Thorburn Lake

Bike Day 11
Clarenville to Jacks Pond Park east of Arnold’s Cove
Total distance 56 km
Total elevation gained ~ 550 meters••
•• have to check out the AllTrails app as the elevation gained showed ~550 m before I finished the route and after I closed/saved the route it lists 2679m gained?
- Clarenville needs better signage and connections with local businesses, including options ex downtown, hotel access etc. As noted in the photos first climb was a challenge with us walking steep grades

Once on top out of Clarenville peddling was ok but loose stone and softened underside from recent rain created a govnor effect as it was not safe to accelerate or downgrade. Similar conditions between Come by Chance and Jacks Pond where the volume of loose stone stalled any progress and destabilized the bike. At one point with encroaching alders, double track and large Center ridge of loose stone, with speed I tried to cross the Center ridge to the other side but somehow as I curled the handlebars back to the desired track, the bike swung back to where I started with the rear tire stalling in the Center stone- not sure how I stayed upright 😉

Had some great runs where trail top was packed and lacked loose stone, awesome spinning there as with light or no wind and lower grades than past days we could accelerate upgrade and hold affirmative speed. In this section the dips (potholes/craters) were long enough that riding them was like a sea swell, your bum stayed in the seat, just beautiful fun riding!

Happy Indigenous Peoples Day
Today is also the solstice, longest day of the year 😊Read more