Fall Colours on the P'tit Train du Nord (Mont-Tremblant by Bike)
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
- Mont-Tremblant is surprisingly accessible from Montreal by bike. After a commuter train ride to Saint-Jérôme, it's just 85km of very comfortable and scenic cycling on the P'tit Train du Nord (Little North Train) to the town of Mont-Tremblant, with the ski resort a little further.
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I had no idea this route existed. I'll have to make time this autumn to give it a ride; thank you!
It goes all the way to mont laurier
I used to live in Saint Sauveur and so I took the bike trail at Piedmont and usually headed north. I think it's sad that train service to towns like Piedmont, Saint Sauveur and others, like Ste Agathe and Mont Tremblant ended in the 1970's. Train service to the area was before my time, but it would have given lots of people from Montreal access to the Laurentians and vice versa. The suburban train that goes to Saint Jérôme is okay, but I'm guessing the old trains were probably better. My parents actually got wood to build 3 houses shipped from British Columbia to Piedmont, so I grew up in a log cabin with BC wood. Those were during the last days of train service to the Laurentians. My family built those houses with BC wood in Saint Sauveur, and somehow, one in St Denis sur Richelieu. Don't ask me how they got the wood all the way there because I don't know.
There are enough country roads that are paved in the area that the bike path north of St Jérôme doesn't need to be paved too. When I lived in Saint Sauveur in the 90's, the trail wasn't paved and I liked it like that. They even built an outdoor exercise area in Piedmont recently that was really nice.
There's also another bike path in Morin Heights that I believe used to be a train track too. I think it used to be called the 'Aerobic Corridor', but I didn't take it as much. I used to bike on 'De l'Eglise street up the hill past the cemetery and then down the hill into Morin Heights. Sometimes, if I was biking to the gym, I would take the Simon River Road to the 117 highway and bike south along there for a bit until I got to the Interclub gym. I would pass by The Polar Bear's club. If I wanted to go on the trail, I usually took 'Rue Principale' (aka Main Street in English), past the bridge that went over the highway and then down the hill, past the 117, over a bridge on the 'Rivière du Nord' river and then onto the path. Anyway, all this to say that there are lots of paved country roads around there that have light traffic, so I don't know why they would pave that bike trail too. I think they should leave it alone.
If someone wants a really good workout, biking up that hill from the 117 in Piedmont to Saint Sauveur is fantastic. It's very steep and really good exercise. Having lived in both Alberta and Quebec, it seems like some of the roads in the country in Quebec are very steep because some of them used to be trails that eventually got paved. When I biked in Kananaskis country, the mountains were obviously bigger, but biking on the side of the road was usually not incredibly steep. It was very enjoyable and good exercise too. I think the grade difference is just because the roads in Alberta are newer and so they made the gradient less steep, but longer.
Yes, I've done that climb from Piedmont to St-Sauveur and continuing on to Morin Heights, and then to Seize Iles on the corridor aérobique. It is steep before the 117 and 15 but short. AFterwards it is hilly, but that is the Laurentians. From what I understand, there is now a bridge to cross over the small river and take you to the corridor aérobique in a more direct way. Pavement is increasing on the PTN, because of increased traffic and the need to make the trail more resistant to rain and melting snow. So you really don't need a special bike to ride PTN anymore.
Ya, cold and rain is a tough one. You can try shoe covers, waterproof gloves, socks, etc, but you still tend to sweat and as soon as you stop the chill sets in. Wool is good - it still insulates when wet. I was riding in the eastern townships the last week of September and I cut my tour short because it looked like some nasty weather was coming. I think that’s what you were dealing with! Ride safe.
Wow! I only discovered the Route Verte a short while ago, and I've since been riding on it every chance I get. It's a blast! I was planning to go on a similar trip to Mont-Tremblant in the near future when I have managed to build my fitness up enough. The part that goes through Laval and the north shore might not be quite as picturesque as the more northern parts, but it is still so pleasant when you want a good ride in the city! Thanks for the video, very thorough!
alright, so I'm from Montreal and my parents have owned or rented cottages near Morin-Heights since I was 3, so I grew up cycling and skiing on the petit train du nord, among other places. I've only done the whole bit from St Jerome to Tremblant and back once (when I was like 14). it's a little boring being all flat, but it's still nice.
