Below is an archive of each week’s segments, relive the suffering!

And also be sure to check out our Season 3 GRAVEL EDITION Final Report!

Week #1 – Sept 11th – 17th – Mixed Surface to West Shore!

Welcome to our new GRAVEL Season! This week there’s no competitive segments, simply ride and you’re 1st Place in my books, and get 50pts!

If you’re a Tripleshot regular, you’ll likely be familiar with this total route, but if not this is a really great way to get from around the Switch Bridge to the West Shore, pointing you right at RRU. Reminder these aren’t timed, so please don’t go 100%, I’m not tracking times, simply enjoy the routing!!

Segment 1A Name: No relation to Sherlock, but a quick zip through the woods!
Deets: 1.81km, 8m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM, KOM & LL are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/35394828

We start the GRAVEL EDITION in Cuthbert Holmes Park! It’s a great little spot, just off Interurban. There are a bunch of ways to get through here, and there’s a fun climb if you cross the first bridge on the right, but this is a pleasant route through the flatter trails, be sure to watch out for walkers!

Segment 1B Name: If you know it, you know it. If you don’t, you should! 😎
Deets: 6.65km, 81m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM, KOM & LL are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/35394843

This is a long! It continues after you cross the road where 1A ends, and takes you through some pathways and trails to the E&N, then into the Juan de Fuca Rec Centre, and from there you can get on the Goose or head into Royal Roads. If you want to go into Thetis, simply make a right where the E&N ends. This is a very useful route, and is just as good in the reverse direction if coming back in a different way!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

SUGGESTED ROUTING

Not really applicable on this, since this ‘is’ a route! 🤣 Can simply loop back in the Goose, go into Thetis, or head out to Royal Roads where there are tons of great trails! Will we see these in future weeks? No one knows!!! 😂

Extra tip: Strava for some dumb reason doesn’t let you save Segments as Routes. But here’s a website where you can enter the segment, and download the GPX file so you can ride it as a route: https://www.doogal.co.uk/SegmentExplorer (Thanks Spencer for the tip!!)

Week #2 – Sept 18th – 24th – Royal Roads Royal Rumble!

It’s week two already! We’re headed into Royal Roads, which IMO has some of the best CX/gravel trails around. The first segment is a fun way to enter RRU and get across the grounds, and the second is our first challenge segment – a climb no less!

Segment 2A Name: Royal Roads cross trails – Goose to Heatherbell
Deets: 3.83km, 58m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM, KOM & LL are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/35455609

This is a fun little tour of the eastern side of Royal Roads. A great mix of singletrack, doubletrack and just a touch of pavement where necessary. There are three ‘technical’ spots – watch the steep bit over the fence at the start, about 200m later is a pretty steep climb, and then when you cross the bridge there’s a path beside the stairs that can be tricky. All are totally walkable, but a good challenge if you can ride them! The segment ends at the ‘Heatherbell’ corner, and if you’re using this as part of a future route, you can use this as a branch point – leave the park and head further into Royal Bay, or continue up the trails!

It’s a bit tricky to navigate this all, but see below for a tip for saving Strava Segments as GPX files.

Segment 2B Name: Did I just see 24% grade?
Deets: 0.85km, 63m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Madeline Blanchard with a 3:10, KOM is Vinko Poldrugovac with a 2:40 & LL is David Brown with 3 efforts.
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/10954735

Our first TIMED segment! So this means times will be tracked, and points will be awarded on placements.

If you’ve ridden around Royal Roads, chances are you’ve ridden up this (39 peeps in our Strava Group have!) It’s not super long, but kicks you in the pants at the start, and then you’re spending the rest of the time trying to get your legs back under yourself. Enjoy, and looking forward to some speedy times!!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

SUGGESTED ROUTING

If starting around the Switch Bridge, the segments from last week are a darn fine way to get out to RRU! Otherwise the Goose or E&N work great. Once you’re done the second segment, you can make your own adventure to get out, or this is my personal favourite to get back to the main RRU entrance! From there you’ve got lots of options, including heading further out of town, or heading back in the Goose (and maybe passing through Thetis!)

Extra Tip: Strava for some dumb reason doesn’t let you save Segments as Routes. But here’s a website where you can enter the segment, and download the GPX file so you can ride it as a route: https://www.doogal.co.uk/SegmentExplorer (Thanks Spencer for the tip!!)

Week #3 – Sept 25th – Oct 1st – In’N’Out Thetis Gravel

Week 3 features two more NON-TIMED segments, so just get out there and enjoy! I’ve got a couple trails selected in Thetis, they’re both non-technical, easy to find, and make for a nice little loop through Thetis, as a short ride in itself, or to add is nice to tag on to a longer ride that wanders this way! (And give them a try in the opposite direction as well!)

