Tour Alberta Success!

As we were coming down from the big Tour weekend, Lenore reminded me of something I hadn’t really thought about: this was my fifth year participating in the Tour Alberta for Cancer¹.

It’s odd because, on the one hand, the Tour has become a yearly ritual for me, something that in so many ways sets the tone and structure for the first half of any year as I (and now we) focus on training and fundraising efforts. July and August then become this rush as the year pivots on the axis of the Tour, the August long weekend, and the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, after which we begin the slow but inexorable march toward fall, with it’s many chilly nights and mornings, gorgeous days, and final gasps of summer activities before the wind up to ski season and the depths of winter.

And yet, on the other hand, as much as the Tour has shaped my life for the last five years, it also feels new and novel, every year bringing its own joys and challenges.

In part it’s probably because each year the Tour has often been marked by something unique: 2023 as my first ride of my career break; 2024 as my first ride without any corporate support, forcing my to work even harder with my supporters to hit the fundraising goal.

And now, in 2025, riding with my wonderful wife Lenore for the very first time!

As a result, every Tour has felt special in its own way, and this year is no exception.

Getting ready

With Lenore joining me on the journey this year, we knew we’d need to start training early and often to make sure we’d both be ready to tackle the challenge that is the Tour weekend. That actually began on the basement trainer, with me getting on my Kickr much earlier in the season than usual while we got Lenore’s bike on a wheel-on trainer that she could use to get some early klicks in.

Fortunately, that phase didn’t last too long (I really don’t like riding the trainer, and gamification platforms like Zwift are the only thing that make it bearable for me!) and by May were already getting out on the road, gradually building up our distance bit by bit.

I remember one particular day that really felt like a major breakthrough. Fairly early in the season Lenore had already built up enough fitness and endurance to put in a solid ten to fifteen kilometers at a time and I put together a little training ride. The core ride, an out-and-back taking us out toward the Enjoy Center here in north-west Edmonton, was about fifteen klicks, just a little beyond where Lenore was already comfortable riding. But I also let her know we could stretch it to a twenty by turning the route into a loop through St. Albert, though doing so would also add a stiff little climb to the mix.

And to be clear, I was very transparent about all of this. I absolutely do not believe in tricking people into pushing their boundaries. Everyone should have fully agency in their training. Cycling should first and foremost be fun, and while part of that fun can be pushing a little harder and going a little further, that absolutely has to be a choice. True motivation can only come from within.

Anyway, we got to the turnaround point and after a bit of hesitation (and, yes, just a smidge of gentle encouragement on my part!), Lenore decided to push herself and attack the longer route!

Certainly it was a challenge. The additional distance was non-trivial (doubly so given we had to double back at one point due to construction blockages) and the hill climb was difficult. But she did it! And in that moment a mental wall came crashing down as she realized what she might actually be capable of.

After that, the distances only increased, from twenty kilometers to forty², from forty to sixty, and then from sixty to eighty (with plenty of shorter training rides in between)! Of course, each increment was its own challenge, but the progress was careful and steady, and by the time the weekend rolled around, I knew we were ready.

Through the process I came to realize how important it was to have a supportive team, especially for new riders. Having experienced folks around who can recommend training plans, plan and coordinate group rides, provide coaching on pacing, technique, and hydration and calorie management, and just generally provide encouragement and moral support, can make all the difference between success or frustration when preparing for such a big event. I honestly believe anyone can tackle a challenge like the Tour, but it really is just that much easier with a strong support system.

Day one

The first day of the Tour dawned a little cool and overcast, setting a tone for the first half of the ride. Feeling fit and excited, as a team we made the big commitment to ride the long route, a 112 km circuit that took us north of Strathmore, up through a series of short but intense climbs, then back through Rockyford before returning to Strathmore.

As always, the opening ceremonies were moving and powerful. I was particularly impressed by the keynote speaker this year, who, with honesty and emotion and humour, told his own story of a surprise cancer diagnosis and a challenging journey through the rollercoaster of emotions that it brings, the difficulties of treatment, and the resolution he made to participate in the Tour for the very first time. I genuinely hope that we see him again next year.

The first 90km of the ride went incredibly smoothly, even through some challenging climbs that were rewarded by some fast descents and a wonderful tail wind. Tom and I, the more experienced riders in the group, took to short little races up climbs and a sprint to the lunch stop while Paul and Lenore rode their own comfortable pace³. Lunch was… a little less than ideal, as we arrived after most of the food was already gone. Hopefully next year the Tour will correct this little snafu. Then it was back to town!

