Erie Canal Winter
11-17-17, 07:15 PM
#26
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[QUOTE=sdotkling;19999698]
What a negative nancy killjoy !
As someone who has lived in upstate NY all my life, that's not even remotely correct.
Okay, okay, sorry to offend your upstate sensibilities. My point was that this would not be a fun tour.
Of course you could do it (Scott walked to the South Pole, and he didn't die. Oh, wait--yes he did.) But think of it this way: It's nearly 400 miles, it's cold and gray, and life is short.
I covered 80-90 miles a day last September, with the sun up at 7 and setting at 7:30 or 8, about 12 hours. I ate a lot of Chicken Riggies and Beef-on-Weck, so subtract a couple of hours every day for eating and looking at maps, not to mention the waking up and packing up routine, for a likely total of 8-9 hours in the saddle.
In winter, the sun is up at 7:30 and down at 4:30. You'd need to stop to eat, and warm up, and clean the crud off your fenders, and look at the map, so subtract the same 3-4 hours a day. How many daylight hours do we have left? Five or six.
Now, as to road conditions, it doesn't have to snow to make a miserable mess. Rain will do. Traffic will be swerving around you in dim light. Few people will expect to see a bicycle in December, and the roads can be pretty scary even in perfect, balmy weather. (Thinking of you, Syracuse sprawl!)
To repeat, no one said it couldn't be done. People ride across Siberia, Kazahkistan, and the Yukon in harrowing conditions. But that doesn't mean it would be a jolly good time, unless one really enjoys merely surviving intact (which isn't a bad thing, not by any means.) But why would someone make this their first bike tour? 'Nuff said.
Okay, okay, sorry to offend your upstate sensibilities. My point was that this would not be a fun tour.
Of course you could do it (Scott walked to the South Pole, and he didn't die. Oh, wait--yes he did.) But think of it this way: It's nearly 400 miles, it's cold and gray, and life is short.
I covered 80-90 miles a day last September, with the sun up at 7 and setting at 7:30 or 8, about 12 hours. I ate a lot of Chicken Riggies and Beef-on-Weck, so subtract a couple of hours every day for eating and looking at maps, not to mention the waking up and packing up routine, for a likely total of 8-9 hours in the saddle.
In winter, the sun is up at 7:30 and down at 4:30. You'd need to stop to eat, and warm up, and clean the crud off your fenders, and look at the map, so subtract the same 3-4 hours a day. How many daylight hours do we have left? Five or six.
Now, as to road conditions, it doesn't have to snow to make a miserable mess. Rain will do. Traffic will be swerving around you in dim light. Few people will expect to see a bicycle in December, and the roads can be pretty scary even in perfect, balmy weather. (Thinking of you, Syracuse sprawl!)
To repeat, no one said it couldn't be done. People ride across Siberia, Kazahkistan, and the Yukon in harrowing conditions. But that doesn't mean it would be a jolly good time, unless one really enjoys merely surviving intact (which isn't a bad thing, not by any means.) But why would someone make this their first bike tour? 'Nuff said.
11-18-17, 05:51 PM
#27
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[QUOTE=martianone;20000088]Hmm. That sounds like a challenge. What say all you hardy and seemingly irritated upstate types meet me in Albany sometime in January, and we'll ride to Buffalo over a week or so along the canal? I'm quite serious. Then we'll see who is having a great time on a bike in the winter...and who the "Nancy Killjoy" really is. Any takers in this big talking crowd, gentlemen?
11-18-17, 07:13 PM
#28
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I'm from Rochester but have lived in Buffalo since 2011. I ride canal path from April to November. Most of the miles are very rural and receive little use. If you are interested in a sufferfest I suggest you give it a go and let us know how it goes. FWIW I am considering doing this ride, from Buffalo to Albany, next summer.
11-18-17, 07:35 PM
#29
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Considering moving up to Buffalo to take graduate courses, at Buffalo State, as an adult learner. How is cycling in and around Buffalo generally? Ever ride to either side of the falls? Buffalo waterfront a good ride? Regular rides to share?
11-18-17, 09:31 PM
#30
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[QUOTE=sdotkling;20001587]
Hmm. That sounds like a challenge. What say all you hardy and seemingly irritated upstate types meet me in Albany sometime in January, and we'll ride to Buffalo over a week or so along the canal? I'm quite serious. Then we'll see who is having a great time on a bike in the winter...and who the "Nancy Killjoy" really is. Any takers in this big talking crowd, gentlemen?
It's awfully easy to offer challenges on your own schedule, isn't it? 
