Ride of the Damned
LEGENDARY .
An absolute Legendary ride.
Steeped in history and lore, the Ride of the Damned was THE annual event and ride hosted by Tekné Cycling Club each summer. The event is now retired after an ELEVEN year run, but the spirit of adventure and exploration it kindled lives on!
There are FOUR RotD route variants for you to explore! Tweaked over the years as the event grew, the oldest two variants go from FULL-SEND to medio-SEND, while the third - Ultimus - takes on a rather different complexion, routing clock-wise, with less time spent on the east side of the Gatineau River. The fourth variant is a bonus!
Surface: Road | Gravel
Distances: 148 - 170 km
Recommended Tire Size: >35 mm
Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult
FULL-SEND Variant
This is a slightly improved version of the original Ride of the Damned event route. The fist section along the Ottawa River improves on the original routing, before the Multi-Use Path along the river was a thing. The 'Chamonix' neighborhood sector, which cuts off the main road just before Mont Cascades is from the original route, removed from the subsequent variant because it was too hard-core for the masses. Exercise caution!
medio-SEND Variant
This is the version of the RotD we ran for greatest number of years. There's still plenty of climbing this way, but not as much as the FULL-SEND variant, and Erables is really quite a pleasant way to get the climbing going. This route bypasses the 'Chamonix' neighborhood, and thus passes by the Mont Cascades waterpark, continuing onto some recently paved sectors that are quite phenomenal. Take care in the blind right turn after Cascades, it's a decreasing radius!
ULTIMUS Variant
This is the longest and final variant of the RotD run as an event. It runs clock-wise, unlike the other variants, and is not as tough from a climbing perspective. However, it can and does get loose and zany when we've had periods of extended sun, so....sandy! This variant is all about the raisin bread opportunities!
FULL-SEND+ Variant (bonus)
This is the 'fantasy' variant of the RotD route that Iain Radford and I (Matt Surch) always wanted to do, but knew we shouldn't, for the event. It's beyond FULL-SEND because it wraps in the BEST dirt road sectors in the region as part of the +, AND Schnobb Road, which is a trail by modern standards. This route can be ridden with the same tires as the other variants, but to there will be flats on Schnobb if care is not taken on with light gravel tires. Keep an eye out for bears, they love to hang out in the sandy area along Schnobb; you'll know when you get there!
THE PERFECT
RIDE of the DAMNED TIRE
BALLER RotD Bike
Matt Surch’s carbon Brodie Romax is on the money for the demands of any Damned route! Sub-compact (32/48t) chainrings, paired with an 11-34 cassette, provides low-enough gearing for the climbs, though some may wish to go even lower. 35mm deep carbon rims handle the ups and downs with aplomb, and 44mm Rene Herse tires, combined with carbon seatpost and handlebars with some built-in flex for comfort helps a lot on those washboard days. Garmin’s Varia radar tail-light helps alert the rider to cars approaching from behind, and the RoadRunner Burrito Supreme handlebar bag is perfect for packing raisin bread into! MTB pedals tend to be the smart option, since there seems to be a bridge out along one of the routes each year!
