Sutton Loop - Southern Quebec's most beautiful ride

Owls Head around sunset

I just got back from a loop around the Sutton Mountains in Quebec's Eastern Townships (Cantons de l'est), and this is the most scenic ride I've done in a while. And I've done a lot!

I parked at the rest stop on Rt 243 beside South Bolton, at the start of the Bolton Pass.

The ride details are:

• Bolton Pass to Knowlton (Lac Brome) (very scenic)
• Knowlton to Sutton vis Chemin Echo (very scenic)
• Sutton to Glen Sutton via Chemin Scenic & Chemin de la vallée Mississquoi(very scenic)
• Glen Sutton to Mansonville in mississiquoi river valley(very scenic)
• 6 km out-and-back Covered Bridge (Pont de la Frontiere)(very scenic)
• Mansonville to Owls head vis chemin Vale Perkins(very scenic)
• Detour 2 km out-and-back to lake Memphremagog dock and beach(very scenic)
• North along Chenmin de Lac with views of Orford(very scenic)
• Back to car via Bolton Centre and South Bolton

Frankly, a bike ride doesn't get better than this.


Covered bridge near Mansonville

The ride length was around 100-110 km. I think it would be around 75-80 if you went directly north from Mansonville to South Bolton on the 243(?).

If you wanted a really short and flat ride with really maximum scenery, I'd suggest riding from Mansonville to the US border on Chemin Missisiquoi. It follows the river valley, directions are completely simple, and the scenery: about as good as it gets! And don't forget to do the short side trip to the Mansonville covered bridge ("pont de la frontiere") because here is the best scenic vista in southern Quebec.

The Route:

Blue dots: the route
Red Dots: the two short side trips
green X - starting point/car parking at "halte"

Knowlton - Glen Sutton ride

A great ride around the roadless Mont Sutton massif

We used yesterday's rain-free day to take Sid on a ride around the beautiful Sutton area.

We started in Knowlton and took the (crappy) Mont Echo road to Sutton, passing straight through and then taking (also crappy) Chemin Scenic Road over to the Mississiquoi river valley, which is one of the most scenic valleys in eastern Canada. Road surface improved here and remained excellent for the rest of the ride. Also, at the top of the Scenic hill climb(s) marks the end of the real climbing.

After enjoying the excellent scenery of the Mississiquoi river valley, it was in to Mansonville and a side trip over to the nearby covered bridge for some excellent and amazing views of the Sutton range, Jay Peak, and many miles south in to Vermont. An excellent detour, and you don't need to go all the way to the covered bridge to enjoy the view.

Then it was back to Mansonville and then through Bolton Pass back to Knowlton.

The low point was a flat and then two more tubes wasted discovering that the valve-hole on the wheel rim has a sharp edge that was cutting the valve-stem when pumping up the tire. It was a year ago that this rear wheel was replaced with a mavic open cd rim that has NEVER stayed aligned, likes to let tires explode off the side of the rim, and now causes spare tubes to be destroyed. This was a Outdoor Gear Canada (OGC)-built wheel that has completely failed to satisfy (translation: complete POS).

But aside from that little flat thing, the ride was excellent, with perfect weather, amazing scenery, and some great road conditions for the second half of the ride. The first half, scenic and mont echo roads left a little something to be desired in the quality asphalt department.

90 kilometres of good times, 1000 metres of climbing, and many many good views. In autumn with fall colours, this would be an amazing ride.

la liste - rides 2015

So by now I have done my usual list of favorite rides, so is it now time to revisit a favorite, or try to explore and find another ride to the list? Decisions, decisions. 

 

-Ormstown (3x) I’d do more rides here except Mercier bridge and alternatives are bad bridges. Although Mercier has its seasonal mega repairs completed for 2015. Since 2008 it’s been being reconstructed with half being federal and half being provincial, and for the provincial half, the re-decking objective seems astoundingly low priority. Because whenit is finished, nice new wide bike/pedestrian sidewalk reconnecting that part of south shore to mtl for bikes.

 

Lacolle (5x) I like riding here and maybe another visit in in the autumn for apple season – greatly improving the snacking potential in Franklin area. As you saw, nice top quality roads too. As I ride in other regions, I notice the parts with bad roads. 

 

Mystic/Bedford/Frelighsburg (2x) This is usually the first real mega hill I do (covey hill I do the easy way) and it enters the eastern townships hills via some real nice riding terrain.  There is also a really short cute covered bridge that I can’t find this year. And I know it’s on this ride!  I did a copout a couple of times in trying to extend the distance east so I have to go back and finish the longest distance version of the ride. Maybe to do this I have to start in Frelighsburg and not Bedford of Mystic.

 

Louiseville, this ride is on the north side of the St Laurence and has that combo of flats and into and then out of the hills that I like. Nice hills too, with optional insane hills. Then downhill back to the car.

 

St-Jean-de-Matha – Home of my fave compact area full of hills. Some recent pavement deterioration on two downhill sections plus some megacheap chipseal (small stones sprayed with tar, except the stones are not small like they are supposed to be so nonstop b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-umpy) makes it less fun. With better road surface this is a top favorite ride. 

 

Victoriaville – this ride starts on the plains but not for long as it heads into across and out of the hills. Victoriaville is a nice town, the rural scenery is nice. This is in the slightly farther drive distance class of rides. Still, on bike two hours from getting in the car. Also birthplace of poutine.

 

Plessisville – This is the big leagues. A bit far but nice riding on historic and quiet roads. Generally always up or down. One mega hill that I did in downhill direction this year.

