Saskatchewan's long history of bicycle touring

Back in 1913, the bicycle had been around for about half a century (not counting the walking machine, which had been around for some time before that). Saskatchewan's roads were little better than horse trails and cow paths. This didn't prevent one settler from trekking across the country to homestead near Maple Creek, travelling with only a handful of clothes and his bicycle. He remarked that he had put more than 3,000 miles on his bicycle during his first year on the farm.

Consider the earlier exploits of legendary Jack Hitchcock, who homesteaded near Birsay. He was born in 1870 in Quebec, and his quest for adventure led him to western Canada in 1894.

One of his greatest passions was building and riding bicycles. He rode many miles across the open west and his own cattle range provided many opportunities for riding. He also enjoyed motor bikes and in 1924 he rode a motor bike with a side carrier from Massachusetts to Birsay. It was no easy task considering the deep-rutted and dusty roads of the day. Hitchcock died on June 22, 1962, in Saskatoon.
(Source: Riding with the Wind: The history of cycling in Saskatchewan, by Pat Rediger, 2001.)

By the 1930s, cycling had become a very popular pastime, especially in the Prince Albert region. A July 10, 1933, newspaper account relates the story of Saskatoon cyclists Bill Kerr, Harvey Haid, Vincent Woodhead and ski champion Ross McMillian, who arrived in Waskesiu after a two day trip.

Lorne Mack of Regina described how cyclists in those days would sometimes hold a blanket between two riders and let the wind blow them along. They could reach about 45 km/hr without pedalling!

During the 1960s, cycling had gained enough enthusiasts to support the formation of cycling clubs in Regina and Saskatoon.

The 1970s are described as the "second cycling boom" (the first began in 1895). Organized cycling really took hold then, giving rise to the Saskatchewan Cycling Association and the growth of clubs throughout the province. Clubs organized excursions to Jasper, Banff and Waterton Lakes national parks, as well as cycling trips throughout Saskatchewan.

That decade was also remembered for "Cycle Canada '76", a cross-country ride to the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. Cyclists starting from the eastern, western and southern borders of the country all converged on Montreal, timing their arrival for July 20, 1976, the first day of Olympic cycling events. The event was organized for ordinary Canadians of every age and interest, rather than high performance athletes. About 5,000 riders participated. The Saskatchewan segment brought out people from all over the province, and not just cyclists. Towns and cities acted as hosts and set up events ranging from pancake breakfasts to ethnic dancing demonstrations. When cyclists arrived in Yorkton under heavy rains, the city offered to put them up in the local arena. In Foam Lake, townspeople organized a bicycle check. (Source: Riding with the Wind: The history of cycling in Saskatchewan, by Pat Rediger, 2001.)

Annual events like the GASP can trace their roots back to those earlier tours and the cyclists who organized them. More recently, events like The Great Saskatchewan Heritage Bicycle Tour, organized by the Wascana Freewheelers Bicycle Touring Club in the 1980s, and the SaskBike provincial tour, organized by the Saskatchewan Cycling Association during the 1990s, continued our long history of cycling. We'll save those tours for a later post.

For more information about Saskatchewan's long and colourful cycling history, Check out Pat Rediger's 2001 book, Riding with the Wind: The history of cycling in Saskatchewan (ISBN 0968196543 / 9780968196540 / 0-9681965-4-3), avaiable from the Saskatchewan Cycling Association or your local library branch (in Regina, in Saskatoon).