The Shield & Valley Series: Presented By
People of the gravel persuasion! This riding season we've planned out some spectacular charity funding, good-time having, gravel grinding, all-terrain ripping events!
Individual passes will be available for a $25 donation each. Passes will become available two weeks after the previous event.
Oh, and by the way, all rides will include snacks, drinks, and refuel stops! Snag your pass below.
Attention: This is not a physical item, all tickets are virtual! While checking out make sure to choose in store pickup to avoid shipping charges!
Date: Sunday June 28th
Location: St. Malachy Catholic Church, 3889 QC-315, Mayo, QC J8L 3Z8
Time: 9:30AM sign-in and wheels down at 10AM
Full Route: 82.2km
Located in the southern foothills of the Laurentians, Mayo was originally settled by Irish immigrants in the early 1800s, and was named after the rolling hills of County Mayo. In other words, be sure to pack your climbing legs for this one!
Event Details
Where does the money go?
The Shield and Valley is a non-profit: Half the money will be split and donated to the host organizations that are allowing us to use their property, such as Our Lady of Light Atelier in Mayo, which is an old church that is now a community arts centre. When you stop for a refuel, check out the inside! (See more here)
The other half is being donated to Grant Burke’s participation in The Friends for Life Bike Rally, a 600 km charity ride from Toronto to Montreal that raises money for local organizations that help people living with HIV. Ottawa’s Bruce House is one of the beneficiaries. If you want to know more about The Rally (or donate to Grant’s ride), please click here: www.tinyurl.com/grantride-2026
General Info:
- All events are open course: Obey the rules of the road, stay well on your side, and always assume there is traffic around that blind corner.
- Read the RideGravel.ca route descriptions: This will give you all the info you need about road conditions, key sections, and maps to download. And pretty pics!
- Be self sufficient: While we will have a sweep/emergency pickup, support could be an hour away, and cellphone service on these routes is very, very spotty, so rides with friends, and be able to fix a flat.
- Bring money: While we will be providing a pit stop at every event, you may want to use the convenience stores along the way.
- No rain dates, no refunds: We will cancel if over 15mm of rain, thunderstorms or sustained winds over 50kph (based on Environment Canada) are forecasted. The call will be made at 6 am Sunday of the event, updates will be posted on the Full Cycle Facebook/Instagram page.
Future Events
California Dreamin'
Date: Sunday Sept 6th
Full Route: 89.3km
Abbreviated Version: 73.4km
Amongst local gravel enthusiasts, California Road stands alone as the Ottawa Valley's premier stretch of unmaintained. So what better way to close out the summer gravel riding season than Going Back to Cali', followed by a cold pint at the Cartwright Springs Brewery! Looking to make a weekend of it? The brewery has a limited number of campsites available at a reasonable cost. Please contact the Cartwright Springs Brewery for reservations!
Lowest of the Low
Date: Sunday Oct 18th
Full Route: 94.9km
Abbreviated Version: 73.2km
Last year's favourite returns, this time with an additional 20km of gravel goodness, providing riders with the opportunity to explore even more of the most scenic unpaved roads in the central Outaouais!
