Trenton Loop Search

Had a chance on April 29th  before the week of deluge to go down to Trenton area to explore around back of Batawa. Last time I visited was about 4 years ago to do the Lower Trent Trail which as I found it to be a mind numbing ride.

Lower Trent Trail

This trip I wanted to explore some of the other track behind Batawa Ski Hill before it became overgrown and cooking hot. After a few side routes that where dead ends. Managed to find a route that got me to Batawa Road.


Trenton Exploration

But before I went to ride that I checked out another nearby spot that I spotted on a map to see if it offered anything and it didn't.

Seeking Trail

So it was back to the original plan of wandering around to see hat else as there. Again I do admit to doing it out of boredom as well as simply trying to create more options for riding. Plus it does get tiresome hearing the whinging that there isn't much to ride in Eastern Ontario. When I know by being creative in one' search you can find options. And not all will be singletrack as seems to be this mystical "gold" standard now days.

Yet if you look at the Scottish mountain bikers they ride singletrack, double track, and 4x4 track. Case in point,

Not just singletrack

And even the singletrack doesn't need to be golf course level manicured. Many I know would have fits if they tried to ride this.

Barely maintained singletrack


And with this in mind it was off to wander.

Based on the tracks there has been some riders here already. Good to see in truth.

Water Water Water

Though some sections had to be careful as the water levels this year are really high. Especially in the lower areas.

 Hmm...nope

Found a few dead ends. I mean sure it is a unplowed farm field. But as a rule unless I know a way round I try to never go marching through the middle. Even better if it is a long haul to the road not to.

Batawa Rd

After another dead end found the right track and finally came out at Batawa Road. And after thinking about it decided to make it a loop. So headed east on Batawa Rd towards the Trent River. And hooked up with the Lower Trent Trail. Then it was back to Batawa to go ride up to the top of the ski hill.

Mistress Mk1A2

I had brought Mistress Mk1A2 as I wanted to hit the sort of DH track off the top I had found on a previous visit back in 2008 or 2009.

2009?

And I wanted to try the Mistress Mk1A2 on a track I had ridden before. As it is the replacement for the stolen predecessor. Especially as the track I was going to do was rougher than Kingston area but not like Camp Fortune. Was able to get 4 runs with 3 of them timed and recorded via GPS. Even wet so far as that night creating a Strava segment for other times was able to be there.

When it was all said and done found a little 19km loop near Batawa ski hill with potential to add more if I can find more. And some fun on a DH like track to conclude a good little road trip.

Back Bottle

In May did the Monstercross Ride To ErnestownWanting some more water stuck round bottles in the Wingnut pack mesh pockets.While it did give me more water I ran into a problem using the round bottles.

Dropped at least one bottle when it got rough. Also it began to bug me trying to cram the round bottle back into the pocket while riding. Almost dropped bottles twice doing that. There had to be a better way.  Sure one can say just find a tap. That sounds easy when your not in the middle of some quad track surrounded by swamp and questionable water sources.

I remembered seeing something that could solve the problem.

Backbottle


Non traditional bottles that have non round bottoms and a dull point. That are supposed to work with rear jersey pockets with less fumbling. And blind flailing to insert in the pocket. Hmm...sounds good in theory.

And seemed to work well with the Wingnut pack pockets on a couple of dry runs. But would have to wait to truly test it during a long ride.

That came on August 7th with a 5 hour ride. Made even more challenging as it was the hottest day of the summer. Think temps where about 37 degrees and no clue what the Humidex said that day. But perfect conditions to test the Backbottle in real world conditions.


Rouge to Seaton to Rouge

On that ride I went through a 2 liter hydration bladder, one large water bottle and the 2 Back Bottles. Even hauling all that was still cooked at the end. Which makes having the two Backbottles in the Wingnuts 2 side pockets a good idea.

So after all that it comes down two one simple question....Would I use them again?

OH HELL YEAH.

In fact have used the back bottles a few times when I didn't bother to use the hydration bladder. And will be doing so in 2017.

Monster Gearing

Procrastination + laziness + neglect x willful ignorance x ego = current gearing situation.

I readily admit that for nearly 2 years have run the same dirt bag engineered straight bloc rear cassette.  With a chainring size geared towards the Tour De Caffeine. But I finally admit it has finally reached the stupidity level of gearing choices.

Hmmm gearing is wanting

While I should change the chain rings the simplest and most cost effective method is a more mountain bike oriented gearing cassette.

 With a quick google search that gave limited results on the discussion of Gravel/Monstercross gearing. Though this gave me the best input,

Gravel Bike Set Up

First change to be made for gearing in 2017 is the cassestte, out with straight block road and in with a non straight block mtb.  I only had a brief parking lot test of the cassette so have no real world info if this will be enough. But initial drive train recation is promising. But will not get my hopes up till I get in  a longer ride.

Spring Monstercross Mud

Wee bit muddy

So today was the first long ride of 2017 and it was to be a group one.  Of course with no long rides let's decide to go 59km. You know just to be stupor.

Muddy

It was a nice spring spring day for a group ride though.  And no expectations of it being easy but it would be the first long ride after going from a Analog Asshole to a Digital Sphincter.

