Transportation Choices Sunshine Coast’s (TraC) second annual Sunshine Coast Slow Food Ride, scheduled for Sunday, July 28, is fast approaching! This year’s event promises to be even bigger and better than last year, with 16 venues participating; including a wide variety of local farms, artisans, cideries, and breweries spread around upper Gibsons. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a leisurely cycling route that is easy and flat and generally on back roads, which makes the cycle accessible for riders of all ages and abilities. Cyclists will be sharing the roads with other vehicle traffic so the rules of the road apply. There will be traffic control provided at the two key highway crossings. Riders can ride as much or as little of the route as they want and preregistered riders can start and end their ride anywhere along the route.
The ride includes something for cyclists of all ages. Riders can stop to tour participating local farms and sample fresh farm produce straight from the fields, buy homemade pies, preserves, local honey and even mushrooms. There will be food available at many of the venues so participants can enjoy a relaxing brew and snack or lunch along the way. The ride will wrap up with a party at Persephone Brewing Company, with food, drinks and live music from the local band Brothers in Farms. Persephone’s large outdoor area is perfect for relaxing with friends and family after a day of cycling.
Last year’s Slow Food Ride brought a real sense of camaraderie among the riders, vendors, volunteers, and sponsors, and TraC expects the same community spirit this year. After all, what could be more fun than celebrating the local food scene and supporting the farmers, producers and artisans as well as sponsors like founding sponsor Sunshine Coast Credit Union who make it all possible, with the beautiful Sunshine Coast scenery as the perfect backdrop for a day of leisurely cycling? So get your bike tuned up, mark your calendars and get ready to ride and eat your way through the upper Gibsons area!
Registration opens on May 20 and is limited to 500 riders so TraC recommends that you register online early so that you are not disappointed. For more information go to transportationchoices.ca/slow-food-cycle-2024
