Hell Not So Bad Today! - Brief Report

Triathlon Forum
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Just back in the door from the annual season ending To Hell And Back ride. A 140K loop north of Toronto that takes in some of the worst roads( dirt, gravel and lousy pavement) and also some farm and forest tracks that would only normally be tackled on a MTB, but it’s a gentleman’s agreement that this ride is to be done on a road bike or cross bike. Actually, those who do try it on an MTB invariable get dropped on the road sections. It’s about 1/3 paved, 1/3 gravel dirt road and 1/3 technical off road track/trail.

Conditions today were perhaps the best ever - overcast, no winds with balmy, high temps of 10 - 13C. The sun even peeked out for a bit.

Equipment: Cervelo Erye Road bike with 700 X 28 Specialized Turbo-A Armadillo road tires. Was going to run some Vittoria Cross XG Pro 32mm cross tires, but the dry,warm and snow-less conditions( last year there was 5 - 10cm of snow to contend with) made me change at the last minute. It was a bit tougher going in the technical stuff but on the paved and gravel roads I was rolling, really easy compared to some of the guys running cross tires. Specialized MTB Shoes and Shimano SPD pedals completeed the modifications from my regular road kit.

Total ride time was about 6 hours with several stops to let some people get back on and then to re-load with water, gatorade and donuts(!) at the 90k check point. Finished in the lead group from the 7:00AM start. We had a great four man group at the front that worked really well together all day. We were able to hold off the really fit/fast guys who started at 8:00am.

Managed to ditch it again this year( I was infamously caught on the Cervelo video last year ditching it in the snow with Gerard V. nearly running right over me). This year I had the rear wheel completely slide out on me on a muddy bit on the Boag Road forest track section and I went careening into the woods. Fortunatly, it was a soft landing and I made no contact with any trees.

Great fun, and always some great stories afterwards and to share going forward.

Sitting here at home now with a set of very tired legs nursing a cold beer along to ease the pain!

Fleck

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that sounds sooooo fun

Dirt.

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Total ride time was about 6 hours with several stops to let some people get back on and then to re-load with water, gatorade and donuts(!)

Fleck
I have never met a Canadian who could pass Tim Horton’s without stopping.

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Ironically, it wasn’t a Tim’s stop - and heaven forbid, I don’t think they were Tim Hortons donuts! I really didn’t care at that point. The check-point for this ride and the infamous donut stop, is in the middle of no-where on a lonely dirt road after the longest technical trail section. We usually have a few support/sag vehicles meet there as this is one of the drop-out point options or to deal withy any mechanical problems.

Fleck

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Pictures?

Was Gerard there on an R3 Cross?

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lol. Glad you had a good ride, love the title of the post!

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Sorry, I am not much of a picture guy. A few people had camera’s out this year. If they send any my way I will post them up.

Sadly, Gerard was not there this year. No R3 Cross’s in the group, but one of the guys from Cervelo had a go at it on a Carbon Soloist and it took the beating well!

Fleck

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“that sounds sooooo fun”

It was. There were a number of former top triathletes and roadies out for this ride and this is the kind of thing that we get “up” for these days. Not races, so much, but “events” or gatherings were there is a bit of challenge, it’s a bit out there, and we can all have a great time and share some stories during and afterwards.

Fleck