What is Good Night 2023
“Goodnight 2023” is an overnight bikepacking challenge hosted by Bikepacking.com. The challenge is to celebrate the end of 2023 by going out on an overnight bikepacking trip between December 22 and 31. The rules are simple, making it accessible for all cyclists to participate.
The Rules:
- Camp out with your bike between December 22 and 31
- Keep the trip small and self-sufficient
- Have a good night, preferably outdoors
Preparing for the Trip
For the route, I decided to do a 120km ride from Hastings to Uxbridge and back along the Trans Canada Trail. Fortunately, it was an easy out-and-back route with little elevation or navigation required. Thanks to my handlebar bag, frame bag, and saddlebag, I was able to carry everything I needed for two days of riding and one night of sleeping outside. I will do another post about how I pack and what I wear on these kinds of rides.
The Departure
I departed on the morning of December 30. The weather was overcast and stayed around -5 Celsius, a perfect day for a long ride. Unfortunately, poor weather delayed my departure date and plans for New Year’s Eve meant I had to alter my ride schedule. Instead of sleeping near Uxbridge, I would turn this ride into a test of fitness for an upcoming race and ride out and back in one shot for a total of 196km over 17 hours. The morning air was crisp and the gravel crunched noisily under my studded tires. Recent rain and warmer weather did away with all the snow and ice I had prepared for on the trail. However, this meant that my progress would be quicker than anticipated. In less than 5 hours I would be crossing the train bridge across the Otonabee River into downtown Peterborough.
Peterborough to Kawartha Lakes (Lyndsay)
The people I encountered in Peterborough and beyond were incredibly friendly, with many asking me if my fatbike had a motor on it, and when told it didn’t, were quick to point out that it should. I should have stopped in Peterborough for lunch to keep my energy levels higher, but I opted to press on. This would make the next few hours feel like a bit of a slog, having to rely only on my limited selection of snacks for energy. Not stopping would also mean having lunch at 3:00 pm rather than around noon. I also learned, that practically all of the elevation I was going to face would be in between Peterborough and Lyndsay. The seemingly endless climb was punctuated by beautiful sections of trail where the cedars on either side reached over and across the trail to meet in the middle and create the most beautiful-smelling tunnels. Despite how wonderful these sections of trail were, the highlight of this part of the trip was a magnificent bridge overlooking the forest below. I arrived in downtown Lyndsay just before 3:00 pm and had lunch at Pizza Pizza to warm up and get a pile of calories into me. After my late lunch, I had to ride 20km further from town before I could turn around.
The Return Trip
It took me a few hours riding away from Lyndsay before I hit the 100km mark, at which point, I turned around to head home. Rather than ride back through Lyndsay’s downtown, I would stick to the trail. The trail itself was quite unremarkable in the dark. The dull glow of the cities I would be riding into lit up the night sky urging me onward. Riding through one small town, I was greeted with an amazing Christmas light display and accompanying music. the perfect spot to stop for a snack and enjoy the holiday cheer. I reached downtown Peterborough for the 2nd time around 10:00 pm and decided to stop for dinner. A super greasy burger, onion rings, and a coffee would provide the energy I needed to get home. the remaining 40km would be the toughest with me being tired physically and mentally. It would not be until 1:00 am on December 31 that I would finally arrive home. I was exhausted, but managed to stay warm and dry the entire time, and most importantly, I had a good night.
What is Next?
With the closing out of 2023, I now set my sights on making 2024 a great year for cycling. 2023 was not so great in terms of training, planning, and injuries so I would like to work on these things to ensure success in 2024. For training, I will be continuing with Wahoo Systm and have already begun scheduling events for the year. First up, is the Wendigo Fatbike Ultra in February. This event is one of my favorites and can be a real beast to overcome, especially the 200km route which I have been working to complete for several years now.
Sounds like a great ride!