Members of the Grand Forks Cycling Club spent this past weekend on a bit of a road trip.

The club was holding its Robb’s Ride event with members biking for close to 360 kilometres between Friday and Sunday or “348 kilometers, 3,890 meters of climbing,” as the club’s website says.

The ride was the brainchild of Dr. Robb Sebastian, a member of the club, and it has seen growth and even a bit of change since its inception about five years ago.

“It’s growing every year,” Sebastian said.

“We’re looking like we might reach 80 (cyclists) this year and it’s the first year we’ve had it in our own community.”

Robb’s Ride has started off in many different areas over the years, including Creston and Kaslo, but organizers thought it best to start on home turf in 2010.

“We like to showcase [Grand Forks] which is a cycling paradise and unheard of and the secret’s out,” explained Sebastian.

While the event is meant to be a fun, non-competitive three-day excursion, some precautions had to be taken.

“We’ve got support vehicles — we don’t leave anyone alone on the road — we transport luggage, we’ve got certain points where we’re going to stop but it’s very casual,” said Anton Kew, one of the event’s organizers.

Kew said that while it is an easy-going event, it is also for the serious enthusiasts, after all, the route is not only long; there is an incline as well.

“On Day 2, we leave Osoyoos and climb up Anarchist, so that’s a fairly good grunt there; you do have to be in somewhat good shape,” he said.

The cycling club is visible around town, as they are often seen riding around Grand Forks in groups with their yellow jerseys, and is hoping the event raises the profile about their sport and the club.

“We’d like to raise awareness of cycling and the fitness benefits and get the drivers in town used to seeing more cyclists in town,” Sebastian said.

Robb’s Ride is only one of the events the Grand Forks Cycling Club holds. There are also events throughout the summer. “We put on this event, we put on a Masters’ race weekend for riders over 30-years old — that’s in July and a three-event weekend — and we also do a four-man time trial in August, and we do a century ride, leaving from here in September, which anyone can do,” Kew said.