At 9 a.m. on April 1, 570 cyclists and I lined up in front of one man who held only a stop sign and a loud speaker. We were at the start line of the 27th annual 100-kilometre Pacific Populaire.
In usual Vancouver style, the clouds hung low and the roads were wet. The weather may have accounted for the loss of 95 riders who had registered but didn't show. I was determined not to let the rain stop me from experiencing my first Populaire since it was a great opportunity to ride with new people and try something different.
We started at Riley Park near Nat Bailey Stadium. Each rider was given a map of the route and a control card that would be stamped along the way as proof we competed the course.
There was a strict rule against racing. Participants caught racing or compromising the safety of others in the name of speed would be banned from all future rides. The ride is a randonnée, the French word for a sight-seeing ramble. It's a longdistance cycling tour that includes check points and time limits.
The roads weren't closed for us and we had no en-route support. For $18, I cycled with a fantastic bunch of people who love to ride.
As it turned out, the stop lights and steep slope to the University of B.C. did an excellent job to break up the pack quickly. After hammering up the hill with my heart pounding, I settled in with a group who would be my ride partners until the first and only rest stop.
Without any words, we formed a single pace line and snaked our way south towards Richmond and the 50-km halfway point. As I walked through the tent to get my control card stamped, I swallowed a whole date bar in two bites and was back on the bike again with a new crew; about nine men and one woman named Jen Gerth.
Within seconds we were back in formation for our return to Riley Park. Pushing a head wind on River Road didn't feel nearly as bad as it should have, but I'm not sure if that was because Jen was doing most of the pulling or because we suddenly had a clear blue sky overhead.
The beauty of the sport is that you are totally self-sufficient and must rely solely on your own supplies or that of the riders with you, should they volunteer to help you.
You are given a map, explained the day's rules and shown the location of the check-points, which you must cross before the finish line. The rest is up to you.
There is no prize for first or second place. Co-operation is encouraged and is definitely to each rider's benefit. A "populaire ride" encourages all cyclists, no matter their ability, to ride together. The goal is to provide a fun and accessible ride at all distances and to provide an opportunity for cyclists to try a different style of riding.
As an experienced cyclist, I loved the simplicity of the idea and the whole experience. I'm looking forward to the next 145-km Populaire July 1. As a coach, I encourage cyclists of any ability to give the next Populaire ride a try, whatever distance they choose.
For more information, visit the B.C. Randonneurs Cycling Club at randonneurs.bc.ca.
Kristina Bangma is a coach, personal trainer and writer with a love of riding and racing. Email questions to [email protected].
