The temperature is idea for riding, the sun is shining and I'm keen to throw my leg over a bike and blow off some steam. I am in Quebec near a little town called Bromont, the cycling capital of Canada better know for it's down hill skiing. I have options, lots of options. I could ride road, cross country, miles of rail trail or push the limits and ride downhill. I park my car at the base of the mountain and head off to the rental office. As I walk across the parking lot families are digging out the many bags of stuff they will need to set up camp at the water park. There is another group of long hair shaggy characters gearing up their big suspension bikes. The cool kids watched the old man walk by and wonder what he's doing there carrying those clip in pedals.The mountain towers to my right with a top that seems to be in the far distance. Am I really going to ride down that, I hope so! I am getting nervous jitters that I would normally get before a bike race. I can hardly contain my excitement! The rental process was painless due to the knowledgeable staff who are happy to help me choose the right gear. I rented a Rocky Mountain Altitude and full body armour to protect my frail ole bones. The lift takes me to the top of the mountain where the view of the country side is panoramic. My first few runs were a lot of fun as I pushed the bike to see what it was capable of doing. Each run was a little faster than the last as my confidence grew in myself and the bike. I was impressed with how the bike sucked up the bumps and how easy the jumps felt with the Rocky Mountain Altitude under me. By the middle of the day I was riding with the cool kids, getting off the brakes and taking bigger and bigger air. Downhill riding can be a lot of fun if you have the right gear and a bike that allows you to find your limits. The Altitude was a great bike for the intermediate runs which was fine by me since I was not ready for the expert runs. The trails were well designed and there were enough runs to keep riders of all skill levels occupied for a day. If you ever have a chance to visit that part of Quebec I would definitely recommend riding downhill at Bromont.
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There is a place I know that brings solace to the tired soul and rest to a weary mind, a place were summer still exists the way I remember it as a child. The trees blow gently in the breeze, hummingbirds drink from feeders and sounds linger softly in the inner recesses of your ear. Take the highway south from Montreal and keep going until you see rolling hills, crooked roads, crooked barns and the Appalachian mountains looming on the horizon. When you find these scenes you know you have found a place commonly know as the Eastern townships of Quebec. Towns like Grandby, Cowansville, Sutton and Bedford are typical names there, names that don't sound French at all and that's because the area was originally settled by English speaking folk from across the sea. The people that you meet there will great you with a with a warmth that comes from centuries of humble beginnings that grew into an area that attracts site seeing, wine tasting and some of the best cycling in Canada. Both of the languages of this this great country are spoken fluently by most residents in the Townships which means making your way in the local culture will be easy no matter which part of this nation or the globe that you hale from. Oh and did I mention that art and culture is alive and vibrant on those long and twisty roads, villages and in historical old buildings re-purposed as public spaces. The Eastern Townships have put a lot of time and energy into creating cycling routes to attract you to visit and ride there. I found a cycling guide at one of those re-purposed buildings hosting an art show at a touristy village called Frelighsburgh. The guide suggested a number of routes varying in length and levels of difficulty. I picked the Sutton loop which makes it's way from the town of Sutton. Heading south the road is relatively flat until you reach the village of Abercorn where the accent up Mont Sutton begins. The first part of the climb is steep by any riders definition of steep, more like a wall than a hill. The 300m climb in elevation was long for a guy from Southwestern Ontario but the scenery and the rolling roads took the sting off of the effort and of course what goes up hill must come down those windy roads. There is no greater sense of speed than that created by your our gravity feed thin wheels spinning up toward the speed limit. Downward flight is always ended by another climb which brings you back to reality of human limitations and the scenery rolling by. Sometimes memories are pictures of scenes frozen in the mind. I have an image ingrained on my mind of a small folk band playing in the village square while a some enthusiastic locals danced something that looked like a jig they might have done a hundred ears ago. Funny how an image only seen for seconds as I blew through the village has stuck in my mind. The Townships, go there if you like rolling hills, friendly people, art, culture and tranquil scenery that makes riding there a must do on the bucket list for any cyclist. Check out the map I attached or follow the link below to see the entire cycling brochure. |
AuthorRon Head Archives
January 2024
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