Ironbutt Montreal-Sarnia and back

ChriSTian_64

ChriSTian_64

Site Supporter
Joined
Feb 5, 2020
Messages
812
Age
60
Location
Deux-Montagnes, Quebec, Canada
Bike
2000 ST1100Y
I'm starting to think about a first attempt on an Ironbutt, Saddlesore 1000 miles / 1600 km.

I checked a couple possible route, from montreal, QC, and found that going to Sarnia, ON, and back, would be perfect.

Among the advantages of this route is the fact that it will be on a multi-lane freeway (so you shouldn't be jammed in slow moving traffic for hours) and... there are 23 "on route" along the road. These are multi-service rest-area : gas station, restroom, and restaurants.
So, it is easy to plan a two hour drive, 15 minute stop, another two hour, 20 minute stop, and so on. All services couldn't be closer. So no time lost to find a gas station or a restaurant or a place to stop and stretch your muscles.

Some people hate running on freeway, not me. Of course, country roads have their own charms and are really pleasant. But, yeah freeways are for running the long distances.
I've been driving on freeway 10-12 hours a day, for many days in a row before. I just like it.

I have a Corbin seat for long distances. Have a few days off in september. I think I'm gonna give it a try.

As a preparation drive, I will do a shorter run before, like a 5 hour in one direction (say montreal - Riviere-du-loup) and back.

The Montreal to Sarnia route is an 8 hour drive, plus about 1 hour 1/2 of pit stop time, multiply that two times. It should be about 18 - 19 hours in total.

I know how the Greater Toronto Area is heavy with traffic. So, I'm planning to go thru that area later during the evening and night.
I'm a night worker anyway. So, for me, 11 pm is like 11 am.

As a rookie rider, I'm listening to any wisdon sharing.
 
Having just driven through Toronto on the 401 at night, I would consider the toll road 407. Be prepared to pay through the nose on that though. Saving grace is they don’t charge motorcycles for the photograph of your plate because you can’t carry a transponder. Having said that you will need to challenge the bill when it arrives.
There is major construction on the 401 from the 427 to Milton which can impede your progress. The lanes have shifted and the use of concrete barriers and poor markings make it a challenge at night especially if it’s raining. ( that happened to me last Saturday)
Good luck with your run should be good.
 
As a big fan of the IBA rides, first advice is just go do it. It will seem daunting to you the more you contemplate the best time, road, gear, ect. After, you will smile and think why did I over think this. My buddy set up our first one years ago, longest daylight, perfect weather, gas at the perfect spots, that sort of thing. It was unnecessary, just ride and make your stops quick, no dilly dally. Practice the pump, receipt, take picture a few times, oddly I find it the most trouble. If you think you will need to ride at night, consider starting off then so you are fresh. Last bit of advice, just go do it. It is a great feeling to accomplish!
 
Having spent a fair amount of time on the road between Montreal and Toronto, much less so Toronto to Sarnia, I'd be trying to minimise night time riding due to critter activity on the roads. Dusk is always a bad time, but I've found 11PM - 1AM to be particularily bad as well.

Animals not really an issue in the Greater Toronto Area, but 80% of the trip will be long stretches of the 401 that are going to be unfenced and unlit.

Good luck.
 
kiltman said:
I was just passed Cornwall at around 5:00 pm and I saw a deer grazing on the side of the 401 on Saturday
Click to expand...

It wasn't a deer Robert.
It was me, in my camouflage outfit.

Very good points, guys. I'm taking notes.

Yeah, wildlife at night, on a dark road in a less populated area is a real issue.

Indeed, the Toronto area is something I would prefer to avoid. One of the busyiest road section of north america.

Maybe I could modify my route a bit.
 
Last edited:
Plan to leave early and get darkness off the table when you are freshest.

Bring snack and lots of water to cut down on lost time at stops.

Be aggressive early in the day, longer stretches, fewer breaks and build time to relax later in the day.

Dress in layers to deal with temperature variations during the day.

I went Boston, MA to Niles, MI for mine, lest at 3:30 AM, done by 8:30 PM, 18 hours (charged a time zone)
 
My trip from Saguenay to Stratford took me 14 hours. I left at 9:30 am and pulled into Stratford at 11:30pm 1200 kms I averaged 85kms/hr. I stopped for fuel in Trois Rivière, Mallory town, Port Hope. Put my rain gear on at Kingston, also stopped at the ON Service in Kitchener.
I had a bite to eat at the first On Route of the 401(I packed a lunch) I also had a 10 minute power nap there. I got tied up in traffic in Montreal that slowed me down. I also had a lunch stop on the 155 at a rest area. A pee break at a rest stop on the 40 near Montreal, a pee break at Chambore. Whenever I stopped for fuel I visited the rest room.
In total I stopped 9 times for an average of 13 minutes per stop.
I could have easily shaved off a couple of minutes per stop.
Note I wasn’t racing against a clock and the first part of the journey I went through a number of towns. Posted limits were 90, 80, 70, and 50. You will be on highways with 100km/h. On those sections I rode at 112km/h according to my GPS. In the 90 section I set the cruise to 102km/h.
Time yourself at the next time you need to fill up with 22litres. Taking a picture of the receipt.
It is bit of a hike from the pumps to the restrooms at On Service locations too.
I think you will do well. Have fun planning
 
ChriSTian_64 said:
I know how the Greater Toronto Area is heavy with traffic. So, I'm planning to go thru that area later during the evening and night.
I'm a night worker anyway. So, for me, 11 pm is like 11 am.
Click to expand...
I was going to say that this could be your Achilles heel but if you're comfortable at night then that is really the way/time to go. Personally, I think I'd head east for the more scenic route, but that's me.

