Why I Effing *Loathe* Riding In Ontario

[viper84737]

There are many, many, many reasons why I loathe Ontario (crappy people, crappy police, lack of interesting things to see and do, overpriced everything) and ultimately as a rider: crappy roads. By no means do I list everywhere awesome; here is but a small comparison of the "best" Ontario has to offer versus some of the most amazing roads I've ridden elsewhere:

(All taken at the same 700 meter resolution, for consistency's sake)

Snake Road, Ontario

Forks of the Credit River, Ontario

Terra Nova, Ontario

Ontario Highway 507, Ontario (where else?)

Now compare these to some of the places in America. Note the turns per unit distance ratio. Again, we have the same 700m resolution:


Colorado Highway 40, Colorado I have not been on the CO-40, but I've done other roads just as sexy. Colorado has too many to list here.

Arizona Highway 89. Arizona (Total length will not fit into a 700 meter resolution map)

California Highway 2, California - Angeles Crest Highway (66 miles, total length will not fit into a 700 meter resolution map)

Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina/Virginia 1/2 - This is the lower part of this 1000 km road (if you include Skyline Drive), it gets better than this

Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina/Virginia 2/2 - The upper part of the BRP, where it's super sexy

California Highway 36, California 3/3 (one of the sexiest roads on the continent, 225 km of virtually non-stop twisties that don't fit in one 700m shot)

California Highway 36, California 2/3 (one of the sexiest roads on the continent, 225 km of virtually non-stop twisties that don't fit in one 700m shot)

California Highway 36, California 1/3 (one of the sexiest roads on the continent, 225 km of virtually non-stop twisties that don't fit in one 700m shot)

Tail of the Dragon, Tennessee/North Carolina The US-129, famous Deal's Gap. Only 17 km, but 318 curves. Need I say more?

Anyone else feel like crying when they see what Ontario has to offer?

 

[Marcfolch]

[FONT=arial, sans-serif]Ontario simply looks like an inept attempt to draw a straight line. The US ones look like a parkinsons sufferer trying to draw a curvy line. [/FONT]

[FONT=arial, sans-serif]P.S. No disrespect intended to Parkinsons sufferers, it's just an analogy. [/FONT]

 

[Shaman]

I sort of agree but it's not *all* about the roads. And there's the race track...

 

[Morrissey]

You can't compare southern/central Ontario with the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Rocky Mountains, its like comparing apples and oranges! Its basic geography. Flat-ish farm land and Canadian shield will never compare with full-on Mountains. Lamenting that fact is pointless. Its like comparing the weather here with the Mexican Riviera and complaining that Canada isn't warmer.

 

[murf]

If you dont like it, move?

 

[7up]

There are many, many, many reasons why I loathe Ontario (crappy people, crappy police, lack of interesting things to see and do, overpriced everything) and ultimately as a rider: crappy roads.......blah,blah,blah waa,waa,waa

You should move.

 

[kiwi]

I know I moved to the wrong province.. lol..

 

[bboySushi]

Seeing those US roads made me excited. Ontario roads stink. I'll never forget how disappointed I was going to Terra Cotta for the first time.

 

[Jampy00]

Seeing those US roads made me excited. Ontario roads stink. I'll never forget how disappointed I was going to Terra Cotta for the first time.

I feel the same way everytime I have to drive/ride through Brampton... ( just kidding )

No I'm not

 

[MacDoc]

Yeah I have to agree....after a very boring group ride up to 507 into the damn sun I was wondering what the fuss was about when 144/44 are a few hours to the south.

That said some parts of Ontario a pretty especially in the fall and there is decent riding to the north if you are willing to slab for a couple of hours. Still nada like the top roads elsewhere including Australia.

Oh yeah - traffic and insurance suck in Ontario.
But not so bad on speed limits compared to Aus.

 

[Kri$han]

Take weekend trips to Montreal and enjoy the roads out there. Like Morrissey said, you can't compare the flat-land-locked mass that is Ontario to any mountainous region - it kinda doesn't make any sense.

 

[viper84737]

You should move.

Yup. That is exactly the plan I'm working on.

Seeing those US roads made me excited. Ontario roads stink. I'll never forget how disappointed I was going to Terra Cotta for the first time.

I couldn't agree more! I went to Terra Cotta last year for the first time, having heard such nice things about it, as optimistic as ever about anything riding-related, and it was just "ok", for about 5 minutes. I mean I enjoyed it insofar as everywhere else I've ridden in a 500 km circle, but then it just abruptly ended, and I had that exact same feeling of utter disappointment. "That's it? That's what all the fuss was about? (("

 

[Shaman]

Yeah I have to agree....after a very boring group ride up to 507 into the damn sun I was wondering what the fuss was about when 144/44 are a few hours to the south.

