Inspired by Our Mother the Mountain, I’m going to try something new. Starting in March, I’ll be posting a monthly ride that people near me can try out. The idea is to get out and explore the area, especially routes that you may have not done before. The rides will be anything from easy road rides to big climbs, market stand-tours, gravel rambles and anything else that seems interesting.
I’d love it if folks give the rides a try, take some photos and tag @dirtbag.cycles on Instagram (I’ll share them on my story) and try to get people out riding. It’s almost like a group ride, but we can’t be out in a group anymore. We’ll give this a try.
This month I know a lot of folks will be nursing winter legs and not ready for a big rambly grambly ride (those will come). So I thought I’d take it easy with a relatively flat road spin that shows off a bunch of the valley and the town of Comox, as well as some nifty little side treks.
This route starts at the Merville Store, which is where a bunch of these will probably get going. Head down Merville Road and turn onto Poulton. Cross the highway and continue on until you get to Bates Road (turn towards Seal Bay park).
Take Bates until the end, and turn right on Waveland Road, keep on keeping past the farms n stuff until you get to Ellenor Road, then turn towards the ferry terminal. Right before the ferry, turn right again and go into Lazo. Lazo’s a neat little area with some farm stands and a bunch of curvy roads with very little traffic. There’s a small jog at Little River Road before you turn on to Booth Road and head towards Kin Beach Provincial Park and a potential photo spot. Coming out of Kin Beach is the first (only?) short climb of the route.
Take the straightaway past the airport and turn onto Little River Road again. Continue past the CFB and take the third exit at the roundabout past the weed farm. You’re heading towards the civilian airport now. Go hard on Knight Road until it comes up on the ocean (side trek to Kye Bay if you’re doing this in the summer for a warm swim spot). Down the hill is my favourite spot for a snack, sit on one of the benches and enjoy your snakkies.
After you’re sated, keep going on this main road as you climb out of Lazo Marsh. Take a left, staying on Lazo Road until you hit Torrence. From there it’s a right onto Balmoral then a left on Pritchard. Take Pritchard through Comox (stop at Church Street Bakery!) and continue almost until the hill, but take a right onto Glacier View.
This is a fun bit, ride through the K’omoks First Nation and be sure to check out the view of the glacier as you do. Hills, twists, turns and views. From there, you’re in Courtenay and turn onto Ryan Road.
The way back is on Headquarters, so turn from Ryan onto Island Highway, but continue through onto Headquarters. From here it’s a long straight slog (I know) to Merville Road. Turn right and follow to home.
There you have it. A fairly easy, but still lengthy spin to remember what it’s like to ride a bike after the winter.
Feel free to jump on to the route at any point, and figure out your own fun bits. That’s the point! I’ve also done this the opposite direction, and can’t decide which I like better.
I clocked this 50.68 km route in 2:11:37, by no means sprinting. The elevation is 276 m as mapped.
Let me know what you think of the ride, and post your photos to IG with the @dirtbag.cycles tag.
Dirtbag Cycles respectfully acknowledges that we are riding on the Unceded traditional territory of the K’òmoks First Nation, as well as the Coast Salish, We Wai Kum, We Wai Kai, Tla’amin and Homalco First Nations. We want to respectfully acknowledge these Indigenous peoples who have not ceded their lands under any treaty. Gila’kasla.