It may be a bit like finding a needle in a haystack, but with a close look and a little luck, spectators may see a familiar face among the hundreds of riders pedalling their way through Powell River on Tuesday, July 3, for day three of the BC Bike Race. Former resident Marshall Cram will be participating in this year’s event and thus returning to his former home, or at least riding through it for a day.
Perhaps best known by locals as the first owner of River City Coffee, the cafe and roasting house he opened in 1994, Cram has since changed careers and provinces. He now works in the information technology field as a solutions consultant in Calgary, though he still maintains ties to Powell River. So when a local organization needed a last-minute stand-in to put on a specially-made jersey and ride their name, he was more than happy to oblige.
Understanding the full story, however, will require some backpedalling.
Last October Cram’s friend, City of Powell River councillor and cycle enthusiast Russell Brewer, agreed to ride on behalf of Powell River Mobility Opportunities Society (PRMOS), the non-profit organization behind the TrailRider and other means for people with mobility challenges to enjoy hiking and other activities in the community. In an accident several months later, Brewer tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in one of his knees and as the race date drew closer, he knew that he would be unable to participate in a riding capacity. That’s when he threw Cram’s name into the hat, or more likely the helmet.
“Russ told [PRMOS] that if they should reach out to me that there was a fair chance that I would be willing to ride on behalf of [the society] during the race,” Cram said. PRMOS did just that and he immediately agreed.
“Accessibility of the trails is a no-brainer for me,” Cram said. “My cubicle here in Calgary isn’t how I keep my sanity. The mountains and trails are where I keep my head about me so to be able to give that opportunity to others, it’s an easy [choice of organization] to ride on behalf of.”
CC Duncan of PRMOS said the society was thrilled at the idea of being represented not just at the race but in it as well. A TrailRider was on display during last year’s event but this will be the first time a jersey with the organization’s logo will be seen flying through the BC backcountry alongside racers from around the globe.
“We hope that [these racers] will all be riding for many many years...but you never know,” Duncan said. “We want to open [the trails] up to people who do not have that same accessibility. We’d like to be able to see the joy on their faces as they get back out into nature or maybe in nature for the first time.”
The jerseys Cram will be wearing were donated by Suncoast Cycles and will be white in colour with the PRMOS logo on the front, back and sleeves.
“We’ve got seven of them because they’re white,” she laughed, “but they’re pretty snazzy looking. He’ll start off looking crisp and clean when he starts the race each day but by the end of the day he’s not going to look very white at all.”
On Tuesday, as Cram’s jersey collects donations of mud from the local trails, Duncan and the society will collect donations for the TrailRider program. Most recently, the organization has been fundraising for a portable lift that will be used to transfer people with disabilities from their various transportation devices into the TrailRider itself. The lift would improve safety for both volunteers and riders.
A donation form has been set up online in advance of the race and can be accessed through the PRMOS website. For more information on Cram’s progress during the race itself, readers may listen to SunFM radio on each race day for a daily report.