 

Berthierville – last week’s longish but easy ride, but it seems to get less easy as the day progresses. Nice to ride on islands then in farmland back on shore. One final nice rest stop area that is basically super quiet oddly located rural park before final section back to car traffic civilization. This is second year I do this ride and I like it. I am looking for some ride-lenthening variations.

 

Dirt: / dirt road / dirt trail / mtn bike

 

Ayers Cliff (tomifobia trail) – nice scenic double-track rail-trail along tomifobia river to stanstead and away from roads and traffic. Sometimes rides are not all about hills and distance.

 

Arundel (Corridor Aerobique)

nice scenic double-track rail-trail along rouge river and away from roads and traffic. Sometimes rides are not all about hills and distance. It’s a bit short of a ride though. This is the far end of this trail and not the whole trail since much of it seem just a grind.

 

Mansonville  / Knowlton (dirt) – two rides in one day through different parts of eastern townships dirt roads. Both nice, the mansonville one more scenic. Good early season mtn bike on dirt road riding.

 

East Hereford (mtn bike) – visited 2x, need to go back here some more, maybe Saturday!

 

Rimouski – vacation easy riding, it has bike path all along river all through town. One day I’ll go with the wind and bike to here from home.

 

 

To Do list

Lac megantic – I did this last year, nice to ride around lake, a second section to Mont Megantic would be added once some dirt roads are paved and some paved roads are improved, but presently it’s dirt road and I skip that option. But one day, I’ll ride up Mont Megantic, maybe when I get a triple on my next road bike.

 

Shawinigan/Ste-Tite – didn’t come here for a few years. Need to go back, but some issues with a certain bridge. This is also the start point for a ride through Parc National de la mauricie, which I did once, and is now a major sportif mega ride (I avoid crowds and sportif types) but I found parc de la mauricie to be a bit too much “always in a forest” to be really enjoyable, very few views.

 

 

Jay Peak – long climbs, newly renewed asphalt. After I train all winter I’ll go back here. Because long climbs.  

 

Chemin Nordet/St-Donat – a popular laurentiens mega-road through nowhere, the destination town at the turnaround end of the ride needs paved shoulders to make that part of ride safe and fun and not a near-death experience. Maybe too popular/big of a road for my quiet roads in nowhere’sville tastes.

 

 

Tremblant / Riviere Rouge Huberdeau – Another annual ride I do with Jim every year. Still waiting for one section to get the asphalt repaved (last repaved in 1800s it seems like), It has a covered bridge and is otherwise a nice ride in really nice terrain.

 

Frelighsburg/Stowe – Did this in probably 1980/early 90ss with Pierre, 50 miles south, 50 miles back north. Smuggler’s notch to climb to get to and back from Stowe. Sort of on my redo someday list.

 

Ormstown-Lyon Mtn crossborder century– This was better to do when we had a base in Ormstown. It’s another 100 miler century ride. There’s some issues with Franklin border crossing being open/closed.

 

Mont Laurier – Montreal – P-tit train du nord bike path is 200 km from St-Jerome to Mont Lauruer (tremblant in the middle) along with more 50 km-ish more riding mainly on bike path back home to Mtl. This is a long term goal requiring overnight in Mont Laurier and an early start.

 

Montreal-Quebec – waiting for a big tailwind and I’ll try this one in a day sometime. Maybe with wife-based car support.

 

Quebec-Gaspé with the wind. Another needs some wife-based car support to do this lightweight and speedy.

Best rides of 2007

With over 3000 km of road riding done in 2007, it was a very good year indeed. I visited many new places, and did a number of exceptionally good rides, and of course, I only touched 0.01% of vermont, paradise for bikes.

here are some of the best rides, for one reason or another.

Ormstown- St-Chrysostome - Covey hill - Powerscourt - Trout river - Ridge road - Dewittville 130km - The complete chateauguay valley ride. A beauty. Good views of all sorts of things. Good roads. Many different eco systems. Tailwind for last 30 kms.(link)

Ormstown - Lyon Mountain USA century ride (160 km/100 miles). Ormstown-franklin-usa border-Lyon mtn village - Lyon Mtn loop-lyon Mtn village-Canadian border-Franklin - Ormstown. Lyon mountain is visible from Mt royal, it's the closest adirondack mountain to the southwest. Excellent climb on second half of riding around lyon mountain. gentle downhills home (mostly!).(link)

Frelighsburg-Joy Hill - Richford/ VT - Montgomery (bot the easy way)-Phillispburg. Two words: Joy Hill! Climb on backroad between Richford and Montgomery is exceptional. Great view of Pinacle. Veromont guide book included this cross border ride, and said it was best in book, it sure was. Thanks sid! Frelighsburg was cyclist central!(link)

Jay Peak loop from Sutton (chemin scenic both directions). The Famous five-hill Jay ride, one of the great rides of the east. Back side of jay is big climb! Front side is steep hill, descent to Mongomery is wow (with dogs!), all hills are fun and hard. Crossing border at East Richford always special. Food stop before front-side jay climb a long-standing tradition. Winter training pays off here!(link and link and link)

Phillipsburg - Lake Champlain islands – St-Albans bay - Phillipsburg. Park lakeside at Philipsburg, take highway to US border - now you’re on Interstate! Go west, to Islands, and turn south. Follow islands until back on solid land (diversions possible on some islands), on mainland, turn left and head north, passing St-Albans bay. Relax on Philipsburg dock in late day sun with beer. Happiness.(link)