Hmmm....need a deflector shield

In the end there was mud, suffering, and lots of muddy gravel. Yet despite no expectations did find out I got 6th in the Garbage Alley. Though had lots to think about gearing and future tire choices.

Mosntercross Garbage Alley

Me Hungry

Embrace The Suck: Muddite Edition

Saturday afternoon wanting to ride some where with woods and dirt decided to take the Monstercross Wench out to ride a bit of unmaintained road. Hoping maybe to high to find some rideable tuff.

And that is where the suck began.....sucking me in. With the illusion of it being soft yet rideable. It was slightly slow with bits of ice and some traps.

Early on got to play the game of ice covered hole and when does the ice fail. And see how deep the ice covered hole actally is.

Brought to a halt

The first 20 minutes turned out okay and despite the ice was not to bad. Which gave the illusion that it was going to be good.

It is an illusion

Right, and then comes the catch....

How bad could it get?

And then it began to suck at a double time rate.  And the pace ground to a slog with having to get around flooding.

Cold

Then almost 3.5-4k of hiking with a bike in mud that looks rideable yet had no traction. Even hoofing it was an exercise.

Muddite Heaven

To say it was slow would be an understatement. 6.4km in over an hour? Painful.

You have gotta be joking

To say it was ugh is all I can say to keep it non NSFW. No words to say it.

At least the ride back to the Van was easy. Though a wee bit chilly.

Lower Highland Creek Trails

15 years ago when I came to Scarborough there was nothing in the Highland Creek system for much trails. Well...there was abandoned sections near Centennial. I say abandoned as no work done as after sections had been taken out by whatever past storm. So with no one building trail that left the Don Valley and Rouge systems for anything trail related.

 Relics of the past

But like anything that changes .....

Early Winter

In the last couple of years that has seen some change that has slowly appeared. At some point a couple of Trail Sprites started visiting the Highland Creek system and have added trail. Apparently there is now 10k of singletrack trail in the system. With more in the future I have heard. The majority of the singletrack with the fun stuff is south of the Lawrence Ave E bridge. There is singletrack on the east and west side of Highland Creek.

Bridge with calves

Certainly it doesn't have the same feel nor volume as the Don Valley for trails. But the system is still in it's early years. And there is only  couple of trail workers working to create. I help when I can when am in town. But with the passing of my Mother in Law that will become even more infrequently.

While I do love the Don in the past few years it has gotten crowded in some areas. A by product of being central in Toronto but I have believed that more was needed. That more trail was needed in Highland Creek and Etobicoke Creek. Simply to spread some of the riding around. Because aside from the future conflict discussion the reality is not everyone can get access to the Don easily. Nor does those who ride have time every week to get there.

                                         Video by my buddy Charlie


I have spent more time in the last couple of years riding these trails. But what shows is more important benefit is the kids. I found out my Cousin Kemba takes her so riding in Highland Creek all the time. And he always wants to ride the dirt trails and loves to spend hours on them.  That is the best part of it all.

One day in the future one could connect this with the Rouge and Seaton Trail to create a 3 King or Valley Epic Day.

Rouge to Seaton to Rouge

Maps are from trail forks.

Lower Highland Creek West

Lower Highland Creek East

The nearest GO station is at Guildwood.

Guildwood Go Station

Beer , food, and Caffeine can be found at the mall at Morningside and Kingston Rd.

The Bowl Exploration

With Monday March 6th being a some what warm day, well if you can call minus 3 warm. Decided on the way back from Toronto to check out a trail area I spotted in the Back Roads Map Book near Port Hope.

The Bowl ATV Trails Area Satellite Image

In theory there is potentially some track that would be good but based on the area my expectations where not high. I expected more of a spin and explore with nothing really stimulating. But it is worth the effort as one never knows what they might discover. Plus I have been over the last couple of years trying to find more riding areas in Eastern Ontario outside the already known.

Dead End Beginning

The entrance that I started at is at the dead end of Mail Rd and have no idea if this is a de-activated unmaintained county road that part of the area use. However as I explored came upon an interesting sign will cover later that gave me this idea.

Double Track

Initially the beginning was quad track which really is like riding double track. To an old RGMC type like me that is part of mountain biking.  Because especially in Ontario mountain Biking is more than just singletrack because if you don't include double track and some unmaintained road. You get less. There was some stuff down in a small ravine but it was wet and muddy so didn't go look.

Gravel Through Da Trees

On this exploration ride of double track connected back to the unmaintained road. Which led to the discovery of what I hinted at earlier...

Gravel Road

Gravel road with a storm drain???

Secret Gravel Shifter?

A storm drain in the middle of a unmaintained gravel road area? Is it a way to slowly shift sand and gravel to the local shore line to create a sand and gravel beach??

Wrong Bike For This

There is probably more to explore here but between the chilly temps and lack of time. Only go a brief time to spin around on the wrong bike for this.  There is possibly more rideable around as the BRMB  shows double track on running along the waterfront  on the other side of the old Wesleyville Generating station. So there is the potential to create a loop of some kind.

To get to this location you get off the 401 at Wesleyville, off ramp # 456. Head south on Wesleyville Road to Mail Rd. Turn right on Mail Rd and drive till you get to the dead end. Trail area starts here.