1:52 - About taking this Trail on a road bike. Imo it's more than comfortable from my experience. I go bombing down it on a road bike with 25mm Conti GP5000 tires that have no tread, love it. 2:30 - Spot on, beautiful trail to take on the sunny and humid days. A lot better than being cooked on the Keddy trail. 3:50 - Noticed that too, overall feels very safe. 8:14 - If you keep going straight to the closed gate. You are able to get onto the Bruce Trail which leads you right to the top of the Keddy trail.
I only deduct a little bit of points for gravel paths, and I only mention that road bikes might not like the roughness, because people have commented in the past that they would like me to mention those things. So, to be fair, since not everyone is willing to take those kinds of paths, I leave it up the the individual rider to make the choice. I will have to check out that connection to the Keddy Access soon! Would you say it's good terrain to cycle, or better to walk?
Very good point. I know my experience doesn't apply for all. I'd say the connection is better walked. Though it's doable on a MTB if you're feeling daring.
Yeah UB, I like to take this route to go up to my parents' place, but I always take into account if it had been raining the previous day or not, because it will stay muddy for a day or two afterward. The Keddy Access is the alternative route I take when the weather conditions haven't been ideal. I do really enjoy my e-bike, I think it was a good investment for me, seeing as I like to go up and down the escarpment frequently, and it just makes getting places less strenuous (as well as getting through large intersections quicker). I only get 30km per charge, but I use full assist. Once the weather gets better I am going to train myself to use the lower assist levels, and see if I can travel further out than I had this past year. My goal for this coming summer is to see if I can do a round trip to Caledonia from downtown Hamilton, taking the Escarpment Rail Trail and the Chippewa Trail (~56km total).
Thanks for sharing this. Currently reviewing vids, in order to do an ambitious west-bound day-loop of Hamilton through Ancaster, looping up to Hamilton Beach in near future. This helps to familiarize for route planning. Re: 3:45 I can confirm that off-trail wheel snatch on the Escarpment Rail Trail, on the eTrike, on a narrow, precipitous section into near Oblivion is a Thing. In some portions it is only grass obscuring the Drop. I had a lucky recovery from wheel-snatch, when i attempted a higher speed over-take of a bicyclist who was already doing a good clip, and wanted to give him lots of room by riding the edge.. I took a break right after that, as i was obviously riding on an overly ambitious 'High', rather than with Prudence...
The dip at 0:57 where Princess Falls is could be an issue for a trike depending on how long and low the trike is, so be cautious there. It's much more noticeable when traveling upbound.
You are definitely correct about the Ancaster part. At the time this was filmed, I was under the impression that the center line on Scenic Drive was the dividing line between Hamilton and Ancaster. As far as there being signs posted that say "No E-Bikes On Trail", I have never seen any. I even went back and checked a few other videos where I have travelled on the trail, and there were no signs at any point stating that. If there are signs there now, then they're there now, but not when the video was recorded.
There is a small parking lot where you can park at the top of the trail (Scenic Drive). There is also the golf club parking lot 2/3rds the way down (anyone can use it), and street parking in the Kirkendall neighbourhood at the bottom.
The safest way would be to take the Wilson Street or the Keddy Access Trail. It depends on where you are going and where you are coming from, though. Taking the Keddy could put you out of hte way slightly, if you ultimately need to head back west once you are down (ex. if you wanted to go to Westdale or Dundas)
@@HamiltonRambler Hmm I see thanks! I don't think I'd be biking to Dundas or Westdale much. Them's fancy places. :p How's the winter maintenance, anyway? Is it actually feasible to bike in winter?
I'm more familiar with the Keddy Access Trail in the winter, and I can say that as long as it's not actively snowing, it's excellent to cycle on. It seems to get cleared quickly, and there has only been a few times I wanted to cycle on it and the trail was completely closed to both pedestrians and cyclists, but that was during the first couple months after it opened.
1:52 - About taking this Trail on a road bike. Imo it's more than comfortable from my experience. I go bombing down it on a road bike with 25mm Conti GP5000 tires that have no tread, love it.
2:30 - Spot on, beautiful trail to take on the sunny and humid days. A lot better than being cooked on the Keddy trail.
