by Marc Kramer, Cyclon Committee Member
Cyclon '95, the TBN's biggest and most anticipated annual cycling event, took place once again on the August civic holiday weekend. For the second consecutive year, Cyclon was held in beautiful Prince Edward County, just south of Belleville.
Prince Edward County is ideal for cycling. The countryside is picturesque, with century farms scattered amongst a golden patchwork of fields and pastures. Occasionally the quiet roads run along tranquil, willow-lined bays, where sailboats swing on their moorings; a little further along, after a brief ascent, the view may open to an inspiring vista of Lake Ontario. For the most part the traffic is light and the drivers considerate of cyclists. And best of all for most of us, the terrain is essentially flat, although most rides included a climb up Macaulay Mountain - just to keep things interesting!
Rumour has it that Cyclon '95 director Alan Burke called Mother Nature to ensure good weather for the weekend, but only got her voice-mail. The weather was favourable, however, with only a few brief showers on Saturday morning; top awards for the best mud-splattered t-shirts go to Carmen and Carmelle Renaud. Although overcast on Sunday, most people were thankful for the comfortable temperatures, and Monday was perfect for the TBN picnic and a swim at Sandbanks Provincial Park.
The logistics of feeding and accommodating 187 hungry and tired cyclists were pretty daunting. Still, most participants were satisfied with the meals and with the 35 Bed & Breakfast locations, although it's rumoured there was some last- minute room shuffling in the sportif quarters (just who did get the room with the jacuzzi, Owen?).
"Carbo-loading" was a buzz-word commonly heard over the course of the weekend, but "protein-loading" and "sugar-loading" were certainly in evidence as well. It's unclear whether calorie output actually matched calorie intake; it took two burly riders (would that make a tandem?) just to carry Saturday night's roast beef into the hall. Michael Ibrajev can vouch for the sweet table at the Sunday dinner, and the various loaves available for dessert at the picnic lunch on Monday were almost biblical in number.
Cyclon is as much a social event as it is an opportunity to do some good cycling. As always, the Sunday dinner/dance was the social highlight of the weekend. But the long rides and hearty feasting evidently tired members out; most people left the hall, presumably for their beds, shortly after Grandpa's Goodtime Gang finished their first rendition of "Goodnight Irene". Those who stayed were able to take part in several square dances, guided by a local dance caller (and you thought simultaneously drinking from your water bottle, shifting gears and signalling a turn while riding in a double echelon was complicated!). Those who left early take heart; Grandpa's has offered to come to Toronto for the next TBN social event!
As with any TBN event, it was the people - both the organizers and the participants - who made Cyclon '95 such a success. The many members who return each year are evidence of the importance of this event to the club. If you missed it this year, then ink Cyclon '96 into your daytimer! Age, lack of energy or transportation will not be adequate excuses for missing it; well into his 70s, Doug Bowers' one-day, 180 km ride from Toronto to Picton should be an inspiration to us all!
Cyclon '95 would not have been possible without the help of the committee members and the various volunteers who prepared the registration forms, arranged the accommodations, planned and booked the meals, researched and mapped the routes, booked the halls, stuffed envelopes, drove the bike bus... Thanks go out to Sue Taylor, Carmelle Renaud, Jan Krulewitz, Brenda Porter, Julia Soberman, Eric Slater, Bill Hannaford, Bob Everett, Rob Long, and to all those who helped out at the registration desk and who led tours. Special thanks to Cyclon '95 director Alan Burke for all his time and effort, and especially for his personal attention in accommodating individual requests. Kudos also go to his (new) wife Jan for putting up with it all for the past several months.