DraginMiFeet
Well-known member
Thanks CanadianBiker.. good info. And thanks to everyone for all your great info. I'm thinking 600 to 700 a day.
Going to Cabot Trail - what to take?
- Thread starter DraginMiFeet
- Start date
All good advice from CB tho I like my 3/4 it's quiet BUT
Don't count on cell reception for navigating or emergencies especially on Cape Breton at the north end and elsewhere on the East Coast.
Major highways are okay but even there it can be spotty.
Download maps to your laptop or your phone etc. ahead of time and CAA Plus is a must have.
Don't count on cell reception for navigating or emergencies especially on Cape Breton at the north end and elsewhere on the East Coast.
Major highways are okay but even there it can be spotty.
Download maps to your laptop or your phone etc. ahead of time and CAA Plus is a must have.
DraginMiFeet
Well-known member
I have a full with clear and hideaway tinted visors. My wife want a 3/4 . she feels claustrophobic in a full.
Which 3/4 do you have? I'd like a nice quiet 3/4.
Which 3/4 do you have? I'd like a nice quiet 3/4.
Tell your wife I agree - I keep my convertible in Australia flipped up most of the time and it's way noisier when it's down.
Race car driver and riding buddy ( member here ) put me on to the Bell Mag8 and I love it. It's a bargain just now at $85 since they brought out the Mag9.
I ended up looking like a cop with white helmet and bike ( wondered why no tickets recently )
but that visor is terrific and easy to use and the reviewers were surprised how quiet it is....one of the quietest they've test....hellishly easier to get on over earphones too and lots of room for electronics.
I wear a very thin Oxford balaclava to keep earphones in place, easier to put the helmet on and very easy to wash out at the end of the day. Adds a bit of warmth in cold weather too.
Bit big thing, it's open face and quiet and those were the goals.
I like the Mag8 - the Mag9 has a sun visor as welll but i just where sunglasses...a cool thing with the 8 would be to put a stripped of glass tint along the bottom edge of the visor so when it's up there is a tinted strip above your eyes.
Visor is very durable and easy to clean. Removable liner unusual for a 3/4.
http://www.thebellstore.com/product/street-helmets-bellmag8/bellmchelmets-mag8solid.html
Race car driver and riding buddy ( member here ) put me on to the Bell Mag8 and I love it. It's a bargain just now at $85 since they brought out the Mag9.
I ended up looking like a cop with white helmet and bike ( wondered why no tickets recently )
but that visor is terrific and easy to use and the reviewers were surprised how quiet it is....one of the quietest they've test....hellishly easier to get on over earphones too and lots of room for electronics.I wear a very thin Oxford balaclava to keep earphones in place, easier to put the helmet on and very easy to wash out at the end of the day. Adds a bit of warmth in cold weather too.
Bit big thing, it's open face and quiet and those were the goals.
I like the Mag8 - the Mag9 has a sun visor as welll but i just where sunglasses...a cool thing with the 8 would be to put a stripped of glass tint along the bottom edge of the visor so when it's up there is a tinted strip above your eyes.
Visor is very durable and easy to clean. Removable liner unusual for a 3/4.
http://www.thebellstore.com/product/street-helmets-bellmag8/bellmchelmets-mag8solid.html
this summary in the Star - pretty decent
http://www.thestar.com/life/travel/...va_scotia_travel_a_cape_breton_road_trip.html
http://www.thestar.com/life/travel/...va_scotia_travel_a_cape_breton_road_trip.html
wonderings
Well-known member
I am thinking of doing the Cabot trail this summer as well. Probably take around 12 days or so to their and back again. All I ever hear is good things. Have some friends out in NB as well with 50 acres or so for some free camping and good cheer.
Should be okay for you as I know you don't mind a few long days. Just a tip - If you can travel before end of June then the extra daylight is useful and it's not so crowded but weather for Gaspe and Cape Breton is less certain.
Going US first then Cape Breton, the Gaspe if you go in June would be my suggestion. You have sunrise at 3 am on the 21st on the furthest north part of your loop
That loks like a doable route - you might want to add Bear RIver and Annapolis Valley instead of blitzing through to Cape Breton or at least keep it as an option if Cape Breton is rainy.
http://www.thunderhighway.com/MOTORCYCLING THROUGH THE ANNAPOLIS VALLEY.htm
THe distances there are short - it's only an hour across to Sally's Cove etc which is worth it to wind along the east coast villages - The Evangeline trail is the tourist run and you can drop off when you like.