St-Hermenegilde – St-Malo - East Hereford ride. A wild ride, because of some colorful routefinding, heavy rain and massive lightning, awesome scenery, great 10 metre tall lookout tower at St-malo (already at 600 metres elevation!), tres vrai rustique back road, the great Hall river valley, a good ride with interesting route, exciting conditions and bad rear wheel. I Plan to try again in good weather!(link and link)

Northern Lanaudiere final version - quiet roads, good pavement, a dozen hills, 16% climbs, long descents, great scenery, fresh raspberries, villages, a stunning ride, my favorite ride in Quebec. Many repeat visits worked out this final, exceptional, version. This version mainly avoids busy roads. St-Jean de Matha, Ste-Emilie de l'Energie and Ste-Beatrix. First visit here was because of Petits Escapades guidebook. Because it looked hilly! Arrive late and enjoy late day sun and sunset lighting, amazing. Don't forget Chemin Ste-Guillaume at end.(link and link and link and link)

Tremblant-Riviere Rouge. Leaving the village of Tremblant is always a good idea, head from tourist office west and turn near Riviere rouge and ride north to village with strange bridge, with dock in middle and great wood sculpture. Cross here and ride south along rouge river, and country side, ride back north along river. Great hills, scenery, and covered bridge and with optional crazy hill at end. This is touches the Pays en Haut area. Optional extension to make Arundel southern turning point. Check the strange train at Arundel post office.(link and link)

Chemin Cyclist St-Donat. Officially named chemin Nordet, this recently all-new highway opened up a road for the first time between St-Donat and Lac Superieur (near Tremblant northside. It is starting to age, but still an amazing (Vermont-like) ride, with two major climbs with sort of a plateau in between. It is just starting to be developed, but for years was empty of icky real estate exploitation. Great wide paved shoulders. Big descents. Extremely popular with cycling clubs and groups of cyclists of all types. Ride from St-Donat to Lac Superieur, lap the lake, have a snack, and ride back.(link)

St-Donat to Chertsey and back. The Rt 125 is the autoroute that wasn't. Double-lane divided highway through very scenic hills. Very good autumn colors ride. A bit busy sometimes. For added flavour, ride the 347 Notre-Dame-de-Merci to St-Come for a trip on the "sineuse 347!"(link)

Ottawa river ride. Hudson-Hawksbury, cross river, east to Oka- a ride on the Oka-Hudson Ferry- and a few km back to Hudson. A good ride, with some great parts. That headwind is a good tailwind when returning east. First part after crossing river follows dirt road which is Route Verte. This avoids busy crappy highway (sorry roadies!). Hudson-oak ferry is amazing. Especially at sunset .(link)

West Quebec flats - Pointe aux cascades-Les Cedres ferry (bike ferry!) st-Timothé - Grande Ile – Hydro Quebec dams - Rigaud (almost) and back. A real scenic tour through west quebec, farm land, little and big rivers. Interesting to cross the St-Laurence at Valleyfield across hydro dams (excellent!). Unusual for me to do a flats ride, and I felt it, normally with hill rides the descents are the recuperation mode, but flats are pedaling all the time - ooooh!(link)

Charlevoix – the circuit of the Grand Prix de Charlevoix road race. I was dreaming for two years to do this ride. This summer I got my chance. From Baie St-Paul, follow the circuit of the grand prix de charlevoix, past st-Hilaron, to Les Eboulements, big descent to Ste-Irenee (18% hill back up), back via st-Hilaron again, and to petit (invisible) village of St-Ours, where the race finishes (and paved roads!), continue with left turn on chemin ste-Catherine to reach the Rt 362 and descend to St-Joseph de la Rive (our motel/auberge)on one of the biggest hills of quebec. Hit over 80 km'h twice on this ride, and didn't speed on last hill. This is number one return ride for next summer. Highlight was lunch rock that held plaque for discovery of crater de charevoix, 165 million years ago a 2 km asteroid hit earth planet, ici! Descents are good, better then good. Bette than great, out of this world!(link)

Sutton -Owls head ride with Bolton pass/Knowlton. A bad weather start, day got better and better. started with big headwinf heading east hrough bolton pass, through knowlton on echo road, up and down, sutton things got better, a million cyclists there, chemin scenic and along mississiquio river valley to mansonville is amazing, short side trip to Mansonville covered bridge brought world class view of Sutton jay range, best view in southern quebec? Then over past owls head, down to the water for a dip of the toe on lac memphremagog, then north and back to east bolton and car. This was a repeat attempt, a week befoe I had forgotten bike lock key (yes I lock my bike inside the car) and had to return home without riding! This madeup for it. An amazing ride.(link)

Ormstown-Powerscourt - the short chateauguay valley ride. The chateauguay river can be rideen in distances as short at 10-20 km and up to 100+ km rides, depending on where you start and where you cross the river and head back. A good reference ride is Ormstown-Huntingdon-Athelstan-Powerscourt (covered bridge). This takes you right to the US border, but avoids big roads (avoid the Rt 138!!! Quet roads, twisty along river, straignt if you come back voam, say tullochgorum rod. An excellent area for road cycling. Maybe they will one day buuold a bike path along the old train tracks>??? It's starte din Ste-martine, now finish it!!!(link)

Prevost (shawbridge-Rawdon-Chertsey-Ste-margeritte An epic ride, with a mising bridge at Chertsey (backtrack city!) Finished after dark (only once this year!). Back roads, steep hills, epic for al lthe wrong reasons, this was a central laurentians ride, and wasn't my favorite for it's quality, but for the adversity I overcame! Much bad asphalt. many steep hills. Everything but bears and wolves. (link and link)

