The gravel racing season wrapped up last weekend with one of Canada’s original gravel races, The Hell of the North. It was founded by Mike Barry Sr. in 1986 and has been organized for the last several years by Ed Veal. Canadian Cycling Magazine recently published a lovely feature on the Long History of the Hell of the North. Michael Barry reflected a few years ago on why this is one of his favourite routes. This year’s event had several of the best Ontario racers competing. Hudson Lubbers, Ashlin and Michael Barry represented the Mariposa Cycling team. Although the course has changed somewhat from the early editions, some of the dirt tracks of the early days were featured again this year. The conditions were dry and fast, so Hudson, Ashlin and Michael were all riding Rene Herse 700C x 35mm Endurance casing slick tires with 38 psi in the front and 42 psi in the rear. Michael rode a Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 2x groupset with the Princeton Carbonworks GRIT 4540 All-Road Wheelset and Ashlin rode a Shimano GRX mechanical 2x groupset with a Zipp 303 Wheelset. Photographs by Ivan Rupes
