Top Memories from the 2011 MS Bike Tour

As we begin planning for this year’s MS Bike Tour, let’s take a minute to remember some of the highlights from the past Tour season. Here are our Top Memories from the 2011 MS Bike Tour:

Biggest Tent Village to date. In Grand Bend, we had our biggest tent village ever. It was great to see our returning teams grow in size and welcome many new teams. It will be a challenge for all MS Bike Tours to top last year’s numbers in Grand Bend, but let’s see who takes the top spot in 2012!

New BBQ for Top Fundraisers. The 100 Club Barbecue was a new initiative at the 2011 MS Bike Tour. The BBQ was added as an upgrade to the VIP areas for our amazing top fundraisers, who are recognized by their special yellow rider bibs. The BBQ included an exclusive menu of pulled pork or BBQ Chicken and a selection of salads.

Tasty lunch in Niagara. Participants still remember the delicious corn brought by RONA, the MS Bike Tour’s long-time, now former title sponsor. The MS Society of Canada would like to recognize and thank RONA Inc. for more than a decade of committed sponsorship of the MS Bike Tour.

New stops along the Acton to Waterloo route. Cyclists in the Acton to Waterloo Tour enjoyed two gorgeous new stops along their way. In the Brian Carrigan Century Loop, riders took a serene break at the Starkey Hill Conservation Area, a spot that is popular among hikers and birdwatchers. And on Day 2, took in the sites at the Warren Greenhouses during their lunch break in Kitchener.

Extreme Weather. Many of the Tours in 2011 were hit with crazy weather. In Grand Bend to London, riders experienced a hot, sticky heat wave.  Cyclists in the Acton to Waterloo and Niagara Tour all powered through torrential downpours. But Toronto riders were left unscathed, ending off the season with fabulous summer weather!

Enhanced online fundraising system piloted in Toronto. It was great to see the enhanced online fundraising system be put to use for the first time in Toronto in 2011. The system is now being used for all MS Bike Tours, making it even easier to register, create your personal fundraising page and get started on your fundraising.  New features allow you to upload personal email lists, post a photo or video, monitor and share your fundraising progress, track offline pledges and much more.  Visit msbiketours.ca to check it out today!

Thanks again to everyone who made the 2011 MS Bike Tour such a success! We look forward to seeing you and many new faces in 2012! Register today!

Did we forget something? Have another great memory to share? Leave us a wall post on Facebook or a tweet on Twitter! We’d love to hear about your favourite memory from the 2011 MS Bike Tour.