Bramalea CycleFest

Bramalea CycleFest 2015 was a success story in its first year.

Cyclefest Day Jun 27^th and we are back at All Peoples Church bright and early for set up and kids bike distribution.

Pastor Finu is handing out the volunteer T-shirts. Everyone has a job to do, tables set, banners hung, tents up, post-event bike valet parking roped off.

Lindy from City of Brampton Parks and Rec and I spent several hours yesterday installing the course signs but there are plenty of other tasks that still need to be done.

The sky is grey and heavy rain is forecasted by noon, yet the mood is upbeat and everyone performs their jobs efficiently.

Head of volunteers Theresa and I brief the course volunteers and send them on their way to their posts, with encouragements to tweet and use social media!

Peel Police MPU Officers on bike patrol sign pick up their maps for the event. A permit has been obtained to close off the north end of Finchgate Blvd.

Cyclists sign in at the registration tent and get their maps, make donations and visit with friends and neighbours.

When the time comes we brief the riders so, hopefully, everyone knows where they are going. The pre-event nervous tension builds…

And then they are off!

The event was a huge success with everyone seeming to have a good time, even with the challenges of a few signs gone missing and, of course, the weather. Most of the riders were finished before the heavens opened and the rain poured down. The BBQ moved into the Church where riders shared stories!

Many of the children were new to cycling and many participants had never travelled before on Brampton’s beautiful Chinguacousy Trail, making this a unique event in Brampton and a very different experience than the week before at Bike the Creek!