The world we all have known in 2020 has been a challenge on so many fronts. At both work & play we can often feel that we are living in some sort of bizarre reality.

The recent GoByBike Cranbrook Week offered a bit of a reprieve and the weather even collaborated giving cyclists seven incredible days to ride around our remarkable landscape.

The week’s schedule offered some safe and fun challenges for local bicyclists. Contests included a Search for the Signs Challenge, the Cranbrook Elementary Schools Cycling Challenge, and a GoByBike Cranbrook Corporate Challenge.

GoByBikeBC, the lead provincial organization, also offered prizes for riders who registered and logged their rides on-line with each ride becoming a contest entry. Registered participants were also eligible for over forty local prizes.

For the 2020 GoByBike Cranbrook Corporate Challenge, local businesses were encouraged to form Teams and vie for the trophy. Congratulations to this year’s champions – the EKC Riders from the East Kootenay Community Credit Union. With an average age of 45, the ten-rider team logged 60 trips for a total of 679 kms. That adds up to 20,378 calories burned and 147 kg GHG (greenhouse gas) savings.

“GoByBike gave us an excuse to be on our bikes,” said Ken Lo, Team Leader-EKC Riders. “A lot of our routines have changed since the pandemic, the event inspired us to take time each day to explore the beautiful area we call home. Mother Nature cooperated and gave us excellent autumn weather for cycling.”

The EKC Riders are already thinking ahead to 2021 and how they can retain their corporate cycling challenge title.

“We look forward to next year and we hope to get even more of our staff out on bikes.” Lo said.

The Sunrise Rotary Club of Cranbrook coordinated the 2020 GoByBike Cranbrook edition with generous support from GoByBikeBC and many local sponsors.

“Our Club was excited to be able to bring the GoByBikeBC Week opportunities to Cranbrook,” said Lynnette Wray, Sunrise Rotary Club President. “We were saddened when we had to cancel the Kootenay Rockies Gran Fondo due to the pandemic and this gave us an opportunity to turn our volunteer energies to another fun cycling program.”

“Our thanks to all the cyclists who participated in the fun activities and congratulations to the EKC Riders and Kootenay Orchards School on winning the 2020 trophies,” said Wray. “An extra special thank you goes to all the local sponsors and media for supporting GoByBike Cranbrook Week. We look forward to next year’s event.”

2020 GoByBike Cranbrook Week Sponsors: Alpine Toyota; Cobs Bread; Flaman Fitness; Funhogz;  Gerick Sports; Heidout Restaurant; High Country Sports; Kootenay Life Cycle; Nutters Everyday Naturals; Panago Pizza; Prestige Rocky Mountain Resort; Save-On-Foods; Starbucks; The Bedroom; The Choice; Tomi Jane’s Boutique.

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