It was a beautiful day on Sunday, and for some the best way to spend it is sitting in the shade sipping on a cool refreshment.
But not for the dozens of cyclists who passed through Westlock on a 175-kilometre trip for the annual Tour de l’Alberta; who instead hit the highway for a ride that most wouldn’t even consider.
For Westlock native Derek Lux and his friend Terra Giggey, the brief lunch stop in Westlock was just a short break from what they predicted would be a five-and-a-half-hour ride.
Lux said it’s nice to pass back through his hometown, where his grandmother still resides, even if it is just for a short stop.
“It’s nice,” he said. “The volunteers are always good here and the weather’s great today.”
For the two veteran cyclists, the 175-kilometre trip wasn’t even too serious a challenge, more like just another day of training.
“It’s pretty easy for us,” Giggey said. “We’re training for Ironman Canada.”
That triathlon, considered one of the toughest there is, involves a bike course of comparable length, in addition to a 3.8-kilometre swim and a 42.2-kilometre run.
The Tour d’Alberta ride fits in well with their regular training, which includes two speed-focused sessions each week and a long, endurance-focused session on the weekends.
Of course, it’s not as easy as the seasoned veterans make it look.
“It’s a big mental challenge; you’ve got to keep pushing yourself,” Giggey said.
Furthermore, it’s not exactly the kind of ride you’re going to do on an old steel frame you picked up at the hardware store.
The standard for competitive cycling is ultra lightweight carbon-fibre frames, with the entire bike weight around 18 pounds (eight kg) before it’s loaded with gear like water bottles.
Although it can seem like an intimidating sport to get involved in, Giggey said it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to start out.
“You can get a decent bike for around $500, but you can spend upwards of $10,000 if you want,” she said.
All it takes is the commitment to trying it out and sticking with it — and a little help along the way can do wonders.
“If you want to ride, enjoy it and do well, maybe meet with a personal trainer,” she said. “Or even just join a club and get involved with group rides.”
The Tour de l’Alberta is an annual event that gives the riders the option of going 175 kilometre, 100 kilometre, 50 kilometre or just 20 kilometre.
The longest course began in Morinville, looped east then south through St. Albert, then headed north to Westlock on Highway 44 before heading back to Morinville down Highway 2.
