Hey, I’m Nicholas Arnold your midday guy here on 89.7 Sun FM and I’m chronicling my experience of being on the 2024 Tour de Rock team. The 14 day and over one thousand kilometre bike ride has been done every year since 1997 and raises funds for the fight against childhood cancer.
Today was a busy day. So busy I won’t be able to get to everything awesome that happened, but here are some of the highlights of our first day in Greater Victoria.
One of the stops that we’ve been looking forward to from the start of training was at Spectrum School. Part of the reason why Jereme Leslie and Dani Frohloff (husband and wife team) chose to ride was because their daughter Devon had raised money for the Tour since she was in kindergarten. They wanted to be able to roll into her school and let her shave their heads in front of the student body. That’s exactly what happened and it was awesome.
It was hard not to get emotional watching Dani get on her bike and join the team to ride into the gymnasium. We were lead in by a marching band – our second one of the day – and we lined up in a straight line. I got to stand beside Dani and watched her frantically look through the crowd for Devon. She caught a glimpse and seemed to settle, knowing that this was really happening. Before we knew it, we had two more bald members of our team and were ready to keep moving through the schedule.
After the emotions of the moment, we were rolling out of Spectrum on a high. Making our way towards our next school stop. I was rolling beside Roxanne Egan-Elliott from the Times Colonist and we were chatting about a Tour de Rock bake sale sign we saw on the side of the road. I looked over at the sign, and heard Roxanne yell out. I turned my head and suddenly my body and bike were out of my control.
I held my arms over my face trying to brace myself as I flew over my handlebars and felt the coarse texture of the curb graze my chin. My feet flung out of my pedals and I rolled until my forward inertia ran out.
My first thought was to get back on my bike as to not slow my team down. As I turned, I saw my bike entangled with another. A panic ran through my body as I realized another teammate had been tangled up with me, and I scrambled to look for who it was and if they were hurt. My eyes fell upon Jereme. I rushed over to make sure he was okay, while we processed what had happened.
It turns out that I had hit one of those plastic poles that separate bike lanes from normal traffic at about 25-30 km/h. Jereme who was right behind me hit my back tire and was also launched from his seat, landing on his shoulder which is where he was feeling little tender. Both of us were able to get back on the bike, my handlebars quite crooked, but still operational. It was a stark reminder of how quickly things can happen out there on the road and why we’ve always got to keep our eyes open.
I had a very special stop up next, one that I was really looking forward to. My honourary rider Shiloh’s school. If you don’t know, a special part of the Tour de Rock is that each rider is paired with an honourary rider, who is a young person that’s experienced a cancer diagnosis. While we weren’t able to connect as much as I would have liked over the season, it was really nice to get to see him as he’s who I ride for.
We rolled into his school’s gym as their band was playing for us. I scanned the crowd, and saw his red honourary Tour jersey behind the bass drum. We had a moment of eye contact and I waved. The music stopped and I was able to invite him over to present him and his school with a plaque. Then we got some pictures and were on our way.
As we headed to our next stop, lunch at the Co-op, my mind was processing the morning’s events. How great the reception was from all of the schools, the emotions from the stops at Spectrum and Shiloh’s school, and still a little bit in shock from the crash. I looked up and saw the Co-op sign thrilled that I’d get a moment to rest and get my injuries and bike tended to. Then my eyes dropped to the base of the sign and I saw a familiar silhouette… Three to be exact. I instantly knew who it was, but my brain needed me to get closer to confirm who it was.
“That’s my *swear word redacted* parents,” I said to Jereme who was riding next to me at the time. “I know it.”
We got closer and yes, it was my *swear word redacted* parents, Bob and Lori, and my Aunt Luanne. The three of them had flown out to our fair island from their homes in Southwestern Ontario just to be here for the last two days of the ride. Normally I’m the one flying to them without letting them know, but this time they did it to me. I can now confirm, it’s just as fun being on the receiving end of the surprise. I spent my whole lunch hour chatting with them and completely ended up forgetting that I needed my handlebars straightened – but it was worth it.
I wasn’t the only one with a family surprise as Bailey Parker from Virgin Radio’s family showed up at our next stop. Her parents, sister, and more made their way from Edmonton with the same purpose. Two interprovincial family surprises within a couple of hours was really cool to see.
We made a ton more stops ending up at our hotel in Sidney where we prepped for our last evening event. A gala at Bear Mountain put on by the Westshore RCMP. Fellow rider Steve Ward was generous enough to arrange seats for my family to attend the gala, so we were able to catch up and interact with other members of the team.
Dinner was delicious and they had a live auction featuring a magician that was something to behold. The generosity of the community was on display as enough funds were raised to send several kids to Camp Goodtimes. The auctioneer/magician duo was fascinating. I didn’t think I’d ever see fundraising done through magic tricks (or illusions as Gob Bluth would say). He was really good at his job, always keeping us in suspense.
“That guy is a witch and we have to burn him,” was the line from Jereme about the magician. I think he was kidding, but someone should probably check in with that young man tomorrow.
Today was a good day. A really good day. Not sure how tomorrow could top it, but I think it could. Our finale at the Legislature will be available to be watched on TV at 5 pm, or you could come down and see it live.
One day to go, if your interested in contributing to the fight against childhood cancer, you can go over to TourDeRock.ca. I’m in constant disbelief that this incredible journey is about to come to an end. Chat tomorrow after another busy day in the Province’s capital.
Daily and Overall Stats
Total kilometres ridden on Day 13: 70.53 km
Total kilometres ridden: 1012.23 km
Total elevation on Day 13: 651 m
Total elevation climbed: 9,539 m (Mount Everest is 8,849 m high)
Total sodas consumed on Day 13: 7
Total sodas consumed on Tour: 59
