Lake Cowichan council has expressed a desire to bring a cyclocross to town.
The event usually takes place in fall or winter and consists of cycling across many surfaces including trails, steep hills and grass.
Participants are regularly required to dismount and remount their bike.
Councillor Bob Day was the instigator of the idea, brought up at the Lake Cowichan council committee meeting in December.
“It looks like an event that could be organized in Lake Cowichan,” said Day, who sees the surroundings areas of Cowichan Lake and Centennial Park recreation site as good spots for the event.
Provincial organization Cross on the Rock, based out of Surrey, organizes a series of cyclocross races around the province every year, including one recently held in nearby Ladysmith in November.
Day confirmed he had discovered Cross on the Rock in his research.
“It could turn out to be a weekend event at the end of February,” he said. “It’s a great way for cyclists to keep in shape in the winter and requires very little infrastructure to do. Just a bit of tape and that’s it.”
Joseph Fernandez, town administrator, is on board since the Great Lake Walk is in jeopardy.
Day says the cyclocross is envisioned to be the next golf.
“I’m just here to plant the seed but it would bring weekend visitors at a time of year where we don’t get any. Like the go-karts did to Youbou.”
Mayor Ross Forrest believes communication with local cycling clubs will be key.
“It would be good to hear back from the cycling club first about their interest,” said the mayor.
Day figures this is something council should proceed with.
“It’s an opportunity to reach out. We don’t want to wait for them to come to us as then nothing happens,” he said.
