More than 1,000 people will participate in this weekend's Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay race, which will start Saturday morning in Haines Junction and finish in Haines, Alaska.

While most competitors will have tired legs at the end, members of team Ynklude will not only have tired legs, but possibly arms as well.

The Ynklude team is organized by the Yukon Association for Community Living (YACL) and is comprised of Yukoners with and without disabilities, and is inclusive to all, whether they have an intellectual or physical disability.

The team name Ynklude is a combination of the words 'include' and 'Yukon.'

Many members of the team will be using adaptive bike technology to participate in Saturday's event. A variety of bike models will be used, including conventional bicycles and some retrofitted ones, such as adult three-wheelers, custom recumbent bicycles, a handcycle, and bikes with specially-fitted hand brakes.

For those who have challenges pedaling with their feet, some of these different models rely on upper body strength and co-ordination, with the cyclists cranking the 'pedals' with their hands.

Several of these bikes have been supplied by the Yukon Society Towards Accessible Recreation and Sport, but some members of the team own their own bicycles, such as Megan Gates, who has a recumbent three-wheeler. Gates is one of 15 members of Team Ynklude.

Also riding in tomorrow's event will be YACL president and team captain Joanne Stanhope, YACL workers Julie Robinson and Lisa Rawlings, Carrie Rudolph, Carrie Kelly, Edward Kayes, Chris Lee, Rachel Dawson, Jane Robinson-Boivin, Julian Richard, and Mallory Pigage.

The team's support crew consists of Lynn Smith, Teresa Rudolph, and Catherine Buckler.

'We're glad this is finally happening,' Rawlings said as team members gathered Thursday afternoon before they departed for Haines Junction.

'This is something we'd thought about for a while.'

Members of YACL participated in the Klondike Road Race from Skagway to Whitehorse for the first time late last summer.

'When we completed that, we thought, If we can do this, then why don't we try the bike?' We've got some of the same people participating in this year's race,' Rawlings said.

Participating in this year's bike relay is another first for YACL.

Team Ynklude will have extra support vehicles along the way and do a modified version of the course in which members don't have to ride an entire leg, but can switch off with another rider if they have to.

'They can do a whole leg of the race, or just some of one leg. They can go as far as they want,' Robinson said.

When they reach the last two legs, some of the longest in the race, whoever is left on the roster and still wants to compete will have the chance to rotate off.

'We've all been doing different levels of training, but I think that's pretty typical for most teams that compete in this,' Robinson added. 'It's up to each individual to decide how much they're going to do.'

Chris Lee said he's been training every chance he gets, whether it's been going out for a ride by himself or with teammates Edward Kayes and Rachel Dawson.

'I've just been getting out there and riding,' Lee said.

Lee has a three-wheeler bicycle because he has difficulties balancing on a normal two-wheeler. He will be riding during leg seven of the race.

Kayes will be using his BMX-style bike and riding during the fourth leg of the race. It's the first time he's participated in the event, although he watched it in 2001.

Robinson called him earlier this year and asked him if he'd like to participate in the event, and he simply said, 'Sure.'

Like teammate Dawson, who will be riding during the sixth leg, he's excited to get out on the course.

Stanhope, president of YACL and team captain, said the race board of directors has been nothing but supportive of the team, and fully included them in the event.

'Everyone is doing what they can, doing their best,' Rawlings said. 'They're all totally pumped.'

Team member Carrie Rudolph is excited to participate in Saturday's event and is looking forward to the comraderie of the event and the party afterwards.

'I'm doing it to prove to myself and others that barriers to participation are just that: barriers,' Rudolph said. 'Having a disability has given me the perseverance I need to overcome any barrier.'

During last year's relay race, a record 249 teams participated, with 237 teams reaching the finish line.

Competitors can ride in two, four, or eight-man groups, or can do the entire 227-kilometre route as a solo-competitor.

Last year's top time was posted by the four-man crew 'The Wrong Trousers,' who finished the course in seven hours and six minutes.