Notre objectif avec cette route était de créer un itinéraire de Bike Packing à la fois aventureux et accessible.
Par accessible, on veut dire que la route peut être complété en 2 ou en 3 jours...donc en un seul weekend! Puis, nous nous sommes assurés d'inclure plusieurs options d'accommodations et de restaurants. Alors si le camping vous excite, vous aurez la chance de camper! Mais si vous avez envie de prendre une douche, aller à l'hôtel, et manger au restaurant, c'est aussi possible!
Pour plus d’info sur la route, veuillez visiter la collection Komoot ci-bas.
David lave les bikes et s’assure que tout fonctionne bien avant de partir!
Le début de la route se trouve sur le Ptit Train du Nord, à Val-Morin. Rappellez-vous de cette belle pancarte “Tacos, bières, sorbets” qui vous attendront au Restaurant Le Mapache à votre retour.
Des beaux chemins tranquilles pour sortir de la “ville” et se diriger vers St-Donat.
Le sentier L’Interval! La première (mais non la dernière) fois que nos gougounes sont tombées du sac! Ça brasse un peu, mais c’est une bonne occasion pour ré-ajuster vos sacoches pour le reste du trip.
Nous sommes arrêtés diner à La Boîte à Tartes à St-Donat. Un lundi, c’était le seul endroit d’ouvert! Mais nous n’avons pas été déçus. Nous avons mangé des sandwichs, et la propriétaire nous a fait goûté son caramel maison! On en a profité pour se prendre un petit carré aux dattes pour la route.
Après St-Donat, nous sommes entrés dans le Parc National du Mont Tremblant!
Dans le Parc National du Mont Tremblant, c’était la tranquillité totale. Il faisait frais alors on ne s’est pas baigné, mais s’il fait chaud, ce n’est pas les options de lac qui manquent! On s’est arrêté mangé nos carrés aux dattes sur le bord de l’eau.
Faut s’hydrater qu’ils disent!! Une bière sans alcool mid-ride, ça rentre au poste!
Le dernier défi de la journée a été le Chemin du Boulé à la sortie du Parc National…mais est-ce que c’est vraiment un défi quand il y a des vues comme ça? Une chose est sûre, il n’y avait pas un chat (ni humain) sur ce chemin.
Y’a rien comme du poulet frit pour te remettre su’l piton après une bonne journée de bike! 143km et environ 6h de vélo plus tard, au Ptit Caribou au Village du Mont Tremblant.
Déo, Lactigo, GO!
Dernier petit coup d’oeil sur la route au déjeuner
Jour 2: On est prêts!
Départ vers La Conception! Eh Boy! Attendez de voir ce Pont Couvert là… C’est quelque chose!
Faut bien se cacher des p’tites surprises pour la route!
Chemin des Iroquois (Voir version Aventure de la route). On n’était pas certain dans quoi on s’embarquait, mais ça en a valu la peine! Si vous vous y aventurez, attachés vos gougounes avec d’la broche!
Si vous choisissez de ne pas prendre la version Aventure….pas de stress! Le Chemin de la Rouge, c’est tout aussi et PAS MAL plus smooth. Pas convaincu? Check la prochaine photo pis essaye de me dire que c’est pas beau.
C’est ça que j’disais.
Pause crottes de fromage et chips au ketchup.
Le Corridor aérobique, même à la pluie c’est l’fun! Enwaye à maison!
Le set up de Magh:
Clothes and riding gear
Specialized S Works Evade Helmet (custom)
Specialized S Works Recon Shoes (It wasn’t warm, so I didn’t choose the vented version)
Rapha Pro Team Full Frame trail Sunglasses (That lens is perfect for mid-sun to covered days!)
1x Rapha Pro Team Bib & Jersey (I took the kit I’m the most used to ride in to make sure I didn’t change anything or try anything new for 250KM!)
1 pair of Specialized Pro Team Socks
1x Rapha Pro Team Gore Tex Rain Jacket. Just in case.
1x Pair of Specialized short finger S Works Glove
1x Rapha MTB Trail Jacket, for the after ride :)
1x Rapha Down Jacket, for the after ride
1x Long Sleeve MTB jersey from Rapha, could be used as dinner attire at night and second jersey the next day if my only jersey was wet or too stinky!
1x Rapha Trail Light pants, same as the jersey. Perfect for dinner and to wear the next day if it’s cold!
2 Sport bras
My favourite set of wool socks!
My birkenstocks to go along with my woolies!
Accessories
Hammerhead Karoo 2 with the two routes loaded!
Hammerhead & phone charging cord
1 small power bank, just in case.
1 Spare tube (Ok David carries the tools…)
My trusty film camera :)
Komoot Spork. Cause eating on the road uses a lot of plastic utensils and nobody likes that.
Couple of delicious GU Stroopwaffles.
1 tub of GU electrolytes tab to stay hydrated if we only found water on the road
2 Upika water bottles + 2 Upika sample size portion for the second day
2 sample size pouches of Lactigo. For recovery post ride & to apply before second day!
2 bags of Live Holos Overnight muesli to fuel the second day properly. Super easy to make at hotel or camping!
1 non alcoholic beer, for the ride, 1 alcoholic for the post ride fun!
