Short description
This road loop is straightforward, and is good if you are looking for a fast road ride.
Route 214, i.e. west between Scotstown and Bury, is OK, but has sketchy shoulders. I would avoid riding at times people are arriving at, or leaving, work (so not between 7 and 9am, or 4 and 6pm).
I have never had any problem with traffic on 214, but the lack of safe shoulder makes me feel rather exposed. Note that as one rides out of Scotsown east (i.e. the other way than this route) route 214 is much better – a wider road with a fairly consistent shoulder.
Route 108 (20-30km) is a fast road, wide and with a good shoulder. Route 212 (30-60km) is wide, good shoulder, and has less traffic than 108.
I prefer riding this route at weekends, when traffic is quieter – though all is relative: traffic is always quieter around Scotstown than around, say, Bromont or St.Eustache, Montreal suburbs with pleasant country roads, but also with many impatient motorised residents.
In a nutshell this route is downhill – with a few ‘ups’ to start with – between Scotstown and Cookshire (0-30km), then uphill for the next 30km. It then descends into La Patrie (57-62km), and is essentially flat back to Scotstown
There are shops and restaurants in Cookshire (most are up the hill from where this route turns left), a restaurant in Island Brook, and a shop and diner in la Patrie. Check opening times.
Richard Shearmur 