Kluane Chilkat Bike Relay Preview
By:  Lee Hawkings   (2010/06/16)

One of the highlights of Summer in the Yukon is the ever popular Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay. The race is a 240km road bike race going from Haines Junction, Yukon over the Coast Mountains and down to the ocean at Haines, Alaska on one of the most scenic stretches of highway I have ever seen. Participants can choose from options of 8, 4, 2, and solo teams to complete the distance. Most of the serious racers do 2 person teams but there is usually some pretty solid riders in the 4 person category which is the category we usually compete in.

Vertical Profile of the race

Part of the fun of the race is a friendly contest to have the best team name. Some winners from past years include “Weapons of Ass Destruction” and “Ass Guzzlers”.

Our name last year and this year is “We Should Be Cyclists” because we consider ourselves skiers, don’t particularly like road biking but still beat many of the “cyclists”. Last year we ended up 2^nd in the 4-person teams and 6^th overall after losing a sprint to the finish with our rival 4 man team. Our time over the 240km was 7:04:56, which is an average speed of about 34 km/h with a headwind for much of the race. We will look to improve our time with this years team.

Here are some pictures from last years race.

Cheering teammate Scott Weersink on legs 3 and 4

Scott sprinting up the last hill to checkpoint 4

Pit stop waiting for Colin on leg 5

Colin Keeping up with the real "roadies" (see tear drop helmet) way ahead of the rest of the field

Brett Weersink (red shirt) streaking past on leg 8

A tired but satisfied team at the end in Haines, Alaska

Stay tuned for a report from this Year's race coming up next weekend.

Info and Results at http://www.kcibr.org/