Parc de la mauricie. - Another race ride circuit that I did on a quiet day. After the Defi Velo Mag announced this ride, I went the next week to ride it (I missed the popular ride). 120 km round trip "park entrance to other park entrance and back again." Unbelievable number of hills. It was a late June hot day, with some butt-biting flys! This would be a ride to do in autumn colors season. Very quiet roads (I was there week day) and I have to say 120 km of perfect asphalt. Perfect asphalt. perfect asphalt. My riding time would put me right in the middle of the pack for the defi velo mag ride, which ain't too bad for a 47 year old on a 20 year old racing bike. Excellent post-ride deck behind visitor centre on the mauricie river.(link)

Isle aux Coudres from St-Joseph-de-la-Rive. A quiet family ride, much better than anticipated. Free ferry ride always a bonus, big hill leaving ferry, windy beach lunch at western tip of island, lookout tower worth the $1.00 admission price (totally!) and views of Ste-Joseph de la Rive/Les Eboulements hill is awesome (18% hill) Largely a flat ride, with minor hills on north side of island. Free ferry ride back again for supper. A excellent day for a slower ride (after the grand prix de charlevoix ride I needed a break!).(link)

Ste-Emilie de L'Energie to St-Michel des Saints. One of my final explorations in northern lanaudiere. Ride north from Ste-Emilie, past St-Zenon and to St-Michel des Saints. Middle part around st-Zenon very nice and hilly: paved shoulder, road follows river. Great return ride with descents. Tried to head west to Tremblant park entrance, but flatted. (new tire!) A worthwhile ride. St-Zenon area is good hiking too.(link)

Riding Partners. I’d like to take a moment and thank a few of my riding partners (victims!) particularly Pierre, who has introduced me to so manuy greatrides in Vermont, Mike, Jim, Shelley, maxi, Don, I'd like to also thank anyone who read any of these rides and tried them on their own, I know that there are plenty of people reading the blog, and I get feedbackl sometimes about how great the rides are, so I know it isn't just me who things they are great.

Ste-Anicet - Dundee This ride, in the extreme southwest corner of quebec, is a thin wedge shape bordered by the USA border and the st-Laurence river. The terrain is left over from the last glacier, so there are up and downs, not too long or frequent, but don't be surprised by the fact it's not a flats ride. Starting at riverside st-Anicet, it rides south and west to the US border, then zigs and zags east past some history and even an iroquois settlement, Les Droliers, which isn't a multimedia disneyfied experience in any way. Peaceful roads, farms and forests, and a beach and dock for after-ride relaxation (stretching surely?), this ride exceeded my expectations in every way.(link)

Verchere to St something de Richielieu. Initially a crappy ride, this ride got hugely better when I left the Rt 132 and went cross country to the villaghe of St Roch de richieleu. This village had lots of old, really old, homes, a cable-ferry across the river, a little dock for a riverside lunch. The ride back to verchere was exceptional (ok, for flats...) because it passed many ancient houses, from the pre-conquest era. The town of Vecherres is named aftet the quebec heroine Madeliene de Vercheres, a teenage woman who closed the fort gates and fooled the marauding indians that the fort was full of soldiers and they'd better not attack. It also had a nice riverside park. on the st-laurence. The only downside was that my usual road bike was out of action and I had to ride my urbanified original mtn bike. Oh, and the fact it was a flats ride. I prefer hills!(link)

Beauharnois Canal - South of Valleyfield is the huge Beauharnois canal, where electricity for montreal comes from. Along the sides of the canal on both sides is a bike pah,, The only downside, the only safe river crossing is at beauharnois, not the two valleyfield briges. Aside from that, it's a big riverside bike path, and is away from cars. The valleyfield area is quite rich in bike paths, with rides along the canal, the old abandoned canal soulanges has a bike path, and there are some options on valleyfield island too. It is a good family ride here, bring picnic supplies because there are no deps on the south side, the north side has services, if you enter the town of Valleyfield. Did you know that more material was removed to build this canal than the panama canal? That's what they say.(link)

Well, that's it, many memorable rides, most of them top quality, all of them a great way to spend a sunday afternoon. Note that my usual "crack of noon" departure time isn't recommended!

See you next year.

Looking for some great rides?

We did over 3000 km of open-road riding (and another 3000 km in the city) in 2007. It was a very good year to be a cyclist in Montreal.

I mapped many of them on Bikely, a wonderful map service for cyclists: it tells you how much climbing there is in the route! Click here to see the Bikely maps that we have created for many of the rides in this list. You'll be glad you did...

Last year the Cycle Fun Montreal gang visited many new ride destinations, and of course rode many of our old favorites (can you say Jay Peak loop?) back in the warm weather season of 2007.

Looking at the list below we can only reach one conclusion: we really rode a lot of exceptionally good bike rides in 2007! There is one person in our group who figures out our ride itineraries and we all owe him a big beer on a hot day.

(drum roll...)

Cycle Fun Montreal presents:

Our best rides of 2007 - now with links to the original post and route maps!

