Cycling Association of Yukon and its clubs hosted several events and training courses and kicked off youth cycling programs during May.

Participation and spirits were high. It was great to be back outside on bikes.

Now, along with the weather, June and July are heating up with more opportunities to get out, have fun and ride with other people on new or familiar terrain.

On June 18, the Southern Lakes Gran Fondo celebrates its 14th anniversary. This is a 173 km road loop that starts at Marsh Lake, makes its way through Tagish, Carcross, and Mt. Lorne and finishes back at Marsh Lake. You can ride solo or as part of a team of two to five people.

Youth who want to race at Canada Summer Games in August will have two more chances to qualify for the Yukon Mountain Bike team.

These qualification events will take place at Mt. Mac on June 21 and 23, with a short track race (20 minutes in duration) and a cross-country race (1 hour and 30 minutes). Cycling Association of Yukon will choose athletes for its road and mountain bike teams by the end of June.

For those who want to ride fast on some of Whitehorse’s most technical trails, the Cadence Cycle Monster Enduro is back for its second year on June 26. The enduro race format means timed downhill sections with un-timed uphills.

New this year is a lowered age of entry, at 14 years old. The Monster Enduro includes a barbecue, snacks and prizes from Cadence Cycle.

Finally, how about planning a trip to Dawson City on July 9 and 10 for an epic weekend of mountain bike and gravel cycling?

Dawson’s Yukon Energy Midnight Dome Enduro and Icycle Sports Top of the World Gravel will take you from the best mountain bike trails to epic views on the legendary highway. Both events feature a barbecue, lunch, snacks, prizes, shuttle rides and more.

For information about these events and to register, go to https://yukoncycling.com

–Submitted by Geof Harries.