Zero_Enigma

Hi there everyone. I've been wanting to tour for some time but just never got around to it. I figured I'd post here as it's in Ontario. Has anyone rode thier bike from T.O to Niagra Falls before? If so I need some help. I would like to know what routes to take. I would prefer more then one route if possible. Three routes is best if it's possible. Please state which routes are safest and what the conditions of the route are that I will encounter. Also any bike shops (and possible hours the shops are open) that are along the trip if I needed repair/supplies.

Detailed information would be greatly appreciated. Oh yes seeing how T.O is go grando I will be starting off by the Ontario Science Center.

Thanks in advance.


EDIT:
Also if anyone has done a Toronto to Montreal before I'd love that route as well witht he same requirements as said above.

TOturtle

I haven't done the ride myself but, this website might give you some ideas:

www.waterfronttrail.org

ghettocruiser

I did this ride in 2002, one-way was about 215 km including some lame detours, but I started around 7 am in Scarborough and finished in time for dinner in Fort Erie, stopping at what must have been every Tim Hortons along the way.

I used Highway 2 pretty much all the way to Hamilton, then went across HWY-8 and RR-81 through St Catharines, to Queenston, and up the Niagara Parkway.

There were some ********ly busy sections though, there has to be a better way.

Lets see if we can't crash google earth....

https://maps.google.ca/maps?f=d&hl=en...68,2.05719&z=9

crazybikerchick

For Toronto to Montreal you can't get more detailed directions than this:

https://www.hedney.com/waterfront.htm

Its not the most direct route but its very pleasant. I've followed his route as far as Brockville. Bloomfield Bicycle company is supposed to be a wonderful lbs if you need anything, I didn't get the chance to check them out but heard many good things.
For Niagara Falls I'd try the waterfront trail route.

From Science Center easy take the Don trail down to the waterfront although annoyingly the connection is closed right now and you don't want to take a loaded touring bike up the stairs at Queen Street. There's a hole in the fence on the Don trail that will take you out onto the Bayview extension, from there turn onto Queen Street east or west depending on which way you are going - if east I'd take Queen all the way to Kingston Road, the short stretch of waterfront trail left is not worth the detour. If west left on Sumach, turns into Cherry down to the wft.

ryanz4

May want to check out this site (if you didn't already know about it)
https://www.waterfronttrail.org/index.html

There's also going to be a new train service that will go from Toronto to St. Catharines
https://www.biketrain.ca/
What you may want to consider is taking the train here, then going along this route:
https://www.regional.niagara.on.ca/go...r/default.aspx Very nice route, though all I've done is Port Weller to Welland.
Here are pictures I took when I last took the trail (June 21, 06) https://picasaweb.google.co.uk/ryanz4...eRideToWelland
Just beware of riding in Niagara Falls. Tourists generally won't pay any attention to you. Same problem here in St. Catharines also, just not as bad as the Falls.

cyberpep

I have cycled that trip a few times in both directions using different routes and none are what I cosider either enjoyable or safe. Loaded touring thru Toronto is very dangerous. If you are use to urban riding in traffic then you will be right at home. If you follow the Waterfront Trail there are some sections that are quiet and peaceful. You didn't say if the tour to Niagara was the whole trip, you could also transport your bicycle to Niagara and ride around the area. This area has some of the best bicycling routes that I have rode in Ontario. You may want to pick up a copy of the Golden Horseshoe Recreational Map at most any LBS or at https://www.fedpubs.com/mpchrt/maps/rec_trails.htm, this is a great map that I have used many times. Are you riding loaded for camping or light credit card touring, on or off road, how far and how many days? There is something in the Niagara region for any type of touring. You could also consider going over to the USA, there is also some great quiet touring routes over there also like New York State bike route 5 or the Seaway Trail. As for bike shops there are many in the area and are easily found in a phone book if needed. You should carry some basic tools and remember your helmet. Enjoy

IronMac

You really like your hand held don't you?

Here's a map that I did up for a possible BikeForums' trip last fall that fell through although I have done the trip. Note that there are no bike shops between Hamilton and St. Catharine's so far as I know but supplies should be plentiful.

https://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=477875

cyberpep

Check this post by FLIMFLAM in the "touring" postings.
https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/321748-toronto-niagara-falls-oab.html

Flimflam

Thanks cyberpep

I rode to Niagara Falls and back just the other weekend - 13-15th.
Here are my two routes..

Going there:
https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Home-Niagara-Falls

Coming back:
https://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path...Home-Hairshirt

Edit: Oh yeah, ask away for any questions - the trip for me is still fresh in my mind. I also have the other half of the Hairshirt route, which would've been my "going" route, had I been alone/riding with someone faster.

Turd Ferguson

I would ride south to Lakeshore and take the Waterfront Trail.

If you got to MEC or chapters, for about $10 you can buy a very handy map book of the Waterfront Trail. I used it when I circumvented Lake Ontario last year.

Flimflam

I used the Golden Horseshoe edition of the trail map things you can get at MEC/Europe Outfitters/wherever - it DID lack information in some areas (not enough clarity in the map) but was mostly OK - I'll be sure to check out that Waterfront Trail map, I'd want a better map for doing more rides.

