There are many changes this year based on the feedback from riders and volunteers at the end of the event last year. I've decided to list the changes for this year in one tidy little place for your quick review.  Come back often as once the Planning Committee have made changes to the event, I'll post the changes on this page.

• Pace Teams
  (Updated Apr 24, 2010)
  The addition of Pace Teams in the event is another step towards ensuring your BFBC experience is fun and supportive.  Pace Teams offer cyclists an opportunity to make a commitment to bicycle together (to start together and to finish together).  This means that regardless of how many flat tires or times you need to wait for people on top of a climb, the team stays together.  You choose on your registration form whether you are interested in joining a Pace Team and whether you are interested in being a Rider or a Captain.  The 2010 Pace Team link can be located under the "Registration" tab on the main page.
  
  
• Fees
  (Updated Feb 16, 2010)
  We are changing our fee structure as the costs of running the event have increased plus we want to ensure the event remains sustainable.  The following are the changes in fee structure for the 2010 year: 
  
  Seniors (60 +) and Students (12 - 18) : $10 (Early or Regular Registration)
  Students (Under 12) : $0
  Early Registration (19 - 59 years of age): $25 (before June 15)
  Regular Registration (19 - 59 years of age): $40 (after June 15)
  Transportation Fees ($20 per trip)
  Overnight Accommodations : $30 per family
  
  We are pleased that we have not increased our fees in the first five years of the event and we are also pleased that our entry fees remain low.  Feel free to contact Ken if you have any questions about these increases
  
  
• Early Registration Pick-Ups
  (Updated Feb 16, 2010)
  This year we will be testing out one day in Charlottetown and one day in Summerside to pick up your registration package and deliver your pledges / fees.  This will take place the week of the event at a yet to be announced day, time, location.  We hope this will help reduce the wait times at registration and also reduce the amount of time spent following the event with administration duties.  Please make an effort to attend if you are in the province at this time.

New for 2009

Here are the changes for last year's event . . . just for those history buffs amongst us. :-)

• MacQueen's BFBC Bicycle Store
  (Updated July 21, 2009)
  Thanks to a wonderful partnership with MacQueen's Bicycle Shop in Charlottetown, BFBC will be having a MacQueen's BFBC Bicycle Store Friday night at M.E. Callaghan and Saturday morning at North Cape.  If that was not enough, MacQueen's are helping the event by sharing 50 per cent of the proceeds earned to be kept for the event.  So, for you, the rider, this means that you don't need to pack your tubes, or get your CO2 cartridges before you get to the event.  Not only will you get your gear and supplies for the day but you will help our event fund-raise at the same time.  A complete list of items available will be made available next week.
• Kid Bicycle Rodeo in Charlottetown
  (Updated July 16, 2009)
  Founder's Hall, 4 Prince Street, will be the place to between 1 pm and 3 pm on August 1st.  It will not only be a stop for the riders doing BFBC but also it will feature a Cycling PEI BFBC Bicycle Rodeo.  The event is free and prizes will be given out.  Follow this link for more information.
• New Summerside Pick Up Location
  (Updated July 10, 2009)
  We have added a new pick-up location for Saturday morning.  So, to be clear, we have three pick up locations on Saturday morning: Charlottetown (Charlottetown Mall), North Bedeque (Country Pines), and Summerside (Credit Union Place). Please follow this link for complete transportation information.  Please login to your account and double-check to make sure your transportation requests are up-to-date.
• Rider Cut Off at 6:30 pm at St. Peters
  (Updated July 7, 2009)
  All riders that do not reach St. Peter's and leave St. Peter's by 6:30 pm will be asked to come off the course.  As this is a public road, cyclists with their own support may choose to continue cycling; however, the event will officially be over for riders who do not reach St. Peter's by 6:30 pm.  The support vehicles will come off the road and will be able to pick up the riders and transport them to East Point
• Friday Overnight
  We are excited to be offering a Friday Overnight indoor camping experience (no tents please) for individuals and their families.  Developing some kind of social event for BFBC has been a challenge at the best of times.  We tried to have something "formal" (PEI style) the first couple of years at the end of the event but -- go figure -- the riders were pretty tired after cycling across PEI and didn't feel much like listening to Ken ramble ....so we now have a $30 per person / family accommodations event at M.E. Callaghan School the night before the event (so you'all can wake up later if you wish).  We are serving up a high carb spaghetti meal at 8 pm with entertainment at 9 pm.  Lights out at 11 pm.  A separate room for families with small children.
• Route
  This year we are bringing the event into the two cities of P.E.I.  We have two picturesque refueling stops added this year: Shipyard in Summerside and Founder's Hall in Charlottetown.  We have put a great deal of thought about how to introduce BFBC into our PEI cities and we have found two routes that will serve us fine in the years to come.  More exposure and more dollars raised for breakfast programs.  These central stops also allow for a variety of local partnerships and rider choices.  Follow this link to check out the new course.
• T-Shirts
  We are giving away an extra 25 T-Shirts this year.  So, the first 75 riders get a free t-shirt and another 25 t-shirts for volunteers.  Thanks to Mark's Workwearhouse for there continued support in our community!
• BFBC Ambassador
  This is the first year that we have a BFBC Ambassador.  This year we have one person, Rob Chambers, who was inspired by the event last year and who has helped spread the BFBC movement across Nova Scotia. We are hoping to have BFBC Ambassadors in all the Atlantic provinces in the years to come.
• New Prize Structure
  We have a new prize structure this year based on the amount of the pledges that you raise.  Check out the prize structure to learn more.
• BFBC Jerseys
  This will be the first year that cyclists will be seen wearing original BFBC cycling jerseys.
• Signs
  You asked for more signs and we got'em.  More signage will able to be spotted at the registration area and on the road (look for the arrows and the famous 1/2 Way Across PEI sign and stop for a photo).
• Cell Phones
  Our mobile communications partner and BFBC are looking at improving the communication between our support vehicles with the use of two-way radio's.  We will still off cell phone communication with the lead, emergency, and other identified support.
• Transportation
  Transportation of riders, their belongings (one bag please), and their bicycles is still being offered.  In fact, we are also offering transportation on Friday evening to the overnight at M.E. Callaghan School.  Yes, Virgina, there is a cycling heaven, and it is on PEI.
• BFBC 2x
  What started out as a way for Dave Clark to still get a chance to ride across PEI (he could not do it on Saturday because his daughter is getting married) has turned in to Ben Kennedy's training goal: to bicycle round-trip across PEI in two days.  Yup, he and some other cyclists, are looking to bicycle from Souris to M.E. Callaghan School on Friday and then go from North Cape to East Point on Saturday.  Learn more by visiting this BFBC 2x page.
• Online Payment System
  We are using the popular VirtueMart payment system that accepts paypal and any major credit card.  This is currently being tested at the moment and may not be functional in the near future.  To pay your fees, you can still use our basic paypal payments.
• Bicycle Rodeo in Charlottetown
  Cycling PEI are partnering with BFBC and coordinating the Children's Bicycle Rodeo in Charlottetown this year.  This is a new event.
• Relay Committee
  This year marks the development of a new relay planning committee.  Much thanks to those volunteering on this committee as this option provides more opportunity to get more people involved in the movement and help support breakfast programs.