[nogearshere]

Looking for suggestions/tips on winter road riding in s.ontariario. i am sick of being skinned while riding because suv driving cell phone talking goofs will not slow or yield any portion of a lane...my foot hurts from kicking doors at stop signs...there's got to be a better way.

 

[JM01]

where do you ride...urban?, rural?, burbs?

 

[nogearshere]

i ride from bolton up side roads to albion hills. loop around then back. the roads are paved with a posted limit of 60k. min speed is approaching 80k, volume is only moderate.

frustrating as all shite b/c there just isn't a shoulder to roll onto when the going gets tight...heaven forbid two of these steamrollers cross in opposing directions...no braking allowed, MUST GET TO WALMART NOW!

 

[JM01]

same kind of rides we have around Collingwood...i find that nothing works, the cars think that they own the roads and the trucks know that they do.

i find that it helps to strap a rear-view mirror to the left grip, use a red flashing light on the seat post (even in daylight), and hug the right side of the road. I never wear earphones or a hood so that i can hear the cars coming and that my peripheral vision is clear.

I do a birthday ride each year from Etobicoke to Collingwood (about 150km)...the most dangerous part is on Simcoe Road 50 that looks to be the same as you ride.

Good Luck, ride safe

 

[nogearshere]

i want a birthday ride. since mine is in february i want it to traverse the big island of hawaiiiii.

no no to regional rd 50. neva, i cross it, i don't ride it. i ride what is now mount hope, 1 to the east of 50.

so the danger is just there.

funny thing i ride occassionally with a chap who has had a few run ins (with autos) and he now rides in the center of the appropriate lane. sometimes i feel a bit guilty (by association) but i must say he doesn't complain about close calls like i do. sure they honk but that is b/c they actually have to slow down and pass appropriately.

downside is any error in his case would most likely be terminal...

 

[nogearshere]

what about a critical mass ontario style? take the roads back from etobicoke to collingwoody. only takes 5-10 riders, 5 across oughta cover the lane...we do it to be a pest and raise awareness for bike/road safety.

i will sponsor and cover the cost of coffee stops...

 

[JM01]

we'd all die.

Simcoe Road 50 runs parallel to Airport Road and apparently is used by every truck south of of Huntsville as an alternate route...i have to use it to get from Hwy 9 to Hwy 89, but these people hate bikes and i've had some very close calls.

 

[nogearshere]

i believe it was said in shrek.
"a few of you may die. and that is a price i am willing to pay."

i call the front row!

 

[sstaurus]

I live in Bolton too, but I take Duffy's Lane up to Albion. Duffy's starts on King St. by the way, just a little past Coleraine, and ends at a trail that takes you right into Albion (but I'm sure you know the area).

Though I've never tried to ride Duffy's in the winter, I think it carries a little less traffic than Mount Hope, especially up past Castlederg (it turns to hardpack somewhere up there, I forget exactly).

I agree with the former posts about there not being much more you can do, other than be visible, get an LED rear light, and not wear a hood or earphones so you can hear all cars coming.

ps. I am not condoning taking the side trails into Albion without supporting their trails

 

[nogearshere]

duffys is an excellent alternative and it kicks me out close enough to tims. but that leaves slumber lea to climb as the final stretch home...
as i ride into albion, um always i guess (save when i bring demos or crap), i started buying a season pass...believe it or not it makes me feel better, especially when demanding they plow the single track.

have you fellas been riding regular like this season?

 

[sstaurus]

They plow the singletrack? I thought all the trails were closed to MTB? I thought in winter they switched to cross country, snowshoe... etc.

 

[nogearshere]

They plow the singletrack? I thought all the trails were closed to MTB? I thought in winter they switched to cross country, snowshoe... etc.

I demand it, they won't do it...
Yes they are closed.

 

[AndrewTO]

I demand it, they won't do it...
Yes they are closed.

Pardon my niavety, but are they not opened for skiing???? If so then why not just ride the bike? It's not like there's any "bike police" on the trails, right?

Again, I have no clue. Is this a "rule" there, or merely a suggestion?

 

[nogearshere]

no there aren't bike police. and (unfortunately) there aren't bike police in the early spring either when some pretty harsh damage can be done to the trails there. albion does a poor job of clearly marking their trails and what activities they are open for. they use the character signs at the main entrance to denote which activities are allowed.

truth is, in the frozen dead of winter, you aren't going to hurt anything but yourself. unfortunately deciding what trail conditions and when to ride them are subjective...humans often struggle with common sense.

bikes aren't always the most popular participants on multi use trails, reports of abuse, trail poaching or riding closed trails will only hurt access in the future...sorry sounding preachy.

this is the reason i must ride my mountain steed on the road. life in the hands of the cell phone talkin, suv drivin, late for such and such, soccer moms north o-seven.

