Mark Connolly moved to @[email protected]

A5. The Trans Canada Trail is billed as “the longest multi-use trail system in the world”, which is pretty cool. The standards, though, are pretty varied. This portion in Waterloo Region goes along a farm driveway before exiting the driveway onto more of a dirt path. The dirt path has been upgraded significantly since I took this photo in 2023. I’m not sure if the painted “sign” on the driveway is still there!

#BikeNite #WaterlooRegion

Mar 14 at 3:41pmWeb
Show threadEllenInEdmonton Mar 14
@uxmark
I have long been disgusted by the sorry excuse for a #hiking and #biking "trail" that is billed as the "Trans-Canada Trail". I forget how early this became a thing, but I recall recommending that it be a millennium project to complete the trail. In Alberta, most of what is labelled as the trail was pre-existing trails through towns and cities. A lot of it is downright lethal.
Show threadMark Connolly moved to @[email protected]Mar 14
@EllenInEdmonton Yeah, it’s varied in quality for sure!
Show threadRegina MMar 14
@EllenInEdmonton @uxmark At this rate it will be next millennium.
Show threadEllenInEdmonton Mar 14
@PedalHoppy @uxmark
Pretty much. Assuming that the will to complete the trail ever arrives.
Show threadTeaceratops/GameDev MumMar 14

@uxmark I was actually looking at local parts of the trail last night on Google maps, and came to realise a large part of it that had been mapped out, was actually a janky path that cuts through a really weird part of town, some of which is directly next to a highway. And it loops all the way up and back on itself for absolutely no reason, when there is actually a rather nice street with a cafe and an ice-cream shop on it, that you can use to cut off the massive detour. And that street pretty much delivers you right back onto a pretty part of the trail.

I definitely think that it needs some revisions...

Show threadMark Connolly moved to @[email protected]Mar 14
@Teaceratops The Great Lakes Waterfront Trail is like this too. Some stunningly beautiful stretches through wetlands and along wonderfully maintained multi-use paths, while other stretches are along busy 80km/h rural roads.
Show threadSteve RoyMar 14
@uxmark The Hamilton–Brantford section of the trail is beautiful and wonderful for walking and cycling. I’ve done it twice and loved it. Plenty of benches along the way too.
Show threadMark Connolly moved to @[email protected]Mar 14
@steveroy Nice! And parts of it in Waterloo Region are lovely. But the quality is definitely variable 😀🚴‍♀️❤️
Show threadBob JonkmanMar 15

@uxmark

Yup, still there. Workers from #WaterlooRegion re-painted the road markings last spring.

The gate from the driveway to the trail is vicious. It zig-zags with chain link fence on both sides, just wide enough to bike through VERY slowly. No way through with even a moderately wide quad or a longish velomobile. Last year I approached too fast, braked and skidded, so I reached out to grab the chain link fence and tore open my hand. Lots of blood, and me with no first-aid kit.

#BikeNite A5

Show threadLovesTha🥧Mar 16
@bobjonkman @uxmark Thank you for prompting me to add some basic first aid items to my cycling kit.
Show threadBob JonkmanMar 17

@LovesTha

I did have a (mostly) clean bandana in my pannier, which held me together until I got into town and could buy a box of bandages. That's in my pannier now, along with an empty box for more first aid stuff.

What should a cycling first aid kit contain? Anything special not found in other first aid kits? What about a first aid kit for group ride organizers?

P.S. Photos of your first aid kit encouraged!

@ascentale
@uxmark

#BikeNite A5 #BikeNitePQ too!

Show threadLovesTha🥧Mar 17
@bobjonkman @ascentale @uxmark obviously it should change a bit with scale and scope of riding.
For my rides of up to two hours I'm thinking:
* a few band aids of various sizes
* one bandage
I should already have access to water.
Anything more than those and I'm probably calling for assistance regardless of what i have with me
Show threadMatthew NewellMar 17

@bobjonkman @LovesTha @ascentale @uxmark

Concentrated antiseptic/salt. Mix with your water to irrigate / clean grazes. Road rash needs to be cleaned and whilst all ways are painful; immediately and with lots of fluids is the least painful.

Survival blanket. Drenched with sweat in sports gear can rapidly turn into uncontrollable shivers and worse after the adrenaline spike if an accident wears off.

Micropore tape. Just incredibly useful to have around. The very thin and sticky 3M stuff.

Show threadLovesTha🥧Mar 17
@MatthewNewell @bobjonkman @ascentale @uxmark survival blanket is a very good suggesion. Also useful in break down situations.