Photo: MONA GHIZ, MARLANT PA
Registration open for second annual Navy Bike Ride
By Ryan Melanson,
Trident Staff
After a successful debut in 2017 that saw nearly 400 people hit the Shearwater Trail on their bicycles, the CFB Halifax Navy Bike Ride is back for its second year. The ride is set to take place on Saturday, June 9, leaving from the Shearwater Fitness and Sports Centre, and registration is now open.
The Halifax event is just one of the many shadow bike rides taking place alongside the main Navy Bike Ride in Ottawa, with Halifax, Esquimalt and Quebec city each hosting their own events. Each Naval Reserve Division across the country has also been tasked with organizing a shadow ride of their own, and for the Halifax area, members of HMCS Scotian are partnering with MARLANT and PSP Halifax to hold one all-encompassing event.
The ride offers three different routes of varying distance and difficulty; the six kilometre route travels along the Shearwater trail and turns around at the Caldwell Road, while the 15km route follows the trail to the Bissett Road before looping around, and the complete 30km route continues past Bissett Road and across the Salt Marsh Trail before turning around at West Lawrencetown Road.
“It’s a gorgeous trail and a really nice bike ride. Out to Bissett road (15km) is nice, but once you start crossing the Salt Marsh Trail, it really hits you how incredible the area and the view is,” said PSP Fitness and Sports Coordinator Kevin Miller, adding that the three different distances are meant to open the event to all ages and skill levels. With the ride being held on a Saturday this year, there’s also a hope that kids and family members decide to get participate.
BMO is the primary sponsor for the three main shadow rides, and their contributions will go towards healthy snacks for participants, a free Navy Bike Ride t-shirt for all who register, and other special prizes and giveaways, including pre-paid BMO Mastercards.
There’s no cost to participate, but riders must bring their own bikes, with mountain bikes recommended, and free registration is required to receive the t-shirt and for a chance to win prizes. There also options to purchase a special Navy Bike Ride Jersey or biking Buff along with registration, and part of the proceeds from that effort will go towards the Royal Naval Benevolent Fund and Support Our Troops Canada. For more information on registration, fundraising, trail safety, and all aspects of the event, visit the official site at http://navybikeride.ca.