On the route I took there, the only badass hill I remember was on 50 Rd/11th St coming up the peninsula/Niagara Escarpment - it's short, and steep - but other than that, there wasn't anything too horrific. I want to do the ride again before summer is out, if you have dates in mind and want company, I'll come along for sure. The route back takes that same hill down - as for uphills, there were some up/downs on Niagara Parkway north of the falls, but it was nothing too leg-reaming.

Flimflam

Man, I keep re-reading this post and finding I skip past a bunch...

Bikeshops, as someone else had said, are few and far between - there's definitely a few en route, though. The map I mentioned above (Golden Horseshoe) has a few stores mentioned on it, with a marker on the map - we stopped at Rebel Cycles Canada in St. Catherines, which is a nice big friendly store from that experience.

If you're coming from the OSC, I'd head south whichever way you'd prefer to the Martin Goodman trail or Lakeshore and just keep going west. Lakeshore becomes a much nicer road to ride on once you're mostly past Toronto. From Mississauga (Port Credit, etc.) onwards it's fairly decent, just haul ass on that until you get to Burlington - you take a left at (before) Joseph Brant Hospital and then follow the incarnations of Beach Blvd across the skyway path.

operator

Flimflam - how would you characterize the return route in terms of hills? Do you also have the hairshirt route to niagara falls?

chephy

Hmmm... How many cycling tourists died last year attempting to do loaded touring through Toronto? Yes, touring through Toronto will probably entail going on somewhat busy roads for non-trivial lengths. But it's hardly "very dangerous".

Flimflam

The route I followed on the way back was the exact Hairshirt route there, which was pretty easy going - there is some uphills on gravel, which is where you come off King St/St. Paul St onto .. 19th St after St. Catherines. Then there's a slight incline or two (rolling hills, nothing at all too bad, though) on Fly Road. Coming up towards the escarpment on 11th St/50 Rd. had a few inclines, but then there's the insanely steep downhill (which I came up on the way, too). I was there at 10pm and didn't have enough lighting to feel safe, but I was having no trouble at all holding a comfortable 50km/h on the brakes down there. At the bottom of this hill there's a small side road with a field of pear trees on the eastern side. Right on that edge there are a couple of cherry trees - sample them if you pass this place, they are the best cherries I've ever had.

Hills don't show up much on Lakeshore, and coming through Mississauga you get a few up/downs as you would on say, Queen - but I don't recall anything super nasty - it's like riding Bloor, there's up/downs and nice flat sections too.

Edit: Forgot about the hills leaving the falls, going up Niagara Parkway - there are a couple of steepish up/downs, it does level out after you get to the Adam Beck generator place if I remember right.

I can't vouch for how the hairshirt-there route is, as we did our own thing going.

Here's the full hairshirt route:

https://www.mapmyride.com/ride/canada...auga/532959205

Hope that helps.

Zero_Enigma

I've rodfe the bike at Niagra Falls a few weeks ago. It was more of a booster ride to get ot the falls as we drove over. I got a chance to ride around and check out the place inside the tourist core. I know what you meanby tourists don't really pay much attention to you. I run daytime bike lights. I had the PB Superflash on which helped as the cars tended to notice the hot spot. but moved close by. As an experiment I changed the mode on the Superflash to flash and the cars suddenly gave more room and passed a little further away.

Not much really to see other then the Falls while there. Not really into the gambling so I was pretty bored out. The Fallsview Casino has an awesome water statue structure the moment you enter the building. I was wow'ed. It's like (if anyone played the game) the underwater reactor in Final Fantasy 7 in the submarine stage if memory is correct. WOW!

Tho the outside personel of the casino did not really take well to the fact that you're on a bike. They seemed to look down on the fact that you're on a bike. *shrug* Tho they did seem amazed by the quick take down of how the bike broke down to be put inside the car when I met up with my ride at the casino.

resu

For those that have taken the route, is the Waterfront Trail from Port Credit to Hamilton suitable for a road bike with 700x28 tires?

Flimflam

I've never been on the actual trail there. I rode along Lakeshore proper.

cyberpep

Hi resu, you will have no problem with a road bike with 700x28 tires. Since the trail loosely follows Lakeshore Rd. you will likely just ride on the road anyway. From Burlington where you split to go south towards Confederation Park at Hamilton it is a paved trail. If you go from the split at Burlington and go west around the north side of the bay to Hamilton the trail is mostly on road. All these roads are busy and not always in good shape so be watchful and aware of the traffic around you but it is a great ride. Happy biking!

ghettocruiser

Watch that lift bridge deck when wet. Seriously.

The one in St Catharines isn't as slippery.

resu

Thanks cyberpep and ghettocruiser! I'm gonna try to stay on the trails as much as possible since I haven't done any cycling in the past 4 years

IronMac

That's why it has a sign telling you to dismount and walk across it.

ghettocruiser

Yep. Must be.

Thanks for re-opening this thread three weeks later to get yet another eye-rolling smilie in.

IronMac

There's a moratorium on that now?