Cycling in the Townships – a choice for every taste and ability!

Sherbrooke, July 16th 2007 – For the past three years, Tourisme Cantons-de-l’Est and its partners have been working together to turn the Townships into a premier destination for cycle tourists. In 2007, the region has indeed become the number one choice for vacationing cyclists. The Townships boasts the greatest number of accommodations with a « Bienvenue cyclistes » (« Welcome cyclists ») designation. 62 inns, B&Bs and hotels – the highest number in the province of Quebec – now hold this Vélo Québec accreditation.

A diverse network

Around the Eastern Townships, there is a network of 500 kilometres (311 miles) of designated on-road and off-road bike trails, both hard-topped and gravel. The network encompasses the new, 225-km (140-mile) Véloroute des Cantons (part of the Route verte), which runs from Farnham to Danville, allowing cyclists to travel between Montreal and Quebec City, crossing the Eastern Townships en route.

A map to help you plan

It’s a cinch to plan your itinerary with the interactive map on the TCE website www.cantonsdelest.com/velo. Before leaving home, this handy tool will allow you to work out the distance and type of trail that you want to cover and to see what attractions, restaurants, services and accommodations can be found along the way. Once you’ve worked out your itinerary, all you need to do is print out the map or send it off to a friend!

A map to get you around

Once in the region, you can order the « Cycling the Eastern Townships » map, available from tourist information offices, online or by telephone. The map contains a wealth of information about the bike trails, describing the type of surface, services, attractions and accommodation, as well as the seven most beautiful circuits in the region, chosen by bike enthusiasts themselves.

Bike packages

If you don’t have time to plan a trip yourself, EKILIB is happy to oblige. This company offers a wide range of « one-stop shopping » packages, available online. Some 20 other bike packages are also offered by members of Tourisme Cantons-de-l’Est – again, online.

Tired out? Call a bike taxi!

Cyclists who are too tired to peddle any further, who have broken down or who simply don’t want to retrace their route can now call the TAXI-VÉLO to get them back to base. This innovative service is available all long the designated bike trails, every single day, around the clock. You don’t even have to book in advance. Just call and a taxi will come to pick you up within the hour. The vehicles can carry four cyclists and their bikes. And the cost? $40 for the first 30 kilometres and $1.45 for every kilometre thereafter. To order a TAXI-VÉLO, call 1-877-766-VELO (8356). Three companies already offer this service : Taxi Magog-Orford, Taxi de Sherbrooke Inc. and Taxi Union Granby.

Bring on the adrenaline!

Thrill seekers need not feel left out. Mountain bikers can challenge the rugged trails to their heart’s content at three centres : Bromont, Coaticook and East Hereford.

Check our website

For everything you need to know about cycling in the Townships, please visit our website at: www.easterntownships.org/cycling

Source:
Danie Béliveau
Media Relations
(819) 820-2020 / 1-866-963-2020
db@atrce.com