Online registration is now open for the 20th Kluane Chilkat International Bike Relay and some familiar faces will be on the start line.

Pat and Mary Egan, of Whitehorse and Ft. St. John, are planning to be at the start line for the twentieth time.

They got a head start on training as the road riding season started early in Ft. St. John. Pat was on the first organizing committee in 1993 and he and his wife Mary have ridden in the relay every year since then.

Susan Bell and Tom Ely are the only other two riders known to have ridden in all twenty events.

This year's organizers have planned some special activities and a 20th anniversary jersey that will be a great souvenir.

Whitehorse artist Mark Preston was commissioned to design a traditional cycling jersey. The jersey can be ordered online when registering for the event. There will also be an option for a Preston designed, bamboo t-shirt.

Registration will continue until June 8 at midnight. Participants who want to get a souvenir jersey must register by April 29. The bamboo rider t-shirt must be ordered by May 11.

Once again, there will be a cap on the total number of riders this year.

No more than 1,200 participants will be allowed and the maximum number of eight-person teams will be 95. The reason for limiting the numbers is to make the event as safe as possible by reducing vehicle traffic.

The first bike relay was organized as part of a four-day cross border celebration starting on July 1 in Haines Junction and ending with July 4th festivities in Haines, Alaska. The bike relay was held on July 3 and 175 riders took part.

The following year, the relay was moved to the third Saturday in June to avoid heavy holiday traffic on the Haines Highway. The number of riders increased to 470.

Many riders used a combination of road bikes and mountain bikes due to rough conditions and construction on the highway. By 1996 numbers increased to 1,000 and then organizers capped the event at 1,200.

The first organizing committee was made up of Darryl White, recreation manager for the Village of Haines Junction, Pat Egan, RCMP Haines Junction, Tom Ely, Sockeye Cycle in Haines, Alaska and Susan Bell, Haines Chamber of Commerce.

Organizers for the 2012 event will once again offer two team captains' meetings.

Teams in Whitehorse will have an option of picking up their race packages and attending a captains' briefing on Tuesday, June 12 at the Mt. McIntyre Recreation Centre. This change will help to make a "greener” event by reducing some of the extra driving between Whitehorse and Haines Junction.

The regular Friday night Captains' meeting in Haines Junction will take place on June 15 for teams that are unable to make the Whitehorse meeting.

The 2012 event starts in Haines Junction on June 16 at 8:30 a.m. The first riders usually arrive in Haines, Alaska by 3 p.m. and the red lantern winners cross the finish line at Ft. William Seward by 9 p.m.

This year the awards ceremony will be held immediately after the event at the finish area.

The highlight of the event is the "party” scene on the parade grounds of Ft. William Seward.

A tent city pops up in the afternoon and by evening the hillside is a mass of tents and riders.

The Haines police have reminded us that the public drinking is not permitted on the parade grounds.

A beer garden and an excellent halibut or vegetarian chowder awaits all participants and is served in view of the finish line. The question of the day as always, "How was your ride?”

Teams can enter in one of several categories. There are solo, 2, 4, and 8 person teams for men, women and mixed squads.

The bike relay is an international event, crossing the US-Canada border 65 kilometers from Haines. All visitors to Alaska, including riders on Leg 7 must show a passport at U.S. Customs.

Cyclists will have to dismount and show their passport. It is best for Leg 7 riders to be US or Canadian Citizens. Participants should check the event website for details about clearing customs.

The event has two major corporate partners this year. The Yukon Electrical Company is our "Safety Partner” and they will be promoting highway safety, cycling safety and checkpoint safety. Driving Force, Vehicle Rental, Sales and Leasing is the "Transportation Partner” and will provide vehicles for race officials for course set up and organizing on the day of the event.

To register or for more info on the bike relay visit the website at www.kcibr.org.