Canada?

[bikerbarb]

Anyone tour in canada? We're interested in touring in Quebec this summer. Any advice would be welcome.

[shootingstar]

Velo Quebec is the cycling organization there.

http://www.velo.qc.ca/english/index.php On this page is a link to Montreal's cycling map. Grog, a TE member can tell you more, she lived there for awhile.

http://www.routeverte.com/rv/index_e.php?page=carte Cycling route system=Route Verte (Green Route) It is marked system with signage. Some sections clearly market businesses and bed 'n breakfast places for cyclists.

http://www.routeverte.com/rv/index_e.php?code=outaouais lst year we bike toured in west of Ottawa (Ontario), in city itself and went as far east as Montebello.

2nd trip we went to Mont Tremblant. (a mountain bike area and ski hill area)with Route Verte route nearby.

http://www.routeverte.com/rv/index_e.php?code=quebec 3rd trip we cycled out of Quebec City, where we cycled the route northwest of Quebec City to Saint Raymond. There are some terrific goat cheese farms/outlets. More gourmet, stronger flavours as you would find from France. (Click on the white box, Accommodations Bienvenue Cyclistes, to locate accommodation. Red house icons will pop up.)

I haven't been to Perce Rock by the Gaspe Peninsula which is supposed to be lovely (and abit windy) and a bird sanctuary there.

[bikerbarb]

Thanks, these are great leads!

[Grog]

Do check out Vélo Québec's web page (pointed above by ShootingStar). If by any chance you are interested in a supported tour, DO check out the Grand Tour (on Vélo Québec's web site). It's similar to Cycle Oregon: week long, 75-110 km a day, including shortcuts and detours, they carry your gear, you tent out (there are b&b spots but they must all be taken by now). Around 2,000 cyclists. They cook all your meals including lunch, and the food is fantastic. There is a bistro and you can dance until midnight and get up bright and early to ride the next day. It's an UNBELIEVABLE experience, and this year the itinerary takes you along really interesting routes. Highly, highly recommended. A not very expensive considering all the spectacular amenities. Oh and I didn't tell you about the mechanics. They'll even loan you a bike (or a wheel or whatever) if you have an issue with yours.

A great, no-brainer way to discover the province.

[bikerbarb]

Thanks, will look at it. I have done several tours where gear was carried and meals provided, and they have been great, but I was never on one (besides an MS 150) with so large a group as 2,000 riders. Most have been less than 100. Over the last few years I've worked toward the self contained touring I did in my youth, where we were more spontaneous and responsible for our own support. But this will be a first tour for my husband, and we'll see what he is up for! He may like the supporte option.

[Grog]

Thanks, will look at it. I have done several tours where gear was carried and meals provided, and they have been great, but I was never on one (besides an MS 150) with so large a group as 2,000 riders. Most have been less than 100. Over the last few years I've worked toward the self contained touring I did in my youth, where we were more spontaneous and responsible for our own support. But this will be a first tour for my husband, and we'll see what he is up for! He may like the supporte option.

It is quite big, think summer camp for adults. But it doesn't feel extremely crowded. Different from self-supported touring in the bush, though!

One thing I must say though: I don't know how old you are, but at 30-ish we were among the youngest a couple of years ago. The average age is 47. Lots of people who "finally" have teenage kids they can leave home alone for a week.

Also, obviously, all services are in French. People will gladly try to speak English if needed though. My husband speaks very little French but he LOVED it regardless.

If you follow this link: http://www.velo.qc.ca/grandtour/index.php?jour=1 you can check out last year's Grand Tour newsletter (distributed every morning). The menu is on the right-hand side. You can check out the other days at the top (Jour 2, Jour 3, etc.). It rained more than a bit last year though.

[shootingstar]

I would agree that crushed gravel/hard packed dirt routes, require much more physical energy to cycle..which is why I have always considered bike touring with weight of one's baggage, comparable to serious physical demands and stamina (mental also) as ie. doing intervals.

If any scoffing racer in a cycling kit with their weenie weight bike wouldn't believe tourers, they should try cycling with 20 lbs. of pannier weight on such paths and roads for 6 hrs. in 1 day. By supper one occasionally just settle for MacDonald's instead of cycling around town another 15 kms. to find the cosy bistro/restaurant. Too much energy by that time.

sorry that the route you took didn't meet scenic expectations or more frequency of panoramic/scenic vistas. Did you learn anything about Quebec that you didn't know (aside from the bike route/highways, towns you saw)?

Where else have you cycled in Canada? Just curious, to know what other more scenic areas of Canada that you have experienced from the bike saddle?

[bikerbarb]

Other parts of Canada I've biked in are all around the Niagara Falls and Niagara on the Lake area and I've participated in a 3-4 day event in Ontario called Cyclon with the Toronto Bicycle Network. It originated out of Barrie and headed north and west of there. Both were very pretty and scenic.
Any advice? I 'd like to bike in Nova Scotia sometime...I've been there about 15 yrs ago but not on a bike.