Ormstown- St-Chrysostome - Covey hill - Powerscourt - Trout river - Ridge road - Dewittville 130km - The complete chateauguay valley ride. A beauty. Good views of all sorts of things. Good roads. Many different eco systems. Usually a tailwind for the last 30 kms.(link)

Ormstown - Lyon Mountain USA century ride (160 km/100 miles). Ormstown-franklin-usa border-Lyon mtn village - Lyon Mtn loop-lyon Mtn village-Canadian border-Franklin - Ormstown. Lyon mountain is visible from Mt royal, it's the closest adirondack mountain to the southwest. Excellent climb on second half of riding around lyon mountain. gentle downhills home (mostly!).(link)

Frelighsburg-Joy Hill - Richford/ VT - Montgomery (bot the easy way)-Phillipsburg. Two words: Joy Hill! Climb on backroad between Richford and Montgomery is exceptional. Great view of Pinacle. Veromont guide book included this cross border ride, and said it was best in book, it sure was. Thanks sid! Frelighsburg was cyclist central!(link)

Jay Peak loop from Sutton (chemin scenic both directions). The Famous five-hill Jay ride, one of the great rides of the east. Back side of jay is big climb! Front side is steep hill, descent to Mongomery is wow (with dogs!), all hills are fun and hard. Crossing border at East Richford always special. Food stop before front-side jay climb a long-standing tradition. Winter training pays off here!(link and link and link)

Phillipsburg - Lake Champlain islands – St-Albans bay - Phillipsburg. Park lakeside at Philipsburg, take highway to US border - now you’re on Interstate! Go west, to Islands, and turn south. Follow islands until back on solid land (diversions possible on some islands), on mainland, turn left and head north, passing St-Albans bay. Relax on Philipsburg dock in late day sun with beer. Happiness.(link)

St-Hermenegilde – St-Malo - East Hereford ride. A wild ride, because of some colorful routefinding, heavy rain and massive lightning, awesome scenery, great 10 metre tall lookout tower at St-malo (already at 600 metres elevation!), tres vrai rustique back road, the great Hall river valley, a good ride with interesting route, exciting conditions and bad rear wheel. I Plan to try again in good weather!(link and link)

Northern Lanaudiere final version - quiet roads, good pavement, a dozen hills, 16% climbs, long descents, great scenery, fresh raspberries, villages, a stunning ride and my favorite ride in Quebec. Many repeat visits worked out this final, exceptionally cruel, I mean hilly, version. This version mainly avoids busy roads. St-Jean de Matha, Ste-Emilie de l'Energie and Ste-Beatrix. First visit here was because of Petits Escapades guidebook. Because it looked hilly! Arrive late and enjoy late day sun and sunset lighting, amazing. Don't forget Chemin Ste-Guillaume at end.(link and link and link and link)

Tremblant-Riviere Rouge. Leaving the village of Tremblant is always a good idea, head from tourist office west and turn near Riviere rouge and ride north to village with strange bridge, with dock in middle and great wood sculpture. Cross here and ride south along rouge river, and country side, ride back north along river. Great hills, scenery, and covered bridge and with optional crazy hill at end. This is touches the Pays en Haut area. Optional extension to make Arundel southern turning point. Check the strange train at Arundel post office.(link and link)

Chemin Cyclist St-Donat. Officially named chemin Nordet, this recently all-new highway opened up a road for the first time between St-Donat and Lac Superieur (near Tremblant northside. It is starting to age, but still an amazing (Vermont-like) ride, with two major climbs with sort of a plateau in between. It is just starting to be developed, but for years was empty of icky real estate exploitation. Great wide paved shoulders. Big descents. Extremely popular with cycling clubs and groups of cyclists of all types. Ride from St-Donat to Lac Superieur, lap the lake, have a snack, and ride back.(link)

St-Donat to Chertsey and back. The Rt 125 is the autoroute that wasn't. Double-lane divided highway through very scenic hills. Very good autumn colors ride. A bit busy sometimes. For added flavour, ride the 347 Notre-Dame-de-Merci to St-Come for a trip on the "sineuse 347!"(link)

Ottawa river ride. Hudson-Hawksbury, cross river, east to Oka- a ride on the Oka-Hudson Ferry- and a few km back to Hudson. A good ride, with some great parts. That headwind is a good tailwind when returning east. First part after crossing river follows dirt road which is Route Verte. This avoids busy crappy highway (sorry roadies!). Hudson-oak ferry is amazing. Especially at sunset .(link)

West Quebec flats - Pointe aux cascades-Les Cedres ferry (bike ferry!) st-Timothé - Grande Ile – Hydro Quebec dams - Rigaud (almost) and back. A real scenic tour through west quebec, farm land, little and big rivers. Interesting to cross the St-Laurence at Valleyfield across hydro dams (excellent!). Unusual for me to do a flats ride, and I felt it, normally with hill rides the descents are the recuperation mode, but flats are pedaling all the time - ooooh!(link)

Charlevoix – the circuit of the Grand Prix de Charlevoix road race. I was dreaming for two years to do this ride. This summer I got my chance. From Baie St-Paul, follow the circuit of the grand prix de charlevoix, past st-Hilaron, to Les Eboulements, big descent to Ste-Irenee (18% hill back up), back via st-Hilaron again, and to petit (invisible) village of St-Ours, where the race finishes (and paved roads!), continue with left turn on chemin ste-Catherine to reach the Rt 362 and descend to St-Joseph de la Rive (our motel/auberge)on one of the biggest hills of quebec. Hit over 80 km'h twice on this ride, and didn't speed on last hill. This is number one return ride for next summer. Highlight was lunch rock that held plaque for discovery of crater de charevoix, 165 million years ago a 2 km asteroid hit earth planet, ici! Descents are good, better then good. Bette than great, out of this world!(link)

