Ride the Lobster

Ride the Lobster is the world's longest unicycle race.cite news|url=http://www.capebretonpost.com/index.cfm?sid=145985&sc=145|date=20 June, 2008|title=Unicyclists from around the world make Cape Breton their final stop|author=Doug Mackenzie|publisher=Cape Breton Post|accessdate=2008-06-22] This 800 kilometre international relay race around the roads of Nova Scotia, Canada was first conceived by Edward Wedler. He gave the race its unusual name because he thought the roadways around Nova Scotia resembled a lobster.cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/080616/K061604AU.html|date=16 June, 2008|title=Unique race involving 105 unicyclists underway in Nova Scotia|publisher=CBC online|accessdate=2008-06-19]

The five day race has five stages, composed of four legs winding around the province of approximately 200 km each and one day of time trials. The first stage is from Yarmouth to Annapolis Royal. The second stage goes to St. Margarets. The third stage is composed of two time trials, Hubbards in the morning and Truro in the early evening. The fourth stage is from Truro to Antigonish. The final stage goes from Port Hawkesbury to Baddeck. [http://www.ridethelobster.com/faqs/ Official Website- Frequently Asked Questions] ] The event coordinator, Heather LeBlanc, intentionally made early stages easier for the contestants and the final stretch difficult.

Rules

Each team must be composed of four people—three riders and one support person. The support person is not allowed to ride. The three riders take turns completing the distance of the race. The rider cannot be switched over the first 10 kilometres of each race day. After that, the team has full discretion as to how often they want to switch riders.

All riders complete the 21 km time trial.

2008 race

In 2008, the inaugural race began on June 16, with 104 riders (124 had qualified) on 35 teams from fourteen countries.cite news|url=http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1062815.html|date=19 June, 2008|title=Team N.S. enjoying the ride|publisher=The Chronicle Herald Nova Scotia|accessdate=2008-06-20]

The race concluded in Cape Breton with contestants reaching the finish line between 5–7 pm on June 20. The winner was awarded $5,000 in cash and prizes.

Results

References

External links

* [http://www.ridethelobster.com/ Official website]
* [http://ridethelobster.wordpress.com/ Ride the Lobster Blog]
* [http://www.socialtext.net/ridethelobster/index.cgi?results# Race Results]