100% road. Link to To the US and back
Short description
This 100% road ride starts off pleasantly, along the newly tarmaced route 257 to La Patrie. It continues on through fields and woods to Chartierville, with one decent climb along the way (km 22 to 23).
At Chartierville things get challenging (and some riders may wish to turn back here). The road begins to rise steadily, but – disconcertingly – it feels flat. So one is struggling along what ought, visually, to be an easy road.
One then faces the wall of Chartierville, a straight 1km stretch up to the US border. It is an unrelenting climb, averaging 10%, but with absolutely no respite: it is simply 10% all the way, no reprieve, no bend, nothing.
On the way down I have reached speeds of 95km/h, exhilarating and scary.
In Chartierville there is a small store that sells coffee, food and drinks. Likewise there is a store and a diner in la Patrie. Check opening hours.
Richard Shearmur 