{"id":70401,"date":"2024-01-30T11:56:27","date_gmt":"2024-01-30T16:56:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tourisme-monteregie.qc.ca\/?p=70401"},"modified":"2025-05-20T11:57:26","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T15:57:26","slug":"monteregie-by-bike-adventure-at-your-doorstep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tourisme-monteregie.qc.ca\/en\/blog\/agreements\/news\/monteregie-by-bike-adventure-at-your-doorstep\/","title":{"rendered":"Mont\u00e9r\u00e9gie by Bike: Adventure at Your Doorstep"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The story of Jacques Nacouzi and his family on the Centre-Est loop<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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<\/p>\nWritten by Alexe Dupont<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

A memorable experience isn\u2019t something you can buy; it\u2019s something you create. That\u2019s the sentiment I got when I spoke to Jacques Nacouzi, a Montrealer who doesn\u2019t consider himself a cyclist but decided to get the whole family on their bikes for a vacation\u2014himself, his partner, and their three kids, aged 7, 9 and 11. Here\u2019s the story of a trip he\u2019ll never forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A novel idea<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Summer 2022. Jacques lives in Montr\u00e9al, and he usually rents a car during summer vacation. But this time, there were no vehicles available. Jacques happened to come across an ad for the Mont\u00e9r\u00e9gie network of bike trails. It was for a kind of tour package, but by bike. Travel by bike instead of by car… Hey, why not? He spoke to his partner and, before long, the idea had become a full itinerary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proper preparation<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Basic gear and a repair kit, a luggage transfer service, good organization, and hotel reservations. It\u2019s that simple. All that was left to do was to lose all notion of time and stop whenever they felt like it along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deciding on the route<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

They decided on the Centre-Est loop, a safe circuit with a moderate incline. The trip from Montr\u00e9al to Granby took four days, including plenty of stops for good things to eat, local discoveries and accommodations. It was a familiar region for them, since they\u2019d been to the Eastern Townships often to visit family, but never via Mont\u00e9r\u00e9gie\u2019s bike paths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From the very first stop in Longueuil, Jacques and his family already felt they\u2019d started to see things differently. When you\u2019re cycling, you take the time to take your time. Need to rest for a bit? No problem. You really look at the landscape. You watch the sky turn blue to pink and orange on a warm summer night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An experience beyond expectation<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

When I asked Jacques about his favourite part of the trip, it wasn\u2019t the attractions that came to mind, but rather particular moments. Cycling is only a context for the rest. When else did he have the chance to bike back from a good meal at a local restaurant alongside a field, admiring the sunset and listening to the sound of his kids laughing blend with crickets chirping? That\u2019s not something you can plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another thing Jacques emphasized was how inexpensive bike touring is and how this allowed them to stretch their money further. For example, they were able to enjoy a meal at Le Mille Notre-Dame in Saint-C\u00e9saire and stop at local shops like Fromagerie des Cantons in Farnham for a snack with a view of the river.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lasting impression<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Jacques hopes his kids will remember the trip and consider recreating their fond childhood memories when they\u2019re grown up. Perhaps with families of their own\u2014who knows!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The story of Jacques Nacouzi and his family on the Centre-Est loop Written by Alexe Dupont A memorable experience isn\u2019t something you can buy; it\u2019s something you create. That\u2019s the sentiment I got when I spoke…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":70721,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":{"member_association":[{"ID":42512,"post_author":"23","post_date":"2022-03-09 13:54:28","post_date_gmt":"2022-03-09 18:54:28","post_content":"\n

The Boucle Centre-Est route strictly runs on bike paths and is mostly flat, making it one of the safest in the region and understandably ideal for families and cyclists who prefer more relaxing rides. This out-and-back connects Chambly, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and Granby, three hotspots where you\u2019ll find myriad activities right off the paths: parks, cultural venues, coffee shops, quaint shops and lively places. It is also a gateway to the Eastern Townships via the R\u00c9SEAU V\u00c9LO YAMASKA bike network and a link to exploring on-road touring options along the Vall\u00e9e-des-Forts bikeway.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

SUGGESTED ITINERARY<\/strong>
Day 1 :<\/strong> Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu to Granby via Farnham (La Mont\u00e9r\u00e9giade - 48 km<\/a>)
Day 2 :<\/strong> Granby to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu via Rougemont and Chambly (La Route des Champs - 40 km<\/a> et La piste du Canal-de-Chambly - 20 km<\/a>)
Option + 1 day :<\/strong> R\u00c9SEAU V\u00c9LO YAMASKA - 100 km<\/a>
Option + 1 day<\/strong> :<\/strong> circuit sur route sur la V\u00e9loroute du Lac Champlain - 100 km aller-retour<\/a>
Option + 1 day<\/strong> : <\/strong>circuit sur route de l'Axe cyclable de la Vall\u00e9e des Forts - 100 km aller-retour<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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