Sutton-Owls Head-Missisquoi valley ride A bad weather start, the day got better and better. started with big headwinf heading east hrough bolton pass, through knowlton on echo road, up and down, sutton things got better, a million cyclists there, chemin scenic and along mississiquio river valley to mansonville is amazing, short side trip to Mansonville covered bridge brought world class view of Sutton jay range, best view in southern quebec? Then over past owls head, down to the water for a dip of the toe on lac memphremagog, then north and back to east bolton and car. This was a repeat attempt, a week befoe I had forgotten bike lock key (yes I lock my bike inside the car) and had to return home without riding! This madeup for it. An amazing ride.(link)

Ormstown-Powerscourt - the short chateauguay valley ride. The chateauguay river can be rideen in distances as short at 10-20 km and up to 100+ km rides, depending on where you start and where you cross the river and head back. A good reference ride is Ormstown-Huntingdon-Athelstan-Powerscourt (covered bridge). This takes you right to the US border, but avoids big roads (avoid the Rt 138!!! Quet roads, twisty along river, straignt if you come back voam, say tullochgorum rod. An excellent area for road cycling. Maybe they will one day buuold a bike path along the old train tracks>??? It's starte din Ste-martine, now finish it!!!(link)

Prevost (shawbridge-Rawdon-Chertsey-Ste-margeritte An epic ride, with a mising bridge at Chertsey (backtrack city!) Finished after dark (only once this year!). Back roads, steep hills, epic for al lthe wrong reasons, this was a central laurentians ride, and wasn't my favorite for it's quality, but for the adversity I overcame! Much bad asphalt. many steep hills. Everything but bears and wolves. (link and link)

Parc de la mauricie. - Another race ride circuit that I did on a quiet day. After the Defi Velo Mag announced this ride, I went the next week to ride it (I missed the popular ride). 120 km round trip "park entrance to other park entrance and back again." Unbelievable number of hills. It was a late June hot day, with some butt-biting flys! This would be a ride to do in autumn colors season. Very quiet roads (I was there week day) and I have to say 120 km of perfect asphalt. Perfect asphalt. perfect asphalt. My riding time would put me right in the middle of the pack for the defi velo mag ride, which ain't too bad for a 47 year old on a 20 year old racing bike. Excellent post-ride deck behind visitor centre on the mauricie river.(link)

Isle aux Coudres from St-Joseph-de-la-Rive. A quiet family ride, much better than anticipated. Free ferry ride always a bonus, big hill leaving ferry, windy beach lunch at western tip of island, lookout tower worth the $1.00 admission price (totally!) and views of Ste-Joseph de la Rive/Les Eboulements hill is awesome (18% hill) Largely a flat ride, with minor hills on north side of island. Free ferry ride back again for supper. A excellent day for a slower ride (after the grand prix de charlevoix ride I needed a break!).(link)

Ste-Emilie de L'Energie to St-Michel des Saints. One of my final explorations in northern lanaudiere. Ride north from Ste-Emilie, past St-Zenon and to St-Michel des Saints. Middle part around st-Zenon very nice and hilly: paved shoulder, road follows river. Great return ride with descents. Tried to head west to Tremblant park entrance, but flatted. (new tire!) A worthwhile ride. St-Zenon area is good hiking too.(link)

Riding Partners. I’d like to take a moment and thank a few of my riding partners (victims!) particularly Pierre, who has introduced me to so manuy greatrides in Vermont, Mike, Jim, Shelley, maxi, Don, I'd like to also thank anyone who read any of these rides and tried them on their own, I know that there are plenty of people reading the blog, and I get feedbackl sometimes about how great the rides are, so I know it isn't just me who things they are great.

Ste-Anicet - Dundee This ride, in the extreme southwest corner of quebec, is a thin wedge shape bordered by the USA border and the st-Laurence river. The terrain is left over from the last glacier, so there are up and downs, not too long or frequent, but don't be surprised by the fact it's not a flats ride. Starting at riverside st-Anicet, it rides south and west to the US border, then zigs and zags east past some history and even an iroquois settlement, Les Droliers, which isn't a multimedia disneyfied experience in any way. Peaceful roads, farms and forests, and a beach and dock for after-ride relaxation (stretching surely?), this ride exceeded my expectations in every way.(link)

Verchere to St something de Richielieu. Initially a crappy ride, this ride got hugely better when I left the Rt 132 and went cross country to the villaghe of St Roch de richieleu. This village had lots of old, really old, homes, a cable-ferry across the river, a little dock for a riverside lunch. The ride back to verchere was exceptional (ok, for flats...) because it passed many ancient houses, from the pre-conquest era. The town of Vecherres is named aftet the quebec heroine Madeliene de Vercheres, a teenage woman who closed the fort gates and fooled the marauding indians that the fort was full of soldiers and they'd better not attack. It also had a nice riverside park. on the st-laurence. The only downside was that my usual road bike was out of action and I had to ride my urbanified original mtn bike. Oh, and the fact it was a flats ride. I prefer hills!(link)

Beauharnois Canal - South of Valleyfield is the huge Beauharnois canal, where electricity for montreal comes from. Along the sides of the canal on both sides is a bike pah,, The only downside, the only safe river crossing is at beauharnois, not the two valleyfield briges. Aside from that, it's a big riverside bike path, and is away from cars. The valleyfield area is quite rich in bike paths, with rides along the canal, the old abandoned canal soulanges has a bike path, and there are some options on valleyfield island too. It is a good family ride here, bring picnic supplies because there are no deps on the south side, the north side has services, if you enter the town of Valleyfield. Did you know that more material was removed to build this canal than the panama canal? That's what they say.(link)

Well, that's it, many memorable rides, most of them top quality, all of them a great way to spend a sunday afternoon. Note that my usual "crack of noon" departure time isn't recommended!

See you in the spring!

