Over 2,000 Quebec bicyclists participated in a grand tour of “the green valleys of Vermont and the townships.” The event was sponsored by Vélo Québec, a nonprofit cycling organization that sponsors bike tours. A few of the grand tour participants decided to take in a view with their lunch. While padded bicycle shorts were de rigueur for all, the variety of brilliantly colored cycling shirts was breathtaking. Photos by Joseph Gresser
BARTON — It started as a trickle then became a steady stream. Cyclists, in a stunning variety of ages and sizes, decked out in an equally stunning variety of tight cycling outfits.
They were the riders of Quebec, over 2,000 strong, participating in a grand tour of “the green valleys of Vermont and the townships.” The event was sponsored by Vélo Québec, a nonprofit cycling organization that sponsors bike tours.
At the intersection of routes 16 and 5 Felix Robitaille stood directing bicycle traffic with a small orange pennant. The pennant marked him as a
Tandem bicyclists accelerate down Route 5 toward downtown Barton leaving Felix Robitaille and his guiding pennant behind.
cycling escort, one of 90 whose duties include guiding their fellow travelers at puzzling junctions, pointing out road hazards and assisting with roadside repairs.
Mr. Robitaille said the tour has been a Canadian staple for years. This edition marks the first time the rolling pack has traveled to the U.S.
He said the group’s Vermont experience was a good one. He praised the state’s scenery and people and especially the smooth roads.
Local drivers he said, have been uniformly courteous, waiting as scores of cyclists pour down town roads and giving them a wide berth when passing.
A few hundred of his tour companions rode past the corner where Mr. Robitaille stood. As they approached the corner Mr. Robitaille directed to the right, down the hill, and wished them a good trip. The reply was invariably a bright “merci.”
While some bikers rest quietly on the lawn, others take advantage of a few of the luxuries of a group bicycle tour. Masseurs worked to restore weary, aching bodies, while a short distance behind them mechanics do their magic on weary, aching bicycles.
After a hundred or so bicycles had gone by another cycling escort pulled up to take Mr. Robitaille’s place at the junction. Taking the pennant out of the socket mounted behind his bicycle seat the new traffic monitor consulted with Mr. Robitaille for a moment. Then Mr. Robitaille put his pennant into its holder, swung a leg over his bicycle and took off.
The stream of bikes flowed down Route 5 toward Orleans. Motorists had to contend with bicyclists who sometimes rode side by side, edging into the lane meant for cars. For the most part, drivers seemed to take the unusual bicycle migration in stride.
Out of the village signs began to appear indicating that food could be found at two kilometers ahead. At the turn-off for Lake Region Union High School, the signs suggested lunch was near at hand.
Locals could have told the cyclists that a cruel joke was being played on them. The famished travelers could eat, but not until they reached the top of a steep incline.
Geared down, the riders pedaled madly and moved slowly. Some stood on their pedals to gain mechanical advantage, a few gave up and walked their bikes up the hill.
As they reached the school grounds, they found a bicycle oasis prepared in the Vermont wilderness.
The access road was marked with large banners advertising Hydro Quebec, one of the event’s sponsors. Once on school grounds many hundreds of
Cyclists earn their lunch by pedaling the hill to Lake Region Union High School. Although not everyone rode all the way up, everyone was fed.
cyclists and their mounts took their ease.
A line had formed in front of the small awning that sheltered the bike repair shop. A couple of mechanics worked adjusting discontented cycles.
Nearby a couple of masseurs worked a similar magic on humans stretched out on massage tables. For more traumatic problems, a Canadian Red Cross van offered medical treatment.
There were people filling water bottles, and a line of portable toilets.
At one corner of the school yard a long table supported a huge display of plums and bananas. Large lunch bags stood nearby.
Most of the cyclists were preoccupied with taking on the nourishment needed to keep going on their strenuous journey. They moved about with a jittery kind of gait caused, one soon realized, by shoes that were designed purely as cycling accessories.
A few were willing to take a moment to speak. They all expressed great appreciation for the local scenery and even more enthusiasm for the smoothness of area roads. Then they were off on the next stage of the trip, which was to take them through Irasburg, Coventry, and Newport to Derby and then over the border to Stanstead.
A couple of friends work to perform an impromptu repair on a worn cycling shoe. Duct tape, the universal problem solver, does the trick.
According to a map visible on one cyclist’s handlebars more ambitious cyclists could ride through Lowell, Westfield and Troy on their way back to Canada. Once north of the border the tour would ride through the Eastern Townships on its way to a Friday finish in Richmond, Quebec.
Richmond is both the beginning and end point of the tour which will, at the end of its seven days, have covered 500 or more miles, not counting optional side trips.
The grand tour started Saturday, August 5, when buses of cyclists crossed the border and traveled to Morrisville. From there the tour proceeded along routes 15 and 2 to St. Johnsbury and Lyndonville.
Those who chose to do so spent Sunday traveling a loop through Waterford, Peacham and Barnet. Tour participants are offered an option of camping out or staying in area hotels. The sole Vermont campsite was located at the Caledonia County fairgrounds.
Tour organizers try to cover different ground every year, Mr. Robitaille said. But given their enthusiastic response to Vermont’s green valleys perhaps the area will see the freewheeling francophones again someday.
