7 Circuits to Start Your Bicycle Season in the Eastern Townships
Have you reached your quota for using your stationary bike or your spinning classes? Are you counting down the days before your first spring outing? To prepare yourself for the next season, I invite you to discover some biking circuits Eastern Township cyclists particularly love; here, also, some not-to-be-missed stops to take even more advantage of our region.
LA FLÈCHE DE SAINT-ARMAND/FARNHAM
This 76-kilometre loop is a perfect fit for cyclists looking for a level, worry-free circuit. The route starts from the Marché de la Station Gourmande in Farnham, a much sought-after venue on Saturdays for tourists and locals who love meeting the area farmers and artisans. Cyclists can also take the Montérégiade bicycle path from here, leading them either to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu or Granby.
THE HERITAGE CIRCUIT
If you have a passion for architecture, museums and bucolic landscapes, this 53-kilometre route takes you through Saint-Armand, Pigeon Hill, Stanbridge East, Bedford and the hamlet of Mystic. The route is as invigorating for your body as for your mind.
On your way, we suggest you stop at the Missisquoi Museum to discover, among other things, the Alexander-Solomon-Wallbridge barn, a true architectural gem. It’s the oldest polygonal barn in Quebec and the only twelve-sided (dodecagonal) barn.
THE MAGENTA LASSO
Combining farmland and vineyard landscapes, this route makes you discover the incredible Centre national de cyclisme de Bromont, an establishment celebrating the culture of cycling with its velodrome, its BMX trails and its countless services. As soon as you leave the Centre, which is the starting point for this circuit, you’ll discover the towns of East Farnham, Brigham and Farnham.
TOUR DES MONTS SUTTON
Start your 76-kilometre ride, designed for experienced cyclists, at the Sutton Curling Club. About 10 kilometres before completing the route, cyclists must take on the Scenic Road challenge, which, at its peak, reaches an elevation of 362 metres. When you’ve completed the route, reward yourself with an evening out in downtown Sutton as you enjoy the many restaurants, cafés and microbreweries that have made this town a choice destination in the Eastern Townships. A note of interesting: You can rent a bike at the Cinetik boutique, right in Sutton.
LANTERNE ROUGE
51 kilometres of pure bliss awaits cyclists on this loop which beautifully centre stages the Brome-Missisquoi region. We suggest you ride along the routes of the Lanterne Rouge early in the morning to amply benefit from the calm, mist-filled air and views of the lake; a truly idyllic outing. You can complete your day by stopping at Léon Courville, Vigneron, where you can enjoy your cocktail hour on the terrace overlooking Lake Brome, Mounts Orford, Glenn, Echo, Owl’s Head and Sutton.
LA DOYENNE DES VIGNES
To discover (or rediscover) the Brome-Missisquoi wine route in all its magnitude, this 76 kilometre, intermediary route is designed for you. But beware, remember to savour our wine products with moderation! The Doyenne route begins at Frelighsburg’s Tourist information centre. This is the perfect place to discover an amazing, treasure-filled town and its surrounding environment, always bustling with activities and offering breathtaking landscapes.
To complete your cycle-tourism experience, RAVITO BED & BIKE offers all-inclusive cycling stays.
THE 100 À B7
An initiative of the well-known cyclist and ambassador for the region, Lyne Bessette, this 64-kilometre circuit will have you discover our magnificent gravel roads. You’ll love this hilly route for all the landscapes, the changing beats and the constant terrain challenges. When you return to the Centre national de cyclisme de Bromont, you can take advantage of the new Pittstop Vélo-Café, a commerce that is all three, a bike shop, a bike mechanic workshop and a café.
Have a great season, dear cyclists and especially, ride carefully!
Isabelle Bouchard
Femme passionnée, Isabelle carbure aux différents projets et découvertes de toutes sortes. Elle aime créer et aller à la rencontre des gens inspirants aux quatre coins du Québec.
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