Dylan Blanchard

Big fan of good convos, curiosities, and pizza. On one of those permanent adventures.

Cycling Resources Guide

Route Planning & Finding

  • some day I'll write a better post about how I route up, but for now these sites & apps are great places to start poking around.
  • Strava Route Builder - Can build maps on any web/mobile, but the "auto-magic" route suggestions are mobile only. But overall very useful because they've got the most data on where people ride (their heatmap feature is god)
  • Komoot - great community of created routes here. Can also build here, in theory, but I prefer Strava
  • Ride with GPS - same - route building and finding. great community.
  • Trail Map - Europe only, attempts to use official bike trails only
  • Cycle.Travel - Routes that prioritize bike lanes and paths
  • Climb Finder - All European climbs and cols listed, with route builder
  • Destinations Gravel - Routes from Gravel Kim (mianly France). Her youtube is so great, too.
  • Ahotu - Find races around the world (gravel, road, fondos)

Tech Tools

  • GoToes - Webapp for fixing activities. I've used this when I've accidentally split one ride into two, and the app was able to merge them
  • FitFileTools - Webapp for fixing activities. Does merging and a whole bunch of edits.
  • Eat My Ride 🍪 - great app for planning ride nutrition. Syncs with an app on your bike computer (head unit) to remind you to eat on race day!
  • Epic Ride Weather 🌞 - another nifty app. Choose an intended route and a start time, and it'll give you a really handy predicted weather overview for your ride

Training Apps

  • None of the current training apps are game-changers, but they can be a useful tool. I’ve logged the most time with Join, Spoked, and TriDot. I’d suggest trying Join and Spoked - both make it easy to export structured workouts, which (after simply enjoying time on the bike) is the second most effective way to build fitness and strength.
  • Join.cc
  • Humango.ai
  • Spoked.ai
  • TriDot
  • athletica.ai
  • runright.ai
  • AIendurance.com
  • TrainAsOne.com

Gear & Equipment

Saddles

  • Get your sitbones measured so that you can buy a properly fitted saddle. You want a saddle that matches the width of your sit bones. With a saddle that fits your anatomy, plus padded shorts, gets you to comfort! Some bike shops will have pressure maps you can sit on, but it's also pretty easy to self‑measure at home with cardboard (video).
  • • Posedla Joyseat - Custom 3D printed seat, can do at home, 6-week process ($550 USD)
  • • Fizik One-to-One - Custom fitted saddle with pressure mapping (requires special tooling, mostly in big cities)
  • • This video from Everything's Been Done explores buying a 3D printed saddle from aliexpress and I'm here for it. 3D saddles claim to fame is that it allows better precision in areas of support and areas of softness

Safety & Visibility

Helments

Radars / Tail lights

  • I'm a big fan of riding with a radar. It's easy and convenient. It's an added gutcheck with an effective light to make you visible.
  • • Garmin Varia RTL515 - Universally accepted best radar on the market until the Wahoo release, however, it's currently dead to us because it still charges with micro usb unless you get the much heaver version with camera (RCT715)
  • • Bryton Gardia R300L - USB-C radar alternative. I've ridden on this since fall 2024. It's good but not best. It'll catch a car approaching, but its tracking will "forget" a car following you at a similar speed. Which is fine as long as you don't forget 😉
  • • Wahoo Trackr Radar - Wahoo's new radar system is a match for the Varia and usb-C. This is my current recommendation. DC rainmaker approved ✅ (in Rainmaker we trust)

Lights

  • Bookman Volume 150 - Night light ($150, $40 replaceable battery)
  • Raveman FR300 - Day light, very conveniently sits under the head unit, can charge head unit. This is my daily driver.
  • Raveman FR500 🔋 - bigger, brighter, and more capable. I dig it.
  • Outbound gravel light - another big light, very bright, usable for night. USB-C. Gordon approved ✅

Tires & Tubes

  • Silca Tire Pressure Calculator - helps you dial in what the right tire pressure is for you, in your specific use cases
  • TP Tubes - Super light tire tubes (orange, white, or pink). These are great because they take up so little space. You'll find these at most local bike shops. Can usually get cheaper bundles online.
  • Dynaplug - Tubeless repair tool you can use to plug a tire. Has saved me once already. I bought the Racer Pro because it carries a lot of plugs super easily.

Power Meters ⚡

  • Power meters are fun. Message me and I'll wax poetic about how they've helped me learn how to actually cycle. Every day is a school day.
  • If you want a pedal-based option, I recommend the Favero Assioma Pro RS — a dual-sided power meter built into the pedals (about ~$1,000 CAD).
  • These are super neat because you can swap to SPD pedal bodies with the Assioma Pro MX (about ~$200 CAD for just the pedal bodies). Swapping between SPD-SL and SPD bodies is really easy. I love these because I can swap between a more gravel-focused pedal & shoe or a road-focused combo with my one bike. DC Rainmaker review

Wheelsets

Repair & Maintenance 🛠️

  • Tire Monkey – Compact tire lever that's supposed to be great, Canada
  • SILCA Elettrico (Micro) I love these mini electric pumps. It's the only pump I have. I use it to top up my tires, and to fix any flats / issues. The only place where it won't shine is in seating a tubeless tire
  • CYCPLUS Electric Pumps – Mini electric pumps. ~$100 cad
  • Airshot Canister – Converts a floor pump into a tubeless seater
  • Silca Secret drip wax – I use this wax that you drip on like any other lube. I like wax because it's crazy quiet and is much nicer to touch than an oil-based lube.

Bikepacking Gear

  • Arkel - 🇨🇦 Montreal - canadian homies making really good gear (will by my next purchase)
  • Apidura - these are dope - picked up a set in korea (top tube, frame, and 14L saddle).
  • Ortlieb - Bikepacking bags, waterproof, durable
  • Topo bike bags
  • Lead Out Racelite Frame Bag
  • Aeroe Rear Frame + Bag - Clips to rear triangle with mounting stand (5 or 12L)
  • Cyclite Frame Bags
  • Evoc Road Bike Bag Pro - This is what I've been using to pack my bike into for air travel. Lots of opinions in this space, but for me, it's the right tradeoffs between disassemmbly of bike (little) protection (med-high), and storability (high)

Clothing Brands

Let's start with bibs (aka cycling shorts). They're as an essential item if you're going to be riding a bike. There's lots of opinions in this space, your mileage will surely vary. The only bibs I recommend is Red white. It's a singaporean dude who's managed to work with a factory to make the most comfortable endurance bibs. I also really appreciate the different inseam lengths. I would overspend on bibs and be willing to underspend on tops.

Canadian Brands 🇨🇦

  • 7mesh 🇨🇦 based in squamish, full kits
  • Enlesce 🇨🇦 upstart vancouver brand with a store in Gastown
  • Samsara Cycle 🇨🇦 another vancouver brand focused on women's cycling gear - storefront in Kits
  • Le Club 🇨🇦 - Carries MAAP
  • Safetti 🇨🇦 from toronna
  • Louis Garneau 🇨🇦 bit dated, but time tested
  • Cassette Cycling 🇨🇦 - Casual cycling shirts

International Brands

What's missing?

Things change! Let me know!! 🤙

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