Cold and rain couldn’t prevent he cycling team from Innovative Fitness Port Moody from leading the charge in the 5th annual Wheel 2 Heal for the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation on Saturday May 3 2014.
Over 500 riders from the Tri-Cities area, including 40 from IFPM, gathered at Town Center Park in Coquitlam to raise funds for the ERHF by cycling 65 or 100 km to Ft Langley or trail riding 20 or 40 km through Port Coquitlam.
While the rainy conditions made riding less than ideal, spirits were high and the team from IFPM quickly formed a cohesive peloton and began working its way along the back roads of Coquitlam towards Minnekhada park and over the Pitt River bridge. Once on the open roads, the group utilized the skills build over the last several weeks of road riding sessions to work efficiently and took turns pulling the peloton along the winding route towards the historic fort. After a tough climb to the half way point aid station, the IF group looked set to make its way home. Though the weather made it difficult, causing flats, some close calls and a few too close calls, the group persevered and worked together to get back together.
For many this was their first time riding in a large group like this, and most certainly won’t be their last. Their hard work over the last 3 weeks of learning how to ride effectively as a group made a difficult ride in difficult conditions much easier.
