The 2013 Great Annual Saskatchewan Pedal (GASP) flirts with
our neighbors to the East. The 7-day tour route starts in Yorkton
and wanders into Manitoba for a few days before returning to
Saskatchewan again. By the end of the week GASPer's will have
covered 550 km's of quiet rural highways.
March 12, 2013 update - Registration is now full, continue
to submit forms to be added to the waiting list.
Welcome to GASP, a Saskatchewan
bicycle ride across some of the greatest frontier of North America.
GASP, is a bicycle tour, and definitely not a race. Along the
way you'll have an opportunity to visit many historic sites, many of
which recognize significant events, people and geography of our province.
You'll experience Saskatchewan
hospitality first hand on this tour. Following you will find more
details on the facilities, the route, and plans of your hosts.
There are also links to the application
/ registration form and the SCA membership application form.
Join
us... for the ride of your life.
Is your spouse or
friend joining you on the Tour as a support and not riding in the Tour?
Contact the SCA for more informantion. There will be nominal fee charged/personal
support. Click to return to top
July
21nd to 27th
Day 0: (Saturday) arrive in Yorkton - camping included;
Day 1: (Sunday) Yorkton to Duck Mountain Provincial Park - 101 km;
Day 2: (Monday) Duck Mountain to Roblin, MB - 62 km;
Day 3: (Tuesday) Roblin to Binscarth, MB - 98 km;
Day 4: (Wednesday) Binscarth to Carlton Trail Regional Park - 98 km;
Day 5: (Thursday) Carlton Trail to Round Lake - 73 km;
Day 6: (Friday) Round Lake to Melville - 73 km;
Day 7: (Saturday) Melville to Yorkton - 44 km;
Before the
ride...
Participation
is on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration form must
be accompanied by a deposit no later than May 1.) The remaining
balance, based on the option selected by the participant, is due by
May 31. If the number of applicants exceeds the capacity of
the tour, applicants will be placed on a waiting list.If an applicant on the waiting list cannot be accommodated the
tour, fees will be returned.
The
SCA may cancel the tour because of insufficient registrations or unforeseen
circumstances. Cancellation due to insufficient registrations will occur
no later than June 15, and registrants notified immediately thereafter.
In the event of cancellation due to other causes (e.g. weather or emergencies),
participants will be advised as soon as possible, though we regret the
SCA cannot guarantee the notice deadline. In no circumstance is the
SCA responsible for additional or consequential costs, such as travel
(e.g. airline tickets or cost of driving to the event), time off work,
vacation costs, etc
Fees should be paid to Saskatchewan Cycling
Association, registration form.
Ride Options
Camping
7 day ride
$375
2 day ride option includes one
night camping. Note - you must provide your own transportation
to get to the start point and at the end of your tour
$150
The deposit of $50 is required by May
1, with payment in full by June 1. Your deposit is refundable up until
May 1, after May 1 the deposit is nonrefundable.
Submit form and payments to:
Saskatchewan Cycling Association (SCA)
2205 Victoria Avenue Regina, SK S4P 0S4
Tour Fees include
- 1 or 7 nights accommodations in non-electrical campsites (depending
on the option is chosen)
- Daily road snacks
- Assistance from the support vehicle
- Daily baggage transportation
Tour Fees do not include
- SCA membership fees, participants must be SCA members at the time
of the tour
- Transportation to and from the start and end of the tour
- Entertainment costs
- Bicycle repair parts
- Park admission fees, if applicable
Be
sure a signed application form is submitted for each person wanting
to participate in the Tour. Parents or legal guardians must accompany
minors. Unaccompanied minors will be sent home. Any minor
consuming alcoholic beverages may be charged according to the law and
sent home.
All participants must be members of the
Saskatchewan Cycling Association at the time of the tour. The
cost of the SCA membership fee is not included in the costs of the tour.
The SCA membership application form and information are available at
http://www.saskcycling.ca.
GASP is a tour, not a race. While the trip
is carefully planned and supported, every rider is responsible for their
own safety and the safety of their fellow riders. Riders are expected
tofollow the rules of the road and listen
to the suggestions offered by the tour leader, the ride officials and
the sag drivers.
To get the most from your experience, you should
be in reasonable shape before the ride begins. Try to get as many
kilometers (or miles) in before the start.Training
plans published by various cycling sources are often available from
local libraries or on the web. Note
for the committee:I came up
with a training program after scouring the library and internet. Two
years ago I offered it to club members and had four people who participated.Would it be valuable to have some basic training
advice on the website?
Have your bike inspected and serviced before you
arrive. Major repairs during
the tour may only be available at the larger centers where there is
a bike shop.
The GASP tour route is chosen as paved roads; however
conditions can vary and change.Bicycles
designed for touring are best.Road
racing or triathlon bikes may be suitable for most conditions however
riders may not feel comfortable using them on rough pavements or gravel.Mountain bikes may also be suitable but it is
advisable to equip it with touring style tires.You may be able to accomplish the distances of this tour on hybrid,
“comfort” bikes or cruisers but they typically require a lot more pedaling
effort and are less efficient.
If you are unable to complete the ride, or are
only participating in part of the ride, you are responsible for your
own transportation back to the starting point of the ride
You may begin riding each morning at 7:00 A.M.
Luggage must at the designated pickup location prior to 8:30 A.M.
The luggage trailer will be loaded where it was unloaded the day before
in the campground. You are responsible for transporting your luggage
to and from the luggage trailer. Those not staying in the GASP campground
or designated hotel are responsible to make their own arrangements to
have their luggage transported to and from the baggage trailer.
Plan to ride at a speed which will enable you to
complete the day’s ride before sundown. If you are still on the
road at dusk, the sag wagon will pick you up and take you to your destination.
