Trailblazers Blaze-a-Thon

Side note: If you want to read about my fund raising ride for CNIB, click here.


On Saturday, May 31st, the Toronto Trailblazers had their annual fund raising ride - the Blaze-a-Thon. On this same day, they also celebrate the grand opening of their new East End shed and a ribbon cutting ceremony for their 4 new Co-Motions tandem bicycles, purchased using the $14,500.00 grant received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Chris Spinney - MC and coordinator of the day's events

I registered to participate with the Blaze-a-Thon fund raising ride as a captain rider. Theresia and Elaine, our daughter, registered to help out as volunteers.
The new East End shed is located at the Don Montgomery Community Centre near the Toronto Kennedy Subway station. We arrived at the community centre a little after 7:30 AM; Chris, Lynda Spinney and a few other volunteers were already there, busy preparing for the events. Lynda introduced us to Joan Curran, the volunteer coordinator.

Helping out with the tandems before the ride.

By 8:00 AM registration for the Blaze-a-Thon ride started. Three distances, 25, 50, and 75 Km rides were offered. Keya Osborne, my stoker, and I agreed to do the 50 Km ride.

Elaine and Theresia processing the riders registration.

After the conclusion of the speeches and ribbon cutting ceremony the riders prepared themselves for the ride; applying sunscreen, stretching and discussing the route with their respective team leader.

Keya and I, discussing our ride

Our team leader for the 50 Km is Greg Zaffarano. With the assistance of two 'sweepers', John Clark and ?, Greg did an excellent job keeping us together, safe and on track. Thanks guys.

Greg and Tony discussing the route. Keya, stretching. Theresia offering sunscreen.

It was a sunny day, temperature was about 20 C, nice to go for a ride. The route took us South and East for the first 20 Km. We cycled through nice single houses neighbourhood. We also cycled along the shores of lake Ontario, the scenery was beautiful. About half way, at 25+ Km, we had a rest stop. Paul with his motor-home was waiting for us at a high school parking lot in Pickering. He provided us with some snacks, cookies, power bars, oranges and bananas, also washroom facilities. Thanks Paul.

The 50 Km route - we went counter clockwise.

After a short brake, we cycled North, then  West and South to return back to the staring point, the Don Montgomery Community Centre. Every one returned safe and happy. A couple tandem bikes had mechanical problem, the chain that connects the captain and stoker crank kept coming off. Our tandem had problem shifting to the smallest front chain ring; useful for climbing hills.
There were a few hills along the route, nothing very challenging. However, at one of the last hill my thigh muscles started to cramped. We walked up that hill. This had never happened before, I was not even tired.

The 50 Km group arrived back at the Community Centre around 1:30 PM. We received a Trailblazers sling bag with goodies inside and a Subway sandwich for lunch. Everyone was in a celebratory mood. It was a great day. End.