After the usual bit of grunt work to get to the high point I discovered that my ADHD brain had forgotten to charge the GoPro battery. So there would be no descent video off the top. However with the cell phone would be able to do a wee bit at the top.
With it being sunny and warmer it was a good chance to chill at the top for a wee bit. And I cam prepared with a bevvy and something to eat. Because better to pause and relax then endlessly chase stuff.
After drank the bevvy and food was gone it was time to head down to the Ute and get ready to head for home. With another day of adventure complete.
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Decided to do anything that wasn't the same endless usual routes to do something out of town. So decided to go to Gananoque and ride the Gananoque Perimeter Loop. Something had done last in 2024.
This time it was about the ride and not using the GoPro.. This I admit I pretty much decided after I started. For some reason just wasn't feeling the video thing. So just did the ride.
That was it Just a ride. To be honest it was more about getting out and doing anything with all been processing about somethings in my past. And not thinking and spiralling with what was processing mentally.
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Set out for Arney Mtn though while I wanted to get the summit again. Was mentally cautious as this year water levels are much higher and there might have been a flooded section. I have several times been able to get the summit though those times the water levels where lower.
About 5 min after making the turn off McLean onto Welly Smith Rd saw a large water hole that was not there in years past. It didn't look good though till one gets close enough to really check out the situation you never know as maybe there is a way to get through.
After closer inspection it was really deep. And with it still being kinda chilly temps I thought it would be a very stupid idea to force the issue. And attempt to wade or whatever through it. With the chilly temps and wind it had potential to become a bad decision rapidly.
So made the decision to head back to the Ute to avoid a negative outcome. As already had done the new gravel loop. And this was a bonus ride. It would be easier to com back when it is all warmer and water levels have come down a wee bit. In the end what matters was got out for the day and rode bikes in the woods.
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A bit ago was wandering Ride With GPs looking at Parham and Sharbot Lake areas kind of out of boredom. When I spotted a potential unmapped short loop. I say short loop as it is an issue that as they say Grinds My Gears.
The issue is that so many gravel routes are 60km and up. Which sounds wonderful if your in the group that rides gravel long distance all the time. here is the thing ....contrary to popular belief not everyone desires too or more importantly is mentally and/or physically able to ride that far doing a gravel ride. I know a couple of people who would like shorter routes.
So on the Saturday with the wrong bike headed up to do a recce ride of the potential loop. After looking at the map thought it would be 30k give or take.Though was leaning mentally towards 35km in distance.
The starting point would be the same spot where I also start the Arney Mtn ride at the little grass pul over at the Wagarville Rd and McLean Rd intersection. And would follow the same gravel road to the turn off to Arney Mtn however would go straight instead of turning left.
While it was rolling hills the entire loop there was no climb steep to fully make one regret their bike choices. In this case as mentioned in the beginning wrong bike which was the way more tech trail oriented Stylus. However combined with not knowing what was there in the loop and the idea of after doing the loop of going for a quick peak bag of Arney Mtn. I felt this was the best bike choice.
While I could write as best can from memory I will let the GoPro footage do more of what roughly saw while doing the recce. That is better than attempting to recall it all with a TBI and ADHD messed up memory.
In the end the distance was under 35km and was 26.13km and was just under 3 hours with me taking my time and stopping a wee bit take a few photos of what the road looked like.Which helps with what it kind of looks like out there.
So after getting back to the ute it was done and loop unofficially created . Say unofficially as most gravel riders I know wouldn't bother as they are part of the 80km and up is all that matters crowd. This I set out see if there was a shorter option for others who don;t for wahever reason desire to do longer. As they matter too and this is one way to help anyone who asks for this shorter gravel ride option.
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As wrote earlier in the previous blog entry there was two PR's set on May 3rd during the first lift fuelles gravity enduro rides of the year. And that would do a seperate write up to show the improvements.
The previous PR from 2025 2:03 at 22.8kmh with the 2026 May pr result being...
The second PR was on Jose Daible.....
The 2025 PR was 1:34 at 19.9 kmh with the 2026 May PR being.....
This while a suprise does prove to me there is both benefits to strength training during winter aka off season. Though from perspective as both a maturer athlete aka age plus a wee bit of a coaches mind that you also can't force speed till it actually decides that the way your riding creates some level of flow to achieve a time PR.
Am thinking will be getting out some old school PR record keeping stated for this aka paper with pen and ruler to keep a record. And allow one to see the progression of improvements. This is the way.
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Got the call for the first road trip for a day of chairlift enduro runs. The first of 2026 for lift fuelled riding And would be the second time riding at Mont Rigaud. This time the decision was made to leave the hardtail and only bring Mistress Mk 3 The Starling
This being the first lift gravity enduro day I wasn't looking to set any fast runs or anything. It was a day of getting back on the hill like I used to when ski racing. Remembering how the bike felt in that environment after winter and getting used to it again. So speed and seeking to go faster was not the focus. Just riding was.
This trip while did a few video's this time focused on what turned out to be the two best runs. I admit was lazy as didn't want to spend hours attempting to edit and decide what was best. Hey. one is allowed. So went checking the Strava gps data and then looked at the few runs recorded. Also while looking at the GPS data there was two surprises that wasn't expecting. I mean reality is this trip didn't aim for any speed or looking to go fast. It was all about getting a feel for it all.
And the two surprises where that I PR'd two run on different trails near the end of the day. One trail being Jose Diable and Yakima. Well like any wise person will take it.
Yakima being the enduro run from last year which I did pr last year. I did it again this year on the first road trip at end of day. And took off 6 seconds at 24.0 kmh Winning without trying.
Then had the other surprise of setting a PR on Jose Diable, the one with the zigzagging log ride. So while am not a jumper definitely rode that on the PR setting run. a 1:13 at 25.6 kmh
The times are a brief over view as the times from last year vs this year. And to do a better look will have to write it out with this vs last year. Which is better off a a separate blog entry. All in all even before the two PR surprises it was a good first trip of the year. Which showed the strength training at the local Massenomics CTF was beneficial.
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Got the call for an April 26th road tripto Harold Town trails near Peterborough. Last time was in Peterborough was July 25th 2005 for the Peterborough Half Iron Distance Duathlon. So this would be a ride this time not a race.
Apparently Harold Town trails are built on an old ski hill. Not exactly alot of elevation in fact believe less elevation than Batawa ski hill. However what matters is a new different place to ride.
And reality of the trails is they all roughly come back near the same point which is the peak or high point of Harold Town. Which is also on the Peakbagger website as an Ontario high point or peak. Which would mean could and would tag the high point more than once.
It should be observed that I was riding it with a meat engine hardtail while buddies Tim and Frank had eMTB's. So was a bit different as did more work then they did on paper however as proved it is less what the theoretical papers say.
After 4 times tagging the high point and riding around it was approaching done for riding. A error through a rock garden section led to a dab which ended up full force foot on rock. And it hurt as there was enough force to show up in 24 hours with bruise on sole of left foot.
And it was time for me to take a breather to maybe see if wanted to ride a bit more after a bit of rest. And of course a Beaver Buzz. After some rest and seeing how felt it wad decided done for the day and head for home.
While did get injured that injury being seriously bruised left foot. It was good trip as got to ride somewhere new. And that is a good thing.
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