The BT700 is a 755km route on 95% unpaved surfaces consisting of gravel roads, rail trail, no winter maintenance roads, and single track. It climbs over 7000 meters through southern Ontario's escarpment.
I decided to bike the route as a spontaneous 5 day weekend activity. As I’ve been saying lately, it was so hard, but in all the best ways. The first day was the longest ride I have ever done, 17 hours and 230 km. The next three days broke me down with wind, rain, washed out roads and relentless hills. I was tired, cold, and soaked. My shoes didn't dry out until the last day. All of a sudden on the fourth day of riding I came onto a stunning section of flowy singletrack that helped put all those previous cold miles into perspective. And fittingly, by the beginning of the 5th day, hubris got the best of me and I finished the ride with grueling knee pain.
It was an experiment. It was about just getting out there and trying, no training, last minute planning, no real idea what I was getting into, but a desire to understand the mind-body connection, and learn how to take care of myself. I’ve been on more grueling rides in more remote places, with less food and water, and I’ve felt much more broken. But this one felt like the hardest because I never let myself get broken. I was constantly checking in — making sure I ate, stayed warm, adjusted my pace, paying attention to my mental state. That kind of care is tiring. But it’s also where a lot of learning happened.
The Route
I really can’t say enough about the route. Big appreciation to Matt Kadey — every part of it felt intentional, even the frustrating sections. I learned to trust that every time the effort spiked, the reward would follow. The rhythm of gravel, mud, climbs, and rail-trail came together like a soundtrack. It was beautiful and hard in the best ways. It absolutely pushed me out of my comfort zone.
I am not the most technically confident rider, I get nervous when the terrain gets rough. But the route forced me to trust myself, and push myself while at the same time being very forgiving. I knew the rough sections wouldn’t go on forever.
Community
Community played a huge part in this trip. I know there are a lot of barriers to getting into outdoor adventures and cycling — being a woman can sometimes be one of them — but I’ve always felt empowered by my community. I want to remind anyone dreaming of a big or small adventure: the best way to prepare is just to start talking about it. Let people know you’re excited, or scared, or unsure. Let people in. That’s what made this trip happen. I told a few friends about it the week before, and suddenly I had people lending me gear, sharing route files and spreadsheets, sending me food, and cheering me on. Without that, I don’t think I would’ve even started.
And maybe the most important thing I want to share: you are capable of so much more than your brain usually lets you believe. I rarely do big rides — maybe one a year if I’m lucky. Mostly, I just try to get out in little ways, whenever I can. But when I start dreaming of a big, slightly silly ride, I ground myself by thinking through the worst-case scenarios. I remind myself: you’ve got legs, you can walk — and you can walk really far. Most people are kind and will help if you ask. Hitchhiking is an option. Sleep is like food — it changes everything. Most places can be campsites. Strangers are usually kind. And if all else fails, friends and community are there to help. Once I bring it back to those basics, it doesn’t really matter if my phone dies or I run out of water or my bike breaks in the middle of nowhere — I’ll still be able to keep going.
I started this ride not actually believing I could finish it in five days. But by the second day, that stopped being the point. I wasn’t riding to finish anymore — I was just riding to see how far I could get, and what the experience would look like. That shift took so much pressure off. And that’s what made the adventure possible.
Gear Break Down
Camping
Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 Tent: First time testing this out and it was perfect. I love bikepacking with a two person tent, it was vital to have the space to dry clothes out and stretch in the evening. It's amazing how light and compact the tent is, and feels the same as the single person.
MTNGlo Lights: These were surprisingly important. They were the perfect clothesline and let me hang all my clothes to dry each night, plus they are super cute:)
MSR Pocket Rocket Stove and Snow Peak Titanium Mug: This was the perfect set up. Simple and only used once a day. I went through half a single 3.4oz bottle of fuel which fit perfectly in my mug. I cooked all my meals in the mug itself to save fuel, and made a makeshift pot lid and windscreen from tin foil, highly recommended.
Bike and Bags
Gravel Pack Panniers: I borrowed these off a friend, put them through hell, and they help up in every way I needed them to. Fully loaded down and being thrown around over singletrack and through endless puddles, they came out the other side still fully waterproof, and fully functional. Plus they made it so easy to access my gear on the go as I figured out how I wanted to pack my other bags.
Swift Gibby Stem Bag: First time using a feed bag, and I will definitely be purchasing one. Loved the easy access for snacks and tools on the go.
Widefoot Cargo Cage: Love this, used it to strap my sleeping pad to my frame.
Brooks Special B17 Leather Saddle: I got this saddle at the end of last summer and it has been a game changer. This trip broke it in in a real way, I love seeing the mark this trip left on my gear. Using things is cool:)
OneUp EDC tool and pump: I never take this off my bike. Luckily I didn't have to use it much, but it made packing for the worst case scenario a breeze. Almost my entire repair kit was in this gem.
Ultradynamico tires: These were perfect, just wide enough to roll fast but handle anything the BT threw at me. Never had to deal with mud clogging the tires, and super light and supple.
Outbound Detour light: Riding into the night the first day I wasn’t at all worried. I’ve had this light for about a year now and it's just the best peace of mind.
Clothes
Houdini Jacket: Oh yeah, Baby! This was the number one recommendation at the shop all year and I finally pulled the trigger the night before. I have actually worn it most days since finishing the BT too. It was minimal, but it did the trick, kept me warm despite the rain, and was always the first thing I threw on when the weather changed.
7Mesh RK2 Bib-shorts: I was going to do this trip chamois-less until I got gifted these shorts. 200km into the first day they saved my life, and I wore them every day after that. I have never had a chamois feel so comfortable.
Merino Layers: Everything merino. Leggings, two tops, and three pairs of merino socks. It is the only way I didn't freeze out there in the rain and wind. It dries out quickly, and kept me warm even when I was soaked through. I only wish I had brought one more pair of socks.
Nutrition
High carb and hydration mix combo: I filled my 3l water bladder backpack with this every day, and I honestly think this made the difference between the adventures I’m used to where I end up bonking after the first big push, and this one where I was constantly recovering and moving to the next thing.
Home made snacks, and breakfasts from Matt Kadey’s bikepacking cook book: It weighed a lot, but I wanted to do this trip without changing my usual weekly budget. It can be so lovely to eat out and enjoy the local cuisine and your insane cravings on a bike trip, but this let me be completely self-sufficient, and everything was so tasty!!
Scratch gummy and Maurten gels: In the moments where I didn't fuel adequately, this got me back to my baseline. It is always important to have emergency food and energy.
See you out there!
The BT700 challenged me in every possible way, but it also gave me moments of beauty, clarity, and connection. More than anything, it showed me how much strength lives in simply showing up. The strength to keep going. The strength to ask for help. The strength to trust yourself, even when things get tough.
If you’ve been thinking about doing something big, or even just different, take this as your encouragement. Talk about it. Let people in. Believe that you can do more than you think. You don’t need to be the fastest or the most experienced. You just need to be willing to start.