I'd add a couple points:
  1. Have some sort of "cruise control". Its surprising how tired your wrist can get.
  2. Layers are good but heated gear is even better, IMHO. You can, essentially, de-layer/layer up without stopping.
  3. As mentioned, get into the habit of getting the receipt. I forgot to do so for the first half of my iron butt ,actually did about 1200 miles total, so it was invalid (didn't bother to submit). You can read about it here:
  4. Finally, also as mentioned, just do it. If you only get 400 miles and have to turn back, then that' was your "practice." :)
 
My phone tells me that Montreal to Sarnia is 509 miles or 1018 return, (centre ville to city centre)

Make sure you have a good mileage buffer - more than 18 miles would be preferable. Careful where your departure, turn point and arrival points are.
 
If you don't have sort of throttle lock I recommend the $20 Go Cruise. It's not ideal like an electronic CC but it works good with the stock throttle grip.

I'm a lark by nature and up early so I always start my IBA or distance rides an hour or two before my usual wake time of about 5 AM. You mentioned days off but I prefer the weekend days over week days.
 
Wow, just continuing my research and double checking some info :
The four-oh-one stretches 828 kilometres (514 mi) from Windsor in the west to the Ontario–Quebec border in the east.
(so this section, back and forth would be enough for the 1000 miles / 1600 km).

The part of Highway 401 that passes through Toronto is North America's busiest highway, and one of the widest.

The busiest highway in north america ? Wow.

What I remember from it, at 10 pm, 5 line freeway, with a 3 or 4 lane expressway, in both direction, but, even at 10 pm, it was crowded and running way over the limit in all lanes.
I was hauling my camper trailer whit my grand caravan, and felt pushed by that mass of traffic running much faster than me. I was a bit over the limit.

On the other hand, it is an asset to have all those 24/7 multi-service rest-area.
The GTA section is the worse part. The rest is more relax.

Maybe I could modify my route to make a triangle, with timmins, sudbury, orrilia, peterborough, cornwall, hawkebury.
But then, you have the small town to go thru, with slower traffic, long stretch without too much service, etc.
 
The 401/402...... nobody going to stop you if you're doing 20 over. East of Toronto find a rabbit easy enough, they're going 125-130.
Alternate, hit Toronto after 10am and before 2pm if daytime, you might lose 10 minutes if it is slow, but moves steady from my experience. Construction as kiltman says west of Brampton to Milton WILL slow you down right now.
Don't know what to tell you about riding at night and critters.... surprisingly not as plentiful as one might think, but be vigilant.. have good lighting... got auxiliary lighting? LED conversion?
 
I personally would not go the Windsor route, way too freakin boring and there have been accidents in the past due to fatigue. Cops worse there too west of London. 402 not nearly as boring.
FYI a one-way trip on the 407 across Toronto is going to be a $50 hit one way.
Extend your trip by zipping up 400 to 60 east to Ottawa? Do NOT hit Ottawa in rush hour, dead stopped, worse than Toronto if you ask me. Did I mention I'm glad I'm retired and don't have to commute any more?
 
Yes @Jeff F , you are right with the "needed buffer". I calculated the mileage from my local 24h gas station, wich will be my starting and ending point. Since I'm about 30 km north west of montreal, it gives me a bit more buffer. But, good point. Maybe I should go toward Windsor instead, to have more room.

@dduelin , yes, I have a throttle lock, and just love it.

@RaYzerman , Led headlights upgrade, yes.
And traffic running 135 km in a 100 kmh zone, yes, exactly what I recall. Insane.
Thanks for the info about good hours and other routes.
 
I should add.... if you go up north, now you're getting into critter country on 60... avoid at night if possible.
Sight lines are wide on the 402, should be clear sailing I'd think.
 
ChriSTian_64 said:
And traffic running 135 km in a 100 kmh zone, yes, exactly what I recall. Insane.
Click to expand...

If you feel 135 km is insane you should stay off the 407.

Many many years ago it seemed to be commonly accepted that Quebec drivers, and especially those in Montreal, were crazy and reckless. What did I know.......... I grew up in Quebec and Montreal (NDG) and everything seemed normal to me. Then I moved to Toronto in '88 and commuted on the 401 every day. I quickly realized that Montreal's reputation was not warranted. No contest after travelling through a fair number of Canadian cities coast to coast. Toronto's drivers are the worse by far. Fast, reckless, careless, distracted etc........ Stay safe when travelling through TO.
 
If you hit Toronto in the early evening you can hit it again on the return before rush hour in the a.m... big plus, time and safety-wise
This, of course means leaving Montreal in the afternoon which may not be optimal... just sayin'
 
No, finally, I think the 401, from end to end, makes sense.

- Total distance is right (828 km / 514 miles). Any extension from / to your home will give you some extra buffer distance.

- There are a couple members who lives nearby, so in case of mechanical problems, that could allow moral support and an opportunity to make a new friend.

- Anyone leaving along the 401 can do it, end to end and back home.

- The GTA is probably the fastest road in canada, where you can flow with the traffic, at 130- 135, without beeing stopped by a cop. Allright. So, that is another advantage for that route.

- The 23 "on route" 24/7 multi-service rest-area, directly accessible from the freeway.

There are probably best hours / day of the week / timing to do it.

My next holidays are in mid-september.That give me some time to replace my front tire, install my led headlights, plan a kind of time schedule, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom