The National Capital Region chapter invites you to come to Quebec’s eastern Montérégie region for a week of cycling in the spring of 2026. The city of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, with a population of approximately 100,000, is the centre of this region and is the base for our Hub and Spoke. Located 245 kms east of Ottawa (40 kms south east of Montreal), the city straddles the west and east banks of the Richelieu River (which is accompanied by a canal) at the northernmost navigable point of Lake Champlain. This city hosts the annual International Balloon Festival of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in August, a hot air balloon festival which attracts thousands of tourists.

Historically, the French built Fort Saint-Jean in the seventeenth century. Known to early English settlers as St. Johns, it provided an important communication link during the Seven Years’ War. During the American Revolutionary War control of the town changed hands several times as British and American forces moved through the area.

The fort is located on the campus of RMC Saint-Jean, an arm of the Canadian Military College (CMC) system that provides two college-level programs in Social Science and Science, which are closely integrated with the undergraduate programs offered by the Royal Military College of Canada. RMC Saint-Jean was granted independent university status in 2021, and it currently offers a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.^[2][3]

During the 1800’s the city became an important transportation hub. The first railway line in British North America connected it with La Prairie in 1836. The Chambly Canal extends 20 kilometres (12 mi) north along the west bank of the river and provides modern freight passage to Chambly and the St. Lawrence River. The canal has one lock near the downtown of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. In the winter, the city builds a skating rink on the canal near the lock. In the summer, the embankment on the east side of the canal has a 20-kilometre (12 mi) cycling path.

Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu is a manufacturing centre for textiles, wood products, sporting equipment, and metal transformation. It hosts an Area Support Unit (ASU) of the Canadian Armed Forces, which functions as a primary recruit and officer training establishment.

The following link provides some general information about St Jean- sur-Richelieu and cycling in the area.

Montérégie | Montérégie Tourism

https://www.tourisme-monteregie.qc.ca

Travel:  By Car from Ottawa to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu – 245 km (2 hr 33 min).

Nearest Airport to Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu  – Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport. It’s distance:

• By car – 40 km (45 Minutes)
• By bicycle (route Verte) – approx. 50 kms(3 hrs.)

Note: Each participant is responsible for making their own motel reservations.

The Hub and Spoke will be based at the Motel Belle Riviere, 93 Chemin des Patriotes Est, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC, J2X5P8. (Phone: 450-347-5561)

A block of rooms is being held for the CCCTS. Once you are selected through the lottery you will need to call the motel to make your reservation.  To get the group rate, mention that you are part of the CCCTS bicycle club. Please note that the rooms will be held until April 25, 2026 after which they will be open to the general public for booking.  We have set aside:

– 3 rooms at $119.00 +tax (these rooms have 2 double beds plus a river view and patio);

– 14 rooms at $109.00 +tax (2 rooms have one King Bed; 12 rooms have two double beds; no rooms have a river view)

– 1 room at $139.00+tax. (2 double beds plus a river view; also has kitchen and living room, could be used for group gatherings on rainy days).

Breakfast is not included. A Tim Horton’s and Couche-Tard are near-by.

Note: Although we recommend staying at the above-mentioned accommodation, where we will begin our rides and join together for happy hour and ride briefings, there are other options nearby.

Quality Inn, 700 Rue Gadbois Street, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC, J3A 1V1. (Phone 450-359-4466)

There will be 2 different rides to choose from each day. The shorter ride will range from 55 to 65 km and the longer ride will range from 75 to 95 km. There will be time to stop for coffee/beverages and/or picnic lunches and scenic views. The rides will be primarily on paved peaceful rural roads or designated paved and hard packed gravel bike paths. Elevation gains will range between 75 and 256 meters, with the majority being less than 150m. Most rides will begin and end at our hotel in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu , with the possibility of some remote starts. We will divide into groups each day to accommodate different riding speeds and distances, each with a volunteer ride leader from the Ottawa chapter.

Because some of the bike paths and a few of the roads may be unpaved, tires narrower than 28mm are not recommended.

Other notes:

There are several bike rental shops in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. (If you Google “Bicycle Rentals in Saint-Jean sur Richelieu, you will find at least 6 bicycle shops to choose from if you need to rent bicycles). We suggest booking rentals early because this is a popular cycling area.

RWGPS routes will be provided via link to the club web-site, prior to the start of the trip. Routes may change due to road conditions in May. While we hope for sunny spring cycling weather, participants should come prepared for cooler temperatures and possible rain.

The Cdn. $50 fee will cover the organizational costs and supplies, and some shared costs.

Accommodation, meals, bike rental, or individual expenses of participants. Hub and Spoke Coordinator Fee (waived).

Day 1 (Mon., May 25)

Travel to Saint Jean-sur-Richelieu.

A short shake-out ride around the city from the Motel Belle Rivière will be offered at 2:30 pm.

A happy hour at the motel is scheduled for 5:30 pm, where you will get to meet your cycling buddies and learn details for the coming week. Similar happy hours will be held each day following the rides.

Day 2 (Tues., May 26)

Long and shorter routes will follow bike paths and rural roads, north along the Richelieu River and Chambly Canal to Fort Chambly and Beloeil.

Day 3 (Wed., May 27)

Rides today will go south along the Richelieu River, to Saint Paul lle-aux-Noix and Noyan,

with a possible visit to the island Fort Lennox.

Day 4 (Thurs., May 28)

Several route options are available for rides to the NE, to the old volcanic mountains of St. Grégoire, St. Hilaire, and Rougemont and the communities of St. Césaire and Farnham.

Day 5 (Fri. May 29)

Short and longer ride options to the SE will enable cyclists to reach the north shore of Lake Champlain near the community of Venise-en-Québec.

Day 6 (Sat. May 30)

On our last day of cycling, there is a ride to the west – Napier and St. Ėduard, or any of the others that may have been missed. Following the ride, participants may return home unless they make individual arrangements to stay on.

 Note:

The route details will be finalized after a site visit in early May. They will then be entered in the CCCTS Library on RWGPS, for individual downloading before the beginning of the H&S.

Registration will be on the CCCTS website starting Sunday February 15, 2026. You need to login in order to sign up for this ride. A computerized lottery system and waitlist will be utilized in the event that the ride is over-subscribed. A $50 CAD payment is required at the time of registration. The lottery signup will run for 7 days, after which time the leaders will review the results.

The selection process will consider the following criteria in evaluating candidates:

• fitness and riding ability and experience required for the tour,
• a history of demonstrating safe riding practices,
• acceptable social behaviour.

The leader may interview riders or others who know them to verify their suitability for the tour.  The Hub and Spoke Coordinators will have the discretion to make the final decision on whether someone is accepted for a tour and may reject applicants after discussion with the Hub and Spoke Director.

The leader will notify registrants of their selection status. If the ride is not filled to capacity, registration will continue until the closing dates shown. Registration Fee payments are considered non-refundable in the event of cancellation. Wait listed cyclists who don't make it to the Ride's "Go List" are encouraged to remain on the waitlist; alternatively they may request a refund of their registration fee (minus the stripe fee).

Communicable Illnesses:

The CCCTS Communicable Illness Policy takes into consideration regulations and recommendations from Public Health Authority of Canada, BC Centre of Disease Control, and Public Health Ontario. In the case of illness while on tour, it is expected that all participants will follow the procedures outlined in this policy. Please refer to the Communicable Illnesses Policy and Procedures document on the club website for more details.

CCCTS strongly encourages all participants to be up to date on their vaccinations for COVID and all other communicable diseases. Everyone should bring three COVID test kits with them on the tour and take responsibility for self-testing if they feel ill.