A team of intrepid road warriors made a stop in Canmore on Friday (July 7) on their way to completing the first leg of the 6,759-k.m. Sea to Sea Cycling to End Poverty tour.
Sea to Sea, now in its fourth trip in twelve years – its second across Canada – hopes to break the cycle of poverty while cycling from coast-to-coast in support of World Renew and Partners Worldwide.
The two agencies work to give a hand up rather than a hand out to developing countries and areas in need of community development, food security, relief aid and disaster recovery – from as near as Fort McMurray during last year’s wildfires, to as far away as South Sudan where they are currently contributing to famine relief efforts.
Peter Slofstra is the tour chaplain, and said he helped come up with the idea for the fundraising tour several years ago.
“I think people want to make a difference in this world, and at the same time, they want to have an adventure. So the idea of an adventure with a purpose really seemed to resonate with me.”
Slofstra, a marathon runner, was ready for a new challenge when the group of organizers decided on the idea of a cycle tour.
There have been four tours since 2005, raising more than $5.5 million to contribute to 100 organizations aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty.
This year’s goal is $1.5 million.
The ride is a testament to the riders’ dedication to the cause, but also to their belief in themselves.
Slofstra’s wife, Marja, was training with him in the months leading up to the inaugural ride in 2005, when she broke her wrist a mere three weeks before the tour.
Marja thought that was the end of the tour for her – until they came across Big Blue, a Trek T100 tandem – their very own bicycle built for two.
With Peter as captain and Marja in the rear as stoker, the pair successfully completed the first ever Sea to Sea ride from Vancouver to Halifax.
Twelve years later, having just retired, the couple decided to take on the Sea to Sea challenge again, initially planning on individually cycling, but ultimately deciding that it was “time for Big Blue to ride again,” said Peter.
The tandem is one of the highlights of the tour for onlookers and supporters.
“It seems to inspire people. We had claimed a lane going down the Okanagan and people were behind us leaning out of their windows clapping like they had just seen this beautiful sight. And this kid yelled, ‘I love your bike!’ People tell us, ‘You look like a really great team,’ ” said Peter.
The support is what keeps the duo going, even where’s no shortage of comedians along the way.
Marja tends to bear the brunt of the barbs from the back.
“Oh, people say, ‘She’s not pedaling back there,’ or ‘She’s sleeping back there,’ ” she laughs.
Still, it’s grueling, said Peter, noting that Roger’s Pass was particularly difficult. Both he and Marja admit that the ride is tougher this time around.
“I hate to admit it, but 12 years on, it’s harder. We’re not as strong. Mentally we are, but not physically,” said Marja.
Still though, the pair from Kitchener, ON are having fun and have fallen in love with some of Canada along the way – particularly the Legacy Trail.
Gary Bomhof of Red Deer, is on his first ever ride after having recently retired at age 68. Just a few short months before the ride he decided to begin training, thinking this would be a good way to start off his golden years.
He’s calling this “Joanne’s ride,” and is riding in honour of his wife who passed away two years ago.
Bomhof said the ride has been challenging and he’s definitely “at the limits of his capabilities,” laughing that he probably should have trained more in the weeks leading up to the tour’s departure.
Still, Bomhoff said there have been personal victories along the way.
“It was an emotional high to reach Roger’s Pass.”
The tour departed Vancouver on June 26 and they hope to finish in Halifax on Aug. 31.
So far, the riders have completed one of six legs on the tour, which runs from Vancouver to Calgary, Calgary to Regina, Regina to Winnipeg, Grand Rapids, MI to Sault St. Marie MI, Espanola, ON to Ottawa, and finally, Ottawa to Halifax.
Of the total 131 riders, 52 are doing the entire Sea to Sea ride from coast-to-coast, with others choosing to tackle one or more leg individually. The tour consists of both Americans and Canadians with the youngest rider being 12 and the oldest 81.
Each rider is expected to raise at least $3,000 for each individual leg they ride, or $12,000 for the entire tour – with many far exceeding the minimum.
Ed Witovet, tour manager for Sea to Sea said that the tour is just $60,000 shy of its $1.5 million goal, but with just under eight weeks left for riders to fundraise, and with more riders joining along the way for the remaining five legs, he’s confident that they’ll easily surpass that number.
