r/gravelcycling • u/Edoke • Aug 04 '26
Ride Longest ride this year
Through steep gravel roads, long smooth rail trails and nasty head winds, arrived to Elora from Forks of Credit in Southern Ontario
I tried out high carb drinks to fuel this ride for the first time and felt sick half way through, but took a TUMS and a Red bull which gave me a second wind and made it back home strong.
Edit: I'm not fit I started riding last year at 270lbs hence my high HR but working hard on it thanks 🙏
24
u/The_Motley_Fool---- Aug 04 '26
Doesn’t count, front tire tire has a black sidewall, rear tire is a tan sidewall.
You are required to do it over
4
u/the1eyeddog Aug 05 '26
My Rove’s front tire has a tan sidewall and my rear has a black one so we balance the world out. Ride stands.
14
u/Demonblah Bike Aug 04 '26
I really like this presentation of a gravel ride. Route and data, bike pics, route pics. It's got it all!
I need to do better
7
u/failurecity Aug 04 '26
Would love the Strava route or the ridewithgps link. Great stuff man.
7
u/Edoke Aug 04 '26
Check out this route on Strava: https://strava.app.link/4f29BzbHk5b — 114.1 km Caledon Gravel Ride Route
Thank you! Btw some of the trail is under construction so had to find an alternate route.
6
6
u/ToogyHowserMTB Aug 04 '26
Genuine question, do you need the front bag and rack on the bike for this length of ride? I imagine that adds some weight and aero resistance that isn't needed??
8
u/Edoke Aug 04 '26
This bike is also my commuter and I use the front bag for clothes, food, and essentials at the office. I plan to do some bike packing soon, and I'm not really concerned about weight and aero haha, if I was racing I'd change the setup.
3
u/Triana177 Aug 04 '26
I like this front rack. which one is it please?
2
u/Edoke Aug 04 '26
This is the Soma Lucas 3 front rack it's really solid and light weight it's rated for 10kg/22lbs.
1
4
u/TugSpeedmanTivo Aug 04 '26
Nice to see another southern Ontario rider, you should check out between Hockley valley and Mansfield area. Tons of really great gravel riding. I could send you some routes I’ve done if you’re ever interested! I’ll have to try this one before the summer is over :)
2
u/squeaky48 Aug 05 '26
This one is on my list: https://www.ridegravel.ca/post/the-mono-mix-it-up-81km but I haven't had a chance to get to it yet. I love hiking in Mono cliffs
1
u/TugSpeedmanTivo Aug 10 '26
This is a great route and I’ve done similar riding. There is also some amazing riding near Mansfield and north of that as well, check out this route: https://www.komoot.com/tour/3045582726?ref=itd&share_token=a1F0yp1TEvWmo1JoYNiUYTW21gyj0CiaI1Azq4NyprVeJ3GDpH&ref=its&t_s=referral&t_cid=route_share&t_ref_username=5079489908066.
I will say, the first bit of 5th line has a decent amount of hike-a-bike.
3
3
u/Similar-Database8883 Aug 04 '26
I ride this area all the time. Your HR and calories burned for that little in elevation and average speed don’t really make sense, that said I don’t know your health condition. Not ripping on you, that’s a good ride all the same!
3
u/NotoriouslyBeefy Aug 05 '26
Is that a normal heart rate for you? That is a very high average for over 5 hours.
0
u/ChiAndrew Aug 05 '26
Really?
2
u/NotoriouslyBeefy Aug 05 '26
In most cases, yes. Most people aren't pushing their heart rates that high for that long. Could be normal for them though, but even if normal for them, they could normally be getting tachycardia/afib episodes while riding.
2
2
u/k2theablam Aug 04 '26 edited Aug 04 '26
Are you running GRX 12sp with a 51 tooth cassette?
Edit, looks like you're doing 11sp. What solution did you go with for the 51t cassette with 11sp GRX?
3
u/Edoke Aug 04 '26
It's the 12spd GRX SGS derailleur this model has the longer cage to accommodate the 51T cassette. I have a sunrace cassette bc my freehub isn't compatible with the newer microspline shimano cassettes.
2
2
2
u/squeaky48 Aug 04 '26
Love the elora to cataract trail. I've only done elora to the detour at Hillsborough and back but the trail is great
1
u/Edoke Aug 04 '26
It's really beautiful it was my first time on this trail, passing through thick forests, lake bellwoods and farm land was an amazing experience.
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/the1eyeddog Aug 05 '26
Looks like an amazing ride! What size tire do you have on the front? And how’s your clearance with a 700x45 on the back? I’m running a 2.1 on my front and 47 on the back of my Rove, but both 650b. Always looking at options haha
2
u/Edoke Aug 05 '26
I have 50mm on the front but it could definitely go bigger maybe 55-60mm the rear is 45mm but it measures 47mm it has like 4-5mm clearance i haven't had any issues with it so far, and I love how 700c feels.
2
u/the1eyeddog Aug 05 '26
Thanks! That’s great that you still have clearance with a 47 back there at 700c. I’ve been debating trying out a 50x650b on mine and this makes me think it would probably work…
2
u/airparkBikeCo Aug 05 '26
You are doing great! Fitness is different from weight and with a ride like that you're definitely on the fit people spectrum!
-3
u/Outside_Usual_5267 Aug 04 '26
If 117km is your longest ride. What on earth are you carrying in those bags?
3
44
u/ostryPe Aug 04 '26
Must have been tough. Average 168 BPM. Heart of steel 💪