Unscented CO Bar soap & deodorant. Gotta stay fresh.
Toothpaste, toothbrush & contact lenses for day 2
Bags
All of that fitted in…
Evoc Bar bag
Evoc Medium Boa Bikepacking saddle bag
Evoc top tube Multi adjustable frame bag
All of that fitted in there and I had lots of spare room to buy Snacks on the road!!
Bike check (Maghalie)
2022 52cm S-Works Crux. Custom painted for Maghalie
Roval Terra CLX wheels + Specialized S-Works Pathfinder 42 tires. No rolling resistance, but good volume. Setup Tubeless with Specialized Sealant. Rode at 30PSI for the ride.They were perfect for the route.
Zipp Sl Seatpost / Stem / Handlebar (40cm)
Sram Red AXS 2x group (50-37 QUARQ chainrings + 10-33 cassette). This is my training setup, so we used this for the trip. It was perfect!
Lizards Skins 2.5 DSP Bartape. More cushioning for big days on the bike!
Specialized power with Mimic 143mm Saddle. SO comfy.
Xpedo CXR pro Cyclocross pedals. My go to pedals for every bike that isn’t a mountain bike!!
Le set up de David:
Clothes and riding gear
Specialized S Works Prevail Helmet.
Specialized S Works Recon Shoes
Rapha Pro Team Full Frame trail Sunglasses (That lens is perfect for mid-sun to covered days!)
1x Rapha MTB bib with pockets and MTB Shorts + MTB Jersey
1 pair of Specialized Pro Team Socks
1x Pair of Specialized short finger S Works Glove
1x Rapha MTB Trail Jacket, for the after ride :)
1x Rapha Down Jacket, for the after ride
1x Long Sleeve MTB jersey from Rapha, could be used as dinner attire at night and second jersey the next day if my only jersey was wet or too stinky!
1x Rapha Trail Light pants, same as the jersey. Perfect for dinner and to wear the next day if it’s cold!
Rapha team sandals. Love em.
Black Specialized Merino socks
Accessories
Hammerhead Karoo 2 with the two routes loaded!
Hammerhead & phone charging cord
1 small power bank, just in case.
1 Spare tube + Co2 cartridge (Pump is on the bike) + basic tool kit
1 Small bottle of lube. Dry Lube.
1 Spare Sram AXS battery. Spare CR2032 Battery in the ANGI system of the helmet!
Spare Toe straps. Cause you always need em. Turns out we used all of the straps on the trip!
Komoot Spork. Cause eating on the road uses a lot of plastic utensils and nobody likes that.
Couple of delicious GU Stroopwaffles.
2 bottles + 2 Upika sample size portion for the second day
2 sample size pouches of Lactigo. For recovery post ride & to apply before second day!
1 non alcoholic beer, for the ride, 1 alcoholic for the post ride fun!
Toothpaste, toothbrush & contact lenses for day 2
Bags
All of that fitted in…
Rapha Explore Bar bag
Evoc Small Boa Bikepacking saddle bag
Evoc Small top tube Multi adjustable frame bag
Bike check (David )
2022 52cm S-Works Crux. Custom painted for Maghalie (There are only 2 of these in the world, I’m lucky enough to ride the second one!!)
Roval Terra CLX wheels + Specialized Tracer 38 tires. Went for more traction because the weather was calling for rain, still good volume. Setup Tubeless with Specialized Sealant. Rode at 35PSI for the ride.They were perfect for the route.
Zipp Sl Seatpost / Stem / Handlebar (44cm)
Sram Red AXS 2x group (50-37 QUARQ chainrings + 10-33 cassette). I like to use exactly the same setup as Maghs, that way if something happens to her bike, we can quickly swap!
Lizards Skins 1.8 DSP Bartape because I like feeling the ground and bike in my hands!
Specialized power with Mimic 143mm Saddle. Works for men too :)
Xpedo CXR pro Cyclocross pedals.
Le setup d’Alexe:
Bike check (Alexe / Photographer)
2022 medium S-Works Creo Custom flatbar E-Gravel bike . David built this bike for my mom, he swapped the regular road bars and shifters to a Specialized Flat MTB bar and SRAM Eagle AXS MTB shifter / brakes setup! It worked perfectly for the photographer who was able to carry over 50 pounds of gear and still follow no problem!
Roval Terra CLX wheels + Specialized S Works Pathfinder 42. Setup Tubeless with Specialized Sealant. Rode at 35PSI for the ride.They were perfect for the route.
Specialized Terra Seatpost / Stem / 700m Flat S-Works bars
Sram Eagle MTB shifter and Level Ultimate brakes. 10-50 Cassette. 44T Chainring
Lizards Skins Macaskill grips
Specialized power with Mimic 143mm Saddle. Our saddle of choice in this family :)
The bracket / support for the bags in the back is a cheap 20$ seat post bracket from our local bike shop. That’s where we used most of the toe straps that were in the gear list :P.
Battery range extender in the bike. We almost didn’t need it. We went over 150KM with 1 charge of the bike on day 1. We plugged it in while having lunch (+-30mins) and that worked great! We used the range extender on day 2 as we didn’t plug it in at lunch!
