Week #1 – Sept 8th – 14th – Back to Segment School!

We’re back, and fun to be on trails again! Reminder that segments this week are simply ‘exploratory’, and ride time make no difference, everyone who completes each segment gets 30pts.

The first is a much longer segment than usual, we featured a similar route two years ago in Season 3, and basically have combined them to make one long segment. Down side: it’s a bit more complex. Up side: we’ll have time to do more exploring, with this ‘two in one’.

This segment is a fun alternative to the Goose for getting out to the West Shore, and the second segment is a popular way into Royal Roads. Also slightly different from the first iteration – now longer!

Segment 8A Name: Cuthbert to JdF – a gravel alternative to the Goose
Deets: 7.92km, 95m elevation gain.
This is an new segment, QOM is Emma Skaug with a 23:13 & KOM is Vegan Dave Shishkoff with a 20:58, and the LL is no one! (Reminder these really don’t matter.)
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/40070007

This is a long one, and more direct than what we’ve featured in the past. It’s not at all technical, and a could even ride it on a road bike, tho fatter tires definitely recommended!

It starts when you cross Interurban off the Goose, and head left towards Cuthbert Holmes Park. Once in, you make the right over the bridge, and over to the main dirt road. At the end you cross over to Portage Rd (careful crossing please! Reminder this isn’t a timed segment!!) and at the end of this section we’re opting for the safer version once more, and go ‘straight’ through the roundabout to the next connector, the MacLennan Trial into View Royal Park (home of the bumpiest grass!)

You’ll go right there for a more direct route to the exit of the park, and a couple wiggles later you’re at the E&N. Cross at the lights, but stick to the road/bike lane when making the left, and carry on up to Willfert where you’ll have to cross. If there’s a lot of traffic, best cross at the light by the casino.

From there, you’ll find a sneaky entrance to the Juan de Fuca park, and a nice little climb at the end. Phew! Sounds complicated, but it should flow pretty well.

Hope you find this to be a regular part of your routing, and be sure to use it as a warmup when going to a couple of the popular Cross Club Wednesday Nighter events as well!

NOTE: Noticed today there was construction at the start under the bridge, so you’ll have to pop up on the road. Hopefully the segment triggers, but tag me or @AboutTheRide if you have an issue, and I might edit the segment to accommodate this.

Segment 1B Name: Go to college
Deets: 0.71km, 13m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Claire Townsend with a 3:12 & KOM is D H with a 2:47, and LL is Paul H with 2 efforts. (Reminder these really don’t matter.)
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/39987188

Right off the Goose, this is my favoured route into Royal Roads, which IMO has some of the best trails. Definitely want wider tires for this.

It starts off pretty technical, with a steepish drop, and a couple bigger roots. Then some nice singletrack with a few more roots, but luckily there’s a new climb option (stick to the left), that’s MUCH easier. Once you get over that final big root at the top, the rest is a fun and smooth singletrack, and worth the initial effort.

It’s mostly downhill from the top, enjoy the swoopy trail. There’s a short kick about 3/4s in, then some more fun twists and you end up on College Rd (watch that last little bit, it’s a wee bit steep). From there, keep exploring RRU, or head over to University Dr, and you’ll find yourself back on the Goose!

Suggested Routing

Not much routing to suggest to get to these, but once in RRU, there’s tons of options. If you make a left on College Dr and ride over to the ‘gate’, there’s a fantastic path on the right that takes you down to the water. Alternatively if you go right on College, a few meters down is the beginning of Jenny’s Jam – note that this is technical trail, but still very ridable on a gravel bike. Here’s the segment if you want to check it out: https://www.strava.com/segments/38489935

We’ll explore more of RRU next week, so I’ll leave it there for now.

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!!) Also, if you’re ever trying to find out when you rode a specific road, Find That Ride is an amazing website: https://www.findthatride.com/activitymap

Week #2 – Sept 15th – 21st – Royal Roads? More Like Royal Offroads!

Getting back into the swing of it, this week we’ve got another long one, a pretty short one that’s our first timed/challenge segment, and also feature a silly bonus segment, where you can collect an extra 25 Segment Bucks! 😂

Segment 2A Name: A darn fine tour of RRU gravel ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Deets: 5.53km, 84m elevation gain.
This is an new segment, QOM is Claire Townsend with an 18:14 & KOM is Damian Parlee with a 15:35, and the LL is no one! (Reminder these really don’t matter.)
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/40129461

Another long one, but it’s really worth it. It’s a lovely off road tour of most of RRU.

It starts where the ‘Go to college’ segment from last week ends, with a fun and fast descent down to the water, over a neat bridge (see if you can ride the path beside the stairs!), past Hatley Castle, and then some fireroad climbing.

