Threads – Pedals, Puddles and Purpose: An Adventure at Cycle Clear Lake

Episode transcript:

Kyle Rudge (00:02):
It begins with a single thread woven through other thread, and then another and another until we have a single piece of fabric. That fabric is stretched, cut and stitched together with another, just like it. This process is repeated over and over and over until we have a beautiful tapestry that all began with a single thread. Welcome to an MCC Threads, where we look closely at how our stories in Manitoba weave together with the stories of MCC and its partners around the world.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (00:51):
Oh my word. Well, he's not wrong. That is water.

Kyle Rudge (01:01):
July 6th of last year, I traveled to Riding Mountain National Park to participate in Cycle Clear Lake.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (01:07):
I am so wet.

Kyle Rudge (01:10):
And that's where I fell into the water <laugh>. It wasn't the only time I fell, but we'll get to that a little later in the episode. Cycle Clear Lake is an annual cycling event that happens every year inside Riding Mountain National Park. Allow me to set the scene a little. Riding Mountain is a breathtaking expanse of Manitoba's natural beauty. It just comes alive there. Imagine rolling hills blanketed by dense forests that give way to these wide-open grasslands. And at the heart of it all lies Clear Lake, clear and calm. It's a rare gem, one of only two national parks in the province, and the only one you can visit year-round. Offering a stunning blend, a peaceful wilderness and adventure for those who seek it and Cycle Clear Lake, this annual fundraising event for Mennonite Central Committee, is one of those adventures. You will literally see it all. I cannot emphasize that enough. There are so many picturesque views along the way.

Rick Thiessen (02:07):
My name's Rick Paddock Thiessen, Brandon, Manitoba. I am one of the organizers for Cycle Clear Lake for Mennonite Central Committee. I've been involved in the event probably - I think I missed, I can't remember if I missed the first two years or just the first year, maybe the first two years - essentially since its inception, that was 2001.

Kyle Rudge (02:31):
Every time I've interviewed various participants and organizers of Cycle Clear Lake, one thing kept coming back up and it was community, just how beloved this event is for all those that attend. So I went there for myself this last year, not just to report, but to actually do the race. I even took a microphone with me and recorded the entire ride while I was there for better.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (02:52):
I made it <laugh>

Kyle Rudge (02:55):
And for worse.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (02:56):
Well, I'm on my balance some now and <cough> it was like choking a bug.

Kyle Rudge (03:04):
The scene of eating bugs came up a few times. I hope that doesn't scare you. Anyways, back to Rick. Last year, the night before Cycle Clear Lake, I opted to hike out to Riding Mountain National Park and camp among some of the other riders. And that's where Rick and I met for the first time in person.

Rick Thiessen (03:22):
I was one of the individuals staying the night before as an organizer and setting up some things and tried to make my supper with my one friend who was helping me and, you know, almost blew up my Coleman stove. So Kyle did really great in saving us from that event. And <laugh>, you know, helping us have a proper supper. One of the things that happens every year is one of the committee members of the four of us stays at the actual campsite to sort of be available to set up some things and just, you know, in the event that we need to do something kind of last minute,

Kyle Rudge (03:59):
Last year's Cycle Clear Lake came with some amazing stories. We'll start with probably the most notable one.

Rick Thiessen (04:05):
Because last year was actually the highest total we've ever raised. So as I mentioned before, you know, this event started in 2001. And we had, I think we've, we've never gone above a hundred cyclists, but we've had up in the 80, 80-plus range for sure. Last year, total number of actual cyclists was 41, so that's significantly lower. And yet we raised together, $53,412 with those 41 cyclists.

Kyle Rudge (04:42):
And those cyclists were very excited.

Rick Thiessen (04:52):
It's actually quite amazing to see the amount of money that comes in and obviously more cyclists would think is better, and it is, but that was a fantastic total. And then just for some context, so since 2001, we are just under $700,000 for that event. $699,690, which I mean, I don't know, I don't get out much. But I have been involved with other kinds of fundraising events and I think in terms of the size and scope and number of folks involved, this is a very successful event.

Kyle Rudge (05:36):
Honestly, I would agree. It's one of those things that it's kind of hard to imagine until you actually go there.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (05:43):
All right, I'm off again, bye!

