Discover cycling: Advice from Canadian experts

Sébastien Travers
National coach, para-cycling
Cycling Canada

Credit: Photo courtesy of Sébastien Travers

The Eastern Townships are my adopted region. Beginning in Bromont, this route invites you to discover the Centre national de cyclisme (CNCB), the only velodrome in Quebec. The roads on this route pass through picturesque countryside, and drivers are used to sharing the road with cyclists. The loop can easily be modified to include other beautiful villages such as Sutton, or even extend into the U.S. You can also explore this route on the region’s gravel roads.

Bio:
Since graduating from the Université de Sherbrooke in 2005, Sébastien Travers has been active in the field of cycling performance. As a coach, he has supervised and trained Canada’s elite para-cyclists since 2009. With his teams, he has competed in several Olympic Games and major international competitions. Renowned for his discipline and sense of humour, Sébastien helps athletes with a disability reach the highest summits.

Jeff Silas
Trainer and founder
Dirt Camp

Credit: Photo from Peaka Productions Youtube video

As a professional cyclist, my life can be summed up in two activities: mountain biking and teaching this sport at summer camps. About 30 years ago, I created Dirt Camp, a summer camp dedicated to mountain biking, with a mission to promote a culture of safe learning and make this extreme sport accessible to everyone. So far, more than 5,000 young people of all levels have benefited from the instruction offered at the camp. Making a living from your sport is rare, as is my life on the trails!

It's hard to decide on a single favourite trail, so I’ll give you my pick of Quebec’s must-see trails:

• “Mordor” trail, Parc des Sommets, Bromont
• “Slab City” and “Gold City” trails, Sentiers du Moulin, Lac-Beauport
• “Descente du coude” trail, Empire 47, Lac-Delage
• “Hydrogène” and “Californium” trails, Mont-Blanc
• “La Tremblante” trail, Mont-Tremblant

“You can take the kid off his bike, but you cannot take the bike out of his heart.”

Chloé Rochette
Founder, trainer and author
HappyFitness Movement

Credit: Photo courtesy of Chloé Rochette

In my day-to-day life as a mom, I enjoy cycling along the P’tit train du Nord bike path, leaving from the Sainte-Adèle train station and heading toward Val-David.

Bio:
I quickly understood that my love of sports could be passed on to others. So, at the age of 21, I founded the HappyFitness movement to offer women positive experiences through physical activity.

For me, life is one big game. If I’m not playing at being a businesswoman, you’ll surely find me out having fun with my family and friends. Whether it’s running on trails and roads, hiking in the mountains, skiing, climbing, cycling, yoga... If it’s outdoors, if it involves movement and it’s with friends, I’m up for it.

In other people, I admire attitude more than achievements. As well as their ability to not take themselves too seriously.

Lyne Bessette
Olympic medallist and instigator
Les 100 à B7
Credit: Photo from Les 100 à B7 Facebook page

The course of Les 100 à B7 is a demanding 64-kilometre circuit that introduces you to the magnificent dirt roads of the Eastern Townships. Here you’ll find breathtaking scenery, variations in pace and some terrain challenges. You’ll also enjoy the silence of the countryside and encounters with small animals. Why is this my favourite? Simply because it’s my home, and it’s a paradise for gravel biking!

Bio:
Recognized as one of Canada’s top cyclists, Lyne Bessette thrives on challenges. She has risen through the ranks of her sport, capturing numerous titles in road cycling, trail cycling, cyclo-cross and para-cycling, both in Canada and abroad – including at the Commonwealth Games and the Olympic Games. In addition, she served as a member of the House of Commons of Canada for the riding of Brome-Missisquoi.