At five o’clock on a Saturday morning when most people are still in bed, a group of dedicated cyclists, under the cloak of darkness, left from Corbeil, the start of a gruelling 200 km gravel cycling adventure.
Organizers of Voyageur 200 expected the race would take approximately 10 hours to complete.
“We had 20 people who were going to start, but we ended up with about 12 because of the weather,” explained event coordinator Jeff Miller.
Cyclists need to be prepared when biking through the rugged terrain of logging roads, facing wind and rain.
“It’s all about proper clothing, your base layers, and it is training properly. We live in a cold climate typically, so most of these people have learned how to train for their events properly,” shared Miller.
From Corbeil, it was on to North Bay, the “back country” of Redbridge, and Mattawa and back.
Later in the morning, those who signed up for the 100 km and 60 km routes headed out on a different route.
“They’re more focused around Nosbonsing, and we stay East Ferris, Bonfield, Rutherglen, and Chisholm too,” shared Miller.
One of the youngest participants was 14-year-old Tom Lawson from North Bay, who registered for the 100 km route.
“I usually do a lot of x-country mountain bike races throughout the summer, so I thought I should do this for fun,” explained Lawson.
“I definitely rode in the wind and the rain before, but this is a little extreme.”
Lawson came prepared with tools in the unfortunate event of a breakdown.
“But they also have tools set up at the aid stations.”
Registrants for all races came from across the province.
“A lot of people from North Bay, Sudbury, and Ottawa,” Miller pointed out.
Richard Greidanus who made the trip from Barrie also signed up for the 100 km leg.
Greidanus likes to compete in big events, with this the farthest north he has travelled for one.
“The weather has me a little scared, with the cold temperatures and the rain, it is going to be a challenge, but the distance is what I set out to do this year. I saw it posted last year and I made it a point to fit it into my schedule this year,” shared Greidanus.
“I would say it is a growing sport, it is definitely getting bigger and bigger every year. I like to check out the area, the scenery, the different types of roads, and the backcountry. Just seeing different parts of the country by bike is my favourite part.”
Lucie Laperriere Rochefort signed up for the 60 km route.
The local rider brings with her a quarter-century of experience as a recreational cyclist.
“I take my time, and I enjoy the trails in the bush. I just need to be careful when I go down hills,” stated Laperriere Rochefort.
“I’m just taking it all in stride. My goal is to not have any accidents, stay healthy, and hopefully finish.”
As with most events such as this, volunteers play an integral role in its success.
“We have some volunteer firefighters on ATVs with them, with satellite phones and first aid, all the stuff they need. We have aid stations for water and nutrition with volunteers around Mattawa,” stated Miller.
Miller explained that Voyageur 200 is a fundraiser for the North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation, specifically for the care of patients with Aphasia.
The Mayo Clinic describes Aphasia as a disorder that affects how you communicate. It can impact your speech, as well as the way you write and understand both spoken and written language.
Aphasia usually happens suddenly after a stroke or head injury. But it can also come on gradually from a slow-growing brain tumour or a disease that causes progressive permanent damage as explained by the Mayo Clinic.
In addition to fundraising, the event hosted in partnership with Discovery Routes and the North Bay Mountain Bike Association, will introduce those familiar with gravel biking, and what the region has to offer.
“We grew decently, we had about 50 people last year, and we are up to 75 this year, so we’re thinking of lots of ways to grow it up to the size we would like to see,” said Miller.
“The goal is to have a small festival vibe eventually, for people to stay and enjoy a barbecue, watch some entertainment, and see how everyone finishes.”
