The best 56 kms of bike shoulder in Ontario or 112 if you count coming back on the other side.
Knocked another ride off my bucket list. Did the Algonquin Park gate-gate-gate on Wednesday. Had perfect fall weather, sunny, 10C at the start and 18C by time I finished. Winds were calm going out but started picking up when I was getting close to the turn around. By time I got back, it felt windy, probably 10-15 kph and it was a pure head wind.
Will say it is one of the best metric centuries I've ever done but considering its Algonquin, that is pretty easy to achieve.
Very low traffic on the way out, more on the way back but I'd never say it was ever busy.
Hilly, no wait, very hilly. There really is only one "flat" section which is by Lake of Two Rivers. Almost 4,000 feet of climbing hilly and don't think there is even one categorized climb.
Going out it was nice but coming back, head winds of course.
I went to enjoy it, take my time and didn't race any part of it. Only stood while climbing to stretch my legs. Think my avg HR of 143 pretty much shows how relaxed I was and it was only that high due to the climb after climb after climb. Plus I'd say my HR is about 5 beats higher than summer now I'm in off season.
Won't deny, I was tired by time I finished. I'm not into doing long rides at this time of the year and I could really tell. Around the 80 km mark, I was ready to get off the bike. Also doesn't help that you have to do 13 extra kms if you really want both gates.
I mapped it out on RWGPS and it says there are 20m more climbing going westbound. I will say that it feels like 200m more.
Once you turn around, you start off with 5km of climbing then do the 'flat' section then it just feels like climb after climb until you finish. Think there was only one rewarding decent in the last 30k or at least that is how it felt. Worst part, if you are tired, it finishes on a climb into a head wind, oh great.
Really glad I knocked this one off my list. Truly an amazing ride.