3:50 - Noticed that too, overall feels very safe.
8:14 - If you keep going straight to the closed gate. You are able to get onto the Bruce Trail which leads you right to the top of the Keddy trail.
I only deduct a little bit of points for gravel paths, and I only mention that road bikes might not like the roughness, because people have commented in the past that they would like me to mention those things. So, to be fair, since not everyone is willing to take those kinds of paths, I leave it up the the individual rider to make the choice.
I will have to check out that connection to the Keddy Access soon! Would you say it's good terrain to cycle, or better to walk?
Very good point. I know my experience doesn't apply for all.
I'd say the connection is better walked. Though it's doable on a MTB if you're feeling daring.
interesting route, I almost want to invest in an e-bike. Big🦶
Yeah UB, I like to take this route to go up to my parents' place, but I always take into account if it had been raining the previous day or not, because it will stay muddy for a day or two afterward. The Keddy Access is the alternative route I take when the weather conditions haven't been ideal.
I do really enjoy my e-bike, I think it was a good investment for me, seeing as I like to go up and down the escarpment frequently, and it just makes getting places less strenuous (as well as getting through large intersections quicker).
I only get 30km per charge, but I use full assist. Once the weather gets better I am going to train myself to use the lower assist levels, and see if I can travel further out than I had this past year. My goal for this coming summer is to see if I can do a round trip to Caledonia from downtown Hamilton, taking the Escarpment Rail Trail and the Chippewa Trail (~56km total).
Parents always enjoy your visit, plus you might need a snack lol. Big🦶
Nice ride, it's cool to see where the Brantford & Hamilton Electric Railway once operated!
The view would have been amazing seeing it from a traincar!
Thanks for sharing this. Currently reviewing vids, in order to do an ambitious west-bound day-loop of Hamilton through Ancaster, looping up to Hamilton Beach in near future. This helps to familiarize for route planning.
Re: 3:45 I can confirm that off-trail wheel snatch on the Escarpment Rail Trail, on the eTrike, on a narrow, precipitous section into near Oblivion is a Thing. In some portions it is only grass obscuring the Drop. I had a lucky recovery from wheel-snatch, when i attempted a higher speed over-take of a bicyclist who was already doing a good clip, and wanted to give him lots of room by riding the edge.. I took a break right after that, as i was obviously riding on an overly ambitious 'High', rather than with Prudence...
The dip at 0:57 where Princess Falls is could be an issue for a trike depending on how long and low the trike is, so be cautious there. It's much more noticeable when traveling upbound.
Two mistakes.... There is a sign posted..... NO E BIKES on trail.... And as soon as you go under the Hydro lines at the top you are in Ancaster.
You are definitely correct about the Ancaster part. At the time this was filmed, I was under the impression that the center line on Scenic Drive was the dividing line between Hamilton and Ancaster. As far as there being signs posted that say "No E-Bikes On Trail", I have never seen any. I even went back and checked a few other videos where I have travelled on the trail, and there were no signs at any point stating that. If there are signs there now, then they're there now, but not when the video was recorded.
So where did you start and where did you park?
There is a small parking lot where you can park at the top of the trail (Scenic Drive). There is also the golf club parking lot 2/3rds the way down (anyone can use it), and street parking in the Kirkendall neighbourhood at the bottom.
Hellooooooooo~... Is there a way to feasibly get down the mountain from Ancaster by bike in the winter?
The safest way would be to take the Wilson Street or the Keddy Access Trail. It depends on where you are going and where you are coming from, though. Taking the Keddy could put you out of hte way slightly, if you ultimately need to head back west once you are down (ex. if you wanted to go to Westdale or Dundas)
@@HamiltonRambler Hmm I see thanks! I don't think I'd be biking to Dundas or Westdale much. Them's fancy places. :p
How's the winter maintenance, anyway? Is it actually feasible to bike in winter?
I'm more familiar with the Keddy Access Trail in the winter, and I can say that as long as it's not actively snowing, it's excellent to cycle on.
It seems to get cleared quickly, and there has only been a few times I wanted to cycle on it and the trail was completely closed to both pedestrians and cyclists, but that was during the first couple months after it opened.
@@HamiltonRambler Wowzers neat thanks!