The Tour de Whitewater takes place in the Township of Whitewater Region, a picturesque area bounded by the Ottawa River on the East and Hwy 17 on the West between Renfrew and Pembroke. The first ride was in 2017 and it continues today. There are 5 rides, one for every skill level: 100Km, 65Km Gravel, 50Km, 25Km and 10Km. Four Rest Stations are positioned along the routes with snacks and when the ride is over you get to enjoy a BBQ lunch with Ice Cream Sundaes, Cash Bar and local entertainment. This year we are also having wine and beer tasting so it should be fun.
The event is hosted by the Town of Westmeath with its friendly community volunteers and has become very popular with between 400 and 500 riders, mostly from Eastern Ontario & the Outaouais but some from as far away as Calgary Alberta. In the latest ride, over 70% of riders had been on a previous Tour de Whitewater and over 20% had attended every ride.
Check out our FB page for more info and how to register.
Thanks in advance for all your help and hope to see you there.
BTW: We do the following to ensure we have a safe day
- We rely on OVCATA (Ottawa Valley Cycle and Active Training Association) to chart the routes - ensure roads are in safe and in good condition (working with Township) – and to provide direction signage.
- We notify the OPP on the day of the Ride to be vigilant
- We run Radio ads are run on the day of the Ride every 15 minutes warning people of the ride and to drive with caution
- We have day of the ride Caution Signs placed strategically around the Township
- We have a crew that directs traffic and guides individuals to parking
- We control access to roads in close proximity with the WDRA centre to ensure everyone's safety
- We have a Ride Marshal that instructs the riders regarding Safety, Directions, Etiquette and Rules of the road
- Every Ride has a "Sweep" an experienced rider that follows the ride ensuring there are no mishaps, problems or injuries
- We have individuals pausing traffic and key times during the rides (usually Starts and a few early turns)
- We have St John's Ambulance on site 8am to 2pm (in communication with the "Sweeps")
- We have water available throughout the day at the WDRA centre
- We have 4 Rest Stations with water and fruit and a Porta Potty at strategic locations
- We have 4 Porta Potties at the WDRA centre
- We have experienced Bike Companies on site available to do minor adjustments and bike inspection
Note: This is not a TBN Event!
