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SportsRecreationCycling22TuesdayAugust62013YellowknifecyclistsycoloursinOldTownByJACKDANYLCHUKAscitiesacrossCanadaem-bracethebicycleasanintegralpartofurbantransportationmanyYellowknifersstillhar-bourmixedemotionsaboutmansmostelegantinvention.ItsambivalentsaidJoelMailletorganizeroftheginormousbicyclerallythatopenedthesev-enthannualRambleandRidelastFridaysumminguphistakeonthecapitalson-againoff-againaccep-tanceofcycling.Cyclistsaregaininginnumberbutthisisamotorvehicletownaboomtownavehicle-drivencitywithlotsworktruckssoitsahardgoforcyclistsMail-letsaid.Whenpeoplerallylikethisitsachancetoyourcoloursanditdoesntgoun-noticed.Peoplemightleavetheirtruckandtakeabikeinstead.TheopeningeventforRambleandRideacelebrationofcyclingandwalkinginYellowknifesOldTownneighbourhooddrewabout80riderswhocruisedthecitysquietdinner-hourstreetsbeforerollingdownFranklinHilltoOldTownforaneveningofmusicanddance.AmongthosewhoturnedoutfortheridewasByronSawatzkyaformerbicyclecourierinCalgary.LikemostYellowknifershedrivesatruckmorethanherides.Non-cyclistsareatleastlearninghowtodealwithcyclistshesaidbutnotedthereisstillsomeimpatiencewithslowermovingtrafconYellowknifestreets.Mo-toristsneedtobeinformedabouthowtointeractwithcyclists.RambleandRidedrewhundredsofvisitorstoOldTownovertheweekend.Driverswhoparkedandwalkedfaroutnumberedcyclists.CarolandBillSwansonaretiredcouplereturn-inghometoFloridafromAlaskaaftereightmonthsoftouringNorthAmer-icabycampertruckwereamongthosewhochoserid-ingoverramblingthankstoapromotionthatoffersfreebicyclestotouristsinYellowknife.ThisisagreatideaBillsaid.WevecycledWhenpeoplerallylikethisitsachancetoflyourcoloursanditdoesntgoun-noticed.Peoplemightleavetheirtruckandtakeabikeinstead.JoelMailletYellowknifebikerallyacrossthecountrytwiceandweveseenlotsofcit-ieswithbicycleprogramsforresidentsbutthisisthersttimewevefoundfreebikesfortourists.TheSwansonsplannedtocampfortheweekendatFredHennePark.WithoutthebicyclestoexplorethecityweprobablywouldnthavestayedheremorethanafewhoursCarolsaid.MarionNicholpresidentofOutcropCommunicationsthecompanythatsponsoredthefreebicyclesfortour-istssaidthepromotionhasbeensopopularwithvisitorssheintendstobringitbacknextyear.WevehadnothingbutpositivecommentsNicholsaid.Thisisasmallcitywithalotofhistoryandscenery.Withabicyclevisitorscanexperiencealotmorethantheycouldonfootandthepriceisright.TheSwansonswerecharmed.Saturdaywasclearandhot-aperfectsummerday.MusicwaftedfrombusycafesandsoundstagesfromLathamIslandtokiosksofartandcraftsthatlinedthefinalblocksofFranklinwhereridersdriversandramblerssharedtheroad.Whilethefreebikepro-gramhasbeenarunawaysuccessaproposaltoex-perimentwithabicyclelaneonFranklinAvenuehasntmadeittothepublicdiscus-sionstage.SeveralyearsagocitycouncilconsideredpaintingbikelanesonYellowknifesbusieststreetsbutontheadviceofcityadministra-torssettledforsignsthatsetoutabikeroutethatskirteddowntown.ThebikelaneproposalreturnedearlierthisyearwhencouncillorDanWongproposedpaintinglanesonashortsectionofFranklinthecitysbusieststreet.MayorMarkHeycksaidthecitywantstoengagethepublicindiscussionbeforeitproceedswiththelaneexperimentwhichhasalsobeendelayedbytheneedforrepairstothecurblaneonFranklin.Mailletremainsoptimistic.Theyaretakinginputfrompeopleifthereisabicyclelaneinayearthatsgoodprogress.ButSawatzkydoesntthinkbicyclelanesarenecessary.Ifcyclistsandmotoristsunderstandhowtointer-actyoudontneedtodis-ruptanalreadycongesteddowntownwithabicyclelaneandtakeawaypark-inghesaid.WeareProudtohavebeenasponsorofanothersuccessfulPaddlefest.WelookforwardtoseeingyouagainnextyearCarolandBillSwansonaretiredcouplereturninghometoFloridafromAlaskabringouttheirwheelsfortheRambleandRidesbikerally.YellowknifecycliststaketothestreetslastweekendforOldTownsRambleandRide.Cyclingisahottopicinthecityasaproposalforbikelaneswasbroughtforwardagainthisyear.PhotosJackDanylchukSPORTSBRIEFSFortytaketothegreeninFortSmithsMerchantClassicFortygolferscameouttocom-peteinFortSmithsannualMer-chantGolfClassictournamentonSaturdayandSunday.DanBrownwontheseniorcham-pionshipsandAlHerontookhomerstplaceforthesuperseniorscategory.JayMacDon-aldwonthemenschampion-shipsandBrendaStokescameoutontopinthewomens.Asonlytwojuniorssigneduptheycompetedinthemenscategory.Prizeswerealsogivenoutforcompetitorsclosesttothepin.FortSmithhostsfreesportscampsTheFortSmithRecreationCentreisofferingfreesportscampsthisweekfortwoagegroups8-12year-oldsand13-16year-olds.Sportsincludesoftballbasketballagfoot-ballandultimatefrisbee.ThecampsstartTuesdayandrununtilFriday100-400p.m.fortheyoungergroupand600-900p.m.fortheolderyouth.TuesdayandWednesdaywillbeagfootballandThursdaywillbeultimatefrisbee.