麻豆社区

Registration for the 21st annual Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay was full in early April with over 275 teams signing up for the 240-kilometre ride which takes place this year on June 15.

The maximum 1200 riders capacity was reached only three weeks after registration opened.

Teams have four different sizes to choose from when registering their team.

Race coordinator Mike Kramer reports that this year's event will involve 42 solo riders, 39 two-person teams, 102 four-person teams, and 95 eight-person teams.

Pre-race package pickup and captains' meetings will occur in both Whitehorse and Haines Junction on June 11 and 14 respectively.

While Yukon and Alaskan teams represent the largest group of riders, this year's event will also see riders coming from British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Minnesota, and California.

Safety continues to be the overriding concern of race officials and the KCIBR Board.

Organizers acknowledge that they cannot control Mother Nature which presented riders with cold, wet, windy conditions for much of the ride last year.

This year's event will see increased signage reminding riders to keep as far right as possible and reminding drivers to slow down around checkpoints.

The staggered start times in Haines Junction are being condensed this year to get all riders out on course within the first 10 minutes.

This will allow riders to get further down the course while protective traffic control measures are still in place. Riders have the first 3.8 kms of road to get spread out before they start to encounter vehicular traffic.

Motorists are reminded of traffic delays in effect on next Saturday. Southbound traffic on the Haines Highway will be held at the weigh scale in Haines Junction from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. Northbound traffic will be held at Kathleen River from 8:30 to 10:15 a.m.

Riders and motorists can help out by leaving early so they don't have to rush, park well off the road, exercise extreme caution when opening doors, pass riders, checkpoints, and other vehicles only when safe to do so, cycle as close to the right side of the road as possible, and look out for each other.

Past bike relays often involve anecdotal stories of teams helping each other. Whether it be a flat tire, someone has run low on water, or an extra layer of clothing is needed, people stop and lend a hand if needed regardless of whose team is involved.

While the event attracts a spectrum of riders from very competitive to very recreational, at the end of the day, "the goal is for everyone to get safely to Haines.鈥�

For more information, visit the race website at www.kcibr.org.