Cycling product and experiences continue to gear-up in the Comox Valley, and the expanding routes, marketing, and mapping products, coupled with growing events, are resulting in increased awareness of the Comox Valley as a top-notch cycling destination.

Comox Valley Economic Development and Tourism (CVEDS) and the Comox Valley Cycling Coalition (CVCC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support the expansion of cycling events and products in the Comox Valley, including the Comox Valley Farm Cycle Tour, and to collaborate on the new Comox Valley Cycling Coalitions鈥� Z Card Cycling Map, that captures the extent of biking routes, providing visitors and locals alike with an incredible tool with which to plan their cycling excursions.

The Comox Valley Farm Cycle Tour turned six this fall, and thanks to the support of CVEDS, the Cycling Coalition, the Comox Valley Farmers鈥� Market and over 25 enthusiastic farmers and food and beverage producers, the 2016 tour was the largest in its history, with the most stops and a 33 per cent increase in registered riders, despite less than perfect weather conditions. The event mirrors much larger, more established events of its kind in Canada that drive increased awareness not only of the cycling product, but also of the small scale regional producers and specialty farms.

The region is also attracting the attention of media interested in its cycling product. Last week the Comox Valley welcomed a media visit from the Netherlands based Bike and Trekking Magazine, TROUW Newspaper and NextGeneration online travel platform. The group was taken on a mountain biking tour by Island Mountain Rides around some of Cumberland鈥檚 extensive trails.

At the end of the tour one of the media said, 鈥淭hat was the best mountain biking I have done in my life, and the other guys are also stoked about the day.鈥�

Cycling events continue to grow here, and the Comox Valley Sport and Event Attraction & Enhancement Grant, managed by CVEDS, is available to groups who are planning to host events outside of the summer season, that have the ability to drive overnight stays to the region.

The Cross on Top of the Rock, a cyclocross race, was once such cycling event to receive support through the grant this year.

The 2017 Grant program intake will be released in early November on discovercomoxvalley.com.  The new Comox Valley Z Card Cycling Map is available for free at the Vancouver Island Visitors Centre, 3607 Small Road, Cumberland, 250-400-2882.