"At one point I almost burned my foot off!"
The annual Gremlins summer tour is a highly anticipated event. It has been steadily growing for the last number of years as more friends build bikes and show interest in sleeping outside. This year, Wyatt made a fully custom 3 day route that would truly test the group's determination and resilience. Everyone survived with some great stories to share…
The lead up to a tour like this is always exciting. Lots of people building or modifying their bikes, buying new parts, and doing test fittings right up until the night before. At one point I think we had seven or eight touring bikes all being built at the shop at the same time. Most of the crew opted for traditional bike touring setups, steel frame, racks, panniers, fenders, the whole shabang. With varying hauling capacities, everyone brought what they needed for the 2 night/3 day tour. It also should be mentioned that there were 16 people signed up to ride, the largest Gremlins group tour to date.
There was chatter in the group chat leading up to departing about the amount of kilometers we had to do each day. Our first day was an appropriate introduction, a respectable 80 km. The second day was heavier with the total distance being 120 km. The third day, AKA home stretch, was still 70 km back to the car. We were curious if the whole group could manage a tour like that, and everyone was excited to see how it would go. Wyatt's route started in Teeswater, a small town inland off of Lake Huron from Goderich. The kind people at the community center let us park our cars there for the weekend. We bought them a case of beer and baked them a pie in return. I love transactions like that.
When the day finally came to load up the vehicles, we hit the road with a shop van full of bicycles and a couple more shuttle cars. Driving through Southwestern Ontario through small towns is so enjoyable. The secondary highways you can take to get there meander through some beautiful farmland. When we got to Teeswater, we were reminded of how involved a process it is to get 16 people on loaded bicycles and ready to go. We finally set off around noon on Friday. We were looking forward to the afternoon sun and the sections of rail trail we would jump into for shade. The first day proved fairly testing, shaking down everyone's bikes and testing their legs. There's always the question about pace and stopping when riding with a big group. Once the group found a rhythm, it was rolling like a freight train. Everyone stuck together, and it was quite fun seeing everyone's bikes finally on the road. Day one was extremely hot, which was a difficult challenge in itself. With only a couple resupplies, we had to pack strategically to ensure we were fueling properly. Just passed halfway, we stopped at Balls Bridge; an old iron truss Bridge that has quite the charming character. Spanning the river, this bridge has chairs, binoculars, umbrellas, and a porta potty to use at your leisure. It was quite an enjoyable stop for our group that lounged, fished and bird watched.
We had one last fuel stop before the ride to our campsite on the beach. We were laughing amongst ourselves at how heavy our bikes were rolling out of that resupply. I think the most beers carried on one bike was 12 tall cans plus water for the night, well over 40lbs. When we all finally made it to the beach for a bonfire, the sun was setting over the water. It was an absolutely beautiful sunset. It was a uniquely beautiful Lake Huron sunset. The array of food for dinner was hilarious. A very wide variety of camping meals. Some easier to cook than others and by the end of the night everyone was fed or drunk or both. A couple people slept on the beach while the majority of the group chose the forest. Hard to say which setup was better, but the sunrise over the water did look damn nice from my perspective. And then it was day two…
Day two started out with minor inefficiencies. Cold starting the freight train in the morning is never a quick or easy process. We still had to make it to the breakfast resupply before we really started the ride. The good thing was, everyone's bikes were in good working order with little to no mechanical issues. It had been fairly smooth sailing thus far. Day two consisted of some very scenic views of the Goderich harbor, a brief section of rail trail in the morning, and many kilometers of rolling farmland. There were a few good hills on day two that made for a spicy afternoon. We really put those granny gears to use. Day two took longer than expected due to some scenic rest stops and soaring temperatures which made the beer around the campfire that night extra rewarding. Day two campsite was at McGregor Point Provincial campground and were quite enjoyable. No amenities but a cleared spot with a bear box. The loamy ground also provided a bit of comfort after a long day. There was a healthy mix of hammocks and tents scattered around the forest. Does one need to live inside? Or could the forest be a permanent dwelling? Anyway, and then it was day three…
Day 3 started like the rest, but there were fewer people left, which cut down on pack up time. We had a full day of riding ahead of us with some scenic stops along the way. Including Wyatt’s uncle's who had a pool and cold beer waiting for us. The group split off in the morning with a few people going their separate ways while most of the group headed into Port Elgin for a diner breakfast. Pancakes should definitely be a death row meal. Once the team was ready to roll, the freight train took off towards Teeswater on the final stretch of the tour. Flowing rail trails, good views of the valley, and some quaint towns were on the horizon. It was still blistering hot, with no rain in the forecast. We were glad to spend a couple hours lounging around the pool midday. By the time we made it back to the cars, it was late afternoon and the sun was in the west. The type of evening that you look back on midwinter and yearn for. The cars were a welcomed site at the community center in Teeswater. Although we still had a 2-hour drive back to London, we didn't have to pedal back.
Bicycle touring is one of the most enjoyable activities on the planet. The way you're able to see the countryside, study the plants, the bugs, the birds, and open up the lungs is a truly remarkable experience. One minute you're climbing a big hill questioning your choices, and the next you're flying down the other side barely holding on for dear life. We're glad to be able to get out and do this in our country, and for the opportunity to work in an industry that supports this lifestyle. Part of the fun of bicycle touring is preparation, ensuring your bike, your gear, and your logistics are all working together well. We like when we can answer a question, recommend a piece of gear, or help build a bicycle that fits your touring style and gets you out into nature.
Shameless product plugs incoming!!! MVP products of this tour would have to be the rack and panniers set ups. A couple of the boys who needed new panniers special ordered Arkel panniers through the shop- these are made in Canada bike bags that fit onto racks mounted directly to the frame. They make for great carrying vessels for clothes, gear, food and tools. Feel free to send us an email or call the shop for info on those bags. Another MVP product was Brooks saddles. We've said it before and we'll say it again- having a comfortable saddle that fits your arse is one of the best ways to actually enjoy riding your bike. We have found a leather saddle from Brooks or Gilles Berthoud to be our favourites. We've got a selection of these fine leather products at the shop or online. The last MVP product of this tour was our MTBMX long sleeve. The SPF moisture wicking material saved a few of us from the scorching sun. It allowed us to ride outside all weekend without worrying about fullbody sunscreen all day.
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