Gravel Dazzle PEI, Canada

Credit: @climbingshanman

Ah. Red dirt, soft sand and summer tans! All the things you’d expect from a PEI beach day, only this is one of several dirt and gravel bike rides through the most rural parts of the province. If you thought gravel cycling here was exclusively the Confederation Trail, think again. PEI has the most roads per square kilometer of all the provinces, and with names like Thrill Hill, Sheepskin, Balaklava and Old Bob Laird, they are as memorable as the terrain.

Since our dirt rides exist out in the country, they spotlight our best samplings of farmland, forest groves and coastal vistas. Some even cruise by cideries, farm stands and fishing wharfs. Gravel loops can be as short as 25Km to over 200K, and those consist of 70 percent or more off-pavement bliss.

Gravel riding’s popularity has grown at the same rate as distracted driving, and it’s no wonder. Though blinking bike lights, high viz clothing, bike lanes and Ellen’s Law (1 meter distance between cars and cyclists) would seem to offer some defense for cyclists, collision rates are still on the increase. Many roadies are feeling safer out on the backroads and cart paths where fewer vehicles go.

There are so many perks to riding gravel. Besides being void of cars, the tree canopy will shade you from the hot summer sun, and the same trees will more often than not shield you from the wind. Rarely does a dirt road go straight in the backwoods of PEI, and that adds to the discovery of what’s hiding around the bend. And in autumn you’ll be spell bound when the leaves glow red and gold.

Riding gravel requires a skillset borrowed from mtn biking. The roads, like the Island itself, are made from red clay. Depending on recent weather, you could encounter a range between fast and smooth cruising, to ruts, mud, loose gravel and sand. Having lower gearing helps with steeper grades, of which we have many. On a popular 50K loop, there was more than 1100 meters of climbing. Because what goes up must come down, disc brakes will help maintain control on steep descents. Wider and aggressive

tires help with float and grip on loose surfaces, and the knowledge of leaning back and pushing larger gears when going through sand can be a life saver in keeping the rubber side down.

The secret sauce to planning gravel routes is the linking up of farm access roads and designated heritage roads. It’s not hard to create a route that is 70-85 percent dirt without having to rely on the Confederation Trail. The trick is in the plotting. Google maps with satellite view and Street View are your best tools. If there’s no street view of a road, it ain’t paved!

Gravel events like the Dusty Red Gravel Grinder and the Red Hot Chili Graveler showcase beautiful landscapes and are well attended. They offer varied distances and can be a great way to create a base ride to expand on. This year, the PEI Mussel Tear is our first multi day gravel race, running tip to tip across the island. That’s over 400km. Gravel tour operators like Tailwind Cycling Tours, PEI Cycle Tours and MacQueen’s bike shop not only offer supported and self-supported tours, they also rent bikes.

At a recent gravel event, I asked a participant from Ontario how our ride compares to those in his region, and he described ours as pure adventure. It’s not just the incredible scenery, but the challenge of varied terrain, and not knowing what’s around the next corner. Oh, and those tan lines? You’ll get nostalgic as you scrub the red dust off your arms, legs and drivetrain!

Story provided by Shannon Burt. Follow more of Shannon's adventures on his IG @climbingshanman