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words :: Colin Field
A group of Collingwood cyclists has big plans
for the future: a world record attempt in 2018.
And if you look at the team that’s involved,
well, they just might be able to do it. Team 49
Parallel consists of BenMcNabb, Alan Lo, Daniel
More, Matt Sharp, Nancy Newman and GlenWark.
If you’ve brushed up against the Collingwood
cycling scene at all, you’ll know this is a serious
group of riders. Sowhat’s the record?
The team plans to cross Ontario (Manitoba
border to Ottawa) by bicycle in 2017. Then in
2018 their goal is to cross Canada (Vancouver
to Halifax), for a GuinnessWorld Record. They’re
planning these rides as 24-hour relays with a
cyclist on the road at all times.
“We anticipate having each rider ride for an
hour at a time giving the other athletes four
hours to recover before hitting the asphalt
again,” says Matt Sharp. “We will have one
support car with equipment and first aid
supplies rolling with the rider as the team RV
travels ahead to get fuel.”
While some records are obscure enough that
simply the first one to do it gets it, this cross-
Canada record is already in the books. In 2007
Team H2V cycled from Halifax to Vancouver just
in eight days, eight hours and fourteenminutes
with an average speed of forty kilometres an
hour. And they raised nearly a million dollars to
cure juvenile type-one diabetes.
Team 49 Parallel has a similar philanthropic
mission statement: they’re raisingmoney for Big
Brothers Big Sisters of the Georgian Triangle.
“BBBSGT is a great not-for-profit with incredible
leadership, but finances are always tight,” says
Sharp. “If we can raise money to help them
not only maintain but grow the programs
they offer the community, that would be
a very special thing.” Sharp was a board
member with BBBSGT for a year and is
committed to helping where he can. “We’ve
all had a helping hand at one point or
another. We’d like tomake that possible for
the next generation too.”With a goal of raising
$100,000 for the charity, Team 49 Parallel is just
clipping in on this epic journey. Every little bit
counts so if you feel like donating to the cause
head on over to 49parallelcycling.ca. “We are
currently looking for a title sponsor and I’m
hoping this article will help let the country know
about our ride.”
WHEEL
WELL
Withagoal of raising$100,000
for charity, Collingwood’s
Team49Parallel is just clipping
inon thisepic journey.
WORLDRECORDSFORBIG
BROTHERS&SISTERS
Pedalling for a good cause. COLIN FIELD
