For the first time this season, the clock won't be ticking for a Prince George Cycling Club event.
The club is tossing aside the stopwatches in hopes of more pedal power and fun in its first Gran Tour of Prince George, set to roll out of Fort George Park at 10 a.m. on Sunday.
The tour, which begins and ends on the 17th Avenue side of the park, features a 110-kilometre looped route around the perimeter of the city, from Pineview to the east, the Hart in the north and Foothills Boulevard to the west.
"We (the club members) decided we were just going to have a fun event that's not timed that's more for the recreational-level cyclists," said PGCC road director Lanita Horning. "We encourage everyone to come out and give it a go."
With maps in hand, cyclists of any age can ride at their own pace and own ability.
The registration fee is $10 for PGCC members. Those who aren't part of the club will have to pay the $25 membership, which can be done on site during registration between 9:15 a.m. and 9:50 a.m.
While the long distance may seem intimidating, it doesn't have to be.
Cyclists can ride the entire length of the course or they can choose shorter distances and sections according to the time they have available or their fitness level.
"If you only have an hour, you can do parts of it," said Horning. "Some guys will do the full 110 kilometres. We're hoping encourage spouses to come out and Wendy Fiala has offered to take out teenaged cyclists for a 30- to 40-kilometre ride."
A barbecue social follows the tour at 4 p.m. at a member's house. Information and location will be provided on Sunday.
The Gran Tour is the second-to-last event on the PGCC's race calendar as it gears up for the Cycle Logic Quadrilogy from July 2-4.
That race kicks off on July 2 with a hill climb up Foothills Boulevard from North Nechako Road to East Austin Road at 6:30 p.m. A criterium in West Beaverly follows on July 3 at 6:30 p.m. A time trial at Pineview elementary kicks off the day on July 4, followed by the Alpine short road race at noon.
In the meantime, intermediate cyclists are welcome to join the weekly group rides on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at Cycle Logic.
Beginner group rides are every Saturday at 10 a.m. They start and end at Ruckus.
"We've had a steady membership of road racers and an increase in women this year," said Horning. "We've had up to seven women at the races. We've been encouraged by the number of people who've come out. It's been a great season with great weather."
The route for Sunday's Gran Tour can be found on PGCC's website at http://pgcyclingclub.ca/about/road/schedule/