By the Heatherbell exit, you jump on some singletrack for another climb, with a few technical bits – there’s a nice big root to ride over, as well as a steepish pitch. Once you’re up that, it’s beautiful singletrack to the end, with just a few roots here and there. (Where the segment ends, you can continue on with singletrack, the SMF segment continues there, but it starts to get a lot more technical. Otherwise just jump on one of the roads or wider pathways to find your way out!)

Segment 2B Name (🔥TIMED🔥): College CX Climb
Deets: 0.32km, 37m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Lindsay Pedal with a 1:50 & KOM is Julian Cameron with a 1:02, and LL is Kevin White with 3 efforts.
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/13292915

It’s the first TIMED segment of the season!! If you’re feeling competitive, give this a rip! Points will be awarded based on the times in your category.

This climb is actually the start of the descent of the other segment! There’s not much to it, just be sure to pace yourself, it’s over 10% average grade, and has a nice steep little bit just before you hit College Dr. Make sure you continue down the road to trigger the segment end. (I can’t give you a time if you don’t complete the segment!)

Coincidentally Julian took the KOM just last week from Nick Friesen. Hopefully he wasn’t giving it full gas! 😉

➡BONUS SEGMENT!
Segment 2Bonus Name: The Graveldrome
Deets: 0.73km, 22m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Kema Weiland with a 12:40 & KOM is Kyle Denny with a 1:36, and LL is none.
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/8315380

This came up as I was browsing the segments in the area, and I couldn’t resist..!

Not much to it, just a lap around the grassy section in front of Hatley Castle. Collect an easy 25pts! Let’s fill that leaderboard up, there were 5 people when we started. 😂

Suggested Routing

It should come as no surprise last week’s segments are recommended to get you to the location of this week’s segment! (Check the archive if you missed them!)

If you want to make a loop of the segments, my suggestion would be to bop down and do the bonus segment, then cruise back over and hit the Timed segment, then turn around and you’re ready to do the other main segment, easy-peasy! If you want to stick to trails as you’re exiting, the SMF segment overlaps, tho it gets a bit more rooty where the 2A segment ends: https://www.strava.com/segments/31028041

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!!) Also, if you’re ever trying to find out when you rode a specific road, Find That Ride is an amazing website: https://www.findthatride.com/activitymap

Week #3 – Sept 22nd – 28th – Highlighting Highland Hoops

Got a couple hoops for you this week! Or loops. But it’s not the Lighlands. 😂

First is a bigger one that highlights the best gravel trails in/around Thetis Lake, then over to Francis-King to check out the loop I use for the Scrabblethon – I didn’t want you to miss out on the fun there, and there’ll be some bonus points up for grabs as well if you’re feeling spicy! 😬

Segment 3A Name: Thetis CX Lap
Deets: 9.44km, 191m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Claire Townsend with a 28:33 & KOM is Markus K with a 24:47, and the LL is no one! (Reminder these really don’t matter.)
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/20635710

I keep saying ‘another long one’, but hey, we’re gravel riders, and sometimes it’s supposed to be long! Don’t be intimidated, there’s really not too many twists and turns on this one, and much easier to navigate than the forests of RRU.

The segment begins and ends at the Francis-King entrance on Highland Road, and heads up Barker to the Westoby terminus, and connects with the Bellamy Trail, over to Phelps and the very fun highway trail connector (careful with the corners) and back along Trillium, then back on some tarmac up Highland Rd to complete the loop.

Sections used to be pretty rough, but the entire upper portion of Bellamy has been resurfaced, and is MUCH nicer if you haven’t been through in the last 6mos. A few roots and rocks, but otherwise almost all smooth sailing. (Especially before that big ‘rock’ climb, you can pick up a LOT of speed heading to it now if you’re clever, and coast up most of it. #IYKYK)

Segment 3B Name (🔥SEMI-TIMED🔥): Scrabblethon loop – Francis King Power – clockwise 🐱‍👤
Deets: 1.66km, 34m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Jolene Phelps with a 6:19 & KOM is Damian Parlee with a 4:15, and LL is Damian with 13 efforts. (Reminder this doesn’t matter.)
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/38645418

A bunch of you couldn’t make it to the Scrabblethons I’ve organized, but the loop is worth checking out! And note that there’s an opportunity for bonus points, as a SEMI-TIMED segment! (I’m trying something new!)

The loop itself is pretty straightforward with all right-hand turns: through the yellow gate, some singletrack with a little drop at the end (careful!) Then some fireroad, then some horrible loose gravel beside the power station (go AROUND the corner to the main trail, not the ‘short cut’!), which takes you to some lovely uphill singletrack (with one techy corner), and then fireroad back to the gate.

