2 cyclists killed crossing Canada

[jonovision_man]

http://www.netnewsledger.com/2013/07/24 ... r-nipigon/

The Trans Canada through northern Ontario is treacherous. Unpaved shoulders, high speeds, lots of truck traffic. I believe a cyclist was killed last year too (or the year before). And I believe it's the only road option for crossing Canada by bike through that area.

jono

[jonovision_man]

The one on the Trans Canada from last year:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=45754

Another from a 2008 charity ride, died on Trans Canada in Manitoba:
http://www.bikingbis.com/2008/06/30/2-k ... ycle-ride/

Probably others, too, I seem to recall this coming up a lot.

jono

[La]

When my friend Brian did his cross-Canada ride two summers ago he did say that the parts in/around Thunder Bay were horrible. He's one of the minority if people who have done the trip east to west (most go west to east).

ETA: as as was mentioned in those other threads, there are no alternative roads to the TCH in N-Ontario and some parts west.

[turd ferguson]

When my friend Brian did his cross-Canada ride two summers ago he did say that the parts in/around Thunder Bay were horrible. He's one of the minority if people who have done the trip east to west (most go west to east).

ETA: as as was mentioned in those other threads, there are no alternative roads to the TCH in N-Ontario and some parts west.

Correct - there's only one highway between Nipigon and just west of Thunder Bay. But even where there's multiple choices (such as 11 through Longlac or 17 through Wawa) the highways are only single lane in each direction, often shoulderless, and full of trucks.

[Double Bellybuster]

Be careful folks!

There were also two fatalities on-course at a triathlon my wife competed in last weekend in Geneva, New York.

Two things you think might cause only minor to major injuries - a rider rear-ending a disabled vehicle and a rider hitting a water bottle on the road - both caused fatal injuries.

Terrible stuff.

[MrBond]

When my friend Brian did his cross-Canada ride two summers ago he did say that the parts in/around Thunder Bay were horrible. He's one of the minority if people who have done the trip east to west (most go west to east).

ETA: as as was mentioned in those other threads, there are no alternative roads to the TCH in N-Ontario and some parts west.

That stretch around the Terry Fox Memorial near Thunder Bay is scary enough on a motorcycle, I would not want to try it on a bicycle....

[jonovision_man]

Two things you think might cause only minor to major injuries - a rider rear-ending a disabled vehicle and a rider hitting a water bottle on the road - both caused fatal injuries.

Triathletes need to get out and learn proper bike handling skills... too many have no clue what they're doing! Just watch the chaos at the dismount line.. a lot of riders with minimal experience on the most difficult kind of bike to handle. A recipe for disaster.

jono