More than 700 cyclists will participate in unique Okanagan Trestles Tour event this weekend

One of Canada’s and British Columbia’s most unique cycling events is ready to roll once again this Canada Day holiday weekend as the Okanagan Trestles Tour takes place.

Event director Glenn Bond said 700 cyclists have pre-registered for the sixth annual event, which takes place Sunday.

Because of the size and scope of the event, late registrations are not being accepted, he said.

“We’ve got people coming in from all over Western Canada, including all over British Columbia, many parts of the United States and several from overseas in Europe and other destinations,” said Bond, in a phone interview Thursday morning. “For a lot of cyclists, this is an event they simply don’t want to miss.”

This isn’t a competitive race as no times are kept and there are no mass starts as people can begin their ride at their own leisure, he said.

It’s all about enjoying the incredible beauty of the Okanagan Valley, while cycling with friends, family members and fellow cyclists, he said.

The Okanagan Trestles Tour offers three different routes, including the most popular 80-kilometre route from Myra Canyon in Kelowna to the Penticton Lakeside Resort in downtown Penticton.

The 40-kilometre course runs from Chute Lake Resort to the Penticton Lakeside Resort and there’s also a 20-kilometre Glenfir Loop that also ends up at the Penticton Lakeside Resort.

For the more than 500 people signed up for the 80-kilometre distance, they will travel across 20 trestles and bridges and encounter four tunnels and a mountain bike is highly recommended as there are sections of sand and very rough sections along the Kettle Valley Railway course, said Bond.

The first 11 kilometres of the event feature 18 bridges and trestles and two tunnels.

Less than three kilometres into the tour, riders will travel across Trestle 11, which is the high point of the entire route.

Riders take off on the “pancake flat” start line at Myra Canyon and travel more than 36 kilometres to Chute Lake and then begin a noticable 2.2 percent descent all the way into downtown Penticton, he said.

There will be six food and water aid stations along the route, along with several first aid and bicycle mechanics stations, he said.

Chute Lake Resort, which is the halfway point of the tour and start line for the 40-kilometre event, features rustic cabins and lodge rooms, along with an antiques museum with a collection of farm, railway and assorted memorabilia, said Bond.

The Glenfir loop, which marks the beginning of the 20-kilometre event, is a place where trains had to stop for 10 minutes to cool their brakes before proceeding into Penticton.

Once competitors are at the finish line at the Penticton Lakeside Resort, they will enjoy a celebration Sunday afternoon with live music, barbecue and beverages, said Bond.

This year marks the 104th anniversary of the original construction of the trestles through Myra Canyon and it has been 15 years since the Okanagan Mountain Fire and this year’s tour will help celebrate the rebuilding of Myra Canyon Trestles, he said.

“We salute to the volunteers and everyone who helped rebuild the trestles,” said Bond.

This event would not take place without the tremendous support of Trails BC and the Trans Canada Trail Foundation as they commit to a lot of work to building and maintaining trails, he said.

While the event has become a great success, Bond said it will be able to increase by leaps and bounds once “the large middle section” of the KVR Trail is upgraded.

“The ride from Myra Canyon is exceptional and so is the south end of the KVR trail heading towards Penticton … but the middle section still needs a great deal of work,” said Bond. “I’ve been pushing for more than six years to get this middle section upgraded and so far we’ve not been successful.

“I don’t want to say too much on the record but the middle section is still not up to standards for a trail system that is considered to be world-class.”

Many of the competitors will be forced to drop out as they will get flat tires as a result of the rough terrain along this section of the KVR Trail, he said.

Once this section is upgraded, Bond believes the Okanagan Trestles Tour could become one of the most popular cycling tour events of its kind anywhere in the world.

The registration fee paid by the 700 participants includes not only the tour, but six refreshment stations on reoute with snacks and drinks, event T-shirt, barbecue and dance at the finish line, mechanical support provided by several Okanagan bike shops and secure parking for all bikes during post-event celebrations, he said.

A shuttle service will be provided where bikes will be transported on Saturday from the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre to the three start lines at Myra Canyon, Chute Lake and Glenfir Loop, said Bond.

On Sunday morning, participants in the 80-kilometre event will be shuttled from the South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC) in Penticton to the start line at Myra Canyon beginning at 7:30 a.m. The cost of the shuttle from the SOEC is $35 on Saturday and $40 on Sunday.

“We want to move as many bikes as posible on Saturday, so if you can bring your bike Saturday, it is ideal,” said Bond.

Riders who will shuttle themselves can begin their ride between 8 and 9 a.m. at Myra Canyon Sunday morning and between 9 and 9:30 a.m. at Chute Lake.

Shuttle buses will arrive between 9 and 9:30 a.m. at Chute Lake.

“We want all the vehicles in Penticton so people can depart at their leisure once the event is over,” he said. “There will be a wide range of finish times so everyone can enjoy the food, drinks and live music in Penticton and your vehicles will be there waiting for you."

There will not be any shuttle service offered after the event, he said.

Staying Saturday night in Penticton is encouraged and riders from Kelowna or nearby can drive to Penticton early Sunday morning as well, he said.

Event packages are available on Thursday, June 28 at Vernon’s Olympia Cycle and Ski between 4-5:30 p.m.; Kelowna Fresh Air Experience between 2-4 p.m. on Friday; and Saturday, June 30 at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre between 1-4 p.m.

To get from downtown Kelowna to the Myra Canyon start line, riders can start from downtown Kelowna, make their way to KLO Road and turn left.

They will then follow KLO Road to the “Y” junction of KLO Road and McCulloch Road. Take McCulloch Road and follow the direction signs pointing to Gallagher’s Canyon golf course. Continue past the golf course and they will find the road narrows as it winds its way down to a narrow bridge crossing KLO Creek.

Keep going until you see a high voltage power line crossing the road. The next exit on the right is Myra Forest Service Road.

Follow this gravel road for eight kilometres until you come to a cattle guard. Turn right immediately past the cattle guard and you are in the Myra Station parking lot with easy access to the trail leading into the canyon.

To get to the Chute Lake start line, take Naramata Road to the Naramata/Chute Lake Road junction. Go straight ahead for 10 kilometres and turn right on the wide paved road. From this point it is another 10 kilometres or so to Chute Lake, keeping to the right all the way. The Glenfir Loop start line also takes participants to the junction of Naramata Road and Chute Lake Road.

Go straight ahead for 10 kilometres and turn right on the wide paved road. Glenfir Loop is only about 200 metres once the pavement ends. You will cross a cattle guard, then look for Glenfir parking on your right side. You will cross another cattle guard as you enter the parking area.

For more information, visit the website at www.okanagantrestletour.com.