Move · July 05, 2022

Make the most of the best cycling routes in Quebec this summer!

My love for running

You already know my love for running, road/gravel/mountain biking, spinning, and sports in general. With the arrival of the twins, my lifestyle and activities have transformed a bit. Without giving up my passions, I have reinvented them to combine sports and family. When I was pregnant, I used to walk around the house for about 1 to 2 hours a day, even in the sometimes -40 degrees temperature.

After giving birth, I continued this wonderful lifestyle by incorporating morning and afternoon nap walks, combining 2-3, and sometimes even 4 hours of walking per day with my double Thule stroller equipped with newborn baby hammocks. Being a May baby, it was the perfect season to give birth and resume outdoor outings quickly. I was fortunate enough to get back into running a few weeks after giving birth, which allowed me to run nearly 5,000 km with the stroller during the twins' first year of life. My active lifestyle during pregnancy, combined with a cesarean delivery, helped me recover quickly with the assistance of a specialist in pelvic floor rehabilitation (a piece of advice: never underestimate the importance of your pelvic floor).

In this text, I'm suggesting ideas for cycling routes to explore on foot, by bike, or while running all across Quebec. It's great to stay active in the neighborhood, but sometimes it's nice to change the scenery and get some fresh air!

A new cycling path

I had the opportunity to witness a beautiful project taking shape, the construction of the cycling path along Boulevard Gouin Est, alongside the Rivière des Prairies. This street went from being the worst road in Quebec (according to a survey conducted by the CAA several years ago) to becoming the most beautiful cycling path just steps away from my home (actually 1 km from my doorstep). I witnessed the Poussette project (https://www.realisonsmtl.ca/projetpoussette) grow and become a reality. I am proud and thrilled about the breath of fresh air this project has brought to my neighborhood. I still use it every day, either with friends for a run, with my partner for a bike ride, with the twins for a jog-stroller session, or simply for a walk in the open air. In short, it has become a favorite spot for me—a safe family area with beautiful scenery, parks, picnic areas, and much more.

Reminder for choosing a cycling route

A quick reminder for choosing a cycling route: avoid paths shared with cars. It's preferable to take routes on former railway tracks with minimal elevation and few road crossings. I have a long list of accidents, so I try to avoid crossing streets, driveways, or anything similar along my route.

For those who want to stay near Montreal, including on the island of Montreal, there are some great options: the "piste cyclable des berges" (riverbank bike path), the Gouin route, Bellechasse Street, the Lachine Canal, or the bike path in Parc Jean-Drapeau.

Here are a few quick suggestions for cycling routes outside of Montreal:

The Cycloroute de Bellechasse in the Chaudière-Appalaches region.

The Promenade Samuel-De Champlain and the Corridor du Littoral in the Quebec City region.

Véloroute des Bleuets, in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean

L’estriade, Montérégie

Anses trail, Lévis

Whale Bike Route between Tadoussac and Baie-Comeau.

Le Petit-Témis, in Bas-Saint-Laurent

The Jacques-Cartier-Portneuf Bike Trail in the Quebec region.

Le Cycloparc PPJ, Outaouais

The Bois-Francs Linear Park, Québec center

Cyclo-voie du Partage des eaux, Abitibi-Témiscamingue