04-15-2017, 01:28 PM
(This might be better in a thread called "Cycling outside of Waterloo Region" in the "Outside of Waterloo Region" area of the forum - if it is, mods please feel free to let me know or move it.)
Yesterday I did my first 50 km ride, on the Brantford to Hamilton Rail Trail. The trail follows the original route of the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway (TH&B). We were at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area earlier in the day, and crossed over the trail while exploring on foot - it looked so good, that after dropping off my other half back at home, I popped my bike on my rack and headed all the way back!
Starting at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area, heading toward Brantford, the trail rises ~110 m in the first 7 kilometres. As I left, this was a good reminder that the "home stretch" would be very rewarding! The remaining 23 km into Brantford it drops back down about 35 km - in other words, hardly noticeable and generally very flat (hey, it's a railway route, remember). Coming back I only then realized I'd actually had a very gentle tailwind the whole way out - but it was just enough to really knock down my average speed and I was quite tuckered out for the last 10 km, but that long downhill run for the final bit really helped.
The surface quality of the trail is top notch - it's crushed limestone (I think?), and it is better maintained than what I remember the Paris to Cambridge trail being, with virtually no rutting or erosion. I highly recommend checking it out if you have the ability to get there!
The trail centre inside the Dundas Valley Conservation Area. There are lots of other smaller parking lots with room for ~10 cars all along the route, if you're not keen on the $10 fee.
I'd love to come back here and do this trail again when all the foliage is in.
This is about as "open" as it gets - there are one or two kilometres where it goes through farmland on both sides, but even then there's usually trees at least on one side.
Some segments of the trail are just hard packed earth, like this - which is so smooth and quiet to ride on!
My trusty steed(s). I am so glad I bought this rack! Can't recommend it enough, if you're looking for a trailer-hitch mounted bike rack. Bike mounts and de-mounts in less than 10 seconds, and you're on your way, so no excuses not to get out and explore! Rock solid.
Every now and then I like to record my rides - so here you are, my outbound run.
Yesterday I did my first 50 km ride, on the Brantford to Hamilton Rail Trail. The trail follows the original route of the Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo Railway (TH&B). We were at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area earlier in the day, and crossed over the trail while exploring on foot - it looked so good, that after dropping off my other half back at home, I popped my bike on my rack and headed all the way back!
Starting at the Dundas Valley Conservation Area, heading toward Brantford, the trail rises ~110 m in the first 7 kilometres. As I left, this was a good reminder that the "home stretch" would be very rewarding! The remaining 23 km into Brantford it drops back down about 35 km - in other words, hardly noticeable and generally very flat (hey, it's a railway route, remember). Coming back I only then realized I'd actually had a very gentle tailwind the whole way out - but it was just enough to really knock down my average speed and I was quite tuckered out for the last 10 km, but that long downhill run for the final bit really helped.
The surface quality of the trail is top notch - it's crushed limestone (I think?), and it is better maintained than what I remember the Paris to Cambridge trail being, with virtually no rutting or erosion. I highly recommend checking it out if you have the ability to get there!
The trail centre inside the Dundas Valley Conservation Area. There are lots of other smaller parking lots with room for ~10 cars all along the route, if you're not keen on the $10 fee.
I'd love to come back here and do this trail again when all the foliage is in.
This is about as "open" as it gets - there are one or two kilometres where it goes through farmland on both sides, but even then there's usually trees at least on one side.
Some segments of the trail are just hard packed earth, like this - which is so smooth and quiet to ride on!
My trusty steed(s). I am so glad I bought this rack! Can't recommend it enough, if you're looking for a trailer-hitch mounted bike rack. Bike mounts and de-mounts in less than 10 seconds, and you're on your way, so no excuses not to get out and explore! Rock solid.
Every now and then I like to record my rides - so here you are, my outbound run.