Bikeable/Non-Bikable sections of the Tans Canada

[Godwin]

From your experience what sections of the Trans Canada would you ride on or definitely stay off of? Here in Nova Scotia there are usually no ridable shoulders on the trans can and traffic is moving very quickly but for the most part there are older roads which run parallel to every one and the few places where there are not the trans can becomes more ridable (slower traffic and more residential). I haven't ridden the sections of the 3 or 4 which join up with the 103 and 104 but I have ridden the 101 from Digby to Clare with no problems, I'd definitely stay off of the rest of the 101, 102, 103 and 107 from my experiences.

I'm particularly curious about the #17 in Ontario and the #1 out west, much of these highways look like they have no scenic options.

[Machka]

The whole TransCanada from about Hope to Dryden is rideable ... I'm not sure about further east. I've cycled a good portion of it ... especially the bit from Brandon to Dryden. I've also driven it between Vancouver and Dryden many times.

However ... you may want to take an alternate route through Manitoba. In fact, I'd strongly advise it. Not only is the TransCanada boring as can be, but there is often no shoulder so you're right there among the semis. I've cycled so close to semis travelling about 100 km/h that I could have reached out and touched their tires. There are lots of alternate routes, many of which are actual somewhat scenic.

The part between Calgary and Hope is VERY scenic, but again, there are parts where the road is narrow. Between Kamloops and Hope you might want to consider an alternate route.

[Machka]

Here's a sample of the scenery along the TransCanada. :)

The first and second are pictures taken just west of Banff.

The third is on the TransCanada between Brandon and Winnipeg (heading toward Winnipeg).

The fourth is Field, sort of between Banff and Golden.