Fortunately, the Tour offers ample rest stops, and we took good advantage of them, in particular enjoying a beautiful view while reclining on some adirondack chairs before completing the final leg on the ride.

Unfortunately, whether due to the extra distance or the extra climbs, at the 90km mark… Lenore’s e-bike battery ran out.

I truly believe e-bikes are one of the most wonderful and transformative technologies to hit the cycling world, opening the door to a sport that many might be turned away from due to inherent barriers of entry. While there are certainly those in the community who tend toward gate keeping, I am absolutely the opposite: if you once loved cycling but you’re a little afraid to start again, man, get a pedal-assist e-bike. They are truly wonderful pieces of equipment!

However.

They do also represent a liability, as when a 42 lb e-bike turns into a manual pedal bike with an electric hub adding additional resistance, you go from having a rather nice little boost to being at a major disadvantage to riders on non-powered bikes.

The result was… well, to put it mildly, a grind, made worse by the fact that the back 20 km of the route involved a fair bit of steady, unrelenting climbing into a headwind (not to mention past, for the second time, a very odorous feedlot).

But, while I know at some points Lenore was feeling deeply discouraged and frustrated, once we crossed that finish line she once again impressed me with her strength and commitment by finding her way clear of those difficult emotions and taking joy in the victory of her very first completed day of the Tour, and a long one at that!

Day two

On the second day we woke up to even more overcast, cool weather and threatening clouds, but unphased, we got ourselves ready. Of course, given the challenges of the previous day, it should be no surprise that we opted for the shorter route, which was a roughly 60km loop that, this time, took us south of the town (and, in fact, was the day two route from last year with some slight variations).

I can genuinely say, compared to the first day, the second felt like a comfort cruise by comparison!

Granted, for the first time in four in-person rides, we got a non-trivial amount of rain that occasionally had me questioning whether I should’ve brought a light rain shell along. Certainly I caught a bit of a chill at the first rest stop as my heart rate dropped and my damp clothes started to bite, but once we were back in the saddle (and I put in a nice heart rate raising sprint climb), it was surprisingly comfortable.

In fact, it might sound a bit perverse, but there’s a part of me that actually likes riding in the rain, as I find the chill helps keep my muscles cool (or numb, I’m not sure which!) In fact, if I’m being honest, given the choice, I’ll take cool and rainy over 30+C and sunny. It was very affirming to hear Kaden Groves say something similar after he won stage 20 of the 2025 Tour de France! Though I was sure glad I brought along my sleeves. It would’ve been a darn chilly ride without them.

Meanwhile, Lenore, ever the crafty one, made herself a pair of sleeves and leg warmers, complete with rubber grippy material and bright yellow flourescent fabric. As the pace setter for the group, I won’t lie: those sleeves were fantastic! It was very nice to be able to glance back and very easily pick out Lenore’s yellow arms and legs flashing away as she rolled down the highway.

A quick lunch stop, a turn around, and not long later we cruised into the finish after a comfortable 2h 42m of moving time, capping off an emotional, challenging, and genuinely fun weekend!

Wrapping up

Looking back at this year’s Tour, I couldn’t be more proud of what we accomplished. As a team, we raised over $11k for the Alberta Cancer Foundation, and I personally hit a new fundraising record, all thanks to the many generous donations from so many of our friends, family, and colleagues. After five years I’m still deeply grateful, incredibly touched, and in awe of how willing people are to support our journey. Thank you all!

I also had the privilege of watching Lenore take on something huge and absolutely crushing it. I know she inspired me and many of our friends and family, including a couple of very excited nieces who got to see what happens when a strong, confident, powerful woman makes the choice to challenge herself and push her boundaries.

Meanwhile, I absolutely delighted in the work demonstrated by the rest of the team. Paul, in particular, really leaned in and committed to training this year and it was a genuine pleasure to share the road together!

And Tom is simply an inspiration. I hope next year we’ll find ourselves sprinting down the highway again!

Oh, and yeah, let’s be clear: Lenore and I have already signed up for next year. So if you find yourself inspired and considering joining the Tour Alberta for Cancer, remember, there’s an open and welcoming team ready to support you in your journey. Ride with us! You won’t regret it!

1. With the caveat that my first year happened during the heart of COVID, which meant the in-person event had to be flipped to a virtual ride, which definitely changed the complexion of my inaugural ride. ↩

2. I felt a little bad about this one, as the original intent was a thirty, but due to some bad navigation on my part, it became a thirty-five and at that point we decided to stretch it to a forty. ↩

3. I gotta say, I felt great on the first day, with really strong climbing legs, for which I credit our training schedule. ↩