Try it flat-out like a lizard running. And watch for the OPP, of course...

But... I enjoy the camaraderie of the riding scene, I don't do a ton of solo riding. The roads around Kingston aren't terrible. Nothing like Deal's Gap / Blue Ridge / Palomar / etc. but then if they were, those areas would go back to making 'shine and living off the land, wouldn't they?

You seem to be a solo rider looking for a challenge. I say it again... maybe the track is for you...

 

[jc100]

It is what it is...I go and play in the Lanark Highlands, Calabogie area, 509...even a few short trips right out of Kingston are pretty good, Desert Lake Rd, Frontenac Park areas (except for a few potholes) etc. A ride out to Westport along Division then a drink of something cool on the patio of The Cove, pretty hard to beat that for a short trip out. A bit longer would be a trip to Tremblent and a scoot around the roads there, mind you if you don't like the OPP presence here you really won't like the Quebec boys in blue.

This summer I'm going to be heading south of the border more. Some longer days out to Lake Placid etc. Things really aren't that bad, my only gripe is the state of some of the better roads around me. I'd love it if they cleaned up the roads around Poland (Ont) because those are brilliant.

 

[AF4iK]

I agree there are better roads in the US than in Ontario but, with respect, I think you need to get out and explore more of Ontario. We've got plenty of fun roads within a few hour radius of the GTA. The ones you've listed aren't even on my favourites list; they're just local distractions when I don't have time to ride farther out.

Also, you're comparing Ontario to the most popular US roads in several different states... not exactly a fair comparison IMO. The US has ten times the infrastructure of Canada, not to mention that topology has a lot to do with road design.

 

[imnothng]

I don't know why you guys bother with street riding. Take it offroad into some single track and have way more fun.

But I could also complain about the lack of single track and compare the GTA with Utah or California, or any other place.

 

[MacDoc]

You seem to be a solo rider looking for a challenge. I say it again... maybe the track is for you...

no - long past that and spoiled riding in Australia. I ride more for sight seeing and photography. There are decent roads and some fun short stretches you gotta be willing to get north or into PA - not much within an hour's ride except along the escarpment - the roads are okay - just not continuous like stretches of PA

 

[suzuki2000]

...- just not continuous like stretches of PA

Thats one of the big problems,. lots of good/ok strectches of road maybe a km at a time, just nothing continuous. I rode to the forks last year, nice road, just too short and again just one road..

I live in Niagara and consider myself lucky that I have the foothills, and other roads available, but agian they are faiirly short roads until you hit an intersetction then another short road.... not compklaining as it is better then alot of others get.


We are just challenged by geography, only way to change that is take a drive and play inthe big roads on weekends/vacations or move, the latter not being the easiest of options and be cautious of what you are traading off...

 

[V-Tom]

Yup, there are better roads elsewhere. We simply don't have the terrain for great switchbacks, etc.

There are some fun roads on Ontario, but no nothing really compares to Skyline Drive/Blue Ridge or better all the little side roads that come off them (The Snake for example). Nothing here really compares to the great roads in New Hamspire or Maine or West Virginia or Pennsylvania. Nothing here really compares to Tail of the Dragon or hwy 28 or the Cherohola or 89a around Sedona or Hwy 1 or Nacimiento-Fergusson Road or HWY 74 in California the 500 series Ohio State Roads or many many other great roads in the USA and elsewhere.

Thankfully you can get a bike that lets you travel to all those places and have a blast riding them. There are far more roads out there than I will ever get a chance to ride!



..Tom

 

[BeastieGirl]

I live in Niagara and consider myself lucky that I have the foothills, and other roads available, but agian they are faiirly short roads until you hit an intersetction then another short road.... not compklaining as it is better then alot of others get.

The Niagara Peninsula in the spring is one of the prettiest places I've ridden, with orchards and vineyards in blossom - also in the fall the colours and smells make up for the less than spectacular roads.

Is it as exciting as riding to the top of Mount Evans or Pikes Peak in CO (both of which I have done)? No of course not - and if I could ride back to Colorado and Utah and New Mexico every year I would.

Sometimes riding in southern Ontario does make me want to cry - but then its all relative - I enjoy riding in PA and WV - but now that too is kind of "same old, same old".

Makes me nostalgic for the days when riding anywhere was a thrill for me :-(