It's Week #5, we're past the halfway mark for the first ever GravelQuest series! Hope you've been enjoying the changes - how's your critter collection looking? 😁

Apologies for the Highrock segment, turns out it's actually a no-bike park, doh. I didn't even notice when I passed through the first time, the sign is quite high and out of your eye-line. Fortunately it's a short walk if someone made a stink, hope everyone enjoyed the view!

So with that looks like Esquimalt wins the least-gravel-friendly award in the CRD. I believe about the only park that allows bikes is Portage park. Way to go! 🏆

This week is finally looking pretty dry, so if you've been avoiding the bike, now's the time to commit to getting out!

And we've got some fun navigation ahead, with a bunch of trails and connectors through Royal Oak/Broadmead, beginning at Dogwood Park off Lochside. We're revisiting segments from Season 6 of the Segment Challenge GRAVEL EDITION, but there's a new twist on the second one, with less road, and more trail!

RACING NEWS

Note: expect spoilers!

So it's confirmed, Derek Gee-West (new name too!) is with Lidl-Trek, should be a good team for him! Tho their Canadian champs jersey is pretty uninspired. Holmgren has one (or two) as well.

Not much other action for Canadians this week, but tons of cyclocross to watch with the National Championships for a number of countries.

I'll avoid spoilers, but there was a surprising amount of snow! I've got mixed feelings about including CX in the Winter Olympics - it'd be HUGE for the sport, and we'd see many more riders migrating to CX if Olympic medals were in the cards....but it's really not a snow/ice sport, and is a bit undignified watching riders slipping and sliding around. Maybe they could allow winter tires..but as it stands, doesn't seem like a great fit.

But on a more positive note, hands down the best  Nationals course was in Czechia, which was at a factory/plant that looks like it's from the soviet era. Riders wind around this wild landscape, and there were some pretty cool spots to spectate from as well!

HOUSEKEEPING

Notes for the week:

Some updates from last week:

• Prizes are now listed on the site!
• Welcome Bread and Jon B this week, Jon actually rode all the segments so far in his ride this week!

Reminder if your time didn't record (this week or any), please either tag me in your ride, comment on the Strava group post, or send me an email -- if you rode it, I can usually figure out a 'manual' time for you, but you need to let me know!

4 <- THIS MANY WEEKS WITHOUT AN ERROR 🤣

If there are any errors, omissions, issues, concerns, or anything else, feel free to hit reply!

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SOUNDTRACK NOTES

Note: 'back in my day' people talked about music, albums, etc.. Doesn't really seem to happen much these days, so I'm carrying on the tradition here! 😊

Not much exciting this week, although I was in the mood for some Zooropa, and have been listening to that album. I'm not much of a U2 fan, however their Achtung Baby to Zooropa phase was actually pretty cool and creative. Some fun stuff on that album.

"I feel numb...too much is not enough.."🎶

THIS WEEK IN RIDES

For those new to the series, results are tabulated each week, and the event page has all the results updated each Sunday night! To see the weekly results, hit the tabs at the bottom of the spreadsheet.

Cougars & Raccoons

This week Rich matched 3 Otters, and Bicycle Dave still holds the overall lead with 26pts!

Bears & Otters

River Otters didn't like the rain, and was the category with highest proportion of DNS's! Markus also matched 3 wolves this week, and he's in 2nd overall with 23pts, with Jolene and Sonya tied for 3rd Overall with 22pts.

Seals & Wolves

John F also scored 3 Raccoons for his second match! And both he and Dan C are tied with 19pts, leading this field.

BONUSES & CURSES

See the Scoring section of the Event Page for more details - note that there aren't any curses for the GravelQuest!

No KOM or QOM points this week.

• Early Bird (or should we call this 'Oyster Catcher'?) was Markus K
• Socialite points go to both Sonya and Dave B this week! Tho I feel it might be unfair as I was also in one of Sonya's photos when we ran into her on Highrock! 😁
  (Post a shot of your ride on IG or FB and tag @AboutTheRideCA for a chance for 5pts each week! If you've posted, but I haven't given you credit, or liked or commented on your post, please DM me directly, IG has been a bit finicky.)

PRIZES!

We've always got some sweet draw prizes every week! Watch our socials (Insta & Facebook) to see what we'll be giving away each week!

