By David F. Rooney
The newly formed Revelocity Cycling Club is “stoked to announce” its premiert set of three mountain bike races, the first scheduled for July 28 at Mount Macpherson.
Details of the second and third races will be announced soon, but will on different courses, Aug. 11 and 25.
“We’re running them as sort of a prototype for the future,” Pete Smillie said in a recent interview.
The club has assembled some great prizes for the three “toonie mountain bike races”:
“The toonie pot will be seeded with $50 (men and women), and all collected toonies will accumulate. The pots will go to the top 3 riders that attend all 3 races – lowest cumulative time wins. The pots will be divided 50/30/20 for 1st/2nd/3rd,” Smillie said.”
The $2,500 in draw prizes (some at each race and Grand Draw prizes after the final race) for participants and volunteers, with some merchandise prices to the winners of each race. Exact prize packages will be posted soon. But in the meantime here’s what’s up for grabs:
- 1 day of heli skiing (Selkirk Tangiers Heli-skiing)
- 2 day trail running clinic (The Sports and Outdoor X-training School)
- cycling gloves/socks/t-shirts (Skookum Cycle and Ski)
- cycling merchandise and $100 toonie prize money (Flowt Bikes and Skis)
- Blok Bars/Emergen C/iPod shuffle (Pharmasave)
- bags and bags of coffee (Stoke Roasted Coffee)
- Patagonia bag and Patagonia stickers (Patagonia)
- Ryder sunglasses (Suntech Optics)”
But there’s a catch. The races will be open to Revelocity Club Members only. The joining process is entirely on-line and cannot be done at the races, instructions are at http://bikerevelstoke.org/enter/?page_id=503.
Why are races open to club members only and why does it cost $82 to join??
Smillie said $32 is for insurance. Club membership requires a Cycling BC license which provides medical and liability insurance to not only you as a rider, but to volunteers and organizers as well. If you already have a license you will not need to purchase another.
Trail construction and maintenance costs money, so $20 in trail maintenance is included in membership in the Revelstoke Cycling Association. Smillie said people who are already members of the association will be refunded that portion of the race fees after they purchase their Revelocity Club membership on-line).
The remaining $30 goes towards acquiring route markers, number placards, safety supplies “and other odds and ends, it all adds up and comes from club member fees,” Smillie said.
He also said there will be a one-time opportunity for riders who are not members of the club to participate and check out the scene.
“If you’d like to ride a trial race you can after registering, signing a waiver, and paying $10,” he said in a statement earlier this week. “This is one-time-only — subsequent participation will require joining the club.”
Out-of-town riders who hold a Citizen Race License or UCI License can participate for a $10 fee. Smillie said there may be some from Golden, Sicamous and Salmon Arm but anticipates that most racers will be local. Sponsors for the races include: Flowt Bikes and Skis; Helios Rehabilitation and Performance; Pharmasave; the Regent Hotel (where the after-race party will be held); Revelstoke Mountain Resort; Selkirk Tangiers Heli-skiing; Skookum Cycle and Ski; Stoke Roasted Coffee; and The Sports and Outdoor X-Training School.
If you’d like to volunteer contact RevelocityCC@yahoo.ca. If you’d like additional information please check the Revelocity tabs at bikerevelstoke.org or email RevelocityCC@yahoo.ca.