{"id":1958,"date":"2012-06-05T01:09:03","date_gmt":"2012-06-05T05:09:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/?p=1958"},"modified":"2017-11-19T09:37:20","modified_gmt":"2017-11-19T14:37:20","slug":"the-montreal-bike-fest-week-and-le-tour-de-lile-de-montreal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dougbardwell.com\/db\/the-montreal-bike-fest-week-and-le-tour-de-lile-de-montreal\/","title":{"rendered":"The Montreal Bike Fest week and Le Tour de L\u2019ile de Montreal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sunday June 3rd<\/sup>, I was invited to attend the wrap-up event of the week-long Montreal Bike Fest.<\/p>\n

Two rides were held simultaneously, starting at 9:15 a.m. Sunday morning. The Challenge Route would follow the same route we would follow, but at mach-speeds.\u00a0 This advanced riders\u2019 only event was for those cyclists who could travel in a pack at average speeds of 30km\/h for 1-1\/2 hours. I looked, but I didn\u2019t see myself in that group of 275 elite riders.<\/p>\n

\"Le_Tour_de_I'ile_de_Montreal\"<\/a>Right behind (at least at the starting line) came the other 22,000 riders who were out to enjoy a day of cycling at whatever pace they chose. Riders of all ages road their bikes of choice including recumbents, kiddy trailers and bicycles built-for-two. 50 people took advantage of a special $10 rate for all day and rented BIXI bikes to complete the course.<\/p>\n

Attire was all too festive as well, with unofficial uniforms ranging from furry hairpieces to helmets adorned with rubber-ducky float rings.<\/p>\n

Thirty-seven hundred volunteers helped make this a special event. Everywhere you looked, volunteers were warning of speed bumps in the street, making sure you didn\u2019t miss a traffic island or generally pointing the way.<\/p>\n

Musicians performed alongside the route about every five kilometers to entertain the riders.\u00a0 Residents even joined in the fun making noise with bells, whistles and a Montrealers\u2019 favorite \u201cah-oh-ga\u201d horn as bikers road by.<\/p>\n

\"Le_Tour_de_I'ile_de_Montreal\"<\/a>The police force had closed all streets to traffic during the event – even towing cars left parked on the roads overnight. Cross streets were protected with barricades, cones or police cars to give bikers free rein of the entire route. Organizers referred to it as the High Mass of Cycling.<\/p>\n

With all the protections and preparations, parents could allow their children to ride in the streets without worry (unless you were concerned about being run over by 22 thousand other bikers.)<\/p>\n

The ride progressed around the city, touring nine neighborhoods, with three\u00a0\u00a0 rest stops at major parks along the way. People were easily distracted by ducks and geese with their baby ducklings and goslings at the first rest area. It made for a leisurely but satisfying ride on a Sunday afternoon \u2013 just like the good ole days (????) It was definitely a great day for bicyclists and a bit frustrating for the detour-afflicted motorists.<\/p>\n