Cycle Messenger World Championships
Toronto, June 13 - 16, 2008
The unique celebration of pedal-powered culture that is the Cycle Messenger World Championships touches down in Toronto for the weekend of June 13 to June 16, 2008.
Located on the Toronto Islands, this year's event is the 16th annual CMWC gathering. The feature event is the World Championship Main Race, a 3-hour endurance marathon that duplicates the work a messenger must do daily: figure out the fastest route to collect and drop packages between checkpoints.
Other events include: 300-metre sprints; a cargo race carrying heavy objects; bunny hops over a bar that is progressively raised; no-hands track stands (to the last bike standing); distance fixie skidding; bike polo championships; a slow race, where the last person across the finish line wins; goldsprints, where bikes are mounted on rollers to measure their speed; and a pedal boat race.
Between 700 and 1,000 competitors from around the world are expected to attend.
A range of ongoing diversions will also be happening: Alleycat racing, parties, films, an art gallery, DJs, and a vendor's market. A participatory visit to the Forest City Velodrome is also planned. If you figure on taking your own bike to the velodrome, please read their FAQ
And, if that's not enough, the NXNE Music Festival is being held in Toronto on the same weekend. There will be some crossover to the CMWC's music stages.
Admission is free (bring $6 for the ferry) and registration to compete costs $100, and must be done through the link below. Anyone can register; non-messengers often enjoy the competition. Non-competitors are sure to enjoy this festival of "the world's hardest working professional athletes."
www.cmwc2008.com
www.forestcityvelodrome.ca
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