If you’re feeling feisty and want to go for some bonus points, I’ll award 25pts to riders who can ride a lap faster than the time below, per their category:

• Open A: 4:45
• Female A: 5:45
• Open B: 5:45
• Female B: 6:15
• Open C: 7:30
• Female C: 8:30

This will be a challenge to achieve! If going for it, I strongly encourage a lap or two to familiarize yourself with the course as there are a few ‘surprises’. Good luck!! (And this is why I try to make sure people are in the right category!😉)

Suggested Routing

Not too much to it this week, Goose or E&N takes you to the base of Highland Road, and up you go! The unpaved portion of Highland takes you over to the Scrabblethon loop, or you can also access it off Munn Rd if coming from Saanich. (The start/finish is just a few meters from Munn Rd!)

One tip for riding in general: keep these loops in mind if trying to figure out a place to ride, and perhaps a bit of a shorter ride. Make it a destination as an out-and-back. Sometimes that’s all you need to get you out the door if motivation is low! 😁

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!!) Also, if you’re ever trying to find out when you rode a specific road, Find That Ride is an amazing website: https://www.findthatride.com/activitymap

Week #4 – Sept 29th – Oct 5th – Gravel Fun in Jordie Lunn

Admittedly not a ton of great gravel in JLP, for me it’s usually more of a pass-through on the way to the Great Trail, but since it’s a bike park, and bikes are supposed expected to be going fairly quickly through there, it’s a good spot for another timed segment!

Segment 4A Name: XCC Nats
Deets: 0.90km, 35m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Jenn Jackson with a 2:32 & KOM is Ian Ackert with a 2:08, and the LL is Dan Molgat-Roy! (Reminder these really don’t matter.)
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/39654368

This was the Short Track (XCC) loop for the Canadian Cross Country MTB Nationals this summer, and a fun little loop through some of the tamer trails (Cross on the Rock racers will recognize some!) Reminder this segment is not timed.

Starts up past the clubhouse through the parking lot, around the corner along the dirt jumps, then down by the pond into a nice steady climb. There’s a few switchbacks on the descent, then back up to the clubhouse! This segment lists a who’s-who of Canadian mountain biking, will be very surprised if anyone makes it on the first page!! (And careful, there may be a fence to ride around near the start..?)

Segment 4B Name (🔥TIMED🔥): Initial Attack (Official)
Deets: 0.66km, 24m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Nicole Bradbury with a 2:24 & KOM is Logan Sadesky with a 2:00, and LL is Andrew MacKeen with 43 efforts(!!).
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/31743512

Here’s our second timed/challenge segment of the season!

This is fairly short and sweet, and not too much to it, but you should be able to give it a solid go without much concern!

Once at the finish, if you’re adventurous, keep going up, or head back down the way you came, or you can exit and access the road right there as well. 😉

Suggested Routing

There are a few ways to get to Jordie Lunn Park, but the most straight-forward (and flat) is to take the Goose to Glen Lake Rd, head up and go around the round-about to the left side of Parkdale, and at the end of the road is a trail that takes you into Jordie Lunn Park, here’s a segment for that as well: https://www.strava.com/segments/35555587

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!!) Also, if you’re ever trying to find out when you rode a specific road, Find That Ride is an amazing website: https://www.findthatride.com/activitymap

Week #5 – Oct 6th – 12th – The Many Lakes of Langford

Those who follow me will occasionally see my ‘Paw Patrol’ loop, which features a bunch of nifty connectors between Langford Lake and Thetis. It was also part of the first Gravel season a couple years ago!

This week we’re reversing it, and going from Thetis to Langford Lake, for some sweet trails, pathways and connectors – so many ways to get across the CRD!

Segment 5A Name: Wap Lortap (aka Paw Patrol backwards🐱‍👓)
Deets: 5.33km, 58m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM is Claire Townsend with a 13:43 & KOM is lindsay carswell with a 13:33, and the LL is none! (Reminder these really don’t matter.)
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/40265964

This segment begins at the end of the Phelps Connector in Thetis Lake – to get to this segment, there’s basically a bonus trail/segment that begins in the northernmost parking lot at Thetis – we rode this the opposite direction a few weeks ago, here’s the link: https://www.strava.com/segments/18913785

At the end of this segment, you’ll want head left however, and onto Bellamy Link. At the corner begins a very odd bike lane to Treanor, and there the pathway connectors begin. They’ll be a bit tricky to find, but you wind your way over to Millstream, then another connector to Lake Ida Ann, and over to Florence Lake and the really neat bridge there. (Good place to stop for a snack!) Then you’ll carry on to Leigh, and we’ll work our way over to the final destination: Langford Lake!

Segment 5B Name: Nixon Trail CX TT Reverse
Deets: 1.23km, 0m elevation gain.
This is an existing segment, QOM is Chrysta Archer with a 3:084 & KOM is Vinko Poldrugovac with a 2:27, and LL is john kirkendale with 3 efforts. (Reminder these really don’t matter.)
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/10426648

Getting to this segment takes us back onto the roadway – head down Leigh and make a right on Goldstream, and take it to Lakeshore Pl or Lake End Rd, and continue west on Kingfisher, which connects to the beginning of Langford Lake’s Nixon Trail – here the fun begins.

