Spring Ahead: A sampling of March Break bike offerings to take a bite out of winter
Among other things, there's nothing like cycling to get the kids out of the house and occupied this March Break.
If you’re a student or a teacher, one of the best times of the year is fast approaching, when March Break flings open winter’s doors to welcome spring across Canada. For parents, on the other hand, maybe it’s not so great for that reason.
And if that’s the case, there’s no time better than March Break to get the kids out of the house, and nothing like cycling to give them something to do.
Across the country, riders will be reveling in the gradually warming, sunny conditions following what they hope, at least, will be the last snows of the year. With kids being off school at the same time, organizations throughout Canada are offering camps and other experiences during the last two weeks of March to keep them busy, and get their cycling seasons started right. With some local spring races also having kicked off their respective series, it’s also a winning opportunity to get in your first competition of the year.
Here’s a look at a sampling of those offerings, mostly in B.C. and Ontario. Consult listings in your own hometown to see what else may be available, both for kids and adults, to welcome the best of spring in the saddle.
Ontario March Break Track Camp
Milton, Ont.
March 14 to 17, 2016
Registration for this event has been closed since New Year’s, so consider this a reminder to those already signed up that it starts on March 14, continuing until March 17. Targeted at developing skills on the track, this program is intended for athletes in minime, cadet or junior categories this year. Held at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton, Ont., the program includes both on-track and on-road training, and is open to those with a UCI license and certification to ride at the Milton velodrome.
Extended hours at Joyride 150 Indoor Bike Park
Markham, Ont.
March 11 to March 20, 2016
March Break, Spring Break, whatever you want to call it, is all about unwinding and blowing off the winter’s steam. The good folks at Joyride 150 indoor cycling centre in Markham, Ont. are extending their hours from March 11 to March 20, inviting riders to take advantage of the facility between the hours of 10 am and 10 pm. Get further information about program offerings, events, contact details and pricing at joyride150.com.
Thunderbird Road Race
Langley, B.C.
March 19, 2016
At the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, B.C., the Escape Velocity Spring Series continues with the Thunderbird Road Race on March 19, competition that’s open to those with a Cycling BC Provincial Race License, USCF, or any UCI license. Riders will compete in four groups—A, B, C and D—taking to courses throughout the morning that range in length from 30-40 km (D group) to 120-130 km (A group). Same-day registration is available, but riders can also pre-register until 11:59 pm the Wednesday before competition.
iRide Spring Break Cycling Camp
Burnaby, B.C.
March 21 to 25, 2016
Cycling BC’s iRide program has been wildly successful, getting British Columbia youth in the saddle and cultivating the next generation of west coast cycling talent. From March 21 to 25, the iRide Spring Break Cycling Camp happens at the Burnaby velodrome, just outside Vancouver. Young riders receive training in safety and basic cycling, opportunities to sharpen their skills in mountain biking and BMX, and of course, riding sessions at the velodrome itself.
Pedalheads March Break cycling camps
Vancouver, B.C.
March 14 to 18 and March 21 to 24, 2016
During the last 25 years, Pedalheads, based in Vancouver, has promoted kids’ health and development by offering a wide range of swimming and cycling programs. This month, Pedalheads is kicking off its March Break cycling camps for 2016, a mix of half-day and full-day training in two blocks: March 14 to 18, and March 21-24, the latter being a short, four-day week. Conducted at North Vancouver’s Brocktop Preparatory School and Jericho Hill Centre in Vancouver, the March Break cycling camps serve as a prelude to what promises to be a busy summer season for Pedalheads.
Endless Biking Spring Break camp
North Vancouver, B.C.
March 14-17, 2016
Also in Vancouver—specifically North Vancouver—Endless Biking’s Spring Break Camp offers young, would-be cross country riders, 6 to 9 years old, a place to work on their braking, cornering, climbing, descending, maneuvering skills and more. It’s an experience to get kids hooked on the adventure of trail riding, Endless Biking’s website reads, and is ideal as an introduction to all things off road. The event will be held at the Inter-river Bike Park in North Vancouver.
For the rest of us, the warming weather and the time off that may come with March Break offers chances to explore outside our respective provinces. South of the border, the cycling experiences that await in the mild temperatures and wide outdoor spaces of North Carolina, an accessible drive for those in eastern Canada, are a beautiful way to kick off the season. As Canadian Cycling Magazine recently reported, that’s something that Ontario’s provincial squad knows well.
