April 6, 2011 (Maple Ridge, BC) – The Second Annual Barry’s Roubaix Cycling Race, presented by Local Ride Bike Shop on Sunday, April 10 on a 10km course located near the Pitt Meadows Airport, is a fabulous free spectator event for the whole family to enjoy, plus it’s easily accessible for walkers and cyclists via the Pitt Meadows Dyke Network and the community’s scenic, flat, and quiet roads.

Racers have until 4:00 pm on Saturday, April 9 to register for the event at www.karelo.com.

“The easiest way for spectators to get a front-row view of the race action is if they make their way to the start/finish area at Pitt Meadows Airport under their own power,” said race organizer and owner of Local Ride Bike Shop Barry Lyster. “They won’t have to worry about parking, plus they will have access to the best viewing spots on the course.”

Lyster is keen to keep the event as car-free as possible and give Ridge-Meadows cycling fans a chance to experience the amazing biking and recreation opportunities in their own backyards.

Racing starts at 8:30 am and will end around 2:00 pm with the exciting finishes of the feature events – the Category 1/2 Women and Men’s races – highlighting some of the province’s top teams, like the Maple Ridge-based Local Ride/Dr. Vie Superfoods+ Elite Women’s squad. The Category 1/2 men start their 120km assault at 11:00 am, while the Category 1/2 women take off on their 100km rampage at 11:05 am.

Fans will have the opportunity to cheer on future stars during the U17 Youth race that starts at 10:30 am.

Spectator Guide
Most of the action will be centered around the south end of Baynes Road – the location of the start, finish, and registration.

Start: Watch the riders kick up dirt as they start on the dyke at the Baynes Road access and power west along approximately 4km of loose and rough gravel before they exit via a treacherous corner onto Ford Road.

Ford Road Corners: Early in the race, the riders will be packed tightly together as they cruise along the 5km Ford Road portion of the route that heads east and contains six 90-degree corners on the way back to Baynes Road.

Finish: After the racers make that final right-hand turn onto Baynes Road, they will be faced with a 1200m finishing straight that can become brutal due to potentially high winds. This portion is also deceptive, because riders can see the finish line the entire time, so sprints are often initiated too early on the final lap, creating a melee of bikes and riders.

Playbook: After several laps, the pack will most likely be broken into smaller groups consisting of a breakaway rider or small group of lead riders, followed by a chase pack with dropped riders strung out behind. In some cases, the main pack may stay together for the entire race, creating an exciting bunch sprint finish situation at the end, but even though the course is primarily flat, a separation of riders will likely occur due to several factors:

– Tricky gravel corners on either end of the dyke portion,
– 4km of leg-taxing gravel surface,
– Threat of tire punctures on sharp rocks,
– Potentially strong winds, and
– Relentless surges and attacks from various players in the race.

If spectators do plan to arrive by car, please note there is no parking along Airport Way. Parking will be in the Airport’s overflow parking lot.

View a handy map of Pitt Meadows bike routes to plan your ride or walk to the race here.

For more info about the race, click here.

To register for the race, visit: www.karelo.com

To volunteer for the race, contact Local Ride Bike Shop:
local_ride@shaw.ca
604-466-2016