Iron Butt

[mattster31]

I don't know the roads through Quebec very well so I thought I would try and get some advice from those who might. I am planning another Iron Butt ride in the upcoming months, and more than half of the route I am attempting to map goes through HERE

Is this advisable??? I want to keep the ride a KM based route so I obviously need to stay in Canada. Any thoughts on what I have proposed??

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Bungie]

I've toyed around with doing an SS1600 all in Ontario. I actually think its harder in Canada because of the condition of secondary hwys and posted speed limits. Not like in the States where you can jump on the slab and legally go 75mph.

Maybe sometime this summer I'll do my SS.. I think the farthest I get from home is about a 5 hr ride.

 

[Bounce]

Tough. Have you done a SS1K before? Past experience helps with future success. Remember you have to maintain a 42Mph average, so plan on an average speed that will allow for:

let X = gas stop time * x (where x = the total route/number of dependable miles to a full tank of fuel)

let Y = 2 hours pad time (for traffic, delays, need for a nap, the unexpected)

so 24 - x - y = total available time (tt)

Please note that the total miles of your route is only about 880 miles. That's not enough for the basic, Saddle Sore 1000 entry-level ride of 1000 (plus a little for map calculation errors). It won't qualify as an Iron Butt Association ride. You need to modify to plans to add the addition 120+(pad) miles.

 

[mattster31]

Tough. Have you done a SS1K before? Please note that the total miles of your route is only about 880 miles.

Yep, I rode my first SS1000 last fall (great experience!!), and I just received my certificate in the mail last week!! I understand what you're saying with regard to time management, we had over 4hrs of stops when I did the SS!! I rode with two other guys who didn't seem to be in a hurry. Not complaining as it was loads of fun which is why I'm now hooked. I will be going solo on this one.

The route I posted throught Quebec is just over half of the actual route. I know the roads through Ontario quite well.......it's the Quebec roads north of the 40 I don't know. I am actually pondering an attempt at a 2500K Gold (>24hrs). If I fall short on time, I can still finish with a 2000K or 1600K. I have friends in MTL and Ottawa (finish signatures), but they don't ride...........which is why I'm looking for assistance on this site. As Bungie pointed out, it's a tough go in Canada as we don't have the network of interstates that you folks have. All of our roads north of Parrie Sound are two lane slab at 80Km/hr. I realize the route through Quebec includes some of the same but it's the traffic that's the variable. I think we have more of it in Ontario than there would be north of Quebec city and MTL (during the week anyways). Just guessing......... <_<

 

[Bounce]

so, an equivalent to the BBG (1500 miles in 24 hours). this is a pretty tough ride and even with the ability to use areas with higher posted speed limits there's a lot of good karma that has to happen to make it a success. I know a very good rider that took 3 tries to successfully complete his first one. Valve stem failure was just one thing that happened to make things tough. Picking an area with high LEO enforcement and low max speed limits works against you.

i'm going to move this thread over to the Iron Butt section so that it might get a little more visibility. (which might get some more input)

 

[TILAM]

I too have contemplated doing and SS1000 in Ontario. One of the probems I envison is riding isolated secondary roads after dark. Twisties are very tiring in the dark and then there is the wildlife threat. I grew up in Northern Ontario and know about the moose and deer problem.

I've been looking at a route starting in Hamilton, north through Sudbury, east by North Bay, Ottawa maybe to Montreal and the slabbing it back on the 401 during the dark hours. Should be close to the 1000 miles (although I haven't mapped it yet).

Another less inspiring route would be straight to Quebec City and back. The would allow 100 km plus cruising and if properly timed missing the rush hour times in the majors.

 

[rickcorwn]

The first thing the stands out is the number of documentation points, each one of those is a stop and time lost. If you were doing a SS I wouldn't be very concerned but a BBG that's a different animal. In just this half of your route there are 8 stops even at a lighting fast 5 minutes a stop that's 40 minutes lost. If the rest of your route is similar that would be another say 4 stops that would be an hour lost. So now a 23 hour ride needs an average speed of 108.7 kph. When your doing a ride like this on roads that have lower speed limits stopping will kill you.

You've got few large cities in there too. I know from personal experience that traffic in Montreal can be crazy and easy to get lost with all the signage in french, don't ask how I know. I'm sure that Quebec and Ottawa have their pitfalls also all big cities are a potential time looser. Those can be managed by what day and/or time of day you pass through.

Keep working at it a BBG in the eastern half of North America is a tough nut to crack.

 

[karstenp]

I have done 2 SS1600Ks in Ontario/Quebec. Both rides were done on my 1992 Yamaha FJ1200. Cannot comment on your proposed Quebec route.....but it looks like fun. Interested in hearing responses from people from that area.

My first ride I went from Kincardine, Ont down to London, Ont on secondary roads. Then road the 401 to 403 through Hamilton and up to the 407 and back to the 401 all the way to Montreal, Quebec. From Montreal I went up to Ottawa and then took secondary highways all the way home through Alqonquin Park. The ride took me 18 hrs and 27 min with an average speed of 90.2 km/hr (54 mph). 6 gas stops and 1 stop for a break.

My second SS was completely in Ontario and was mainly all secondary roads. The route took me from Kincardine, to Orillia and then north to North Bay on Hwy 11. From there I continued north to New Liskeard and on to Cochrane. From Cochrane I headed West and then back south on 655 and then 144 to Sudbury and back home. The ride took 19 hrs and 36 mins with an average speed of 86.7 km/hr (52 mph). 8 gas stops and 4 brief rest stops. Moving average speed was 93 km/hr. On this ride I ended up sitting for 40+ minutes on Hwy 69 due to an accident. I also hit some significant construction on 655 where I recall one of those "pucker" moments when with very little warning I went over the crest of the hill on the highway and the road switched to a loose wet mucky gravel mix.... I ended up riding about 25 kms in that mess.

For both rides, I doubt I could significantly improve my overall average of around 90 km/hr (54mph). Therefore, although SS1600K is very doable, a BBG (1500 miles in less than 24 hrs) would take about 27.5 hrs. The only way I believe a BBG is possibly in Ontario is to start in Windsor and ride the 401 freeway for 750miles and then turn around and go back on the same highway and hope for no traffic in Toronto/Montreal (very unrealistic).

 

[Bungie]

Here's the route I was toying with for a Northern Ontario SS1600

It sticks to major secondary hwy's and, for the most part access to gas/service. Traffic should be light through the entire route. The only major issues are that a good portion of it will have to be done at after dark and hwy construction.

An alternate route that would never have me more than 300km from home - but at the expense of more traffic. A side benefit of this is that nearly half the loop is posted at 100km/h.

Central Ontario Loop

I was going to do one of them last summer (the summer that wasn't). Maybe this year.

 

[mattster31]

The more I think about it, and the more advice I read, I realize that my route is not practical (at least a 2500K). MS&T showed a travel time of 27.5hrs. Was I crazy???? I will ponder this route....

2500K

It's straight out and back. Not the most exciting I know, and it still shows a travel time of 26 hours...............as I said I may attempt this route. The only question is rush hour traffic through MTL and Toronto, and potential construction along the way........not to mention possible mech issues. I think I may try and rig up an aux fuel tank. Anyone have experience using an orange jerry can as one????LOL

Thanks for all the advice guys!!!!!!

 

[Bungie]

2500K

Talk to FJRRob1300 and Moosehead. They both rode from just north of Toronto straight though to Port Hastings NS 2 years ago for CFR and earned BBG doing it.

I wonder how far it is up and back on the Radisson I'm pretty sure speed limits wouldn't be a problem LOL!