cyclesprucewoods

Cycle Clear Lake

Cycle Clear Lake 2012 has been scheduled for Saturday, July 7th. The group campsite, Camp Kippechewin, has been booked for Friday night, July 6, AND Saturday night. We will be taking registrations by mail or on line starting in February 2012.

2011 Report and Photos Below

Saturday July 2, 2011

Sunshine welcomed even the early registrants in the morning of Saturday July 3, 2011. Forty-four cyclists arrived to register for an 8:30 start with about 12 who were new to the event. The first part of the trail heading East on the South Shore was fine with a few tricky spots and some hills too steep for the less adventurous to ascend or descend. But as we approached South Lake the isthmus separating South Lake from Clear Lake narrowed and for the last 50 metres it was badly eroded and cyclists walked their bikes in the water. As in recent years, cyclists then had to wade through a short stretch of waist deep water in a horseshoe shaped sand bar between Clear Lake and South Lake to continue on the trail.

Due to the very wet spring weather we used an old paved road closed to vehicles for the first section of the North Shore trail which has a number of difficult wet areas. Three of the more experienced cyclists chose to use the original route and still managed to come in ahead of the rest. Part of the trail between Camp Wannakumbac and Kippechewin was flooded but cyclists were able to cycle on a firm base through the 20 - 30 cm deep water for the 1/2 km flooded stretch. In a record time of under 4 hours all cyclists completed the 35 kilometre route and were back at Camp Kippechewin before 12:30. After a delicious BBQ lunch, they were rewarded with the announcement that $21,600 had been raised for MCC as part of the Brandon MCC Relief Sale. The funds raised this year are designated for food projects of MCC. Paul Friesen of MCC Manitoba gave a short talk about various food related projects that MCC is supporting.

All cyclists received prizes and t-shirts and many are looking forward to do it again in 2012. The campsite has been tentatively booked for July 6-7, 2012 with the cyclathon scheduled for Saturday, July 7, 2012.

Below is a map of the 35 km route. Note the higher/dryer alternate North Shore Route used for the 2011 event shown in red.