50 riders, 22 days, 9 provinces, 2 bicycle seats, and 1 goal: Cure Juvenile Diabetes.
The 2009 Accu-Chek Cyclebetes Provincial Relay is a relay across the country from Halifax Nova Scotia to Victoria British Columbia, covering over 75,000kms.
This relay will consist of a core group of teams from each of the 8 provinces Accu-Chek Cyclebetes will cross. Each provincial team will consist of 5 adult riders (from elite to fit recreational riders) and 5 youth (whose lives have been touched by juvenile diabetes). We encourage parent and child teams!
The key to this relay is that it will be accomplished on one tandem bicycle which will relay the Accu-Chek Aviva Nano blood glucose meter across the country. At all times the tandem bike will be powered by an adult and a youth from your team. Each rider will take 1-3hr turns before rotating through other team members who will be following in the support RV’s travelling through the day time through some provinces and 24hrs a day through others.
Teams will pass the Accu-Chek Aviva Nano blood glucose meter (The Cyclebetes baton) to the next team at each provincial border - and this is the beginning.
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Accu-Chek Cyclebetes began to blaze their trail yesterday morning at 6:00 am, Atlantic time. The team was pumped up and eager to take-on the infamous Hurricane Bill. They were prepped and ready with the Norco tandem and a fully decaled support RV.
After a quick dip in the Atlantic the team headed out on the road. Maritime Team riders Mike Le Blanc and Alex Bates took the first shift to kick off the ride - Official start time 7:15… first official flat tire 7:30 (yup 15mins later), those are some roads.
Back on the road Hurricane Bill reared his ugly face… this was it, the Accu-Chek Cyclebetes Team was going head to head with Bill and they weren’t giving up. This is one promise that has to be kept.
You always hear about the kindness of people on the east coast of Canada, but when your there to experience it first hand… A gentleman that had been following behind the team, had them stop so he could donate $20 to our cause; Amazing.
After a long day on the road, the team arrived in Moncton, New Brunswick! A little food, rest, and a few beverages, the team would be ready for Day 2.
Author: Grant Daisley