Completed said ride yesterday with my nephew. We could not have asked for better weather from the Gods. Out of Ottawa it was about 10kts on our right side and then as we proceed SW, it was on our quarter, and then while heading south, it was on our tail. With the variable cloudiness to keep the sun at bay, we averaged 30.5 kph and went under the 401 at Division street in 5:55. :)

I just wish I had done that trip a couple of more times earlier in the season. :(

Good ride Treker. How far and what route did you take?

Good ride Treker. How far and what route did you take?

Hey Cyberpep, we started westward out of Ottawa on Flawellyn Rd to Ashton, then SE on 9th line to Tennyson Rd then south on MacPhail to Concession Rd (#10) and west to Perth. We stayed on #10 thru Perth to Westport and on into Kingston. Great ride. Nice steep drop on final approach to Westport - my nephew hit 68kph and I hit 66! I did this route solo two years ago on my Trek 1000 and with less than ideal winds it took me 8.5 hours of ride time. :( This time, with my nephew on his TCR and me on my Devinci, and both of us taking turns leading, the road, and time, melted away. Total distance - 183km.

Have you cycled Ottawa-Kingston?

Nice job.

Treker, I have never cycled between Kingston and Ottawa specifically but have cycled through both cities. Your route would probly be 2 days for me as I like to do 120 km a day while touring. I mostly do loaded touring and have a trip in mind for next year that would include the Kingston to Ottawa segment as part of my route. Next Wednesday I am leaving from Kingston and going to Cornwall and then back on the US side to Kingston and then through Prince Edward County and home to Grafton. September is a great time to ride, not busy and temperatures are generally more to my liking as long as it doesn't rain. I really hate getting soaked while touring. I know the hill at Westport only I was going the other direction and had to go up it, certainly not as much fun as going down.
Thanks for the info and happy cycling!

Cyberpep, that sounds like a sweet ride. I've dreamt of going on some day trips, ie, 70km + rides with with the wife and girls, 11 & 14 to do a picnic or swim but didn't manage it this season. How many in your group when you go out and what's youor typical cruising speed?
I was commuting into town last week with a guy on a Giant FCR2. He and his wife on an FCR3 recently cruised to the Rideau Park, 60km, for a night in the tent, in 3 hours at 20 kph. I was surprised at the elegance, if I can use that word, of such a trip: 3 hours of exercise, relatively lo-test, a night out, and then 3 hours back. I guess all that I've known in 5 years of cycling is quick commutes and relatively high intensity long distance rides. (not with my family!)
My girls have Raleigh hybrids that, IMO, with their 700*28c wheels and 24 speeds are substitutes for the FCR (not as good but substitutes nonetheless...) My wife has an OCR3. If we added a few panniers, would you say that we were ready for day trips?

Hey Sweeps, how was you summer?

Treker, I will travel in a small group of 2-4 but I prefer to go solo or with 1 other. I don't like large groups when touring for multiple days. It always seems that you will hook up with someone for a day or two that is going your way. I acually had a local guy at Port Colborne who I had met on the road the day before waiting at the campground for me the next day to ride with me for that day and had his wife pick him up after he bought me supper. I tend to have an overall plan but often I will change course on a whim because something looks interesting. I like to travel 120 km per day and average 20km/hr. and no more that 160 km/day max. depending on road/wind conditions. That is about 6 hrs of riding but I will take 9-10 hrs to do it, I stop a lot. I think that the destination is not near as important as the journey itself, take time to enjoy the trip and don't finish wishing that you had stopped to see something. In early July I went around Lake Ontario, 1024 km in 9 days. At Empire Blvd. in Rochester I met up with a local who suggested that I consider the Erie Canal as a possible route, needless to say my plan of following the shoreline went by the wayside and I enjoyed a great ride along the Erie Canal to Lockport. If I was in a group that kind of deviation from the planned route would not of happened.
The bikes you have would work great for day trips. I have light toured for thousands of miles on my Giant Cypress R with no problem. Now I use a new Cannondale T2000 for my loaded tours. You should start off with a short tour with the girls of 40 km or less, you don't want to take them further then they are physically able to go. Gauge them from that trip as to the length of any future trips. You want them to have a positive experience or else you will be biking alone from that point on. Just go!

... I like to travel 120 km per day and average 20km/hr. and no more that 160 km/day max. depending on road/wind conditions. That is about 6 hrs of riding but I will take 9-10 hrs to do it, I stop a lot. I think that the destination is not near as important as the journey itself, take time to enjoy the trip and don't finish wishing that you had stopped to see something...

Hey Cyberpep, I just soloed down to Ingleside on the St. Lawrence and back on Sunday in 6 hours. What a great ride. 85km each way on quiet country roads. Now that I got that itch out of my system, and knowing what I know from what you said above, I'm determined to pack up the family next year and do it again. Only this time, with panniers etc. There are some campgrounds near there and of course, Upper Canada Village is nearby as well.

I like what you said about taking it slow; I'm sure my wife will like that And a 20kph pace sounds exquisite and easily attainable, although it'll take some reining in on my part to stay slow. :rolleyes: There are three villages between here and there so stopping/exploring will be easy.

When the rest of my clan experiences the beauty of the country like I saw it on Sunday, I think they'll take a shining to cycling.

Now. to just get through winter. :(