Cross Canada Ride Seeking Input

[MHY]

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From Friday August 28 to Sunday September 13, starting from Toronto, I am planning a 17 day cross Canada ride with 2 other riders. I and looking for some real world input on a few specific matters:

Day 4 we will be heading out from Kenora to Emerald Park about 775km. From AI, I have learned that there is some major road construction work happening on the south Winnipeg bypass hwy100. AI is telling me it would be best to avoid the traffic congestion and take the north Winnipeg bypass hwy101 instead. It is about the same distance but no construction delays. Further questioning AI, it tells me that there are 7 traffic lights along hwy101 before connecting back onto hwy1. This sounds a bit nuts to me, it's like having traffic lights on hwy401 over Toronto. I would like to hear from riders who have ridden this route and can provide any insight on how best to safely navigate through this leg of the ride along hwy101 north Winnipeg bypass.

AI has also told me that the wind intensity from Winnipeg to Regina is MUCH less than it is from Regina to Medicine Hat but hwy1 remains the best and safest route through this leg of the trip. AI says It is due to the change in topography west of Regina, which is totally flat and nothing to break the wind. AI also told me to get a very early morning start (7:00am) heading out from Emerald Park as the wind intensity picks up as the sun heats up the earth, so for about 3 hours of riding, the wind issue will be much less impactful. I would like to know if this is actually true and to understand really how bad the wind factor is and how best to deal with the intense wind.

Any advice on any other trip matter would be welcome as well.

Thanks in advance for your replies.

 

[sburns]

Have you not been out that way before?

Are you not visiting any landmarks, scenic spots etc?

Highways outside big urban centres like Toronto, Montreal etc are much different for the rest of Canada, there is little separation, and less infrastructure, which is the reason for stop lights on the highway as they intersect with other roads with no overpass's etc.

Maybe stop using Ai for decision making and just look at a map for route planning.
Transcanada is very direct, but surface wise it's a mix bag. There are other roads south and north of it which you can take.

BTW the wind across Saskatchewan is no joke.

 

[MHY]

Have you not been out that way before?

Are you not visiting any landmarks, scenic spots etc?

Highways outside big urban centres like Toronto, Montreal etc are much different for the rest of Canada, there is little separation, and less infrastructure, which is the reason for stop lights on the highway as they intersect with other roads with no overpass's etc.

Maybe stop using Ai for decision making and just look at a map for route planning.
Transcanada is very direct, but surface wise it's a mix bag. There are other roads south and north of it which you can take.

BTW the wind across Saskatchewan is no joke.

Never been out that way. AI can be helpful but you need to be careful and verify info best you can, that is what I am trying to do here. Winnipeg is the biggest city in Manitoba. I carefully research other roads south but ruled them out as being better. There are still significant winds with narrower single lane roads and no segregation of east/west lanes and it is peak harvest time in Saskatchewan so lots of trucks and combines on the roads.

 

[Gaoler]

'Done it several times... Doing it agsin soon, leaving July 10th for BC.
Getting around Winnipeg is always a chore.
'Fortunately its a small % of the entire trip.
This year Im going to dip south at Ste Anne and wrighle down to the Red Coat trail...'avoiding the TC

 

[MHY]

'Done it several times... Doing it agsin soon, leaving July 10th for BC.
Getting around Winnipeg is always a chore.
'Fortunately its a small % of the entire trip.
This year Im going to dip south at Ste Anne and wrighle down to the Red Coat trail...'avoiding the TC

Yes, very good. I seriously considered the Red Coat Trail but it is peak harvest time and that route will be very busy from early morning to evening. This is when they make there money. July 10 should not have this issue to that extent, I would think. Besides, for us, it is Alberta west of Medicine Hat/BC where the real riding fun starts.

 

[MacDoc]

I always flew the bikes west, once to Calgary, once to Vancouver and then rode them back with the prevailing wind. Don't know if that is of interest. or available. Enjoyed taking the northern transCanada from Jasper coming home the second trip.

First trip we took a southern route into the US via Glacier National Park and Yellowstone and home but many are ducking the US with good reason..
Take your time, enjoy the scenery.

Looks like you could duck Winnipeg via 44 and 101....a few traffic signals hardly a worry.
700+km days are brutal ....I did that when I was 70 coming back solo from the west. 8 years later I couldn't imagine it.

Doing the trip in June gives you long riding days compared to August so keep that in mind. Good luck.