Segment 3A Name: highway view
Deets: 0.54km, 25m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM, KOM & LL are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/11351536

Another fun strip of singletrack that you may not know exists! It sneaks off the Centra Gas Trail on the left after a couple rises in, and runs above the highway – but no time to look around, as you’re pretty close to the fence on the left hand side, so be mindful there. A fun way to get to Thetis if you’re coming in from town on the Goose or E&N.

Segment 3B Name: Thetis Backside
Deets: 1.65km, 28m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM, KOM & LL are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/2602594

This is AKA Trilliam, north bound. It’s a beautiful wide trail with a few small climbs and a few fun descents, and my favourite way to get across the park. Watch out for walkers and doggies, but if it’s quiet, it’s actually a fun one to try and give a good rip on!

It spits you out on Highland Road, and can just bomb down to get back to the Goose or E&N, or head north and head into Francis King or back into Thetis at the end of the road!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

SUGGESTED ROUTING

For 3A you’ll want to jump onto Highland Road (or Watkiss at this point), right by the E&N & Goose junction, it’s that fun climb up the road, and then head in to where the bus stop is on the left, and you’re on the Centra Gas trail. For the 3B segment, continue up the road into Thetis, and take it (or cross the beach) to the parking lot that’s deeper in, and the start is just up the trail and around the corner to the right there. Shouldn’t be too much tracking drama this week! 😁

Extra Tip: Strava for some dumb reason doesn’t let you save Segments as Routes. But here’s a website where you can enter the segment, and download the GPX file so you can ride it as a route: https://www.doogal.co.uk/SegmentExplorer (Thanks Spencer for the tip!!)

Week #4 – Oct 2nd – 8th – That Great Big Hill

This week we’re headed out to the Great Trail! Segment 4A gives us a gravel-oriented route to Humpback, and 4B is a new version of the dreaded ‘That Hill’ segment, with a much more obvious ending point. And yes, it’s a TIMED challenge segment!

Segment 4A Name: Just passing through – hey Jordie! 👋
Deets: 1.12km, 22m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM, KOM & LL are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/35555587

This segment itself is pretty straight forward, getting to it is a bit more tricky. You’re headed for Parkdale, the more gravel-y route would be to take the Goose to Glen Lake Rd, and take it to Parkdale (around the round-about). A more direct, but also more traffic’d route would be to get off the Goose at Kelly, cross where it becomes Jenkins, and then up Glen Lake Rd to Parkdale. Either way, once you hit the segment, it’s a much more pleasant route to The Great Trail if you weren’t familiar!

Segment 4B Name: Great Trail – Great Hill – All the way to the loo!
Deets: 1.90km, 165m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM is Holly Henry with an 8:16, KOM is Dave Vunic with a 6:41 & LL is no-one!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/35555645

This is it – one of the harder climbs in the area, period! I’m putting the ‘challenge’ in Segment Challenge! Hopefully your bike has good low gearing. 😬 The existing segment is fine…but it’s a bit obscure as to where it actually ends. This one ends at the washrooms on the right. It’s a TIMED/challenge segment, so your time counts for points this week! Just keep the pressure on the pedal until you hit the loo!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

SUGGESTED ROUTING

Not too much too it, take the Goose out, and have a good climb!!

Extra Tip: Strava for some dumb reason doesn’t let you save Segments as Routes. But here’s a website where you can enter the segment, and download the GPX file so you can ride it as a route: https://www.doogal.co.uk/SegmentExplorer (Thanks Spencer for the tip!!)

Week #5 – Oct 9th – 15th – Connectors Connecting Connectors

Nothing too crazy this week, these two segments will probably be familiar to many, but a bit more technical than past segments, as we work around Francis King and between Munn and Prospect. Unfortunately the second segment isn’t nearly as enjoyable with that recent chonky gravel surface added (RIP sweet double-track), but it actually seems better than it was – maybe all these riders are helping pack it down!

Segment 5A Name: Highland to Munns
Deets: 1.46km, 0m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM, KOM & LL are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/6046317

There’s a few twists on this one, and a short hike-a-bike up a steeper section for most, but the rest is very rideable – and enjoyable, some of my favourite singletrack!

To get here, you can simply ride up Highland Road and turn off at the gate by the main Francis King park entrance, or do a romp through Thetis first, and then cross over.

Segment 5B Name: Munn-Prospector Connector
Deets: 0.81km, 16m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM, KOM & LL are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/22231684

Once you finish the 5A segment, simply cross Munn and you’re on this next connector! This is the chonky one. The hill at the start used to be an easy climb, I’ve yet to clean it since the gravel was put down! I haven’t been up the second climb (at the ‘dip’), but I’m assuming that’ll likely be a hike as well now..