Draw prizes are listed on the site, we've got three event supporters this series, plus there'll be a fourth bonus prize for the finale!

Here are our winners so far:

• Week #1 - Mark B
• Week #2 - Rich L
• Week #3 - Joel C
• Week #4 - Dave B

I've emailed Mark and Rich (please get back to me!), and will email Joel and Dave this week.

There'll be one name drawn each week, and they can select from the items, and there'll be a few extra draws for the finale as well!

Week #5: Jan 12th - 18th - You Can't Spell Gravel Without Grave!

Another requested area, and at least the high ground will be less likely to flood!

This is a bit of a revisit of Season 6, and we're headed to Royal Oak/Broadmead reusing the Donwood to Rithet's segment, and then passing through the lovely Royal Oak cemetery up to the Wesley Reservoir on a brand new segment featuring a bit more trail and a sneaky way into the cemetery. Lots of neat little connectors, I'm confident it'll be a fun revisit for many, and some new trails for the rest! Plus a couple sets of stairs. 😉

Segment 5A Name: Donwood Scramble to Rithet's
Deets: 1.51km, 24m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Claire Townsend with an 5:05 & KOM is Julian Cameron with a 4:33, and the LL is Carey Newman with 9 efforts! (Reminder these really don't matter.)
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/37792219

The Donwood Park exit is off Lochside just north of Blenkinsop Lake, and features some stairs that will likely be a hike for all. (Just a few times of the year this is rideable by the very best of us!)

It's all riding after that, and some lovely cut-throughs high up in Royal Oak, finishing by Rithet's Bog.

Segment 5B Name: Riding yourself into an early grave 🐱‍👤
Deets: 1.59km, 93m elevation gain.
This is a new, QOM is Ann Campbell with an 11:12 & KOM is Vegan Dave Shishkoff with a 7:44, and the LL is no one! (Reminder these really don't matter.)
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/40765798

The reservoir was a request, so here we go! We did a similar segment in Season 6 where we entered the main entrance of the cemetery, but I've since found a way to avoid a bunch of time on the road with a nifty trail that's a back-way into the park (see what I did with the title?)

There are some stairs to go up, but the other direction (left, down) has some annoying sets of rocks, so this is the more fun option, IMO! After the singletrack you're into the cemetery for part of the climb, then you get to work your way up through more singletrack to the reservoir; good climbs & good times!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

Updated on the site - as always Suggested Routing for this week: https://abouttheride.ca/gravelquest/

ISLAND WILDLIFE CORNER

Each week we'll feature a little highlight about island wildlife, thanks to The Fur-Bearers! Consider becoming a member and supporting their work, and check out their socials for lots of great posts about wildlife, advocacy and peaceful co-existence.

Week 5 - Human-Wildlife Coexistence: Show you care

Below are 3 practical tips for being a good neighbour to the animals who call Vancouver Island home:

1. Do not feed wildlife. Feeding wildlife can contribute to malnutrition, spread disease and fundamentally change an animals natural behaviours. Instead, plant native flowers, plants and trees. Feed the ecosystem, not wildlife.

2. Wild animals need lots of space. Approaching them, trying to capture or pet them, or letting your dog and cat roam unrestricted can cause wildlife stress and lead to big problems. Respect nature, keep your distance.

3. Pay attention to seasonal changes. Wild animals are especially busy when the seasons change. They search for food, breed, raise their young, search for habitat and cross busy streets. Be patient and expect wildlife. They live here too!

Think you know everything about wildlife coexistence already? Test your knowledge with the "Coexistence Challenge" by The Fur-Bearers: https://thefurbearers.com/blog/coexistence-challenge-test-your-knowledge/

THE SEGMENTS IN PHOTOS

Here's a few snapshots of the segments this week!

I was surprised with the view from Highrock,
almost any angle was pretty amazing!

Not the most exciting segment, I guess
I won't be looking for any more in Esquimalt!

TRAILEND

Hope you all get out for some great rides this week, it's looking like a good one!

If you're not already following the ATR socials on IG and FB, take a look! In addition to GravelQuest items, you'll also get occasional news and updates, riding tips, events, and other helpful items. Find the links below!

As always, safe and speedy riding all! 🚲

- Dave

Join the @AboutTheRideCA social media accounts
for an informative range of local cycling updates!

If you ever have any questions,
feel free to simply hit reply!