Paris to Ancaster 2024 -THE RACE THAT EATS BIKES

[@teeterboy3]

LOL!! I’m a whippet!! 😂 The guy that came to say hi to you at the start was by me at the start, was by me and saw you and said “Hey it’s the KZbin guy! I’m gonna go say hi!” and I wondered if it was you!! It was so much fun! Your video is great. Sorry we didn’t get a chance to find each other at the end. Gonna be a bummer not riding with you this weekend at Scrappy Badger.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Absolutely a whippet. Good luck with the Scrappy Badger!!

[@shuangliu1897]

Hi I'm the one saying hey to u at starting line. I agree, this race eats bikes. My daughter broke her bike in half just 2 km away from finish line, luckily she is fine. Time for new bike though

[@shuangliu1897]

Oh shoot, I left first comment b4 watching video. Actually my entire family is in the video hah

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

It was great to meet you. I am sorry to hear about your daughters bike. The most important thing is that she is fine and now you have the fun of doing some bike shopping!!😁

[@stephensaines7100]

[My daughter broke her bike in half just 2 km away from finish line] Yikes. That could be very dangerous, as well as a substantial financial loss. Was it carbon?

[@shuangliu1897]

@@cardiaccyclist7477 this is my first p2a, because of watching ur video last year. I'm signing up reggie ramble, hope see u there

[@shuangliu1897]

@@stephensaines7100 no carbon, just a decathlon entry level alum bike. Time for a "real" bike

[@CameronFraserACHF]

For the third year in a row, you've convinced me of two things: 1. I admire your fortitude, and... 2. I have no desire to join you in participating.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

HaHa, Maybe I'll see you at the County Fondo Cameron.

[@joricm]

You're a beast, Andrew! Congrats!

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Thank you so much!!!

[@christeschke9844]

congrats on finishing the race :) I switched to the 70km this year and had the bottom bracket become a 50watt broken bearings drain at about 20km in. I have ridden both mudslides this and last year, You have to be very loud to announce you are riding it to achieve success. I know what you mean about burning out before the final hill, the last 2km i was in lowest gear hitting 155 bps on the flats :)

[@FThisFThat]

Hey! I was there too! Awesomesauce! Hope to see you next year!

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Look out for me, I hope to be there again!!!

[@randyhale4181]

For gravel racing I usually use a slick tire on the back semi knobby Tire on the front that set up works great.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

I had not thought about doing a mix, but it does make sense.

[@jonmcgoey1772]

@@cardiaccyclist7477 some people also mix thicknesses, such as 28 on the front, 32 on the back, based on the logic that a narrower front wheel slices through the mud whereas a thicker wheel is more at the mercy of the mud's vagaries.

[@chrisconnors7418]

Looked like quite the messy hike-the-bike sections. Well done. I opted out of a 200 km race last summer because it would have had those type of sections on it, so I'm always impressed by the folks who voluntarily go into that stuff. :)

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

I actually really enjoy those sections, I just hate what it does to my bike though!

[@stephensaines7100]

I had sent the the link for this episode to my nephew in Dundas who was signed up...best I quote: [I was signed up for the 75km but bailed out - I just didn’t feel like it. Hearing about all the mud again I had little FOMO. I may have become a bit of a fair-weather cyclist and I’m spoilt as I get to ride all the trails whenever I want.] It is a bit of a mud-wrestle rather than a trek. If the same organizers hosted a fair weather outing, I'd be very interested. I love cycling through that area, and I'll be doing the Guelph to Hamilton run ostensibly next week or so (almost all back-road down to the TH&B, mostly on the Valens Rd alignment). I'll wait another few weeks before doing the trails. I like them dry. Yesterday was gorgeous, headed out again today.

[@kevinborovsky3558]

Ah the big mud race. I was wondering if you did the race and was waiting for the video as I’ve seen highlights of this race on media. Congrats to you for finishing. Where does everyone get cleaned up after the race

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

They have a big bike wash section but it always looks like there is a fair bit of waiting. I just transport my bike home and then cover the mud on me with scruffy clothes and do the de-mud at home!!

