Sunday epic?

[rduncan]

What’s the plan for Sunday folks? No multiple rides competing for attention?

I’d love to get out for some distance Sunday am.

[Rolf]

Hey Rob, just post a ride idea, and be prepared to ride it solo if nobody joins you. I've been doing it for over two years and it usually works out just fine... (Sometimes long solo gravel rides are really great—even if the company is a bit wanting! )

The recent tendency for multiple rides has been about offering more options as our numbers have grown, and hopefully not a popularity contest (or worse: a schism.) We're often not all seeking the same jam: whether it's the amount of technical terrain, the climbing, the distance, or the pace required to cover that distance in the time we have. So I think it's been great to have different options to choose from!

All that aside, I think Ron's got a fun route in mind involving Skirt Hill and will hopefully post later...

[Alan]

Rob, you should know that Ron tried to take me up Skirt Hill on Boxing Day. We got lost, misdirected, heard gunfire and banjoes playing in the distance and just when I was starting to think if I was man enough for cannibalism, we found our way back to civilization. So beware.

[schouten]

Rob, you should know that Ron tried to take me up Skirt Hill on Boxing Day. We got lost, misdirected, heard gunfire and banjoes playing in the distance and just when I was starting to think if I was man enough for cannibalism, we found our way back to civilization. So beware.

Don't worry Rob, we'll avoid the shortcut through Alan's backyard this time

[JTyre]

Ditto what Rolf just said. Choices are good.

As for Ron's skirt, I think we should all make it a priority to go up there. Sounds gnarly but fun.

p.s. Who the heck changed the title of our cyclocross subforum without consultation? I'm not happy about this,

[Rolf]

p.s. Who the heck changed the title of our cyclocross subforum without consultation? I'm not happy about this,

I suggested the change to Roland. But judging from how enthusiastic he was to engage with the grotty sub-basement of the TS Forum, it may be hard to get his attention again before the end of fiscal.

[Andy B.]

So I have access to the forum now... I'm sure the tribal customs will follow. I can't commit to an all day ride this Sunday, which this would likely be, but for future reference I have been piecing this thing together. About 350 m. of climbing over 16 km and I'm not sure how much of the Sooke Mountain trails are rideable but I think a lot of the climbing is double track. I may have to pre-ride before dragging others up there. But it would seem to change up a straight Sooke and back ride on the Goose. https://www.strava.com/routes/23105799

[schouten]

Andy, some of us have done a ride similar to that. We usually refer to it as the Terra Nova ride. I'd be up for another crack at mastering Terra Nova (pretty Gnarly) but the return via Goose is a horrible slog IMHO. I'm sure you can convince others though. We can give you the low-down over coffee sometime.

[JTyre]

p.s. Who the heck changed the title of our cyclocross subforum without consultation? I'm not happy about this,

I suggested the change to Roland. But judging from how enthusiastic he was to engage with the grotty sub-basement of the TS Forum, it may be hard to get his attention again before the end of fiscal.

[Andy B.]

Ron, I am thinking going up the Sooke side and down Terra Nova but, yes, let's talk off line at some point.

[schouten]

p.s. Who the heck changed the title of our cyclocross subforum without consultation? I'm not happy about this,

I was shocked and dismayed too JT. When my world stopped spinning and I could breath again, I realized that it could be a good thing.

Afterall, fall is for cyclocross and gravel riding happens winter, spring, and summer.

[Claire]

I'm keen on a Sunday morning ride. I do have some non-cycling things that need my attention (ludicrous!) so if anyone's hoping for an 'all-day' outing, I'm out.

I think I'm in the mood for connecting various cool parts of town but not necessarily hitting any one area too intensively (i.e. no Hartland mega-technical epic this time). Partly for timing purposes but also to give my body, brain and boyfriend a bit of a break from the problem-solving component of riding trails that are designed for somewhat burlier machines with suspension and big, squishy tires!

Perhaps timing of 7am-10:30 or so. Maybe we could hit ROGC, Elk, Camosun, RRU, some Langford stuff, Goose... I don't really have a route in mind yet, so if someone wants to plan one (or plan a portion and let others add to it - might be fun to create a route by committee!), I'd be up for playing that game.

Noncommittal by design. But happy to take (or share) the lead by request.

[mandreassen]

I'd be in for that Claire!

[schouten]

Not ignoring your ride offer Claire. Just posting the Skirt Mountain ride as discussed above. I'll join you guys if there are no takers.

[rduncan]

Claire and Mark, come ride with Ron. It’s likely going to be soaking wet and we will need all the body heat we can get when huddling to keep warm as we suffer through a mechanical while getting more and more hypothermic. It sounds like there’s a small enough group of us to go as one.

[markuspirker]

Rob, have you done the ferry ride yet? https://www.plotaroute.com/route/918335?units=km

[rduncan]

Markus. No. Next weekend?

[Andy B.]

Rob D., following. Been wondering about the haul road from Shawnigan to Mill Bay.

[Rolf]

And I’m wondering about the connection from the Tod Inlet Trail to the backside of Partridge...

(The thought of doing the grind up to Durrance and then Hartland Regional Trail, after doing the Great Trail, round Shawnigan and the Brentwood ferry gives me the shivers. There’s probably insufficient “ultra” in this athlete for the whole route!)

[schouten]

Markus, I've been planning a similar ride but hoped to hit the dragon trail (as shown in Trail Forks) and connect into the Cobble Hill mountain bike trails. Have you been through there before?

https://www.strava.com/routes/23124207