Cycle Fun Montreal's Bikely ride maps

CFM apologizes for the awful and hideous cut'n'paste format thing going on here!

Route	Contributor	Last Updated	Where	Distance	Tags
Lennoxville hill ride #1	tiger2007	Jan 16th	Canada > Quebec > Sherbrooke	11.4km	Recreational, Training, Onroad, Steep, High traffic, Unsafe, Rural, Scenic
Home of Bishop's University and start of a great climb. A narrow risky unsafe road. The center of the eastern townships.
Philipsburg QC Vermont Champlain Islands ride	tiger2007	Dec 28th	Canada > Quebec > Montreal	139.9km	Recreational, Onroad, Smooth, Intermediate, Low traffic, High traffic, Safe, Rural, Scenic
Starting in Canada, cross US border and ride south through scenic islands, come back north along Vermont lake shore
Mont Megantic summit toll road	tiger2007	Dec 27th	Canada > Quebec > Sherbrooke	5.6km	Recreational, Training, Onroad, Steep, Difficult, Low traffic, Safe, Rural, Scenic
550 m climb (1800 ft) climb Located in Parc Mont Megantic, and is the highest paved road in Quebec.
Quebec's Eastern Townships ride - Sutton/Owl's Head loop	tiger2007	Dec 24th	Canada > Quebec > Montreal	98.9km	Recreational, Onroad, Smooth, Steep, Intermediate, Difficult, Low traffic, Safe, Rural, Scenic
Bolton Pass, Knowlton, Mt Echo road, Sutton, Mississiquoi valley, Mansonville, Owls Head, Lac Memphremagog, Austin, Bolton
Circuit of the 2007 Grand Prix de Charlevoix race	tiger2007	Dec 11th	Canada > Quebec > Quebec	82.6km	Recreational, Training, Onroad, Smooth, Steep, Intermediate, Difficult, Low traffic, Safe, Rural, Scenic
A great ride through some of eastern North America's best scenery and cycling roads. And hills. This is also a giant asteroid-hits-the-earth-165 million-years-ago CRATER.
Charlevoix Quebec - Baie-Saint-Paul to St-Joseph-de-la-Rive and back	tiger2007	Dec 11th	Canada > Quebec > Quebec	37.7km	Recreational, Training, Onroad, Smooth, Steep, Intermediate, Difficult, Low traffic, High traffic, Safe, Rural, Scenic
A great ride in Quebec's Charlevoix mountains. THis ride follows the top of the coast to the next village, where it plunges down to sea level and then climbs back up to the top with a section of 20% hill. Some of the hills here are featured in the Velo Mag article on Charlevoix hill climbs. Three of these are on this ride (two as climbs and one as a descent). Cap aux Corbeau, Les Eboulements, and Cote de Misere. Check out the FREE ferry ride option to Isle aux Coudres
Cote des Eboulements ou Grande Cote, Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada	tiger2007	Nov 30th	Canada > Quebec > Joliette	5.3km	Recreational, Onroad, Smooth, Steep, Difficult, Rural, Scenic
Starting in St-Joseph-de-la-rive, go uphill to the Rt 362 on newly rebuilt road. The steep part is an 18% climb. Near Baie-St-Paul, This climb is featured in the Automne 2007 Velo Mag magazine feature on amazing Charlevoix road bike climbs.
Cote de Petite-Riviere, Charlevoix, Quebec	tiger2007	Nov 30th	Canada > Quebec > Joliette	10.4km	Training, Onroad, Steep, Difficult, Rural, Scenic
Starting in Petite-Riviere-Saint-Francois, go uphill to the Rt 138. Located near Baie-St-Paul, This climb is featured in the Automne 2007 Velo Mag magazine feature on amazing Charlevoix road bike hill climbs. This is in one of Quebec's most beautiful regions.
Cote a Godin ou Misere, Charlevoix, Quebec	tiger2007	Nov 30th	Canada > Quebec > Joliette	2.6km	Recreational, Training, Onroad, Steep, Difficult, Rural, Scenic
Starting in St-Joseph-de-la-rive, go uphill to the Rt 362 on Cote a Godin, or Cote Misere (Misery Hill) with a 20% climb. Near Baie-St-Paul, This climb is featured in the Automne 2007 Velo Mag magazine feature on amazing Charlevoix road bike climbs.
Saint-Alexis-des-Monts to hotel Lac Sacacomie, Quebec	tiger2007	Nov 12th	Canada > Quebec > Joliette	14.3km	Recreational, Training, Onroad, Smooth, Steep, Difficult, Low traffic, Rough, Rural, Scenic
Saint-Alexis-des-Saints to hotel Lac Sacacomie, Quebec
Westmount-Clarke and Aberdeen	tiger2007	Nov 12th	Canada > Quebec > Joliette	1.6km	Training, Onroad, Steep, Difficult, Urban, Scenic
Clarke is the killer wall of Westmount, aberdeen and above is sweet switchbacks.
Northern Lanaudiere Hill ride	tiger2007	Nov 6th	Canada > Quebec > Joliette	90km	Recreational, Onroad, Smooth, Steep, Intermediate, Difficult, Low traffic, Safe, Rural, Scenic
start in St-Jean-de-Matha, ride counter-clockwise. Villages are Ste-Emilie-de-l'Energie and Ste-Beatrix. There are some occasional convenience stores (dep's). You pass over the gorge of the regional park along the waterfalls of the L'Assomption river. Some good climbs. New pavement in most previously-bad pavement sections. 1000 metres of climbing. Good descents. The pair of big hills are the roads to-and from St-Emilie. Amazing scenic lookout at top of first giant hill.

photos from Glen Sutton ride

Sutton and north along the Sutton range


Jay Peak and mountains to the south


Starting Bolton Pass with rocket assist


long shadows... almost home


Curving through Bolton Pass


Back in Knowlton, and the sun is still out!


