Completing its sixth year, Robb’s Ride saw 160 cyclists complete another 348 kilometre route to Osoyoos and back to again Grand Forks from June 1 to 3.
Robb’s Ride has cyclists participating from around British Columbia and Alberta, and is starting to draw attention from Washington.
Bob MacLean, president of the Grand Forks Cycling Club, explained the purpose is to have fun.
“It’s not a race by any means,” he said. “It’s an all-ages event, but you should have a road bike, and you do need to have some decent physical fitness in order to complete over 300 kilometres of riding.”
Dr. Robert (Robb) Sebastian explained that Robb’s Ride began six years ago when the Grand Forks Cycling Club decided to start spring training.
“I organized within the Grand Forks Cycling Club a group of six or seven of us to go around the Kootenays for spring training,” he said. “Of course, I fell off a mountain that year a week before the ride was to occur and the ride was cancelled. Hence the name Robb’s Ride, it was the ride Robb cancelled for everybody – so it was a joke at first, but the name stuck.”
Sebastian noted that the ride has been growing 30 per cent each year, with around 120 cyclists last year and roughly 160 this year.
MacLean added that there is a trailing vehicle that will support anyone who is struggling. “It’s fully supported with a lead car and trailing car,” MacLean said.
Day one is a 104-kilometer scenic route through Grand Forks, beginning at the USCC Doukobor Centre on Highway 3 and up Granby Road through to Hardy Mountain.
On day two, participants head towards Osoyoos through the roads in Northern Washington. The roads are fairly flat until the Okanagan and into Osoyoos 120 kilometres later.
The final day is considered the Queen stage with the challenging Anarchist and Eholt summit part of the 120-kilometre journey back into Grand Forks.
“It’s nice to bring it home to Grand Forks so we can fill up the hotels and restaurants, and it is excellent riding,” Sebastian said. “It’s three days of fun and suffering with your friends.”
Sebastian would like to thank the Grand Forks Cycling Club and the community for their ongoing support.
For more information, visit robbsride.com.