70 km of pure cycling bliss

Richard and I are both keen cyclists, and apart from the times we’ve bumped into each other by chance on the Parcours des Anses, we’ve never really cycled together. Why not ask him to go for a ride and be one-day influencers?

Bossy type or a favorite?

If the idea comes from me and I ask him, I’ll come across as a bossy type; if it’s his idea, I’ll come across as his favorite. I decide to save face for him and ask him myself. Actually, the real reason isn’t all that complicated: we’re the only two people at work who cycle a few thousand kilometers in the summer, relying solely on our own leg power.

– Richard, shall we go for a bike ride together? I reckon we’re due for a proper ride and do you have a route you’d like to show me?

– Good idea, Stéphane. I’d love to show you a route I’m really keen on but haven’t done for a while, it’s a loop: Berthier-sur-Mer, Saint-Vallier, St-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Beaumont, La Durantaye, and back to Berthier-sur-Mer. I’ve worked out the wind direction for you; you’ll see, it’ll go really well!

– That sounds like a great plan. Friday, it looks like a great day for a ride, doesn’t it?

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Cycling Tour with Richard Bellechasse, Montmagny

Along the 132

It’s not a difficult ride from Berthier-sur-Mer to Beaumont; you follow the 132 and there’s a wide hard shoulder.

Of course, you’ll need to leave the 132 to pass through the villages of Saint-Vallier and Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, which are members of the Association of the most beautiful villages in Quebec.

That’s the lovely thing about cycling: you ride along and have plenty of time to notice and appreciate the scenery unfolding before you.

After just over 30 km, we stop off at the Bus Stop Casse-Croûte in Beaumont. We didn’t go overboard, as we still had about 40 kilometers to cycle, but we each treated ourselves to a grilled cheese sandwich and a lemonade of our choice. The french fries will have to wait for next time.

With today’s cycle paths, I’m doing fewer and fewer road cycles, but this one is idyllic, winding through cultivated fields, alongside the river and past historic buildings. The tranquillity of the route allows us to really switch off.

– Richard

We’re heading inland!

Well, this is all new to me, and I can’t wait to cycle this second half of the route that Richard sold me on when he told me about this loop.

According to Richard, you’ve got to make the most of the gently sloping descent between the Bellechasse and Berthier-sur-Mer sections. The asphalt on Rang de l’Hêtrière has recently been resurfaced.

Needless to say, I made the most of it; I thought I was pushing it quite hard, but not as much as Richard, who flew past me like a bullet.

Later on, after La Durantaye, the almost perfectly straight Chemin d’Azur exposes us to strong winds – either to test our endurance or to give us a tailwind, depending on how you look at it.

Today we’re in luck – we’ve got the wind at our backs. Richard’s still going full throttle, whilst I’m struggling a bit behind. I still managed to hit 46 km/h though! After a couple more paths and lanes, I was even surprised to find we came straight out at the entrance to Berthier-sur-Mer!

And, as it was my first long ride of the summer, let’s just say it suited me down to the ground.

– I reckon I’ll finish this off at L’Amiral (link in french)with its view of the river, don’t you think, Richard?

– I’m not saying no, either!

What a lovely discovery!

The route we took is a shorter alternative to the Bellechasse Loop, which is a little longer but well worth the effort as it takes in the agritourism attractions of Domaine Arvi and Le Ricaneux.

As for me, I’d never cycled along the Rang de l’Hétrière, the Chemin d’Azur and the Chemin du Rocher, or the Chemin des Roy. How can I put it? It’s simple: this second, quiet section of the route made me rediscover the joy of road cycling!

– Come to think of it, Richard, do you have another route like that which you’d like me to try out at some point?

– The Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly / Lotbinière loop – I’m thinking of one section in particular on Rang St-Eustache; you’d love it!

– Perfect, boss! 🙂

Photos: Stéphane Bourque

Richard’s loop

A 70 km cycle ride between Berthier-sur-Mer and Beaumont, then through the rural and idyllic countryside of Saint-Charles-de-Bellechasse, La Durantaye and Saint-Vallier Station, before returning to Berthier-sur-Mer!