It’s decided. This year, summer vacation will be spent in Quebec or Ontario! And it will be by bike. You’ve been dreaming of a two-wheeled getaway for a long time. It’s time to take action, combining fitness with pleasure.
Enjoy the bucolic landscapes out of reach when traveling on major roads by car. Summer vacation will be experienced at a slower pace, a chance to truly disconnect from everyday life. It will be possible to fill every hour, every minute with lasting memories.
But where to begin? The best advice is to turn to the specialized company Voyager à vélo (Cycling Vacation).
Its founder, Mario Belley, is full of interesting suggestions for those wanting to enjoy the most beautiful routes, particularly in Montérégie, the Eastern Townships, and Centre-du-Québec, not forgetting the Toronto and Niagara regions. You’ll be spoiled for choice of destinations with Voyager à vélo. First and foremost, common sense prevails.
Cyclists must know themselves and their bikes well. What will the route be? How many kilometers do you want to cover in a day? Is your bike suitable for the chosen circuit?
Mario Belley
“It’s better to think about doing shorter distances to start with; shorter stays, like a weekend, before considering multi-day vacations,” recommends Mario Belley.
“Do people want to stay in hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, or campsites? Some establishments offer breakfast, others only one meal like dinner.”
Accommodation List
Voyager à vélo can provide a list of accommodations according to the chosen region, he says. People can choose routes on bike paths or via less busy roads.
Once the destination is chosen, the company can meticulously handle the transport of cyclists’ luggage. It will be collected in the morning to be moved to the other chosen destination for the following night (by 4 p.m.).
Most of the establishments offered by Voyager à Vélo are certified “Bienvenue Cyclistes” (Welcome Cyclists). This means, for example, that they have a secure place to store your bikes overnight. “It’s important to plan shorter routes, like 50 or 60 kilometers per day,” adds Mr. Belley.
“When you’re less rushed, that’s when you can make beautiful discoveries. Landscapes to admire. You need to plan breaks, take the time to stop. You don’t always have to do long distances during the day.”
The Centre-East Loop
Voyager à vélo can also suggest very safe routes. For example, the circuit called “La Boucle Centre-Est” (The Centre-East Loop). Going from Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu to Granby, it allows you to (re)discover the Montérégie region at your own pedaling pace. Bucolic landscapes unfold along bike paths winding through a varied natural environment throughout the 176-kilometer route.
This gentle loop with no major elevation changes can be enjoyed in a self-guided format over a period of three days.
Another example: you must ride in the Niagara region. It offers what many cyclists are looking for: easy circuits in lush greenery, juicy fruits, and sweet treats that you will remember for a long time. You can also be inspired by the Saint-Laurent à vélo (Cycling the St. Lawrence) destinations, which offers seven magnificent circuits from Niagara Falls to Matane.