Last updated: 30 Oct 2024
Exploring Quebec’s Incredible Bike Trails
This summer, we explored over 1,000 miles of Quebec, Canada, on bicycles. Quebec offers an impressive network of bike trails, making it easy to navigate Montreal, its surrounding towns, and the Quebec City area on dedicated bike paths. We typically ride 3-4 times a week, whenever the weather cooperates. But as summer fades, the leaves start to turn, and the air cools, we’re reminded that this season won’t last forever. Have any of you cycled in similar places in the U.S. that offer extensive bike trail networks? We’d love to hear! There’s just something unbeatable about exploring on two wheels.
Hitch-Mounted Bike Racks: A Must-Have for RV Adventurers
For those traveling with bicycles, installing a receiver hitch on your RV frame is one of the best ways to transport them. We’ve used a Thule Expressway 4-bike rack over 30,000 miles without a hitch (pun intended). After setting up at camp, we secure the bikes to the truck and head out to ride. High-quality bike racks, like our Thule, are incredibly stable with no wobbling in the receiver and are well worth the investment for peace of mind and durability. Reliable, easy to use, and essential for RV life – simply put, it works!
Discovering Quebec’s Route Verte
As part of the Trans-Canada Trail, Route Verte has positioned Quebec as the cycling capital of Canada. Thanks to Montreal’s extensive bike paths, locals and visitors alike enjoy safe, scenic rides throughout the island. Nearby regions are converting old railways and creating new trails along the St. Lawrence and Richelieu Rivers, offering miles of canal-side paths.
One of the highlights is the P’tite Train du Nord, a 200-km route through the beautiful Laurentians to the north of Montreal. South of the city, in Monteregie and the Eastern Townships, you’ll find routes like the Monteregiades, L’Estriade, and La Campagnarde. In Quebec City, cyclists enjoy trails like the Piste Jacques Cartier/Portneuf, the Corridor des Cheminots, and the Corridor de Littoral. Further east, the Petit Temis links Quebec to New Brunswick with a scenic 130-km trail from Riviere du Loup to Edmunston. Finally, paths through Gatineau provide access to the lush landscapes of Gatineau Park and the Pontiac PPJ, a 72-km stretch along the upper Ottawa River’s shores.
La Rioja, Spain: A Cyclist’s Hidden Gem
(Best times to visit: May, September, October)
La Rioja, known for its world-famous wine, offers breathtaking scenery perfect for cycling. Named after the Rio Oja, a tributary of the Ebro River that flows toward the Mediterranean alongside the Pyrenees Mountains, this region is a cyclist’s paradise. Its lush vineyards, rolling hills, and scenic landscapes resemble Tuscany and Provence – yet without the crowds. Right now, you can enjoy La Rioja’s vineyards, forests, and picturesque villages almost entirely to yourself.
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