Wolfville is the place to stop for food - some - there i a gastro pub there that is fantastic and nicely placed o the river
http://www.theportpub.com
http://www.faceyman.com/2011/07/nova-scotia-day-5-evangeline-trail.html
http://www.novascotia.com/en/home/ourregions/scenic_travelways/evangeline_trail/default.aspx
Go as far as Bear River - then swing over to the other coast. Very neat place a cool gallery - one of my client's wives works there and the owner is a hoot.
http://theflight.ca
Unexpected level of work - it's an artist colony
http://bearriver.ca
Peggy's Cove on the East Coast is worth the run then just dodge around Halifax - there is a good highway north from there you can boogie on
This way you don't duplicate the Gulf of St Lawrence run along the North Shore - you do that on the way back and if you choose you can hop the Ferry to PEI and then a casual run across the island and come back across the PEI bridge ( very cool ).
The distances are all relatively short compared to the rest of the journey.
Going US first then Cape Breton, the Gaspe if you go in June would be my suggestion. You have sunrise at 3 am on the 21st on the furthest north part of your loop
That loks like a doable route - you might want to add Bear RIver and Annapolis Valley instead of blitzing through to Cape Breton or at least keep it as an option if Cape Breton is rainy.
http://www.thunderhighway.com/MOTORCYCLING THROUGH THE ANNAPOLIS VALLEY.htm
THe distances there are short - it's only an hour across to Sally's Cove etc which is worth it to wind along the east coast villages - The Evangeline trail is the tourist run and you can drop off when you like.
Wolfville is the place to stop for food - some - there i a gastro pub there that is fantastic and nicely placed o the river
http://www.theportpub.com
http://www.faceyman.com/2011/07/nova-scotia-day-5-evangeline-trail.html
http://www.novascotia.com/en/home/ourregions/scenic_travelways/evangeline_trail/default.aspx
Go as far as Bear River - then swing over to the other coast. Very neat place a cool gallery - one of my client's wives works there and the owner is a hoot.
http://theflight.ca
Unexpected level of work - it's an artist colony
http://bearriver.ca
Peggy's Cove on the East Coast is worth the run then just dodge around Halifax - there is a good highway north from there you can boogie on
This way you don't duplicate the Gulf of St Lawrence run along the North Shore - you do that on the way back and if you choose you can hop the Ferry to PEI and then a casual run across the island and come back across the PEI bridge ( very cool ).
The distances are all relatively short compared to the rest of the journey.
DraginMiFeet
Well-known member
MacDoc, thanks for the advice on the helmets. This Bell Mag8 has to be one of the lightest helmets I ever picked up. Thanks again.
fewer idiots
kruzuki
Well-known member
Whenever I travel long distances, I wear full face helmet, boots and full leathers; regardless of heat. I find it helps with the fatigue from fighting the wind all day, and I feel safer.
My leathers have proper ventilation, so as long as I'm moving, the air flows through.
My leathers have proper ventilation, so as long as I'm moving, the air flows through.
First of all - for how long are you planning to go? I did it last year. Beginning of July for 9 days and 6500 km. Heavy rain after first 70 km on the way to Niagara Falls and then even heavier in Main. (to bad it was raining for a half of the day when I was on Cabot Trail too). I took USA, NB and PEI going there and NB and Quebec on my way back. Take your time in Quebec City and stop in Old Montreal. Take some tools, air pump and tire patches. Gear? Full face with replaceable shields or Shark EvoLine (check it out - to bad I didn't have it at that time), rain gear incl. boots covers ( yes - boots - I never wear shoes when riding). Some maps and GPS. Camera is a must. Visit Peggy's Cove when you' re there. Save Gaspe Penninsula for the next trip. Have a good weather and a nice trip.
DraginMiFeet
Well-known member
Thank you everyone for your info. We are leaving this Saturday (13th July) and it's now 3 bikes. Going to be a great trip
A couple of questions. We plan on Making Baddeck our base for 3 days. Can anyone recommend bike friendly hotel to stay at?
Where do you buy the boot covers for when it rains. Don't want to spend the bucks on waterproof boots I won't wear that often.
Thanks.
A couple of questions. We plan on Making Baddeck our base for 3 days. Can anyone recommend bike friendly hotel to stay at?
Where do you buy the boot covers for when it rains. Don't want to spend the bucks on waterproof boots I won't wear that often.
Thanks.
DraginMiFeet
Well-known member
These would be perfect but it's too late to order from them.
http://www.canadasmotorcycle.ca/gears-ripple-rubber-sole-rain-boot-covers.html
http://www.canadasmotorcycle.ca/gears-ripple-rubber-sole-rain-boot-covers.html
For occasional rain use, a shopping bag between your foot and the boot works fine. Your feet will obviously sweat though
On Page1 of this thread a user recommended the Baddeck Inn as a great, bike-friendly place to stay. My wife and I just go back from our two-week Maritime Road-Trip (in car). NB, PEI, & NS including Cape Breton and the Cabot Trail. We stopped in Baddeck to see the Alexander Graham Bell Museum.
