Noonievut

With SO MANY of these posts about bikes and gear, I thought I would mix it up.

This past Sunday I was riding my tourer/winter/gravel bike on the roads around my town. Where I live, outside Toronto, it has been milder as of late and the roads are pretty much free of salt and sand. It was a great ride. While I had no intention of seeking out the gravel roads that I ride often six months of the year, one did catch my eye. It's a dead-end road that leads to a hiking trail. As I passed the road I didn't give it much thought, as I was certain the gravel road would still have some degree of snow, ice or just be wet. The gravel roads are not often plow'd like the paved ones, so I didn't consider riding any gravel roads this day. I gave the gravel road, nick-named 'dead end gravel', a double look as I went by...and I had thoughts on turning around to explore. But I remembered that I pumped my tires up to 80 as I knew there was no chance of snow/ice. I feel like I should have turned back and got my first taste of gravel.

For those of you in the northern climates, where you still have snow banks on your lawns, have you been out on the gravel roads as of yet? I would like to hear about those first rides on gravel of the year.

09box

I haven't been on much gravel roads yet but around here, all of the roads are clear but the gravel on the side of the roads and potholes are just flat out awful this year.

Noonievut

Had my first taste of gravel yesterday.

I got home early from a short spring-break getaway with the family. It was about 9 celsius with little wind--perfect. With fewer layers for the first time in 3 or 4 months, I felt like I was flying out there. The gravel section was short, but sweet. There are two types of "gravel" where I ride, one that is more large pieces of rock embedded in the road...they use to re-grade but haven't for a few years, so there isn't a lot of loose gravel anymore, and what's there is pea sized. The other gravel is more a compacted dirt with gravel mixed in. The former holds up well to the winter, the latter is still quite soft and muddy in spots. I was on the former and it was good (as expected). Whereas the paved roads were in bad shape, probably from 30+ days of very cold temps.

We're going from +9 to -15 on Sunday, and then I may try the dirt/gravel roads...because they won't be soft and there should be very little ice out there. I still have Conti winter tires on the bike so it should be fun.

bruised

I live on a peninsula with the Bay of Green Bay to the west and lake Michigan to the east. The only way to get off the peninsula is to head straight south. By bike I have the option of riding the Ahnapee State trail, a 40+ mile section of old rail tracks which starts just south of me in Sturgeon Bay and runs down to the Kewaunee area.

Last weekend I took a long ride south, stayed overnight at a hotel and rode home the following day. There was a tough headwind on the way down so I re-routed onto the gravel Ahnapee trail as it was more sheltered. However, it was just too wet so I turned off after less than a mile and got back on the road.

The following day, riding home, the wind had switched almost 180 and I was riding into a side/headwind again. I suffered the exposed roads for 60 miles or more thinking that the trail was too wet.

Later in the day I couldn't stand it any longer so I cut across to join the trail with only around 7 or 8 miles of gravel ahead of me. The trail was dry! It was only wet for about a mile at the northern most tip where I'd joined it the day before. So I could've ridden it both days and avoided the wind! Oh well.

I just bought a new gravel grinder yesterday so I'm anxious to get that home early next week and try it out....

Noonievut

Given where you live, pretty awesome that you got in 7 or 8 miles of relatively dry gravel this time of year.

I'm getting ready for a ride this morning but unfortunately the temp is -10c and there is a bit of snow falling...oh well, better be the last one of the year. I was planning on hitting some gravel today (hopefully, not literally) as I figured it will be very firm.

Mr IGH

I have two sets of wheels for my gravel grinder, if there's any ice on the road I ride the set with 700x35mm Kenda Klondikes on them. Studded tyres are slow and very safe on the conditions you're describing.

unterhausen

we need an extended period over 50F and some warm rain before the gravel is going to be ridable around here. Not sure it's even fat bike-able at this point, kinda hard to keep the wheels in a 8" wide rut at speed

Noonievut

Mr IGH - I like your two wheel idea. I've thought of buying studded tires, but have never pulled the trigger. With that quick and easy option of swapping wheels I may ride more. Will give it some thought - thanks!

I do not like ruts. I'm more likely to fall from trying to get out of a rut, at speed, than in most other conditions. I wouldn't venture there either!

Where I live, there isn't an endless supply of gravel roads in any case, so I'm always spending some time on the black-top. This time of year, it just means more time away from gravel...but riding, on any surface, is all good

unterhausen

the disadvantage to having so much nice gravel in this area is the snow. November to April it's almost always un-rideable on a cross bike. Couple of weekends ago, I saw a guy out trying to ride on an MTB, it wasn't going too well

Noonievut

Gravel roads in my area are taking shape. This past weekend they were firm and dry. Almost time for my gravel bike to get its gravel tires back on in place of the winter tires...but I don't want to jinx it