The Victoria International Cycling Festival is on – are you going to go out and getting fit? Better yet, are you going to invite your cyclist friends from all over the world to come to Victoria and experience our slice of cycling heaven?

From June 1-24, cyclists are gathering in Victoria BC “Canada’s fittest city” (and one of the most bike-friendly communities in North America) to enjoy dozens of different cycling event and activities as part of the Victoria International Cycling Festival.

The grand finale of the festival on June 23 and 24 will include the Ryder Hesjedal Tour de Victoria, a world class, fully supported mass participation road cycling event. This unique Victoria bike tour offers all levels of cyclist the same cycling experience that Tour de France heroes like Ryder Hesjedal get to experience.

Over 2,000 cyclists who will participate in the Tour de Victoria along the amazing cycling roads of Greater Victoria, and offers three distances: 50km, 100km and 140km rides.

The Family Bike Festival will conclude with a bike rodeo, a Classic Bike Rally, and Theatre SKAM’s annual summer project Bike Ride; an outdoor live performance festival event that is suitable for the family, featuring a series of short shows presented along a 4km stretch of the Galloping Goose Trail. Audiences ride bikes from show to show. The Bike Ride will take place on June 16,17, 23, 24th.

But why Victoria?

Victoria is an urban oasis surrounded by ocean waters and mountainous wilderness, while the mildest weather in Canada allows riders to enjoy the trails year round – no wonder Victoria boasts more cyclists per capita than any other city.

Are you ready to improve your wellness, and explore the many cycling trails from your hotel in Victoria?

Try cycling the Seaside Touring Route – a popular 40 kilometer loop that starts from Victoria’s tiny rail station, and heads along the city’s inner harbour waterfront. The route hugs the coastline of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, continuing past one beautiful sight after another. The route connects with the Lochside Trail at kilometre 29, and heads back towards downtown Victoria, where riders can stop for a post-ride refreshment before returning to their hotels in Victoria.

How about the famous Galloping Goose Trail, one of the most picturesque trail systems in Canada? Named after the gawky and noisy gas rail-car which carried passengers between Victoria and Sooke in the 1920s, this is one of the most stunning of all the Victoria bike tours, with amazing scenery and an option for a swim at Matheson Lake.

Thinking of your fellow cycling aficionados to Victoria? We’re so health conscious here we even have a bike friendly hotel in Victoria – Accent Inns.

How many hotels have you stayed at that invite you to store your bike(s) in your room? Now that’s a bike friendly hotel. Every Accent Inns location offers “Bike Love” – a bicycle wash and tuning station, rags available for cleaning and drying your bike, an advanced mechanic tool kit available for your use, and on-site laundry rooms available when our guests come home after that muddy ride.

The Accent Inns Hotel in Victoria is all about welcoming cyclists to our bike friendly city. Hopefully they’ll take some of our cycling culture back with them to wherever they’re from, to help make the world a greener and healthier place.

– John Espley, an avid cyclist, and Business Development Manager for Accent Inns