanked the residents for the upcoming garage sale in support of the Tour next weekend.
After a hearty Camp Goodtimes cheer, we were back on the bikes rolling out...that is until two riders snagged their chains and we had a brief stop for a mechanical. But after that, we rolled out.
Now, we had our first taste of unfettered road access as the police escort cleared a path down the Island Highway. The squeal of sirens blazed in our ears and even though I knew they were for us, I had the urge to look over my shoulder and check for the approaching ambulance.
As we pedalled along in two neat lines, pedestrians waved and cars honked. The pace car, pumping out Top 40 tunes, seemed to break the wind and create a vortex-like pull as we (almost) effortlessly glided up the hills at 40 clicks an hour. A goofy grin was plastered on my face.
The Canadian Cancer Society support crew, including mascot Ryder, seemed to be everywhere, as if rocketing around by teleportation. They were on top of overpasses, stopped on the side of the highway and standing at intersections, taking pictures and cheering us along.
The adrenaline pushed us so much that the motorcade actually had to pull over in a dusty parking lot alongside the highway because we were about half an hour ahead of schedule.
We pulled into the Tim Hortons in Ladysmith and high-fived with junior riders Griffin Dmytar and Lucas Wetklo. We had some treats from the store and then were off again.
By about 1 p.m., stomachs were starting to grumble more than an energy gel could repair so we pulled into downtown Duncan and had an amazing buffet lunch at Just Jake’s. I thought I might regret finishing that whole piece of lasagna but it was just too good to push the plate away before it was clear.
We waddled out of there and headed a short distance south to the Cowichan Sportsplex where we were greeted by classic car enthusiasts showing off their babies in the show and shine. As we mingled around, I was reluctant to get too close to the cars lest some grime on my gloves caused a scratch but the owners were very welcoming and eager to chat about their rides and ours.
Then, it was time to turn around and head back to Nanaimo, another 60 kilometres. The way back was a bit slower-paced as some of us paid the price for being too over-zealous on the south portion. It was a lesson in pacing yourself and keeping enough gas in the tank for the full ride.
But we encouraged each other and did our best to stay together until we turned in to the Inn on Long Lake. After a round of hugs, triumphant sighs and a few grinning selfies (guilty), some riders jumped in the lake, others peeled off their sweaty spandex but all of us were left addicted to the feeling of unwavering support that comes with being part of the Tour de Rock.
And we’ll definitely need all the support we can get for next Sunday, which is our longest ride: 140 kilometres up and down the rolling hills of Port Renfrew and Jordan River on the wild west coast.
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Times Colonist reporter Katie DeRosa is one of the media riders for this year’s Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock, a 13-day bike ride from Port Alice to Victoria. Follow DeRosa’s blog for details about the ongoing training, leading up to full coverage of the ride Sept. 20 to Oct. 3. To donate to her fundraising campaign in support of the Canadian Cancer Society and Camp Goodtimes, go to convio.cancer.ca/goto/katiederosa