From there you’re on Prospect, and as a couple bonus segment suggestions, you can again cut straight across the road and continue along the Hector connector ( https://www.strava.com/segments/19090091 ) or make a left, and there’s the Trevlac connector ( https://www.strava.com/segments/2629273 ) – both spit you out near Interurban, and can continue out of town, or head back in Panama Flats/Centennial trail!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

SUGGESTED ROUTING

Basically included in the segments this week! 😁

Extra Tip: Strava for some dumb reason doesn’t let you save Segments as Routes. But here’s a website where you can enter the segment, and download the GPX file so you can ride it as a route: https://www.doogal.co.uk/SegmentExplorer (Thanks Spencer for the tip!!)

Week #6 – Oct 16th – 22nd – Return to Crystalview

We feature a fun little gravel section that parallels the Goose this week, one which you may not even know about! And just off that is another TIMED/Challenge segment, and an opportunity for those that rode Season 1 to get some revenge on a segment that gave many some grief. If you recall, Crystalview finishes with about 50m of fairly steep gravel….and now’s your chance to give it a go on a gravel bike!

Segment 6A Name: Not Trespassing Sprint
Deets: 0.86km, 24m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM, KOM & LL are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/22242531

To access this one, head out on the Goose and take the E&N “exit” before that dangerous trestle before the Colwood Corners, and when you get to the top of the hill, take the crosswalk and little gravel hairpin, then make a right and it’s there at the bottom of the hill! If you’re coming back into town, this is a nice alternative to the Goose, and if you’re going to Thetis, it points you in that direction nicely as well! And it’s much more pleasant in this direction, the other way makes for a lot of climbing…. 🤢

Segment 6B Name: Crystalview
Deets: 0.49km, 56m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is The Squaremeat with a 2:10, KOM is Spencer Floyd with a 1:34 & LL is Dale Campbell with 1 effort!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/13489568

We’re baaack! For those who did Season 1, will you be faster on a road bike, or a gravel bike? It’ll be pretty neat to see! You can access this off Atkins, or halfway down the 6A segment you can access the road as well. It starts off on the tarmac, and finishes with a pretty nasty gravel climb to the very top. Enjoy!!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

SUGGESTED ROUTING

Basically included in the segments this week! 😁

Extra Tip: Strava for some dumb reason doesn’t let you save Segments as Routes. But here’s a website where you can enter the segment, and download the GPX file so you can ride it as a route: https://www.doogal.co.uk/SegmentExplorer (Thanks Spencer for the tip!!)

Week #7 – Oct 23rd – 29th – Royal Bay Gems

If you’ve been following me on Strava, you’ll have seen this loop more than a few times! I’ve including routing that features the two segments – two fun little trails you probably won’t have noticed in Colwood. This week has no timed/competitive segments, so just enjoy the trails!

Segment 7A Name: Sweet Havenwood Singletrack
Deets: 0.54km, 12m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM, KOM & LL are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/35705283

It’s quite easy to ride right by this trail, but it’s worth the detour! It’s mostly buff singletrack, with a bit of a rocky rooty section at the very end. Maps seem to show a bunch of trails in this area, but other than a few ‘exists’, it should be pretty straightforward, just stick to the main trail. Otherwise enjoy some slight up and down through a lovely wooded section of Havenwood.

Segment 7B Name: A loop around the Promenade…park that is.
Deets: 0.49km, 6m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM, KOM & LL are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/35705293

Another hidden gem, watch for the green electrical box on the boulevard for the entry point, otherwise it’s a simple loop, and there’s a nice spot with a view to stop at around the loop!

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

SUGGESTED ROUTING

I’ve whipped up some routing, it starts at the south-east corner of Royal Roads (see previous segments for routing for this if unfamiliar, a previous segment takes you straight there!), and takes you over to Royal Bay Beach via a bit of a steep descent, then up Latoria (sorry, not the most pleasant) to a fun little trail on the right. The route takes you to both Gems, and then carries on with some more fun gravel, taking you back to RRU. As an alternative, you can drop straight down the road and walk the beach as well.

Here’s the route: https://www.strava.com/routes/3150991410010290114

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

Extra Tip: Strava for some dumb reason doesn’t let you save Segments as Routes. But here’s a website where you can enter the segment, and download the GPX file so you can ride it as a route: https://www.doogal.co.uk/SegmentExplorer (Thanks Spencer for the tip!!)

