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Beyond the LabCyclingBikepackingPaleogenetics

Badlands by Bike

I spent Canada Day 2026 biking to Drumheller on a two-day bikepacking trip. Across four rides on July 1 and 2, I covered 163.34 km with 718 m of climbing. It is safe to say that my cycling disease is very much alive.

On July 4, I completed the 52 km Gran Fondo Badlands. The Strava file came to 51.52 km, bringing the five rides to nearly 215 km in total.

I also visited the Royal Tyrrell Museum, which was absolutely breathtaking—especially given my interest in paleogenetics. Moving from long days on the road to exhibits about deep time made the trip feel like an adventure through both landscape and evolutionary history.

Ride log

Five activity files trace the four-part bikepacking trip and the gran fondo.

  1. 01Badlands biking, part 1July 1 · 73.98 km · 322 m ascent
  2. 02Badlands biking, part 2July 1 · 39.30 km · 162 m ascent
  3. 03Badlands biking, part 3July 2 · 37.83 km · 186 m ascent
  4. 04Badlands biking, part 4July 2 · 12.23 km · 48 m ascent
  5. 05Gran Fondo BadlandsJuly 4 · 51.52 km · 249 m ascent
A cyclist’s view over black drop handlebars along a straight gravel road between green fields on the way to Drumheller.
The long road to Drumheller during my Canada Day bikepacking trip.
A large sliced pizza on a plate, photographed from above during the Drumheller cycling trip.
Unlimited carbs are one of the main perks of all-day cycling.
Drumheller’s tiny white Little Church, with its pointed steeple framed by layered badlands hills and blue sky.
Drumheller’s Little Church, a six-seat place of worship on the North Dinosaur Trail near the Royal Tyrrell Museum.Learn about the Little Church
The dark skeleton of the Tyrannosaurus rex specimen Black Beauty mounted against a pale rock display at the Royal Tyrrell Museum.
The famous “Black Beauty,” a Tyrannosaurus rex specimen named for the dark colour of its fossilized bones.
Weronika smiles while cycling across the Gran Fondo Badlands finish line, wearing a helmet and sunglasses.
Finishing with a smile.