Glowing bikes, smiling faces and a chorus of kazoos helped Bike Cochrane celebrate its largest Glo Ride yet as the organization wrapped up another year of growth.<\/p>\n
The fourth annual family ride drew an estimated 120 to 150 participants, with favourable weather helping bring a large crew onto Cochrane\u2019s river pathways.<\/p>\n
Upwards of 150 cyclists participated in the annual Glo Ride of Bike Cochrane. Photo\/Bike Cochrane
Riding the Cochrane trails during the annual Glo Ride. Photo\/Bike Cochrane<\/p>\n
\u201cLots of happy, smiling and loud kids, actually,\u201d says Paul Perrault, Bike Cochrane\u2019s director of operations.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wound up having a bunch of kazoos that we were happy to get out of our ownership and into kids\u2019,\u201d he says. \u201cDefinitely made them be a loud group out, which was fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Photo\/Bike Cochrane
\nA ride for the whole family<\/p>\n
Riders were invited to decorate themselves and their bikes with glow sticks for the casual outing from Riverfront Park toward the SLS Centre and back along the Bow River pathway.<\/p>\n
At just under eight kilometres, the route offered a manageable adventure for younger cyclists, some of whom did the whole distance.<\/p>\n
Away from vehicle traffic and with relatively few hills, the pathway allowed families to ride at their own pace.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s nice to be able to do events like that that\u2019s so much more inclusive than a big, long ride,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
The gathering continued afterward with snacks, hot chocolate and a bonfire at Riverfront Park. Children could keep riding at Bike Cochrane\u2019s micro bike park while parents gathered around the fire.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a really nice location,\u201d says Perrault.<\/p>\n
Glow Ride coordinator Shane Hudson says the event helps children experience the community connections that cycling can create.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to offer fun, family bike events so that our children get to experience the fun that comes from being in a community on bikes. We had a great event in 2026 with over 120 participants and we look forward to more biking fun next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Membership reaches new high<\/p>\n
The turnout reflects the momentum behind an organization whose membership continues to reach new highs. They had a record 1,235 this year, believed to be the largest member-based trail society in Western Canada.<\/p>\n
But there’s much more to the organization whose mission is to serve Cochrane through the promotion of, and advocacy for, cycling in the community.<\/p>\n
Beyond building and maintaining trails, Perrault explains its work includes advocating for active transportation, recycling bicycles and offering activities ranging from children\u2019s races and camps to women\u2019s learn-to-bike programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re so much more than just a trail society,\u201d he says. \u201cI think our continuing and broadening membership base is really \u2026 a good result of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The fourth annual acclaimed\u00a0three-day Ride, Empower, Connect (REC) program was held Sept. 25 to 27th. Above camp organizer\u00a0Bri Sharpe draws attention to the program’s sponsors. Cochrane Now\/Noel Edey
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Winter riding and year-end gathering<\/p>\n
Bike Cochrane still has a couple of dates on its calendar before closing out the season.<\/p>\n
A Nov. 10 speaker session at Big Hill Cycle will focus on winter bike commuting, with an experienced volunteer sharing lessons learned from riding through the colder months.<\/p>\n
The organization\u2019s annual general meeting follows Dec. 3 at Sheepdog Brewing.<\/p>\n
Back in Gear<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, volunteers with its Back in Gear bicycle recycling program will be kept busy this winter.<\/p>\n
The program recently moved from Cochrane High School into a more permanent indoor workshop, providing volunteers with improved space to repair donated bicycles. Bike Cochrane will continue involving youth in the program despite the change in location.<\/p>\n
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