 

[AndrewTO]

no there aren't bike police. and (unfortunately) there aren't bike police in the early spring either when some pretty harsh damage can be done to the trails there. albion does a poor job of clearly marking their trails and what activities they are open for. they use the character signs at the main entrance to denote which activities are allowed.

truth is, in the frozen dead of winter, you aren't going to hurt anything but yourself. unfortunately deciding what trail conditions and when to ride them are subjective...humans often struggle with common sense.

bikes aren't always the most popular participants on multi use trails, reports of abuse, trail poaching or riding closed trails will only hurt access in the future...sorry sounding preachy.

this is the reason i must ride my mountain steed on the road. life in the hands of the cell phone talkin, suv drivin, late for such and such, soccer moms north o-seven.

No no, don't apologize for "sounding preachy". I don't see it that way - that's why I asked.

Honestly, as much as I say I prefer riding in "ideal conditions" I merely use it as a front - the REAL reason is just as you put it - I don't want to wreck the crap outta the trails. Ruts suck! That's also why I asked about riding there in the winter - you can't damage ground that's got 6"-1' of frost in it. If you did i'd think one would be more worried about what they just broke.

That's also why i'm not riding locally now - too damn wet!

Thanks.

 

[JM01]

Pardon my niavety, but are they not opened for skiing???? If so then why not just ride the bike? It's not like there's any "bike police" on the trails, right?

Again, I have no clue. Is this a "rule" there, or merely a suggestion?

if they groom the trails for skiing, it will take weeks to repair the damage one bike will do in a few seconds. On the trails in Wasaga, the skiers are now getting violent with the people that insist walking in the ski area (one older lady went after a dog walker with her ski pole recently)...i'd hate to see what they would do to a biker

i think that biking on a ski trail would be similar to walking through a golf course

 

[smiley]

what do you ride

I do a birthday ride each year from Etobicoke to Collingwood (about 150km)...the most dangerous part is on Simcoe Road 50 that looks to be the same as you ride.
[/QUOTE]

Are you on a mtb or road bike for your b-day ride? How long does it take?
When? Do you mind company?

Sorry for all the Q's....

Once a year I hit Paris (Onatrio) from Burlington and back Im guessing around 115km
round trip, thinking of doing a bigger one way ride...carry on through Paris and head towards Elora and hook up on the Elora-Cataract out to Forks of the credit.
Also been thinking of completeing the 'Central Ontario Loop' one day...(or two!)

Cheers

 

[AndrewTO]

if they groom the trails for skiing, it will take weeks to repair the damage one bike will do in a few seconds. On the trails in Wasaga, the skiers are now getting violent with the people that insist walking in the ski area (one older lady went after a dog walker with her ski pole recently)...i'd hate to see what they would do to a biker

i think that biking on a ski trail would be similar to walking through a golf course

I never really looked at it from a skier's perspective, JM. Now that you put it down like that I think i'll just leave well enough alone. I'll stick to the local stuff and let the skier's have their fun. Besides, I feel kinda sorry for them - January and it's mostly been raining (NOT complaining).

 

[JM01]

hey smiley...i always take my big hybrid (21" Schwinn) with the panniers to carry the tools, extra tubes, lots of water, and some food. Sometimes i need the rain gear too.

I try to do the ride in July, week 2 or 3...last year i think it was week 2, dry, but 40+C...even the asphalt was melting in places.

Usually go on a thursday to avoid the weekend traffic (last year i think it was a friday), leave Burnamthorpe/Kipling aound 8:00 AM, take a weird route to avoid airport road, but go through Caledon West, Alliston, Angus, and Wasaga...last year it took about 6.5 hours, 2 years ago 7.5 (rain with a strong headwind)...roughly about 140 km

company is welcome, problem is i usually don't plan ahead...if the conditions look OK, i just go.

Early this year Mrs. JM and I will be doing the Collingwood-Tobermory-Manitoulin Island-Sault Ste Marie-and back along Georgian Bay ride...then maybe off to Newfoundland this year or next

As you age, the stuff you do just gets weirder, so i'm told...getting more ideas from www.crazyguyonabike.com to which i was referred to...check out some of the Ontario rides in the North America section

cheers

EDIT: the total ride is closer to 170 km as i'm in wasaga...i ride to my kid's place in collingwood, then go back to wasaga to meet Mrs JM who drives up later

 

[AndrewTO]

Early this year Mrs. JM and I will be doing the Collingwood-Tobermory-Manitoulin Island-Sault Ste Marie-and back along Georgian Bay ride...then maybe off to Newfoundland this year or next

As you age, the stuff you do just gets weirder, so i'm told...

WOW! JM01 - crazycanuckonabike dot com

So how is this gonna work, JM? When you retire you'll ...... ride to BC?