Sat July 9 Goldstream

[barton bourassa]

Got nothin' better to do on a Saturday morning (and likely part of the early afternoon!)??

Let's ride the Malahat and Goldstream Heights. Leaving from Disco on Menzies at 7 AM.

We did this a couple weeks ago with some pretty fast riders and Mikael and I! We would like to do it again this weekend but a bit slower. Here is my strava info from the last ride: https://www.strava.com/activities/621857396

This is a nice ride. Lots of climbing and lots of distance. This is the description I posted last time as well:

For those of you who have not ridden this route before or if you are concerned about the potential strength and speed of those who have signed onto this ride Sunday, this is doable!! The group generally rides together to Goldstream Park then the climb starts. At your own pace. Most times folks wait at the last parking/lookout area just past the summit then fly down the backside to Serious Coffee at Frayne Rd on the west side of the highway. Have a quick coffee or coke, whatever you need to help you on your way, then as a group we ride to the Shawnigan Lk Mill Bay Rd to Shawnigan Lake turning Left onto Shawnigan Lake Rd. The group generally stays together until West Shawnigan Lake Rd where the climbing up to Stebbings Rd begins (4K from W Shawnigan Lk Rd to Stebbings, a long steady climb). Stebbings has been another wait up point or quicker riders go back and ride up to Stebbings with the slower riders. Then we head up towards Goldstream Heights Drive (left off of Stebbings, 1.6K from Shawnigan Lk Rd). You climb for 3 K till you get to the highest point on Goldstream Heights Drive then descend for 2.5 K down to Goldstream Ridge. This is a wonderful fast descent on a wide road with swooping curves and little traffic, except the odd deer!

The climb up Goldstream Ridge is interesting. It is only 700 m but! Grades can reach 18/19%. Your Garmin will likely go into Pause mode! You will be amazed at how slow you can ride and still stay upright! The group waits up at the top then down we go and then back up we go! Everyone has in the past waited at Stebbings and Shawnigan Lk Rd before heading back to the Malahat.

Descending down the Hat is also interesting and a bit challenging. The trickiest part is the last 2 or 2.5 K into Goldstream Park. The shoulder is quite narrow. It is important to give the rider in front of you lots of room just in case they have to stop quickly or encounter debris on the shoulder.

The ride from Goldstream Park up to the lights at West Shore Pkwy is strangely challenging. The climbing part is only 1.5K but it seems to go on forever and feels a whole lot steeper than it is! Once we get to the light we head back to town, usually on Goldstream Ave, as a group.

Anyway, there are lots of places the really quick riders can hammer it while us C and B wannabes huff and puff up the hills and regroup and get dragged along by the stronger riders. The club has done this ride many times with no serious incidents other than the odd flat tire. The highway is fairly quiet going up. Not so coming back. We are riding in narrow shoulders for only a short portion of the route.


One thing that Rob H mentioned was to make sure your tires are in good shape. You don't want to flat on the Malahat because you have old worn tires.

I think this time we won't stop for coffee at Serious on the other side of the Hat but have a quick pit stop at the Coop at the lights at Mill Bay then carry on.

You should not be intimidated by the this route. If you have never done this before, this is a great chance to experience this. This is also a great ride in preparation for the Big Loop Ride on July 17.

Hope to see you at Disco on Menzies.

Barton.

[alan boden]

Count me in...
Alan Boden

[barton bourassa]

Rain or shine? 'Cause Mikael and I will be heading out regardless of the weather. Right Mikael!!?

[mtsmith439]

Count me in!
It was so fun "Draining the tank" two weeks ago, an encore performance is a must.
I'll try not to break any spokes this time.
See you in the morning.

[barton bourassa]

Alan B, where were you? It wasn't that wet! Ok it was, especially on the Malahat side! 8 of us started out but after riding with a HR in the mid 150s I suggested to Garth and Jess and Caleb (I hope I go the names right!) that they ride on ahead. It was pretty clear that they were just soft pedaling while Mikael and I fell further and further back and we had not gotten any where near the highway even!!

We got to the top of the Malahat after three flats, chills but no spills and made the decision to stop in Mill Bay, buy tickets for the ferry and head home! So that is what Tim, Alex, Mark, Mikael and I did!

A very strange ride indeed! We will try again another day!

Barton.

[GarthC]

Hey Barton, sorry about showing up on our fender-less bikes for the ride (Jesse, Caleb and myself)...thought it was going to dry out. Man were we ever wrong!
We completed the ride, but did we ever get soaked (and cold on the descents)! It was an epic, but a character building ride. Good decision to take the Mill Bay ferry back.

Garth

[barton bourassa]

Thank Garth. It was interesting and challenging that is for sure. I am glad you guys made it home and were able to complete the ride.

BB