 

[MHY]

I always flew the bikes west, once to Calgary, once to Vancouver and then rode them back with the prevailing wind. Don't know if that is of interest. or available. Enjoyed taking the northern transCanada from Jasper coming home the second trip.

First trip we took a southern route into the US via Glacier National Park and Yellowstone and home but many are ducking the US with good reason..
Take your time, enjoy the scenery.

Looks like you could duck Winnipeg via 44 and 101....a few traffic signals hardly a worry.
700+km days are brutal ....I did that when I was 70 coming back solo from the west. 8 years later I couldn't imagine it.

Doing the trip in June gives you long riding days compared to August so keep that in mind. Good luck.

Yeah, this will be one for the memory banks. I want to say I have visited every province in this country, to anyone who wants to listen, which will probably only be my dog, that already died.

 

[Glenn/RZ500]

I remember when we just would bungee our gear onto the seat of our CB750 and go. Life was simpler and better.

 

[sburns]

I remember when we just would bungee our gear onto the seat of our CB750 and go. Life was simpler and better.

You can still do that, just just human nature gets in the way and people try the easy route, of using Ai or such things.

 

[Gaoler]

I seriously considered the Red Coat Trail but it is peak harvest time and that route will be very busy from early morning to evening.

Doubt.

The scale of the area is immense.
Every farm could have every combine and truck out working and you wouldn't really notice.
'Been there done that several times... 'Never had an issue.

 

[nakkers]

For every story I’ve heard of riding the plains with nothing in sight for hours, there are just as many that encountered severe winds and heavy rain.

And it can be alarming to see a double trailer of grain cross the highway with plenty of room but it takes some getting used to. The only city in SK I don’t mind staying in, is Saskatoon. Regina, Moose Jaw etc is only memorable for the wrong reasons. And Saskatoon isn’t worth the detour/time.

That ride from Brandon to Medicine Hat is long and boring on its best day. Heck, even the ride from Medicine Hat to Calgary can be a chore.

It can be done and many do. But, do you WANT to?

Winnipeg has always been known for its terrible road conditions. The roads to avoid driving through are better but, they will have congestion from commercial vehicles and commuters, school busses etc.

I was just there last week. (Winnipeg & Selkirk) and the week before in Medicine Hat/ Lethbridge and made the way to Edmonton.

All in a cage for work.

If you don't mind crossing the border and taking a hit on the exchange rate, it’s not a bad alternate route. Chicago is a nightmare at times but, you can always checkout Mount Rushmore and the Badlands and make your way north to Canada via Yellowstone/Montana.


If I’m riding, I’d prefer the ride to be fun and interesting. If I could ship or rent a machine from Calgary and explore the Rockies into BC, that would be ideal.

 

[Gaoler]

For every story I’ve heard of riding the plains with nothing in sight for hours, there are just as many that encountered severe winds and heavy rain.

Oh boy.... Lol.
Yep.
My last ride... from about Winnipeg to Brandon...
Trying to ride without being blown off the hwy.. Exhausting...
Found some shelter from the wind off the hwy at Deleau in a neat little municipal park.
A guy from Toronto on a Goldwing going east found the same spot... 'told us he saw two guys end up in the ditch earlier in the day.

Thing is... it sucked at the time, but...
Tragedy plus time equals comedy.
It's just one story we retell in the middle of winter sittin' around the shop.

 

[shanekingsley]

I've only done this ride once, but for my experience, the wind was super strong in that area around Regina. I stayed in Moose Jaw and even noticed a considerable fuel range drop between Moose Jaw and Swift Current. I went in August and it was very cold in the morning - heated gear cranked on full. I think Banff to Jasper to days later was around 3deg, while just a few days ago it was 32 in Winnipeg.

Full ride report is here if it helps: Ride Report: 2020 BC

Hoping to go back again this year if the fires and smoke will let me really explore BC.

 

[Gaoler]

Hoping to go back again this year if the fires and smoke will let me really explore BC.

I'm headed to the Okanagan July 10th.
Maybe we'll end up adding to the "I saw you" thread... lol

 

[shanekingsley]

I wis

I'm headed to the Okanagan July 10th.
Maybe we'll end up adding to the "I saw you" thread... lol

I wish I was going that early, but if I can make it happen, it won’t be til last couple weeks of August. Have a safe trip.

 

[sburns]

I'm headed to the Okanagan July 10th.
Maybe we'll end up adding to the "I saw you" thread... lol

Don't jinx yourself, I think you said that last year

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