I can almost guarantee you're gonna get rained on real good at some point, so make sure you have rain-gear. lol.
DraginMiFeet
Well-known member
Yes they did and it was sold out a while ago for the dates we wanted 
he who hesitates..
he who hesitates..
wonderings
Well-known member
I came back from the Cabot a little over a week ago. Took 2 weeks total for the trip. Rained most of the time, and had a cold which did not help the enjoyment factor, or camping. I ended up just hoteling it the entire time and did not see or do as much as I wanted because I felt so crappy. Took my time getting out there and back again with the rain, flooding and thunder storms.
Temperature wise it was fine, always in the mid 20's and close to 30 on a few days, even when climbing up on the Cabot to higher elevation.
I recommend the ride through the states, really nice country roads and scenery till the eastern side of Maine going into NB, then it was just a long straight interstate with endless trees and did not feel that much different the SW Ontario.
Did not take a lot of pictures as it rained most of the time and stoping and removing gloves and all that was less the appealing.
Temperature wise it was fine, always in the mid 20's and close to 30 on a few days, even when climbing up on the Cabot to higher elevation.
I recommend the ride through the states, really nice country roads and scenery till the eastern side of Maine going into NB, then it was just a long straight interstate with endless trees and did not feel that much different the SW Ontario.
Did not take a lot of pictures as it rained most of the time and stoping and removing gloves and all that was less the appealing.
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Yes they did and it was sold out a while ago for the dates we wanted
There's a motorcycle friendly inn called Cabot Trail Motorcycle retreat. Give them a try
Did this trip a few years ago... The Cabot Trail is amazing! My only regret is that I didn't do it both ways (ie - from S-N then turn around and go N-S). The route through the US is orders of magnitude better than going through Quebec. The roads through Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine etc. are stellar!
As for gear, I only take a mesh motorcycle jacket and pants with Frogg Toggs 2 pc. rainsuit. If it is cold out I just put the Frogg Toggs over top of the mesh suit... nice and warm! It is also pretty quick to don the rain gear when the weather changes. On one 20 km stretch in NB, the temp changed from 30C down to about 5C as I rode into an ocean fog. Ocean fogs are more like rain than fog... they are WET! For shoes, I wear Gore-tex lined leather workboots (waterproof and breatheable) and take along a pair of running shoes for whenever I am out walking around.
I always wear full faced helmets - given the statistics on head impacts (60 percent in the chin area), I can never understand why anyone would wear anything else. You'll probably find that extra helmets take up too much room anyway(given everything else you are going to be taking) so stick with the full faced helmets. I also take only 2 or 3 of pairs of the quick-dry wicking underwear (available at Mark's Work Wearhouse for about $20/pair). They can easily be washed in the hotel room bathtub at the end of the day and they are dry and fresh for the morning. The added bonus with these is that the fabric is a bit slippery, so you don't get any binding and bunching with your riding pants (and they minimize or eliminate "crotch rot".) With two up on a bike, you can pretty much count on doing laundry every 2-3 days anyway, as you won't be able to bring many clothes with you. Don't forget your swim suits... nothing beats jumping into a pool after a day on the road!
Have fun on your trip!
As for gear, I only take a mesh motorcycle jacket and pants with Frogg Toggs 2 pc. rainsuit. If it is cold out I just put the Frogg Toggs over top of the mesh suit... nice and warm! It is also pretty quick to don the rain gear when the weather changes. On one 20 km stretch in NB, the temp changed from 30C down to about 5C as I rode into an ocean fog. Ocean fogs are more like rain than fog... they are WET! For shoes, I wear Gore-tex lined leather workboots (waterproof and breatheable) and take along a pair of running shoes for whenever I am out walking around.
I always wear full faced helmets - given the statistics on head impacts (60 percent in the chin area), I can never understand why anyone would wear anything else. You'll probably find that extra helmets take up too much room anyway(given everything else you are going to be taking) so stick with the full faced helmets. I also take only 2 or 3 of pairs of the quick-dry wicking underwear (available at Mark's Work Wearhouse for about $20/pair). They can easily be washed in the hotel room bathtub at the end of the day and they are dry and fresh for the morning. The added bonus with these is that the fabric is a bit slippery, so you don't get any binding and bunching with your riding pants (and they minimize or eliminate "crotch rot".) With two up on a bike, you can pretty much count on doing laundry every 2-3 days anyway, as you won't be able to bring many clothes with you. Don't forget your swim suits... nothing beats jumping into a pool after a day on the road!
Have fun on your trip!
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