If you have common sense you can do the ride. Keep close to the speed limit and you should be fine. Don't try to rail the corners, take it easy and then ride it a little harder next time.
Sounds like you'll be doing the speed limit all the way. Leave early in the morning. Heed to the suggested speed limits in the curves and you'll be fine. But look out for gravel at every corner.
Also, people are friendly there, and they wave at bikes.. Its fun
That's how you get more experience, there is not a road in BC that a new rider cannot manage as long as they pay attention the the speed signs, is aware of their own limits and stays within them...
Just did it for the first time this year myself. As long as you stick to the limit you can ride anywhere. If your out to have fun make sure you don't go alone. It is a fun day and you'll enjoy it. Ride within your means and you'll be just fine.
I did it for the first time yesterday (with mike) and it's a great ride. As mentioned, bring lots of water (I drank 2L, plus probably 1L of lemonade at lunch and could probably have drank more). Definitely stop at least once every 90mins or so even if just for 10 minutes at a time, it's a long longer ride than my body was used to, and I'd probably be more sore today if we hadn't gotten gas a couple extra times.
The road conditions were fine, some areas with gravel and a handful of larger rocks on the road in landslide areas to watch for. I think we had to stop for construction 3 or 4 times for less than 5 minutes at a time. Any corner that you'll want to slow down for is marked clearly. When it's safe, cars will usually pull to the shoulder to give you enough space to pass.
When were you thinking of going? I've never done it myself and wouldn't mind riding with someone who was reasonable about it for a first time trip. I've got 10K+ under my belt, but I'm definitely still a noobie in some ways
A new rider friend of mine(got his class 6 last year) did the Duffey a couple weeks ago, after riding many many times up the S2S to Squamish and Whistler.
if you want to enjoy yourself and not ask for a kidney transplant, just go do a winthrop run or only far as liberty bell and back.
pavement of much higher quality, less places with gravel, and drivers are generally better there as well.
only worthwhile portions of that loop are parts of the fraser canyon, and a few km before pemberton. rest are either too frost heave and tar snake covered hell, or is just boring at speeds you'll be doing.
When were you thinking of going? I've never done it myself and wouldn't mind riding with someone who was reasonable about it for a first time trip. I've got 10K+ under my belt, but I'm definitely still a noobie in some ways
A new rider friend of mine(got his class 6 last year) did the Duffey a couple weeks ago, after riding many many times up the S2S to Squamish and Whistler.
Infuria, check the ride reports section for several Winthrop routes. Basically head south to Sedro-Wooley and hang a left. Go for 2 hours over the pass, and stop when you feel like you've walked into a John Wayne movie set, THAT is Winthrop.
oh. betwen llyton and lillioeetetete there are 2 marked blind corners and you better be doing what it says or we are probably going to read a rider down thread from you. They caught me off guard especially after the high speed fun through fraser canyon before that.
No road should be a problem if you ride within your limits. I rode the Duffey the first year I was on a bike. Guess what, I didn't crash. I've ridden it every year since, regardless of crappy pavement. Last year was pretty nice after the repaving job.
Unless there are camouflaged sink holes in the road, any road is OK to ride. It's not the road that kills it's the idiots who ride beyond their limits. Don't be an idiot and you'll be fine.
I came across 4 Harleys from Alberta yesterday on the downhill into Mt. Currie, they were not idiots and would have put half the sportybikers here to shame..
It is easy to get complacent on that road due to the lack of traffic. Eventually there may be some large oncoming thing clipping corners though. I had a slight poop pants moment with one of those rental RVs.
Another note there is one hairpin with a gravel entry. Never caught me out but something to be aware of. This was a few years ago so maybe it's paved now?
It's on the entry (downhill) if you are heading north. On the exit (uphill) I you are headed south.
Also if it's raining there's one or two wooden bridges that will be squirrelly. One of them has a sharp corner right after it. The only two times I rode the duffy was in the rain, and both times I just about shat my pants at that part. Doing it not in the pouring rain and fog might be advisable.
Surely to God people know that wooden decks are slippery in the rain.... but I guess if they don't.. heads up folks :laughing
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