The World's Toughest Social Ride

[@kenny_kaos]

From my bike messenger days, "It's not if you'll get wet, it's when you'll get wet."

[@kimrice394]

A rain ride is good for the soul! (Given your moderately comfortable).

[@jeremylutersz3374]

Very Cool 👍🇨🇦

[@esromoski]

Team swept back bars and inner tubes 🏄🏻‍♂️💪

[@TimFitzwater]

Heck yeah!

[@christopherwebb3517]

I don't have to worry about shouting "on your left." I never pass anybody.

[@TimFitzwater]

Lol!

[@where2then]

Glad you finished the 70! Glad we bailed after 30! What a day. I'm definitely rethinking my rain set up, what worked for commuting did not work for Higher Grounding. Last year that last hill darn near broke me and I can't say that I missed it this year. See ya at the next!

[@TimFitzwater]

You made a smart choice. That weather was no joke on an already super-tough ride. See ya next time - cheers!

[@Donnadianee]

Nice, can’t wait for the the nutmeg video

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks! I'm debating whether to do that one next and bump it up or keep everything in chronological order as I shot a vid almost every day on this trip!

[@bah5310]

​@@TimFitzwaterchronological please.

[@Punxish]

Congratulations on surviving that ride! Love your narrated videos.

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks so much!

[@DN-hz6ob]

Thank you for the video! It was a super tough and fun day. Congrats on finishing the 70+, I finished the 50+ and loved it!

[@samtheblade8461]

Making Lemonade you did! Great job as usual, thank you...👍

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks - cheers!

[@madisondeans5566]

Good 1, Tim !! 🌧☔️😉👍

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks! This one was tough!

[@Cycling-Brian]

What an epic challenge when you add in the weather!

[@TimFitzwater]

Yeah - it was nuts last year under blue skies. This really is a challenging ride!

[@christophercallinan]

Funny, that clip at 18:18 was my GO TO bar in college

[@TimFitzwater]

Nice!

[@mikegutterman3427]

Thanks Tim!

[@TimFitzwater]

🎶

[@matts8]

Riding in the rain is tough, but riding and filming it? - your're Rain Badass!

[@TimFitzwater]

Ha! Thanks! There were times when pushing the pedals or turning on the GoPro both seemed like bad ideas!

[@tonywmckinney]

You’re a beast dude. Amazing ride. Thanks for sharing it!

[@TimFitzwater]

Yeah man - thanks for checking it out!

[@StrengthCircusDD]

Dude I rode so many miles solo when I had my first group ride I was clueless. I found a spot and payed attention and noticed people doing all those things you mentioned and I now try to always put them in practice riding with others.

[@TimFitzwater]

Same - I didn't know any of it. Thats why I try to bring it up in videos every so often.

[@MW-ud8zp]

Exposure to elements like that takes a surprising amount of mental strength. I always end up feeling very vulnerable and fragile shortly after events like those. It makes you more resistant in the long run though.

[@TimFitzwater]

For sure. The nice thing about this one was hanging out wit ha bunch of fun, supportive people immediately after the ride.

[@tonydean2541]

A positive attitude will carry you through every time. Well done, great effort.

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks!

[@toddnisbet9792]

Love it!! Great meeting you Tim, solid recap and footage here

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks - great meeting you too! It was an awesome couple weekends. Getting to kick it late at Higher Ground was a highlight - for real.

[@someofthebeans1814]

Wow. Way to make the best of it. 🎉

[@TimFitzwater]

Its all you can do, right?! I do think a lot of people bailed on the weekend or went with the shorter 30 mile route - which was probably smart too...

[@WheelersAtLarge]

I find swept back bars give really good control and with the wider tyres it sounds like a solid choice. The red and gold colours are looking amazing already, great looking ride Tim 👍

[@TimFitzwater]

It’s interesting- because there is the control but it also livens up the steering on a wide-tired bike a bit. Best of both worlds.