Climbing up Scenic Road south of Sutton


Scenic view on Scenic Road - Pinnacle in background



Wildlife in Mansonville




South Bolton's space program

Rainy rest day over, today it's time to ride again!

Mont Orford - lac Memphremagog ride map (link)

The rainy thursday is over and now ancient history, so it is time to get on the bike again.

Today we will try a nice looking (on bikely) ride around Mont Orford and west of lac Memphremagog. The ride is callec cyclo-magog and we're leaving in T-20:00

A major expansion of Parc Orford was just announced, but still now news on land a bit further north, specifically the Lac Larouche (no-)rock climbing area where rock climbing has been banned for two decades. We are still waiting for further announcements for this land to be acquired and pronounced legal-to-climb. Do NOT go climbing here before it is legal, we have been waiting a long time for the climbing ban to end, so don't screw it up with the goal of legal-climbing being so close!

But we digress.

This ride will be sort-of "next door" to the excellent Knowlton-Sutton-Mansonville-Owls Head- Lac Memphremagog (link) ride of last year. At the time I called it "Sutton Loop - Southern Quebec's most beautiful ride" and that is still accurate.

Today's weather forecast is a bit iffy, but this week has been pretty good so far, only occasional rain showers, so let's hope today's rain stays away!

Quebec Cycling Holiday Ideas

Quebec is a big place and a good cycling vacation in Quebec will visit quite a big geographic area.

Cycle Fun Montreal has been thinking about what we'd do if we decided to invite you for a week-long cycling vacation in Quebec. Answer: too many choices!

Montreal has several possibilities (it's a compact city easy to bike in):

• Lachine Canal/Sentier des Berges canal-and-riverside bike path loop, go out to very end of canal to parc levesque for huge outdoor sculpture art-park
• Olmstead road to top of Mont Royal - excellence includes deep forest road, beaver lake, The Mont Royal Chalet lookout over downtown, and Maison Smith, and don't forget the summit and of course the giant cross. Descend via Mont Royal cemetery for added scenic amazement
• The bikeable urban mecca of Plateau Mont Royal (Mont Royal, St-Denis, Parc Lafontaine, Rue St Hubert (south of Mont Royal), avenue du Parc, St-Viateur, Bernard and of course the legendary St-Laurent boulevard.
• To the public markets of Atwater or Jean Talon
• To Old Montreal and the Old (Vieux) Port and the island park of Parc Drapeau and Pont Jacques Cartier bridge for best view of the city

West / southwest of Montreal

• Pointe aux Cascades bike path -Anchor Museum/ Cedres Ferry/ St-Timothee - Lac St-Louis
• Chateauguay Valley: Road ride from Ormstown to Powerscourt (oldest covered bridge in Quebec) along the Chateauguay River

North of Montreal

• Petit Train du Nord (200 km trail, south 90 km is rockdust, northern 110 km is paved)
• Out favorite sections are:
• Val-David-to-or-from anywhere south like Ste-Adele, Prevost, or St-Jerome (south direction is downhill from Val David). Val David has 1001 pots exhibition/gallery in summer.
• Tremblant to Labelle (P'tit train du Nord museum in Labelle)
• The northern paved 110 km starting in Labelle. Pavement, your friend pavement...

East of Montreal/ Eastern Townships

• Chambly Canal (for added adventure, do it from Montreal)
• L'Estriade: Granby to Waterloo
• Les Grande Fourches (Sherbrooke/Rock Forest/North Hatley/Lennoxville)
• Tomifobia Nature Trail - Ayers CLiff to Stanstead - scenic, away from civilization, deep rural
• Road ride Sutton area - Sutton-Mansonville-Knowlton-Sutton

East of Montreal - between Montreal and Quebec City (north of river)

• Chemin du Roy (say Lanoraie to St-Barthelemy)
• Cycle Fun Montreal's Lanaudiere hill rides (a hill-climbing scenic paradise)
• Parc de la Mauricie - end to end loop - hardcore hills and few services, you earn it

Quebec City

• Loop Quebec City-Ferry-Levis-Pont du Quebec (bridge)-and back by brand new riverside bike path Route du Champlain
• local south shore ride: Levis to villages up to 50 east and back.
• Just take the ferry Quebec City to Levis for amazing scenic experience

East of Quebec City - North of River - Charlevoix

• Ile aux Coudres, easy scenic ride, leave car in St-Joseph de la Rive for easy ferry access
• Charlevoix hills - for the hardcore cyclists this is heaven

East of Quebec City - South of River - Cote de Sud, Bas St-Laurent, Les Basques

• Take the Route Verte anywhere to anywhere going east - you will usually have a big tailwind. And spectacular scenery. And tides. And pretty villages.
• Petit Temis 130 km trail from Riviere du Loup, south to Cabano, Degelis, and Edmonston, in the province of New Brunswick. A good shorter version is 100 km Degelis to Riviere du Loup.

Well that's a start... I know I missed a few, especially the flatter-land rides, but with 4000+ km of riding, this list offers you a good taste of Quebec.

If you want a Quebec cycling vacation a good place to start is Velo Quebec for bicycling info and Bonjour Quebec for other tourism info. There are excellent free cycling guides from every region of quebec. Translation: life just keeps getting better if you're a cyclist in Quebec!