You’re in for a treat, this is one of my favourite routes, but please don’t smash it, there’s often people on the trail.

It starts along another looooong bridge, and then lots of little whoops and twists until you get back on the water, and another neat aluminum dock.

Enjoy!! Check the routing section for suggestions where to go from here. 😉

Suggested Routing

Getting to 5A is fairly straightforward, find your way to Thetis (hey, there was a neat segment in Week 1 for this!), and up to the smaller parking lot.

Once the segment is complete, if you head down the road about 50m there’s an upper level and pathway that crosses Langford Parkway, and you can get on Glen Lake Road to the roundabout we hit last week, and carry on down Glen Lake Rd to the Goose and cruise back into town that way.

Alternatively you can head down Goldstream to the E&N.

If you find yourself on Strandlund/Selwyn (from Goldstream I like to get onto Peatt and cross the highway there), look for the trail that goes through Cedar Vale Park, I just found out about this one a few days ago as well, thanks to Scott H! (And enjoy a little Mill Hill PTSD for those who’ve done the road segments!!)

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!!) Also, if you’re ever trying to find out when you rode a specific road, Find That Ride is an amazing website: https://www.findthatride.com/activitymap

Week #6: Oct 13th – 19th – The Mighty Mt PISE!

We’re headed north this week into Saanich, featuring a connector that many probably already know, but ought to be a surprise for some, and then a brand new switchbacking Timed/Challenge segment up the hill by PISE! Plus another little bonus segment that’s a handy shortcut if looking for a slightly shorter route out this way.

Segment 6A Name: A Bloodlight Lullaby (aka Swan Lake Creek Connector)
Deets: 1.60km, 9m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM is Claire Townsend with a 3:45 & KOM is Vegan Dave Shishkoff with a 3:43, and the LL is none! (Reminder these really don’t matter.)
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/40310403

For the uninitiated, this segment starts on that right-hander off Tillicum – you’ve ridden by it millions of times, but many have never gone up this way! It’s half paved, until you cross Mackenzie (surprise!), then a steeper descent with a hard left, and there you find yourself on some fun pathways along Swan Lake Creek. Be mindful, there are often people on the trail. At the end, make a right to Marigold, and you’re near the Panama Flats and the Centennial Trail or Colquitz River Trail (same difference!)

The nice thing about this section is it doesn’t get muddy, unlike the southern end of the Colquitz Trail, so it’s also a nice alterative on wet days. (#ProTip!)

Segment 6B Name(🔥TIMED🔥): Switchback Climb to Mt PISE
Deets: 0.6km, 34m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM is Lynn Cole with a 4:35 & KOM is Fraser Hayes with a 2:26, and LL is none!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/40310868

You’ve probably been up this way, but the existing segment is a bit boring, so I conjured up this alternative with a different starting point, and features a little more variety!

Please be careful with the start, I’m not sure how busy this pathway is with students, etc. during the day, but you should have a clear sight to the turn. From there you go up a fairly obvious worn out walking path up the hill on the right, and then you’re on the gravel road proper, and should be able to go full gas from here to the top. (I would have started the segment here, but it has to be at least 500m long, so had to extend it..)

I imagine the QOM and KOM will exchange hands a few times!

Segment 6BONUS Name: The Scent of Strawberries – if you go at the right time
Deets: 0.55km, 19m elevation gain.
This is a new segment, QOM is Sofia Donnecke with a 1:58 & KOM is Vegan Dave Shishkoff with a 1:386, and LL is none!
Link: https://www.strava.com/segments/40318502

Admittedly this is a pretty boring one, and is more of a utilitarian add-on than anything. The end of the gravel road is often a bit of a bushwack for a couple meters. Credit to Sofia for showing me!

I use this cut-through if I’m in more of a rush, and skips a bunch of the other fun trails (like the one near Quick’s Bottom). Sometimes you want to get out this way a bit faster, and this is a nice little shortcut that’s still gravel. Also works as an alternative to the Jail Trail (down or up!) if not feeling the jank. Plus it gets you an easy 25pts in the series! 😉

Suggested Routing

6A is pretty obvious, since it’s right off the Goose!

To hit the Bonus, just carry along the Colquitz trail, and make a left onto Loenholm or Carey, and roll down Wilkinson a short bit.

That takes you into PISE/Layritz/Interurban Camosun, and just make a left at the end to head towards the climb. I’d advise pre-riding the starting section of the timed segment, just so you have a good sense of how it goes. Just do a little loop around, and it only takes a minute.

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!!) Also, if you’re ever trying to find out when you rode a specific road, Find That Ride is an amazing website: https://www.findthatride.com/activitymap