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Welcome
&
Core Information
Welcome to
the 3rd VanIsle 1200 !
(Page
updated for the 2014 ride)
The VanIsle 1200 (3 a.m start, July 14th-18th 2014) is a low-key 1200
kilometer randonnee featuring scenic seaside vistas and West Coast
wilderness. Starting and finishing in Victoria, British Columbia,
Canada, the route travels along the Strait of Georgia, in-out across
Vancouver Island to the former mill town of Gold River before returning
to the drop-bag control at Campbell River and onwards to the northern
turnaround at the logging & fishing town of Port Hardy.
Rider Information:
Cost: [$300.00 US or Canadian] The entry will include C$10 mandatory membership in the
BC Randonneurs Cycling Club. (Cost will be $10 less if already a member
of the BC Randonneurs Cycling Club). Due
to fluctuations in currency, if you wish to pay in Canadian funds
please provide a money order, bank draft or check in Canadian funds.
Entry: On or after December 1st, 2013, email the ride organizer that you intend to participate in the 2014 VanIsle 1200. Once you receive a confirmation reply that you are on the list you then have two weeks to complete the following:
Note:
Rider Limit: Increased to 60 riders. A waiting list will be started when we reach the 60 rider limit.
Rider Qualification: Registrants will have successfully completed a 1000 km brevet or a 1200 km brevet in 2012, 2013 or 2014, or have completed the 200, 300, 400, and 600 km brevet series in either 2013 or 2014.
Rider's Bicycles and Reflective Material:
- This ultra distance brevet is limited to riders pedaling
human-powered bicycles or tandems. bicycles with more than two wheels
are not permitted, as many of the roads are narrow.
- Riders' bicycles must be in excellent mechanical condition as the
northern 600 kilometers of the route travels through isolated
wilderness.
- A strong front-light and at minimum one red, rear tail-light are
required to be mounted on the bike. Back-up lights and batteries must
be carried with the rider.
- Reflective material is highly recommended on rear seat-stays, crank
arms and front forks; in addition, a reflective vest or sash is
also highly recommended for rider safety.
- A reflective safety triangle
hanging from the seat, seat bag or on the rear side of the rider ; and ankle bands are required to be worn
from dusk to dawn for the duration of the event. These will be supplied at check in.
Rider Insurance: Each rider is responsible for
ensuring that they have adequate insurance coverage, such as travel
medical insurance, liability insurance, travel cancellation insurance
and adequate vehicle insurance. It is highly recommended that each
rider consult with the appropriate insurance broker to determine the
rider's insurance needs.
Cycling is an inherently risky activity. Cycling over long distances
over unfamiliar terrain at all hours of the day and in sometimes heavy
traffic, as a single cyclist or when riding with a group of unfamiliar
cyclists increases the risk of injury. Each rider must be prepared to
look out for their own safety and ride cautiously. We want you to have
a safe and enjoyable ride experience.
Rider Support: The plan is to have a staffed
drop-bag control at Campbell River (293/472/949 km controls); and, a
staffed control at the Gold River Chalet motel (Gold River - 382 km). The
Rugged Mountain Motel at Woss Camp will be staffed, but with no
bag-drop (605/817 km controls). For those who ride through the night, the
deli at Gold River closes at 10 pm; and the convenience store at Woss
closes at 8 pm; all other controls will be near 24-hour stores; or have
a question that needs to be answered on the control card.
- Be prepared-there is no on-road support. Riders abandoning the ride
will notify the organizer of their decision and find their own way back
to the start-finish.
- Riders may arrange to have their own private support vehicle. Private
support persons may only provide assistance to their rider at the
official randonnee controls.
Controls / Drop bags: There will be 3 manned
controls, but no food or rooms for sleeping. Drop bags will be
transported to-from Campbell River and can be accessed at 293 km; 472
km; and 949 km, Another manned control is at Woss (605 km; and on the
return about 817k), but there will be no bag-drop there.
Weather: July is usually a fairly good month.
However, it usually rains somewhere along the way, usually on the north
end of the Island. Temperatures during the day, if it is sunny, could
be 21 C-27 C. Early morning riding just south of Port Hardy can be very
cold ... down to 3-4 degrees C. (Usually a very damp cold, sometimes
with a mist.)
Wilderness: There are several long stretches of
wilderness. We also have black & brown bears that
Paris-Brest-Paris does not have, so sleeping along the road on the way
north or west of Campbell River is not recommended!
Route Overview:
Victoria –Campbell River- Gold River - Campbell
River - Port Hardy - Victoria
- Approximately 30,000 feet of climbing, mostly undulating.
- More detailed route information on VanIsle
1200 Route page.
Can-Am Pin:
The coveted Can-Am pin. is awarded to riders who complete a 1200k in
Canada and a 1200k in the United States of America in the same calendar
year. It is our understanding that in 2014, the only Canadian 1200k is the VanIsle 1200. It is
planned that the Can-Am pins will be awarded at the finish of the
VanIsle 1200 finishers brunch for those ambitious riders who complete
the Washington State Cascades 1200, More on the the award and the 2009
Can-Am pin laureates here: Can-Am
2009
Vancouver Island:
Largest North American Island on the Pacific Coast: 454 kilometres long
and 100 kilometres wide; 3,440 kilometres (2150 miles) of coast-line.
- Highest waterfall in North America - Della Falls in Strathcona Park
drops 440 metres (1,443 feet).
Learn more about Vancouver
Island
on a separate page.
There
are also separate info pages for information
about: Accommodation
and Event Locations.
Questions? Be sure to check out the FAQs
page.
Steve
Mahovlic
October 2013