[@distortohio]

Way to go dude!

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks!

[@FrankKrahenbuhl]

Nice job! After watching going to get out of work early tomorrow and ride. Thank you

[@TimFitzwater]

Heck yeah! Luckily we are having a beautiful week for late October here now.

[@Planetone.]

That's a very cool video, I probably would've not road that day but kudos to you and all whom had that courage to do so! Always bringing the goods❤ bikes are fun and the people who ride them.

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks! The ride was worth the commiseration!🥸

[@laivotajs]

Liked this video, and your style of presentation in general. Tough ride and conditions. Cheers from Latvia!

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks! Cheers!

[@MattFisher70]

Cool video…beautiful ending…

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks! Just glad I got some clips without mud on the camera!

[@enlightenedpreparingep4006]

Tim Fitz you rock brother. You make riding look so cool. I'm our here on the road and I swear I think I'm bi-polar crazy. Sometimes I love it and others I wonder what the hell am I doing. Had another mechanical problem today ( support arm on my Wald messenger rack broke). As of now no biggie, some zip ties , engineer wire, bankline and Gorilla tape and I'm back in the game. Hopefully it holds up cause I got another 120 miles or so before I'm at a friendly place to order a replacement part. Plus to mention one of my saddlebags is being held on by a bungee and safty pins so I'll probably end up having to get a new set of bags as well. I think my ride would be more enjoyable if I wasn't weighed down by 100+ lbs of gear. I'm shedding something every day but being homeless on a bicycle I kinda need all this crap. It might also help if I knew what I was gonna do when I get where I'm going. I'm so lost I hope I find myself on this journey. Much love my brother thanks for the inspiration.

[@TimFitzwater]

Oh wow! Hang in there brother!

[@enlightenedpreparingep4006]

@@TimFitzwater I just uploaded a few videos on my YT channel if you want to see how ridiculously overpacked my donkey is. ☮

[@francisblackwell7597]

Dedication!!

[@TimFitzwater]

A little bit of dedication and toughness - and a bit of stupidity! 😎

[@rogerhart612]

Despite the weather the ride looked awesome. I'll definitely put it on my to do list.

[@TimFitzwater]

It was still cool - I'm glad I showed up. A friend asked what I was going to do about the weather and I said "get real wet".

[@Cycling-Brian]

Outstanding job on the ride! I enjoyed your video.

[@mitmon_8538]

Amazing ride! Maybe I missed it, but did you give or list the wool tights model you wore? From REI, correct? I'm a year round commuter in the Midwest and I'm also just fine with good tights under shorts for most of the year. So much so that my main pair of tights have some holes in them. So I need to replace those. When it's mid 20 degrees F or below, I do usually put on some lightweight hiking pants over tights, just to block a little more of the wind.

[@larrgemarrge]

Check your local bike shop too- could have some good options

[@TimFitzwater]

They are made by Smart Wool but I can't find or remember the actual name. I definitely run pants over my tights when it is colder. I do now order all my Smart Wool through my local shop. I bought these at REI as a last minute purchase a few years ago before a Fall tour.

[@conniehoyle2669]

Well done my body just can’t,so I love your videos

[@TheRickurb]

Cudos sir! Huzzah to the content creator! Huzzah!

[@TimFitzwater]

Thank Rick!

[@gantiplex]

good stuff, Tim; nothing like going out for a long ride in the rain, haha 🌸

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks - definitely not my usual cup of tea!

[@conniehoyle2669]

Love your videos

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks!

[@markthorrowgood3266]

Buy the ticket, take the ride, damn straight. What a woeful day for it, though...

[@TimFitzwater]

It was rough! But overall still worth it.

[@DAMN55117]

Those are tough days...its all mental.

[@TimFitzwater]

A lot of it - with 8,000 feet it was physical too!!

