The new Edmonton Chapter (YCAT-YEG Cycle and Touring) invites you to cycle the north east region of Edmonton. This particular area provides unique riding experiences through northern boreal forests, aspen parklands with charming and distinctive towns and villages, agricultural production, cultural and outdoor experiences. You will get to know some of our favourite routes as well as some of our provincial and national parks. We might even see bison in Elk Island park!

On our last day of riding, we will join the Tour de l’Alberta cycling event, a post covid revival of a 25 year tradition. This is a fully supported ride through the Beaver Hill Biosphere that also includes a meal at the end. You can choose from three different distances (50, 100 or 160k). 

Why a “roving” hub and spoke? 

Participants will be staying in Edmonton but our rides will begin in various locations, 10 to 30km away from the city. This will offer riders quiet rural roads near some of our best known natural areas. Elk Island National Park and Cooking Lake – Blackfoot Provincial Parks are some of our gems near Edmonton. You must be able to get yourself and your bike to the start so a car will be required. 

We have blocked 30 rooms at the Hampton Inn by Hilton for July 6-13. The hotel is located just 10 minutes away from the Edmonton airport and in proximity of restaurants and South Edmonton Common Shopping mall. Breakfast is included and bikes can go in the rooms. Cost is $149/night. The booking window and rates will be available until June 1, 2026. Once you have booked the room to your name, you have a 48hrs window to cancel.

To make your reservation under this group allotment, a reservation link will be provided.

Campgrounds:

• Half Moon Lake Resort is near many of our ride starts.
• Leduc Lions Campground and RV Park is also near some of the ride starts.
• Miquelon Lake Provincial Park is about 35 minutes away from where our ride starts.

The daily rides will range from 50km to 100k with relatively flat terrain. Some rides will offer longer and shorter versions. All rides will be on paved roads, often on secondary highways, and maps will be posted and found on the club’s Ride with GPS Collection. Our driver, Charles World, will never be too far away with water, snacks and lunches. As there are choices of distances, every group will have at least one YCAT leader with them. If everybody wants to do the same ride, we will divide up in smaller groups 10-20) and leave 10-15 minutes apart. At least one YCAT leader will also be with each group. Riders are welcome to leave the group if they notify the leader and are confident they know their way. As this is an Intermediate/Advanced ride participants must be able to maintain a consistent minimum average pace of 20 km/hr on level ground for extended distances.

Bike Rental

Be aware that renting bikes in Edmonton is not easy. You can contact Mountain Madness Cycle Tours.  Another possibility is Edmonton Bike Rentals.

• Maps and GPS routes 
• Welcome pizza
• Most lunches (see itinerary)
• Support vehicle 

• Transportation to and from airport
• Tour accommodations
• Meals other than those noted in the itinerary
• TDA (Tour de l’Alberta)  registration (15% discount) 
• Bike rental if required
• Personal expenses

Monday July 6, 2026

5:00 pm:  Meet and greet at TBD. Pizza will be provided

Tuesday July 7, 2026

Day 1 Elk Island National Park. (Lunch Provided) We will begin this ride at the picnic area of Astotin

Lake in Elk Island National Park. Experience the rolling hills and glassy lakes of Elk Island National Park, a UNESCO designated Biosphere. You have 3 options of rides and we will end back at the lake where a picnic awaits you. Good News! The Canada Strong Pass is back! Enjoy free admission and 25% off camping and overnight stays with Parks Canada from June 19 to September 7, 2026.

• Ride 1 53k and 358m of elevation. These rides stay mainly in the park.

The next two options have you riding about 30k in the Park and the rest on quiet rural roads just outside the Park.

• Ride 2 68k and 426m of elevation. 
• Ride 3 78.4k and 465m of elevation

Wednesday July 8, 2026

Day 2 Ministik Conservation Land. (Snack Provided) Today we are riding in the Ministik area. There are many wetlands in this natural area, which are important for filtering water and maintaining our water supply. Ministik is located in the Beaver Hills UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and provides important habitat for wildlife. Included is a stop at Morning Brew for a coffee. The support van will provide snacks to add to your coffee. No lunch provided today.