Kyle Rudge (05:46):
That's me taking off the day before to Cycle Clear Lake.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (05:50):
Win the race.

Kyle Rudge (05:51):
My kids yelling, encouragement from the background. And it was fascinating because I took the drive and of course, the drive is the drive from Winnipeg to Riding Mountain. There's some hills. There's some flat land. You get there. And then Riding Mountain is just a beautiful place. You eventually find the little campground, which you're welcome to stay at the night before. And I chose to do that as well. And I'm not entirely certain it was wise because I forgot a pillow. I forgot a sleeping mat. And so I pretty much slept on the cold ground just before the day of the Cycle Clear Lake race. But I was determined to make a go of it.

Cycle Clear Lake volunteer (06:30):
I need to put this, have you done this before?

Kyle Rudge (On location) (06:32):
Negative.

Cycle Clear Lake volunteer (06:33):
Okay. Like Rita said, there's three checkpoints.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (06:36):
Yep.

Cycle Clear Lake volunteer (06:37):
And you need to stop in at every checkpoint.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (06:39):
Okay.

Cycle Clear Lake volunteer (06:39):
Even if you don't want anything to eat or drink at each checkpoint, they will give you -

Kyle Rudge (06:45):
It's clear that safety is a huge priority for everyone at Cycle Clear Lake. Right down to having somebody in the rear that is intentionally gonna be last. To make sure that nobody is left behind. There's plenty of signage. There's the three checkpoints that you just heard them talking about, in which you do have to check in. There are walkie-talkies and vehicles that they're taking bikes or helping repair things if things happen along the way. There's just a whole lot, but it's the stories and the joy that you have around the people that really matters most.

Les Gustafson-Zook (07:18):
It was fun.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (07:18):
How did I do <laugh>?

Les Gustafson-Zook (07:19):
I thought you did great, <laugh>. No, it was, it was an adventure.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (07:24):
First time?

Les Gustafson-Zook (07:25):
Yeah. First time.

Kyle Rudge (07:26):
Meet Les. Les actually came to the event from Goshen, Indiana.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (07:31):
So what was the hardest part?

Les Gustafson-Zook (07:34):
The hardest part was probably breaking a pedal and riding half the way with a broken pedal.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (07:41):
Did you have any spills?

Les Gustafson-Zook (07:43):
One spill. My front tire went into a mud hole and I went over the handlebars.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (07:48):
Over the handlebars?. Any scars to show for your-

Les Gustafson-Zook (07:52):
No scars.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (07:52):
No scars? Okay. That's good.

Les Gustafson-Zook (07:54):
Unfortunately.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (07:54):
That's good.

Les Gustafson-Zook (07:55):
It wasn't a deadly situation, but it was a little exciting.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (08:01):
I found a little escarpment, little bank and my back tire slid off and then the whole thing went down.

Kyle Rudge (08:08):
Yes, I do have the audio of me falling there, but we'll get to that a little bit later. Yeah.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (08:13):
Would you do it again?

Les Gustafson-Zook (08:15):
Probably yes. I mean, yes. It's just a distance.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (08:21):
Yeah. That's fair. That's fair. That's fair.

Les Gustafson-Zook (08:23):
You know, but in terms of fun and ride and stuff like that, sure. I'd do it again. Yeah.

Kyle Rudge (08:28):
And after the event, as more and more people kind of rode in past the finish line, it was nice to just sit down and talk with people like Les and James about their experience and how they felt about the whole thing.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (08:42):
Alright James, how'd you do?

James Alty (08:44):
Well, I completed it and that was part of my goal. And I had fun at the same time too. Yeah.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (08:50):
Any, any wipeouts?

James Alty (08:53):
Yes, but I went down with a smile on my face,

Kyle Rudge (08:57):
It was just majestic. I think that's the only way to explain it. As you're sitting there with people celebrating, successfully completing the race. You are jumping into Clear Lake 'cause you are feeling incredibly overheated and sweaty and you're waiting for an incredible meal. There's just memories to be made.