Sag wagons will carry snacks, water, basic bike
repair supplies, lists of emergency contacts and first aid supplies.
If you see the sag wagon and wish them to stop, give the driver the
“tap on top of your helmet” signal. They cannot carry personal
gear for all the riders so you should come prepared with a bag attached
to the bike (or small back pack) for the gear you will need for the
day, which should include your identification, health card and any information
medical personnel may need in the event of an emergency. Large
backpacks are not recommended. Sag wagons will only travel the
established route. If you detour from the established route or leave
before the established time, you may not have access to the sag wagon.
The tour will proceed
despite poor weather conditions. Come prepared with rain gear,
including booties or plastic bags for your feet, warm gloves, and clothing
appropriate for the temperature. Windy conditions will likely
be encountered. Do not “draft” other riders.
Bike
Repairs
We strongly advise that
you have your bike inspected and repaired before beginning the trip.
Problems do occasionally arise and we will be prepared to assist with
minor repairs. We will have a limited supply of tires, tubes,
and cables. While there is no charge for repairing your bike,
you are expected to pay for any needed supplies. Please do not take any parts from
the sag wagons without paying.
We have arranged for
camping each night in local campgrounds. Luggage is transported
by one of the sag wagons whose primary responsibility is to provide
support services to the riders on route. Your luggage will arrive at
the end of the day after most riders have completed the route.
Campgrounds will all have water and toilets but some may not have showers.
If that is the case, a shuttle service will be made available to take
you to the closest facility. Do not assume hotel guests would
welcome you to use their showers.
Please camp in the
designated areas only and abide by the campground rules. Please
respect the campground’s quiet time which may be as early as 10:00 p.m.
Food
Services
Participants can expect
there restaurants and groceries will be available along the tour route.
A list of all available food services will be
provided to each rider each day. Participants will be alerted
if food is not available in order that other arrangements can be made,
such as catered meals.Campers
are welcome to prepare meals at the campsite provided they can get any
needed gear in their allotted baggage space and weight restrictions.
In some towns, a catered
supper and/or breakfast may be available. Where catered meals
are provided cyclists will be required to commit prior to the tour for
planning purposes. We will keep participants informed of those arrangements.
Community coolers
are available for dairy products and small perishable items (space is
limited). The coolers are shared, so you must mark your items with your
name. Since coolers are shared, participants must understand items occasionally
get mixed up or go astray. Spoiled or outdates items must be removed
or will be removed.
Alcohol, beer and wine will not be stored or transported
in the sag wagons.
Be
sure to bring along enough money to cover your meals and snacks, bicycle
repairs, and incidentals, such as souvenirs and telephone calls.
GASP will continue on schedule despite poor weather conditions.
Weather can greatly vary this time of year so be prepared. You
should pack accordingly. Here are some ideas on what to bring:
Bicycle equipment
While sag wagons will
be able to provide some assistance along the way, any major repair will
have to wait until a bike shop is in close proximity. At the very
least you should carry:
a bicycle
repair kit including spare tube,
a set
of tire levers,
a pump
and
all necessary tools require to
change a tire on your bike.
Even if you can’t
change a flat tire, others will be able to help if you have the supplies.
You should bring a bicycle lock, water bottles or a “Camelback” and
a seat cover. A rear view mirror can be very helpful. Be
sure to remember your helmet as it is a required item.
Camping
Duffle bag, tent,
ground cloth, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, small pillow or stuff sack,
rope, stakes, flashlight.
Bring enough socks,
underwear, cycling shorts, jerseys or shirts to last for several days.Although most communities have a Laundromat,
they can sometimes be very busy during a tour of this sort. As
well, bring along a good cycling jacket, some long pants or tights for
the cold or rainy days and some clothes for off-the-bike wear.
Packing your gear in waterproof bags is always a good idea.
Be sure to bring any
necessary prescriptions and personal needs as well as insect repellent
and sunscreen, a towel and toiletry kit.
You may wish to carry
a small first aid kit on your bike. A complete first aid kit will
be available in each sag wagon.
Extras
Consider bringing
a journal and pen, a good book, spare glasses, camera, sunglasses, a
hat, watch, ear plugs for noisy campers or rowdy hotel guests, your
ID and wallet. We suggest you label clearly label all luggage
and personal belongings with your name and contact information. Cyclists
are permitted to use rack packs on their bicycles, and ensure that rain
gear is carried on your bicycle for easy access. Not all restaurants
and hotel accommodations on the ride route accept all credit cards,
so ensure you have an alternative form of payment.
Luggage space is limited
in the trailers and the SAG wagons. Please observe the following guidelines
when packing for the ride:
For
cyclists staying in hotel accommodations, limit your luggage to 2
cubic feet (56 litres) per bag and not to
exceed 20 pounds (9 kg) in total.
For
cyclists staying in camp ground accommodations, limit your luggage
to 4 cubic feet (112 litres) in total, and
not to exceed 40 pounds (18 kg)in total.
Limit your luggage to two bags.
No
external strapping to bags. Do not use garbage bags or Tupperware containers
for packing purposes. Duffle bags are the preferred.
Put your name and address on everything you bring.
Complete and print the registration
form and mail the completed application form and cheque or money
order in Canadian funds, :
Saskatchewan
Cycling Association 2205 Victoria Avenue
Regina, SK S4P 0S4 or call
Phone: 306-780-9299
Fax: 306-525-4009
e-mail: cycling@accesscomm.ca
If you need additional information, please
feel free to contact us at the above phone number or address.
Refunds
All refunds must be requested in writing. Full refunds will
be issued if received by the SCA no later than May 31. Refunds
after that date will be subject to a $50.00 fee being withheld.