[@aaronwaderides7209]

Good to finally see you again my fellow KZbinr it was a great day on Sunday and a great day to meet you 😊

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

It was wonderful to meet you too and boy what a great day!!

[@aaronwaderides7209]

@@cardiaccyclist7477 it was so good I’ll be signing up for it next year too

[@LavalleeLures]

I've been waiting for this video to pop up, I saw you in the crowd at the end of the race but didn't want to interrupt. Love the channel and work you're putting out, keep it up!

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Oh you absolutely should have come and said hello I would have loved to have heard how you enjoyed the race. Next time definitely!!

[@LavalleeLures]

@@cardiaccyclist7477 I’ll make sure to do so next year! Hoping I can finish the Classic next year closer to 3h - lots of work to do!

[@peterfuzy1681]

Specialized pathfinder pro 38’s this year and found some sections pretty greasy. Great time, never know what you’re gonna get in trail conditions 😁

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

It was definitely very greasy in places

[@FredChagnon]

I used my hardtail MTB over my gravel bike. Great decision. I wasn't there to race and my gravel bike is too precious. 😅

[@stephensaines7100]

[and my gravel bike is too precious] Absolutely agree.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Probably a wise choice, especially if you were not too worried about racing.

[@jeffturner8927]

More like, “it’s the race that eats time”. I can’t believe it’s 12 months since than last one. Is that right? Anyway, looks a bit mucky and tough. A good clean for the bike afterwards. Well done. All the best.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Thanks Jeff. Yes it does seem to come around pretty quick.

[@jamiebarnesmusic]

I did the 70km route this year, and I rode on Specialized Pathfinder tires. They felt under matched against the mud…in the mud slides, of course…but also in the orchard. I found that section surprisingly tricky (it didn’t help that I was having derailleur issues at the time too). Nice to see the footage! Thanks for sharing.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Congratulations on doing the 70K. There is not an awful lot of tread on the Pathfinder, so I totally get that they must have sucked in the mud. Having said that, you must have totally ripped along on the roads!!!

[@dimimtb]

My first P2A and loved the mud, had a derailleur mechanical at the start and pulled over by Abigail's and was able to fix it, had about 7 useable gears and then had to catch up to the swag car. I was running a State Bike 3140 Road with updated GRX 1x road bike with Panaracer Gravelking SK+ in 700x32c and found they cut though the mud fairly easily which surprised me. From a mud perspective my issue was not having my easy spinning gears due to the derailleur problem. Can't wait to do it again and great video!

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

I may have to check out the Panaracers, I have heard good things. Well done on the race.

[@Brackers64]

Nice update Andrew, I was thinking of you guys on Sunday, the temperature was perfect! The last hill is a real killer, Maybe next year I'll give it another shot just to try and ride the whole of the last hill! Bob...

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

The weather was pretty good. It was quite warm. I don't mind the rain, even if I'm not keen on continually wiping rain spots from my camera lens.

[@joshwhitee]

I actually dropped down to skinnier tires this year from 42mm terravail cannonballs to 35mm (same tread) it cuts down through the mud so you can bite into more solid ground better. I found I was fishtailing the mud a lot more!

[@stephensaines7100]

Tire width is an interesting topic, and some are now wildly believing greater width always better. Not necessarily so. Think skis versus snow-shoes, or skates versus toboggans. Too wide, and contact pressure is reduced, and that often results in lack of control.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

I was fishtailing too. Quite apart from fishtailing slowing you down, it also saps energy...... but I have to admit, its quite fun.

[@renegadeflyer2]

I was running 32mm with small knobs. Very happy. Good traction in the muddy sectors. I did do some walking and still fast enough. The only problem I had, a pinch puncture, had to walk up the last hill to the finish line. Maybe bigger tires with more air wouldn't have gone flat.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

@@renegadeflyer2 sounds like you had a good race.

