Pretty River Valley 300K Ride Report: July 27, 2003
My First 300K Brevet
by Karen Scaife
My first 300 was an experience that I shall not forget too quickly. Rising before the crack of dawn, filled with anticipation, I quickly grabbed a bite to eat, went over my list of essentials needed for the ride, then jumped into my car. Roughly 50 minutes later upon arriving at the bakery, I was greeted by fellow randonneurs, Jaye and Cary. Thanks, I really don't know many of the Toronto members and it's nice to feel a part of the group.
Nearing the 6am start time, Phil showed up on his bike, Paul introduced himself, then the three of us started our journey on this incredibly scenic brevet. As the sky threatened to drop it's seed at any moment, it made for a dull and dreary beginning. The roads were damp and the wind certainly didn't help make our ride any easier, though our return trip was benefited by a tail wind which was welcomed by all of us.
Being that I'm rather green as a randonneur, I wasn't sure what I'd experience on this 300. I have done a couple of 200s with the Simcoe-Muskoka Chapter, but my confidence level was hindered with the onset of this 300. I really questioned my endurance level.
Technical difficulties occurred on the very first hill which further hindered my confidence and feeling a tad guilty I nearly turned back. The problem was quickly solved with a little instruction on how to set your gearing up before switching into the granny. Thanks guys - you know who you are. Kleinburg was picturesque and after going through that town, our ride was pretty much uneventful. Our stop in Alliston wasn't lengthy. The rain teemed down for a few minutes and then eased up, and luckily enough we were under cover for that burst of precip.
After returning to our bikes, the time flew by and then we were at the first of the big climbs. What an experience! When I saw the first huge hill and said "OH SHIT!", Phil was quick to let me know that this was only the beginning. His comment was definitely an accurate one. I have never worked so hard to climb a hill in my entire life, but the scenery was worth every bit of the energy used to arrive at Ontario's Rooftop. The wind didn't let up, but we were spared most of the rain, which made the ride through the flat lands thoroughly enjoyable. Fields filled with purple and white blooms seemed to go on forever and the fragrant scent hung thick in the air. What an experience!
On to Bajeros and then to Feversham where folks were quite interested in what we were up to. Enough time to take a few pics, have a snack and then we were back in the saddle again, hitting the roads.
The route included a couple of gravel roads which I must say, the idea of riding my mountain bike did enter my thoughts momentarily. The gravel was indeed nasty, but didn't last too long, which was a good thing, as a few things on my body were becoming numb.
Pretty River Valley is absolutely spectacular - God's Country! The windy roads and 8km descent were nothing short of incredible. The greenery was vivid, making the scenic downhill ride to lower altitudes even more breathtaking, not to mention adrenaline pumping. The same goes for the awesome descent into Creemore.
We paused briefly for a couple of shots by the Collingwood airport, then pedaled on to Angus, where we were less than welcomed by a few Tim Horton's employees. (Shame on you Timmy's, bad business move.) After enjoying a decent meal and a good chat with an enthused patron, we were ready to get back on the saddle and push on. Somewhere after the last control, Paul got ahead of Phil and I, and we never saw him again. I enjoyed his conversation and his camaraderie.
Coulson's Hill proved to be a challenge, but I perservered and eventually got to the top. The jaunt through the Holland Marsh was most interesting, though I have travelled through there before. The greenery is so linear, with row after row of neatly planted vegetation. As the darkness descended upon us somewhere on Woodchopper's Lane, Phil again was a blessing-in-disguise, as my headlight ground had unattached itself. Without having the knowledge needed, I would've never known what the problem was. Thanks once again Phil. I couldn't have done it without you. At 9:41pm the two of us completed the 300, had something to eat at Centro before heading home. I had a fantastic time! Thanks to everyone who contributed to my success.