Toronto, to Ottawa and back | GTAMotorcycle.com

Toronto, to Ottawa and back

B

Biker Tigress

Member
Is there a time-out feature here?
Anyway, I'll try this again.
A couple of weeks ago, I rode to Ottawa. I left the house at 2pm, and glad I did because as evening set in, it was cooler on that very hot day, since I wear all the gear all the time!
It was a nice leisurely ride, took breaks and gassed up. It cost me only $15 to top up, the whole way. Love that!!
 
(I'm doing this in pieces because I don't want to lose the whole thing again).
3 days later, the trip home was more "interesting". I stopped at a Timmies in Smiths Falls, and backed my bike into a parking spot. As I was finishing my coffee at the curb, I notice this ominous dime-sized shiny thing staring right at me on my rear tire. Crap!
I stop at the next autoshop. 2 kind elderly gentlemen examined my tire and found the other nail, too. They weren't about to attempt to fix it and make things worse, as they didn't have the equipment to fix motorbike tires, but they called around trying to find someone in town.
They were not successful.
 
So, since the tire wasn't losing any air to speak of, I rode to the nearest place I knew of who could help. That would be Kingston MotoSport Plus. They listened to my predicament, and understanding that I am still 3 hours from home, took care of me, immediately. As far as I am concerned, the tech who changed my back tire is a life saver! He also told me that my front tire needs replacing soon. I said, "Whaaat???", because I only had that tire installed, new in May of this year!
Until then, I had the peace of mind believing I was safely riding on a new tire, which replaced an old worn one.
The tech pointed out some clearly visible cracks in the sides of the tire.
Those 2 nails in my rear were a blessing in disguise.
I thought it important to tell my story. I thought I was riding on a very new, very safe front tire. NOT!
Ride safe!
 
Yeah the tires could have been manufactured yeaarssss ago and be sold to you as "new"

Truth is rubber does wear out and lose its magical amazingness over time
 
Glad this was a "happy" story although it did cost you a couple of bucks

Couple of questions for you on the Ottawa trip:

Did you take the 401 or backroads?

How long did it actually take?

Asking because I am thinking of making the trip down in a couple of weeks. When I do the trip in the car, it's down and back the same day, 401/416 all the way. This is not something I think I want to try on the bike, a bit to much seat time to be safe. I have a couple of google alternatives that seem to want me to take 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 hrs if memory serves.

Thanks
 
Hi GDM,
I imagine there are a number of more exciting roads to take than I did.
I took the 401, then turned off the highway at the first exit that pointed to Ottawa, which turned out to be highway 15. I took that to hwy 7 to the 417.
I like to stop every hour & 1/2 to 2 hours, to at least have water and stretch out the kinks. So it took me about 6 &1/2 hours.
 
Here's the route I was told by those from Ottawa:

......Bancroft.......Denbigh, Griffith, Calabogie, Hopetown, Almonte, Ottawa.

Grin!!
 
Thanks all.

I am seeing a route there and another back - should be a hoot.
 
...and came back through Gatineau (to do the lookout), Shawville, Portage-Du-Fort, Foymount, Quadeville, Cumberland, Barry's Bay, and Maynooth after Petersen / Elephant Lake Road (hosteled for the night, super-cheap and nice!), and then through Algonquin Park.

It was a really great trip.

Doing it again, the Quebec side was fairly boring at least along the St. Lawrence. Not sure it was worthwhile for the Gatineau lookout, but oh well. The Ottawa Valley region was just beautiful.
 
shanekingsley said:
head north to Huntsville and cut across from there - will take a full day to get there, but it will be twisty.
http://goo.gl/maps/W0R4H
Click to expand...

Shane and I can ride together, I like the way his routes twist and turn, leading you away from your destination. It's almost as if he were riding for the sheer joy of it. :-D

If your bike is too uncomfortable make it work. Get bar risers, seat cushions, highway pegs....

I did a run last year to the Ottawa river via Bancroft, and I loved every twist and turn.
 
You were 15 mins from Black's Corners Tire near Carleton Place. $40ish ride in no-mark tire change front and back and he has a few Bridgestones and Dunlops there for good prices too. Only by appointment but well worth giving him a call. Best deal on labour I've ever seen anywhere and Don's good and you can sit and watch and chat if it's not a big job. Need to leave the bike with him if it's a bigger job. HIGHLY recommended.
 
shanekingsley said:
head north to Huntsville and cut across from there - will take a full day to get there, but it will be twisty.
http://goo.gl/maps/W0R4H
Click to expand...

+1 on this route. I took a very similar one last week except it didn't go quite out to Huntsville, I grabbed the 118 out of Bracebridge and then followed the rest of it (not including the tangents), but time was a factor for me that day. It was about 5 hours from Barrie including a stop for lunch.. and very scenic!
 
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