[source_distributing]

We had an AWESOME run on Friday night on the Holland Canal, and then just a little on Simcoe over to McCluskeys in Keswick (otherwise known as the K-Dot... LOL). Judging by the warm temps over here, it may well have been our last run of the season. BUGGAR. But a good way to go out, it was a blast. We had a light sprinkling of rain at one point but nothing serious. Conditions otherwise were awesome, fairly mild for a late night ride (we got to bed at 5:30 am!) And GUESS WHAT? I won't name names publicly so as not to embarass a friend, but this little girl had a MAN as a backseat sledder on her Blair Morgan most of the night! That's right people! HAHAHAHA! In his defense, he brought along his Raptor for the trip only to figure out that it just wasn't going to go the distance and be able to keep up with us at the same time... But STILL!!! I hauled a boy! Hahahaha!!!!! (And had him holdin' on tight, no less! LOL)

CHEERS!!! :whistling:

 

[ZIPPARS02mxz800sp]

sounds like fun.
i never have made it to the holland canal yet. how long a run is it.? when ever i drive up the 400 highway i look down at it. and say i,m going to try it one day. but i,ve been saying that for 7 yrs now.lol

 

[source_distributing]

sounds like fun.
i never have made it to the holland canal yet. how long a run is it.? when ever i drive up the 400 highway i look down at it. and say i,m going to try it one day. but i,ve been saying that for 7 yrs now.lol[/b]

You've never run the canal? Aw, it's the BEST!!! How long is it? I've no idea how many km's. There's probably info on the net on that somewhere. How long it takes you to run it though obviously depends on what speed you're running at (duh!). It gets VERY busy on say, a Saturday during the day. It can seem like a sled highway on a perfect day because SO many people hit it. We prefer to run it at night with noone else around. You can really fly when it's deserted. We've been riding the canal for a long time though so we know it inside out. The first time you hit it - even IF you're able to do a good click because of lack of traffic - I SERIOUSLY recommend taking it easy. It has some KILLER corners on it and a number of *REALLY* low bridges. There's lots of opportunity for serious accidents... I definitely recommend you check it out though if you've never done it before! And it's a great way to get yourself out onto Simcoe too, obviously!

Cheers!

Tracylee

 

[triplenut]

Didn't someone die on the Canal this season? I think it was something to o with those low bridges you speak of...

 

[source_distributing]

You know, I never heard anything about that. That surprises me, actually. Not that there was an accident, just that we weren't aware...??? The accident would be no surprise. When I say the bridges are low, it's an understatement. You have to slow down completely and completely bend your body to the side to pass under. And it gets very slushy around the concrete supports of the bridge, there's sometimes water there so you only have a narrow piece of ice to ride over at such a low speed... The big thing with the bridges is that, if you're not aware that they're coming up... And you're flying? I could see a complete disaster. If there WAS such an accident, I've no doubt it was pretty ugly.

...

 

[snow prowler]

Sounds like you had a fun run. But just wondering, how deep is that canal? The bridges sound kinda tricky to go under.

 

[ZIPPARS02mxz800sp]

i guess its all slush by now eh and lake simcoe.?

 

[me&mymxz]

Yes there was a fatality on the canal just south of #11 where the rider sat up too soon.

 

[Icerider]

Didn't someone die on the Canal this season? I think it was something to o with those low bridges you speak of...[/b]

Yepper he was going to fast and was not low enough smashed he head of the bridge. I have been on it a few times and when I get to a low bridge I almost stop and go slowly under them. When the water level is high it can be a tight fit.

 

[vapourtrail]

i don't think that i would like bending over to get under a bridge.can you go up the bank around them?

 

[mr670]

Yes you can go up and around the low bridges. But it is no problem to go under them , as long as you take it easy.
A rev has about 1-2 inch clearence above the windshield.

 

[source_distributing]

I believe that, at all of the bridges, you have the option of going up the bank and around, yes. BUT, if you are very cautious and slow RIGHT down, there really can't be any harm to going under instead. In fact - If this person that died made the mistake of raising his/her head too soon (meaning he/she hadn't passed completely under yet before trying to sit upright once again) then realistically... Well, he/she could have only been going way too fast. If you WERE slowed right down and still made the same error of rising too soon, you might bang up your helmet by bumping it... But you wouldn't sustain any major injury or worst of all, die from it. Do you follow what I mean? I go so slow that if I bumped my head under there, it would be no different then walking and bumping my head into something - But with the benefit of a helmet on to protect me from a bruise!

Regardless of any error this rider may have made to cause his/her own death, it's very tragic. There's no denying that. And it just goes to show - A person CANNOT excercise enough caution. You need to take the TIME to analyze things PROPERLY and make the right judgement call. Any sport involving speed is dangerous in this sense... You need to be 100% on the ball at all times because you need to be able to make decisions on the fly... And when in doubt? If you think something is risky and you're on the fence about it, just don't do it. Whether it be like in this case - "Is it safe to raise my head yet?" or whether it's a question of crossing water... Or whatever. When I pass under these bridges, I stay bent all the way over until I know I am WELL clear. Probably looks stupid to someone watching on the other side when I'm bent all the way over still, a meter after I'm 99% sure the bridge has ended - But, my head is 100% safe!