[@renegadeflyer2]

@@cardiaccyclist7477 it was a muddy 100km adventure. Other than my legs hurt for a few days. It was a good run.🙄

[@petermeszaros9062]

This year's P2A Classic was a first bike race for me and a few friends! I ended up running a bit of an unconventional setup - schwalbe cx pro 26x1.35 in the front and kenda kross plus 26x1.95 in the rear. I have a fairly narrow fork, so the skinnier tire in the front helped give me peace of mind in terms of mud clearance, and in the rear the kenda was just the chunkiest tire I owned. Even though it was a little weird it turned out great, and I ended up having a great time. Absolutely agree with your last point, the community and atmosphere was amazing, hope to be coming back next year!

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

I am so glad that you seem to have had as much fun as me!!

[@daveebert7747]

I usually run 45mm Pirelli's either the H for hard and fast or the M for wet and or chunky. I actually find the M almost as fast as the H with WAY more traction in all conditions. I also use them while bikepacking so keep that in mind. More of an all duty tire then a pure race tire.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

It is interesting that the grip is almost the same.

[@royridingadventures1463]

Awesome race recap Andrew! Great video as usual. I saw myself (in my Liftow kit with the GoPro harness) in your video at 12:23 lol. Just behind you as you were talking after the race. Congratulations on the race! 👏🏼🎉🙌🏼

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

And congratulations to you too. What a great day!!

[@stephensaines7100]

Even before viewing beyond 2:20....I'm super happy with Conti 4 Seasons. That being said, I'd avoid situations like the PtoA unless it's dry and it's not a race! But for rail-trails, asphalt and general skydiving, 4 Seasons serve me very well. I'm running a 32c on rear, and a 25c front. *When* the front wears (It's going to be another year at this rate, and I'm an avid cyclist) I'll up the front to a 28c and up my spare (Never leave home without one) to 28c as well. I can't justify carrying two sizes of spare, and a 32c on the front would be sloppy. (I ride an Argos Racing Reynolds 531 Renovated frame from the late Seventies or early Eighties, Argos' paint date on fork stem from early Eighties. I consider it the equivalent to an auto "GT"...a term that you don't see anymore.) Wikipedia: [A grand tourer (GT) is a type of car that is designed for high speed and long-distance driving due to a combination of performance and luxury attributes.] And my engine is in the mid-Seventies age, and slightly detuned now for longevity and easier starting on cold mornings...

[@stephensaines7100]

Serendipity on the shoes after your episode on exactly that. That was excellent viewing!

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

That sounds like an awesome vintage bike Stephen.

[@stephensaines7100]

I could detail all the mods on it (even beyond Argos Racing rebuild back in the Eighties) but suffice to say being Reynolds 531, it is *springy* as opposed to today's trend to stiff. You want to do the distance? Then comfort is one of the requisites. That's why I term it a 'GT'. And of course, I have a leather saddle, which adds a bit of weight, (Brooks Swallow) but forms exquisitely to my nether parts and along with the frame and Mavic touring rims, absorbs a large amount of road roughness.

[@rustyblade077]

38mm Panaracer Gravelkings and I did just fine in the 45km.

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Oh yes, you would have no issues with them!!

[@kevinweppler6530]

I had Schwalbe G-1 Allround 40 mm tires this year vs Teravail Rutland 42 mm in 2023. More tread on Teravail ensured better control on muddy sections. This year I was all over the place losing grip front and back. Also like Pirelli Cinturato Gravel H 40 mm - something in the middle of these other two tires! Great job Andrew!

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Yeah I think slipping was definitely the theme of this race.

[@anitarosbrook8401]

They tell me mud is good for the complexion. Would you recommend it?

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

HaHa!! I would, but just not in the eye!! xxx

[@stevebarratt6912]

I run Rene Herse hurricane ridges (42) a way better tire then I ride !

[@cardiaccyclist7477]

Am I right in thinking that its pretty much an off-road tire or does it run okay on the asphalt?

[@stevebarratt6912]

@@cardiaccyclist7477 they are alright on asphalt, and hardpacked, however they do spin in p2a mud.