Pedalling physical activity

Bike to Bite event set for Victoria County Saturday

An event to promote physical activity to coincide with the Victoria County Fall Harvest Activefest will take place this weekend.

Bikers from across the municipality will gather in the Baddeck area on Saturday to participate in the first-ever Bike to Bite event.

The event will feature a 10-kilometre bike ride through the countryside, with stops scheduled along the way, which will include a guided hike with historical information about the pioneer cemetery.

“It’s going to be a beautiful day and a great day to be outdoors and enjoying natural environment on the cycle,” said Vince Forrestall, physical activity strategy co-ordinator for Victoria County.

Bike to Bite is a partnership between the Municipality of Victoria County and Pedallers by the Bay, a new local business in Baddeck.

The event will begin on Big Baddeck Road near the Baddeck Forks Golf Course, travelling north stopping for a short guided walk to the Weaver Pioneer Cemetery, continuing north to westside Big Baddeck Road, travelling west toward the golf course.

“We picked out a loop that’s less travelled (by vehicles), but it’s more easy to pedal for beginners,” said Iris Kedmi, owner of Pedallers by the Bay. “It’s not only a bike event, it has other components that are interesting in the heritage of the area as well.”

Bike to Bite was originally scheduled to take place in early June as part of the municipality’s bike week. However due to weather conditions, it was postponed until October as part of the sixth annual Victoria County Fall Harvest Activefest, running Oct. 6-31.

“We hope to include this activity as part of the festival annually and we would like to build on it for years to come,” said Forrestall. “It’s not a race, it’s a social event and it’s part of culture and heritage.”

Forrestall said he has received many inquires about the event.

“It’s been on the Bicycle Nova Scotia newsletter that they put out monthly and they just recently put out their October one,” he said. “We’d like to have as many people as possible attend this event.”

The cost of the event is $15 per person, which includes a bike, if needed (and still available), a helmet, water bottle and a lunch at the Baddeck Forks Golf Course.

Registration will take place at 8:30 a.m. with the ride beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday.

To pre-register or for further information, contact Naturally Active for Life Victoria County by email at naturallyactiveforlife@countyvictoria.ns.ca.