Rick Thiessen (09:16):
You know, one of the things that even makes me think of is, like in my years of involvement I mean I had both of my children ride that event. Essentially they were on board. I don't think I forced them to do it or anything like that. You know that was, I think my son was first. He was more of a cycling person than my daughter. And yeah, I think he was 10 when he did the whole thing and that was quite a thing for him to do at that age. But from that point on, and so he basically left for university, you know, every year he was doing it. And you know, pretty quickly he didn't want to ride with his old father. I think one of the last years he was in that fast group at the front of the line and trying hard to be first. I think he came in third the one year. But, you know, he was, he was pretty happy with that.

Kyle Rudge (10:14):
To prepare for the starting line should you decide to ride this year, there seems to be three sets of groups. The teens and the young twenties, Rick says, go and they're off like a shot. That's the first group. There's no seeing them again. They are in it to win it. Then there's the more earnest riders that will go faster, but not overly interested in racing against everyone else. And lastly, there's the casual riders and the families, you know, parents with kids and those who just want to take a casual ride around Clear Lake at their own pace and enjoy the nature around them. It's for all of them. It was nice to check in with Rick this last week to reminisce about last year and the stories we experienced along the way on the trails. And I think it was about three-quarters of the way through, I did have one pretty big fall. I didn't get hurt, but we were kind of on like a, almost like a side of a hill. There's a path there that you can stay on, but it was one of those where it was like, if you go six inches to the right or six inches, like your drop is six inches to the left. But if you go to the right, there'll be like a ridge and it'll push you over to the left. And I looked away at a gorgeous view for like a split second.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (11:23):
Sorry. All right. Whoop <laugh>. Yeah, I'm good.

Kyle Rudge (11:36):
And then I went all the way down into a bog. Just slid all the way down in and the guy that I was with just laughed. He's like, are you okay? Yes, I am fine. I stink. It was gross, but I am fine. Cycle Clear Lake seems like such a long time ago. But listening to the eight hours of audio that I had to edit through, I really started to remember all the little things that really mattered. Like meeting people on the trail.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (12:06):
What's your name? Lorne? Ah, I'm Kyle.

Kyle Rudge (12:12):
And the welcomeness that I felt when I just invited myself along 'cause I didn't know where to go.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (12:17):
You seem to know the path. So I'm gonna follow you.

Kyle Rudge (12:19):
And of course there was also getting up close and personal with various elements of nature.

Kyle Rudge (On location) (12:27):
Oh, you swang that tree <laugh>. I timed that wrong. <Laugh>. I should have been closer.

Kyle Rudge (12:34):
And after your three, four hour ride. You find yourself back at camp. Ready to eat.

Cycle Clear Lake volunteer (12:42):
Farmer Sausage from Winkler, Manitoba.

Kyle Rudge (12:45):
<Laugh> Classic Menno.

Cycle Clear Lake (12:46):
Classic Menno, you better believe it.

Kyle Rudge (12:48):
From the farmer sausage and pasta salads, to the thank you message brought by Valorie Block of MCC Manitoba, there was more than enough food for the soul and the body to go around.

Valorie Block (13:00):
The participants, first and foremost, but also in addition, the many folks in your life, friends, family, and others who are sponsoring you to be here and helping support MCC that way. And last but not least, all of the volunteers I know there's a small army of volunteers that make this event possible.

Kyle Rudge (13:29):
So have we convinced you yet? Are you ready to Cycle Clear Lake and pedal with purpose? It's a scenic 34-kilometer ride through Riding Mountain National Park. It's happening Saturday, July 5th. All in support of MCC's International Education Projects. You can come for the day, you can camp for the whole weekend or sponsor a rider. Spots are limited. For more information or to join the registration waitlist, visit mcc.org/CycleClearLake. I can personally say it is a lot of fun. MCC Threads is produced by KRWords with story assistance from Jessica Burtnick. Big thank you to everyone at Cycle Clear Lake for being so welcoming to a new rider. And I had an absolute blast. Thanks for Rick as well. Making some time for us this time around. I'm Kyle Rudge. And this

Kyle Rudge (On location) (14:23):
Again, close your mouth, Kyle!

Kyle Rudge (14:27):
<Laugh>, is MCC Threads.