• Ride 77k and 445m of elevation

Thursday July 9, 2026

 Day 3 Waskahegan Staging area. (Lunch Provided) Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area contains forests, pastures and wetlands. It is a multiple use area that supports a variety of activities, including agriculture, wildlife management, natural gas extraction and outdoor recreation. We will begin riding from the Waskehegan Staging area. You have 2 options of rides and we will end back at the staging area where a picnic awaits you.

• Ride 1 80k and 480m of elevation
• Ride 2 62k and 380m of elevation

Friday July 10, 2026

Day 4 (Lunch Provided) Starting in Beaumont, we will make our way to New Serepta. The van will wait for us at the Old Station Honey & Mead. Grab your lunch from the van then go and check out the meads. You can enjoy their mead by the glass, or by the flight… in the “Training Room” of the Old Fire Station in New Sarepta. 

• Ride 1 82k and 408m of elevation
• Ride 2 68k and 319m of elevation
• Ride 3 55k and 256m of elevation

Saturday July 11, 2026

Day 5 Relaxed ride around Leduc with lunch (on you) at the Leduc Brewery. We will meet at Leduc Lions Park, ride around Telford Lake then on some secondary highways on our way back to lunch.

• Ride 37km and 200m of elevation

Sunday July 12, 2026

Tour de l’Alberta event. We will meet at the Strathcona Olympiette Centre where you will join others in this wonderful fully supported event. Whatever distance you select, 55 km, 100 km and 160 km, all three rides start and finish at the Strathcona Olympiette Centre. During each distance you will get plenty of opportunity to experience the diverse landscape of the Beaver Hills Biosphere and take in your surroundings. Several rest stops along the way will provide refreshments and snacks to refuel you for the ride. Once complete, you can enjoy a catered meal and connect with other riders. 

• CCCTS tour participants will be given a 15% discount on registration.

Once the participants are on the Go List, a link to the 2026 Tour de l’Alberta will be provided as well as the discount code. We hope to have everybody join this event as this will be where we say our goodbyes.

Monday July 13, 2026

Departures

Registration will be on the CCCTS website on the date shown. A computerized lottery system and waitlist will be utilized in the event that the ride is over subscribed. A $100CA payment is required at time of registration. 

The lottery signup will run for 8 days, after which the Ride Leader will review the results.

The selection process will consider the following criteria in evaluating candidates:

• fitness and riding ability and experience required for the event,
• a history of demonstrating safe riding practices,
• acceptable social behavior.

The leader may interview riders or others who know them to verify their suitability for the tour. The leader will notify registrants of their selection status. If the ride is not filled, registration will continue until the closing dates shown.

If registering as a couple, please tick the “couples” box. With different surnames, we may not be able to identify your status. The numerical score of each person will then be averaged. Those sharing a room with a friend should also register as a couple.

Participant selection is done primarily by lottery results, but the leader will have the final decision on who is accepted or not for the Hub and Spoke. The leader has the option to prioritize up to 30% of the participants up to a maximum of 6.

The lottery registration will look at non YCAT members. If the full complement of 60 riders is not met after the lottery closes, YCAT chapter members, who are not volunteers, will be added to the group. YCAT members who are not volunteers for this event are encouraged to register when the lottery opens. 

Wait-listed cyclists who do not make it onto the ride’s “go list” are eligible for a refund of their registration fee. They have the option of staying on the wait-list for some time in hopes of getting on the ride. Refunds will be issued when the wait-list is closed off. 

Cancellation

In the event of cancellation – The registration fee is non-refundable when a member withdraws after being accepted from a tour or hub & spoke. If a replacement can’t be found, we will refund any tour fees for costs that could be avoided. However, if there are costs that cannot be avoided, these will not be refunded.

Communicable Illnesses

The CCCTS Communicable Illness Policy takes into consideration regulations and recommendations from Public Health Authority of Canada, BC Centre of Disease Control, and Public Health Ontario. In the case of illness while on tour, it is expected that all participants will follow the procedures outlined in this policy. Please refer to the club’s Communicable Illness Policy.