[@bah5310]

First off you're a rock star. Great job Tim. What cassette gears are you running? How do you prepare for the distance with the climbs. I'd like to try these types of rides next year. The rain is totally a mental thing. I've ridden a motorcycle many miles in bad weather but i have a goretex suite and heated liner.

[@TimFitzwater]

My bikes are all 2x - the easiest gear on this one is 28-42. To be honest I don't really do anything specific to prepare - I don't "train" in any organized sense. I just happen to live somewhere with hills and ride my bike all the time. I know it is an unsatisfying answer - people ask me about getting ready for bike tours and all that. I average about 120 miles a week and living at the edge of the Cuyahoga Valley hills are inevitable.

[@bah5310]

@@TimFitzwater Thanks Tim. I live near a rail trail which as you know are basically flat. WV has lots of hills but the roads here are not biker friendly.

[@Mr_Zzzeee]

Wooh, intense ride in that weather. Not sure I would be able to handle it lol. You use Endurance casing 55mm now on Gunner, right? Do you also have sealant trouble with that casing or was it only due to the standard casing? Your videos have been slowly selling me on RH tires, but I do like my tubeless.

[@TimFitzwater]

I have had zero issues with the Endurance casing - actually feel like I'm topping off air even less than a tubed set up. Yeah - if this weather had been at home I would not have went out - but - buy the ticket, take the ride!

[@Mr_Zzzeee]

@@TimFitzwater Great to hear, thanks for the info, man! Oh for sure. And I guess once you get the legs moving you just get into a rhythm. Videos like this are great motivation for the coming weather in my area.

[@TimFitzwater]

@Mr_Zzzeee 34 and wet snow here today! 😬

[@TheLankyCyclist]

With all the rain, I kept thinking about the Johnstown Flood. Biblical conditions out there. Nice work.

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks! I said that exact thing to Aaron as we were rolling out - "great thing we are riding in a downpour in a city whose claim to fame is a great flood!".

[@TheLankyCyclist]

@@TimFitzwater As long as Bezos and Musk aren't damming up the local rivers to sail their yachts... probably should be ok. 😉

[@glennpettersson9002]

Amazing effort doing 70 miles in that weather, if you had swum that far you wouldn't be any wetter. 😄

[@TimFitzwater]

Thanks! That is what it felt like!

[@conniehoyle2669]

Tuff stuff

[@kmccarr]

Would he been a good day to try a pair of waterproof socks. I grew up in SW PA and you learn to ride in the rain or never ride. Cold and wet is a fun idea until you’re completely saturated. Lot of steep hills in that area

[@TimFitzwater]

I have one pair but I don't like them - get a bit too swampy from the sweat. Maybe there is something else out there but I have the same feeling I do about the waterproof pants and jackets - insulation from wool is just better. Obviously that might break down in some colder temps though. I'll be honest - I'm not going out in 30 something degree rain and may have even bailed on this. Yes - the hills are wild here! Cheers!

[@Cycling_Brian]

It always surprises me that folks still pass without a call out or using a bell. It’s more than just common courtesy, but it’s also a serious safety concern.

[@TimFitzwater]

Right!? Especially on a lonely gravel road in the rain! How would I know they were there? But anytime really - just do it.

[@christopherwebb3517]

How hard is it to clean your bike after a ride like this? Do you have to take it apart and relube everything?

[@TimFitzwater]

We were on the road after this…I wiped it down and relubed the drivetrain. It got even worse on last Saturday as we were blasting through mud and puddles over the bottom bracket. So now a lot of it will be broken down a bit. I need to make sure it isn’t holding any water. My BB will probably just get replaced as it isn’t serviceable. It is a real mess.

[@markday1714]

fuck ya !! you all rule !

[@markday1714]

damn, life is complete

[@TimFitzwater]

😎

[@rlshaffer23]

Look for Higher Ground again in 2025.

[@TimFitzwater]

Really?!

[@rlshaffer23]

@@TimFitzwater Yes, it will be back for 2025. Stay tuned for more information as the biking community in Johnstown grows.