Erie Canal Trike Tour Day 1

There Erie Canal is a Triker's dream! It's beautiful and it passes through towns every 10-15 miles. From Buffalo to Albany, this trail is perfect for a weeklong bike tour. Upstate New York is beautiful at the beginning of fall, the foliage is just starting to change, the weather is cool, and while there is some rain, there are also a lot of beautiful riding days. If you ever get the chance to become an End to Ender, I highly recommend this tour. This is my first day, I started in Albany, took my recumbent trike on the Amtrack to Buffalo, where I started my ride.

[@toridas]

The ship closest to the camera is starting to sink....it's so sad

[@jbondra2]

Like the video. My wife and I live in Ithaca, NY. I messaged you last year about how you got Amtrak to take your trike. My wife has MS and has been riding a trike for about 6 years. I remember you saying something about having a letter from a doctor with specific wording. Would you be able to share that with me? I contacted Amtrak and they said they would not take my wife's trike even though it folds like yours does. Thanks for your time. Jim.

[@ihoppoet]

i did get a perception 3 years ago before I did my Jersey Shore ride, that was in case the police gave me a hard time for being on the boardwalks. but these trikes are qualified as other than wheelchair mobility devices. so as long as they fold and will fit through the train door, Amtrack has to let it on. point them to my video, showing that they do indeed let them on, and explain that the law demands they allow it on board as a mobility device, and if they refuse you will file an ada lawsuit.

[@meandjulio]

I'm starting, tomorrow, where you camped on that first night! From Rochester, I drive the car, then bike out and back . I hope they've fixed that closed part by now.

[@bobbyloesch653]

Great video! Im planning for an end to ender next summer! Can't wait. Just subscribed. Loved the Forrest Gump quote and The Erie Canal song that my Mom told me about. Fifteen Miles on the Erie Canal.

[@davidp7414]

what station in buffalo did you use?

[@ihoppoet]

it was the last one before Canada, I google it and I believe it was exchange st station.

[@daveyJ213]

Interesting. Never been to the east coast of the country ever. Yeah, the guys unloading did not seem very happy; I could hear them cursing under their breath. How did you do that path outlining on the 3D map? Is that a function of Google Maps? Do you like traveling motorized? Any particular problems doing so? Thanks for posting.

[@ihoppoet]

yea they were not happy at all lol. the maps are done with relive. relive.cc they work with several apps, they used to work with strava but don't anymore. but they also have their own app which is great.

[@daveyJ213]

@@ihoppoet Cool. I'll check out the Relive application. Thanks for answering.

[@davidp7414]

It does work through Garmin. I use Strava for record-keeping, but Garmin for recording and mapping en route. The Relive app syncs up with the garmin data if you are using that.

[@nynut518]

Rensselaer ny you started lol home of the Yankee doodle dandy song

[@tronalpha9137]

is the solar blanket keeping up with the discharge?.. Gerard.

[@ihoppoet]

no, the solar panel didn't work at all, I returned it, it wouldn't even charge a drone battery for a DJI spark being on it for a couple days.

[@anotherworker9028]

Did you request the extra rough handling when they unloaded your trike, or was that a freebie? I winced several times watching that.

[@ihoppoet]

no that was a free perk, luckily the trike is tuff, the ones who loaded it were happy to help, they really liked the trike, the guy unloading it wasn't happy, he said "they never should have let this on board" I replied, "it's a wheelchair, and it fits through the door, they had to!"

[@AlGritzmacher]

You are probably by here now, but wish I had known earlier. I live in Lockport about 3 blocks from the locks and would have come out and rode a bit with you! I've ridden the canal trail many times throughout the state, but never the whole thing at once. There are no official campsites this end of the state, but almost every bridge in rural areas has a trailhead with a parking lot and picnic area. I really doubt anyone would have a problem. A couple towns like Brockport and Fairport have nice facilities next to the trail. Again, not official campsites, but if you stopped in the evening to eat dinner, then forgot to move on, I doubt it would be a problem. Most locks, other than Lockport, you can ask the attendant and they will direct you to the nearest spot you can pitch a tent. They usually have potable water and restroom facilities or porta-johns. Out in the sticks, it would be easy to find a place along the trail where no houses were in sight and no one would even know you were there. If you ever get tired and need a break from the gravel path, NY BR5 runs parallel - usually Route 31 or 5. Lots of traffic, but big, wide shoulders that you can make good time on. Further east, there are times when Route 5, 5A/BR5 is less than 100 ft away.

[@ihoppoet]

I found several camp grounds, and camped at a lock. I also used hotels a few times.

[@PedalPushinAK]

The journey has begun ... remember it quite well from our trip last year. Trike on!

[@ihoppoet]

are you an end to ender?

[@PedalPushinAK]

Meaning? I am much more about the journey and experience. Always going to be start and stop point but that’s not the focus.

[@edwardchild7989]

What’s you relive name so I can fallow? Also what kind of solar panel do you have on you canopy? Does it charge you phone? I just got a trike and I am gonna do a short 2 day 116 Key Largo to Key West.

[@ihoppoet]

I think it's probably Ihoppoet, but i'm not sure,

[@PedalPushinAK]

Trip still going? Haven’t seen a post for a bit. Hope the ride is going well.

[@ihoppoet]

I'm going to try to edit and post day 2 tonight.

[@patrickmckowen2999]

Nice Loved the Forest Gump quote Cheers

[@paulahavens2764]

LOVE THE VIDEO, THE TRAIN GUYS WERE KIND OF HARD ON THE TRIKE WHILE TRYING TO GET IT OUT. THEY DID AN OOPY ON SOMETHING. HOPE TO SEE DAY TWO HAVE SUBSCRIBED AND LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR VIDEO.

[@ihoppoet]

Thank you for subscribing, I'm glad you enjoyed the video. yea he was pretty rough with it, luckily the Dumont is a tuff trike.

[@jamesbarker213]

Contact Catrike when you get home. They make a new retention strap clip to hold the trike together when folded. Way better than original. Trike would not have unfolded when they took it off the train, even with the rough handling.

[@ihoppoet]

thanks for the tip, I'll contact them, I didn't know they upgraded it, the velcro strap it came with is about worthless, was considering hacking it, but if the already have I'll check into it.

[@jamesbarker213]

ihoppoet Yes! Catrike redesigned the part. The Velcro strap remains but now loops through and back over and works very well.

[@paulahavens2764]

IS THERE A LINK TO THE NEW STRAP WOULD LIKE TO INQUIRER ABOUT IT MYSELF AS WELL

[@cjbelgrave]

Great video, I was hoping to take my ICE Sprint X on the train. It looks like you got a great trip on the way. Stay safe and healthy. Good Luck on your travels.

[@ihoppoet]

does it fold? I called them in advanced showed them the website so they could se the dimensions, and recorded the call. if it fits, and you're disabled and use it a a mobility device they have to allow it.

[@marybachmann]

Whoohoo! Wish I was Taking that trip. It's on my list!

[@ihoppoet]

you should, it took me a couple days longer than expected, but I had some trouble with my trike, and the last time I did a 400 mile tour was almost all pavement or boardwalk.