Turas Mór, a new vintage cycling journey through Creemore

Canada is getting a new vintage bike tour that takes its inspiration from European events such as L’Eroica in Italy. Creemore, Ont, will be hosting Turas Mór on May 14. Creemore is a Gaelic word that means “big heart” and Turas Mór builds off the Gaelic tradition using the phrase for “great journey” for the event. The inaugural 61-km tour is open to a maximum of 150 riders and hopes to become an annual celebration of cycling’s history.

Karen Gaudino, director of marketing at Creemore Springs brewery said, “We thought that by creating a vintage cycling festival in Creemore, we would pay homage to the love of cycling in the area while allowing folks to experience more than just the ride. We hope to enable cyclists to truly experience all that the area has to offer – all done in vintage costumes and gear without focusing on their finish time.”

Participants are encouraged to don their vintage gear and ride a vintage or “heroic” bike made prior to 1987. For the inaugural ride, organizers are being lenient and allowing participants to ride another road worthy bikes. Ideally there will be many steel frames and single-speed bikes with old-style toe clip pedals with straps.

Turas Mór is a non-competitive event and will traverse gravel roads through some of the scenic cycling areas of Clearview Township, Simcoe County. Riders will be able to enjoy local food and drink at designated rest spots. At the finish, participants will be invited to the vintage festival where they can enjoy the beer garden and delicious food in the village of Creemore. The entry fee is $87, which includes registration fuelling during the ride, post-ride hospitality and a late lunch hosted by Batch from Creemore. For more details on Turas Mór, visit creemorespringsturasmor.com.