Week #8 – Oct 30th – Nov 5th – Meet Us in Thetis

This is it, the final week! And we also have our final TIMED/challenge segment, and it’s the longest segment we’ve featured in the Segment Challenge so far – be sure to pack your climbing legs on this ride!!

Segment 8A Name: Banjo’s and Motocross
Deets: 3.41km, 90m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM, KOM & LL are irrelevant!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/17699897

This is my second favourite route through Thetis – it starts on Phelps (use the Phelps Connector to get there from inside Thetis!), and takes you along Phelps to Bellamy all the way to Scafe. They’ve smoothed out most of it now, as well as added some drainage, so it’s a lot more rider-friendly, but there is some chunky rock towards the end, but thanks to frequent riders there are some good pathways cut through it now. Normally when riding I’ll continue along Scafe to the exit on Westoby, but this week you may want to make a left turn for….

Segment 8B Name: Bellamy & Kallie’s to Munn ‘Super Segment’ 🗻
Deets: 4.01km, 194m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM is Holly Henry with a 19:12, KOM is Damian Parlee with a 15:46 & LL is no one!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/35749486

Surprise!! This is a fantastic climb from Thetis to Munn Rd. It’s not too steep, mostly buff (a few rooty bits on Kallie’s Korner), and quite long!! It’s a new segment, so hasn’t really been ‘tested’, but I’m sure it won’t take long to become a popular gravel ‘test’. This could double as a good training hill for gravel/CX racers. And it’s the final segment for Season3 and 2023 as well, be sure to enjoy the grind!!!

Happy riding!!

SUGGESTED ROUTING

Both are pretty straight-forward to get to, but 8B leaves you in an odd spot near the very top of Munn. You can bomb down Munn and get into Hartland, dip over to Davies to make more of a loop, or simply turn around and enjoy this as an out-and-back, and enjoy a long and fun descent! Nothing wrong with that, and probably makes for a good ride in and of itself. 😁

https://www.strava.com/routes/3150991410010290114

Happy riding!! 🚵‍♀️

Extra Tip: Strava for some dumb reason doesn’t let you save Segments as Routes. But here’s a website where you can enter the segment, and download the GPX file so you can ride it as a route: https://www.doogal.co.uk/SegmentExplorer (Thanks Spencer for the tip!!)

Scoring

Scoring is geared towards rewarding the consistent!

For each segment completed, points will be awarded this way for the A, B & C fields:

1st – 50pts
2nd – 47pts
3rd – 45pts
4th – 43pts
5th – 41pts
6th – 40pts (and one point spread beyond 6th, to 30pts, which all below this will receive.)

Bonus Points

There are a few opportunities to score extra points! Since these are awarded to ‘one’ person each week, the rider may be Open or Female, A, B or C. Some are random, some you can actually go for.

• New QOM/KOM – if a new QOM or KOM is set on the segment, that rider gets an extra 5pts.
• Time Bonus – a time will be secretly pre-selected for each segment, any who happen to ride that exact time will be awarded 5pts.
• The Early Bird – the earliest locked-in effort for each segment will get 5pts. (Eg: someone might preview the segment on Monday, and be the ‘first’, but if they ride it again and their final result tops that one, then the second is what counts – sorry, I just don’t want to have to refresh the segment pages constantly! 😉
• The Socialite – tag @AboutTheRideCA on Twitter, FB or IG in a post relating to the competition, and my favourite post each week will get 5pts.
• Bonus Segments – some weeks there may be a bonus challenge, it won’t be scored like the others, but a declared number of points will be awarded to all who simply complete that segment.

Curses

But it’s not all roses – there are also a few ways to lose points each segment!

• Yellow Jersey Curse – if a rider in the competition holds the QOM/KOM at the start, and they fail to defend it, they lose 5pts.
• Try-Hard Penalty – if a rider becomes the Local Legend during the week of the segment, they lose 5pts. (If they go into it already as the LL, then this will be ignored.)

There’s a few surprises to keep you on your toes! (Also note that in fairness Dave the organizer will be omitted from winning any bonuses, but can collect the curses!)

Help Get Word Out!

Ain’t this more fun with more people? Help get word out! Follow our social channels, and share posts, mention what you’re doing on your Strava rides, invite friends to sign up and join you, get your clubs and bike shops to get word out!

Anything Confusing?

Fire over a note on the contact page if you’ve got any questions, ideas, suggestions, etc!

Chip In & Get Tips Back!

I’m organizing this as a labour of love, but it does take up quite a bit of time! If you’d like to chip in a few dollars, you can send an e-transfer to dave at abouttheride.ca – as a thank-you I’ll add you to a secret email list with tips for getting the fastest time on each segment – like here’s my blog post covering the basics for getting PRs. =)