After a solid string of blue skies this May, last Sunday balanced things out with a cool, wet and muddy offering for the Melrose Gravel Ride 2026. While some folks opted to stay home and keep their bikes clean, lots of riders still hit the roads (and trails) in pursuit of gravel glory.
The routes held up. Tyendinaga’s backroads are honest riding in any conditions, but in the rain they become something else entirely: soupy stones, standing water on the ATV trails, mud on everything. Doug’s Bikes’ mid-route pancake station was always going to be a favourite, but warm flapjacks and local syrup really hit different under these conditions!
One of the highlights: two first-time gravel riders from our Fit Collective community rides took on the 35KM route. They went out in the worst conditions we could’ve offered them for a first gravel experience, coming back covered in mud and completely hooked.
A huge thank you to everyone who showed up — riders, volunteers, and the Township of Tyendinaga for continuing to invest in cycling in this community. And thank you to Rob at Doug’s Bikes for capturing some of the gnarliest spots in photos. See his gallery here.
About the Bike Rodeo and Bike Route Launch
The kids’ Bike Rodeo was postponed due to weather, alongside the launch of the new route signage program across Tyendinaga Township. We’ll be rescheduling — if you want to be the first to hear about the new date this summer, sign up below and we’ll let you know as soon as it’s set.
See you at the Bike Rodeo
Enter your email and we’ll be in touch about the rescheduled event
Don’t miss it!See You Out There
The Melrose Gravel Tour is one piece of a bigger season of cycling in Tyendinaga Township — monthly group rides run now through October, and permanent wayfinding signage is going up across six loop routes so you can come back and ride them anytime. Browse the routes on Ride With GPS and add our upcoming group rides to your calendar.
The season’s just getting started.