You're just going to have to accept the fact that for many people, winter riding is not a big deal at all, and many of us do in fact enjoy it.
Hmm. That sounds like a challenge. What say all you hardy and seemingly irritated upstate types meet me in Albany sometime in January, and we'll ride to Buffalo over a week or so along the canal? I'm quite serious. Then we'll see who is having a great time on a bike in the winter...and who the "Nancy Killjoy" really is. Any takers in this big talking crowd, gentlemen?
You're just going to have to accept the fact that for many people, winter riding is not a big deal at all, and many of us do in fact enjoy it.
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11-18-17, 09:36 PM
#31
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I'm from Rochester but have lived in Buffalo since 2011. I ride canal path from April to November. Most of the miles are very rural and receive little use. If you are interested in a sufferfest I suggest you give it a go and let us know how it goes. FWIW I am considering doing this ride, from Buffalo to Albany, next summer.
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11-19-17, 02:30 AM
#32
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You'll freeze at night. I did that ride in October (Albany to just south of Buffalo) and the nights were around 32F. It's not much fun and the canal is quite desolated so if you need help you would be in trouble. I suggest if you really want to do this, do it with a budy.
11-20-17, 02:11 PM
#33
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[QUOTE=sdotkling;20001587]
Hmm. That sounds like a challenge. What say all you hardy and seemingly irritated upstate types meet me in Albany sometime in January, and we'll ride to Buffalo over a week or so along the canal? I'm quite serious. Then we'll see who is having a great time on a bike in the winter...and who the "Nancy Killjoy" really is. Any takers in this big talking crowd, gentlemen?
Using fat bikes? Do they plow or does it get a lot of foot traffic? For me, that would be the unknown factor.
Hmm. That sounds like a challenge. What say all you hardy and seemingly irritated upstate types meet me in Albany sometime in January, and we'll ride to Buffalo over a week or so along the canal? I'm quite serious. Then we'll see who is having a great time on a bike in the winter...and who the "Nancy Killjoy" really is. Any takers in this big talking crowd, gentlemen?
11-20-17, 02:22 PM
#34
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I’ll join you, assuming I have time to brush upon my survival skills. Been a while since I built an igloo.
Last edited by alan s; 11-20-17 at 02:26 PM.
11-20-17, 04:48 PM
#35
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The canal locks have camping area's. They are closed in winter. Ditto and state and local parks.
As well, it's not the Adirondacks, it's a somewhat suburban and occasionally an urban area. That makes stealth camping difficult.
I could easily link to a blog of a Swedish (or some Scandinavian) women who biked the Dempster Hwy to the Arctic Circle in winter. That's actually somewhat easier then the guy who biked from Montreal to Halifax. He actually had a pretty hard time, the roads sucked, narrow due to snow on the shoulders, having to ride past sunset, etc....
Thus and as others have stated, it's just a sucky experience.
Last edited by Steve B.; 11-20-17 at 05:00 PM.
11-20-17, 06:18 PM
#36
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Taking all of the factors the OP needs to deal with in a ride across this section of NY State in winter, winter camping and the gear required, is a minor issue.
11-21-17, 07:05 AM
#38
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11-21-17, 07:59 AM
#39
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Where did you see that statistic?
11-21-17, 08:21 AM
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11-21-17, 08:36 AM
#41
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11-21-17, 08:42 AM
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11-21-17, 09:23 AM
#43
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Along the Erie Canal trailway, there are towns every few miles, and you're literally never more than a couple hundred yards at most from a roadway, often fairly major ones. It's not like OP would be in some isolated situation; a short stroll would bring him to all sorts of places to flag down a motorist, find a house to warm up in, etc.
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11-21-17, 07:34 PM
#44
Senior Member
You sure do ask a lot of questions. How about you share a few pearls of your wisdom. Tell us your winter camping survival tips, even those learned in your backyard.
11-21-17, 07:52 PM
#45
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11-21-17, 11:57 PM
#46
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I've done a bit of touring in this area in January (2011). I didn't cycle on the Erie Canal so I can't comment on that but as others have said it would likely be impassable due to snow. I did cycle it the following year in the spring and it was a lovely ride. As for the winter ride it wasn't too hard despite heavy snowfalls. They do a good job of clearing the roads all around there so you'll be able to cycle. Thing is it is freezing and the days are short, and you'll be cycling on the roads. It's not exactly ideal for a first tour, but it would be a hell of an adventure (just be prepared for the cold, especially if you're camping - ie warm, waterproof gear and lights and bright colours for visibility)
11-22-17, 06:23 PM
#47
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11-22-17, 10:35 PM
#48
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