Training Log Archive: Carbons OffsetIn the 1 days ending May 23, 2021:
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| « | » |
| » now | ||||
| |||||||
| Su |
Sunday May 23, 2021 #
Biking (Bikepacking) 3:00:00 [1] 60.0 km (3:00 / km)
shoes: Instinct 2021 March overhaul
The forecast was calling for rain tonight and tomorrow so we agreed there probably wasn’t any point in camping again tonight. Our route planning already allowed for the option of an easy 8 km paved escape on the morning of Day 3 if we had had enough (instead of another 50 km loop around the Horseshoe Canyon area), or we even had the option of just adding that 8 km to the end of today if the forecast was poor. The rain was forecast to start at 3:00 or 4:00 pm. There was also an option to cut the day short by taking a more direct route back to Drumheller. This decision wouldn’t come until about 3/4 of the way through the day, so we could see how the skies were looking and how we were feeling at that point. Rolled out of camp at 9 am on a cold morning, wearing lots of clothing until we would warm up and delayer.
My original route targetted all of the smallest looking roads in the grid, thinking this could be the most interesting and adventurous. However, if it did rain, this clay/dirt can completely clog up your wheels and frame in just meters if it gets wet. We played it safe by staying on roads with good gravel. The wide open scenery is still the same and the geometry of the square grid gives the same distance.
We worked against headwind when we headed south but had a diagonal tailwind when we headed west. Very nice. We stopped for lunch in a green grassy ditch at our decision point between the original full route (south to Rosedale) or direct (west) to Drumheller. On a count of three, we all pointed to the direction we wanted to go. Despite the dark clouds to the southeast (although they were there all day yesterday and this morning), the vote was strongly in favour of not cutting the ride short. This proved to be an excellent choice as the descent down Ropers Road (gravel and dirt) back down into the river valley was beautiful and fun (and earned me kudos for not planning a counterclockwise loop). We were surprised with a historic mine site at the bottom, and an older lady who would do 10 e-bike laps of a cool dirt track on her property multiple times a day.
The road delivered us right to the burger and ice cream stand in Rosedale. Too bad we were full from our lunch stop. The chip fryer smelled deliciously unhealthy. Maybe we will return on a day with warmer weather.
Hopped onto the pavement for the final pedal to Drumheller and Keith knew some side streets so that we could stay away from cars. Soon you could navigate via the giant Tyrannosaurus Rex head standing out above all the buildings. Back at the cars before the rain hit and happily packing up our dry gear, we munched on our extra day of leftover snacks. The girls still had room for milkshakes and the bikes got a little rinse in the rain we drove through on the way home.
A very successful adventure, a great opportunity for people to be introduced to bikepacking (the newest bikepacker picked it up naturally) or do the first gear shakedown of the season, and a wonderful chance to do something that feels more adventurous than adding one new physio exercise to the daily routine :). Good for the soul.
My original route targetted all of the smallest looking roads in the grid, thinking this could be the most interesting and adventurous. However, if it did rain, this clay/dirt can completely clog up your wheels and frame in just meters if it gets wet. We played it safe by staying on roads with good gravel. The wide open scenery is still the same and the geometry of the square grid gives the same distance.
We worked against headwind when we headed south but had a diagonal tailwind when we headed west. Very nice. We stopped for lunch in a green grassy ditch at our decision point between the original full route (south to Rosedale) or direct (west) to Drumheller. On a count of three, we all pointed to the direction we wanted to go. Despite the dark clouds to the southeast (although they were there all day yesterday and this morning), the vote was strongly in favour of not cutting the ride short. This proved to be an excellent choice as the descent down Ropers Road (gravel and dirt) back down into the river valley was beautiful and fun (and earned me kudos for not planning a counterclockwise loop). We were surprised with a historic mine site at the bottom, and an older lady who would do 10 e-bike laps of a cool dirt track on her property multiple times a day.
The road delivered us right to the burger and ice cream stand in Rosedale. Too bad we were full from our lunch stop. The chip fryer smelled deliciously unhealthy. Maybe we will return on a day with warmer weather.
Hopped onto the pavement for the final pedal to Drumheller and Keith knew some side streets so that we could stay away from cars. Soon you could navigate via the giant Tyrannosaurus Rex head standing out above all the buildings. Back at the cars before the rain hit and happily packing up our dry gear, we munched on our extra day of leftover snacks. The girls still had room for milkshakes and the bikes got a little rinse in the rain we drove through on the way home.
A very successful adventure, a great opportunity for people to be introduced to bikepacking (the newest bikepacker picked it up naturally) or do the first gear shakedown of the season, and a wonderful chance to do something that feels more adventurous than adding one new physio exercise to the daily routine :). Good for the soul.