I have also lived in Edinburgh (Scotland) for 5 years working as a rickshaw rider (8pm-4am friday/saturday nights) and cycling long distances to my other job in childcare on weekdays. my suggestion for dealing with long-term rain on hands is good gloves that keep you warm even when they're wet. there are thin, relative inexpensive (~$30) mountain biking gloves you can get that do this fairly well. you'll need thicker ones if it's cold and/or windy (having a windproof but light pair is absolutely essential), but the mountain biking ones are fine if it's above 7-8 degrees.
as for feet, I just resigned myself to getting wet. I would bring a couple extra pairs of thick socks and switch them in every 3 hours or so, putting the wet ones in a plastic bag so they wouldn't get my other stuff damp. same went for the rest of me: I didn't bother with a rain coat (after 6 hours even goretex gets damp and heavy), instead just wearing long underwear, fleece top, quick-dry shorts and leggings. it's more comfortable for cycling in, and that stuff keeps you relatively warm even when it's wet. I'd get out a goretex jacket only when it was windy as well.
but yeah, I'll be the first to admit that all these strategies aren't for everyone! have fun and thanks for the lovely videos
Amazing landscapes!! And amazing route. I was just talking to a friend this weekend about biking outside of Montreal when he mentioned that he went to Mont-Tremblant by bike. I didn't know you could do that :D Did a search to see how the route looks like and came across your video. Very well explained and really nice shots :D I wasn't even aware the Exo network existed.
Love this!
I did this last year! Love your videos.
This trail has been on my bucket list for a while. I've been lucky to ride other chunks of the Route Verte, including: the Eastern Townships, Gaspe Peninsula and Iles-de-la-Madeleine.
My recommendations for wet weather riding (at least during the summer months) include: sandals, dishwashing gloves and ponchos :). They may look ridiculous, but they're fast drying and do a remarkable job of keeping you dry. Brands like Shimano and Keen even sell clipless-compatible sandals.
Nice video! Thanks for taking the time
Thanks for the comment and for watching!
Phew almost thought they wouldnt give you that ice cream
Merci pour votre vidéo. C'est en effet un très beau coin à visiter. aller à granby aussi c'est beau mais c'est un peu plus long
Very informative, plan to ride on the trail in July
Perfect. Heading to Montreal in July and wasn't sure if you could get to the trailhead by train. EXO! Cheers
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
I love this route! My favorite rest stop is the lakefront park in the town center of Ste-Agathe
The lakefront looks very nice, we'll keep it in mind for the next time we do the route! (And hopefully it won't be raining then...)
I wouldn't be too concerned about bears. Quebec only has black bears, which are notoriously shy. If you do see one, you should be loud (also good to prevent encountering in the first place) and make yourself look big.
Look up local guidance!
Bring a loud whistle
More concern about mosquitoes and black flies
Thanks for this very good video. We will definitely bike on Le P'tit Train du Nord. If by any chance you come to Ottawa-Gatineau, I would strongly recommend that you bring your bikes along as both cities and the National Capital Commission invested heavily in bike routes.
In the time since this video came out, we actually moved to Ottawa, lived there for a year and a half, and then moved back to Montreal! Ottawa's pathway system was definitely a highlight of living there
This looks super nice! Last summer I did the Véloroute des Draveurs, which is a similar bike route but in the Gatineau valley, hoping to do le Petit train this coming summer...
That route looks very interesting, especially going by Blue Sea Lake. We'd like to explore much more of Gatineau in general, so we'll keep that one in mind!
@@OhTheUrbanity Blue sea is definitely a nice part of the trail! I live in Gatineau actually, so if you want more info you can contact me! The cycling network here is ok, but it's growing!
In the winter you can xx ski the trail.
You guys should do the Lac St-Jean trail, called véloroute des bleuets. It is a marvellous, mostly flat trail that goes around lac St-Jean, a 250km ride that is easy and fun, with lots of amenities.
Easily my best bike ride in Québec. The part between Mt Laurier and Tremblant is the best in my opinion. It gets much more remote the more north you go (obviously). I agree that you don't miss much taking the train to St Jérôme. 4:17 that downhill portion I cursed a lot on because it was uphill for me, and it was the only part where my road tires felt like they didn't belong on the trail. I don't know about Bears that south down the trail but up north I did spot two.
For you feet, overshoes work nicely but only for a time, similar as plastic bags. What makes a huge difference is having front full mudguards, that go almost all the way down. The splash from the wheels is a very significant part of what gets in your feet and having good mudguards delays a lot the time it takes for overshoes to be less effective. Looking at your bikes at 3:02 and 5:27, you don't seem to be putting any mudguard.
We decided to just go as far as Mont-Tremblant because this trip followed our long trip to Trois-Rivieres (long by our standards at least) and we wanted a more casual distance, but doing the full trail to Mont-Laurier is an appealing option and we have it on our radar for the future. Did you do the bus option to Mont-Laurier, or bike both ways?
Great suggestion on the mudguards, thanks! We didn't think of that but in hindsight it makes a lot of sense that a significant portion of the water was coming from there. Definitely good to know for our next trip that might involve rain.
@@OhTheUrbanity I took the bus up there. I was asked to put my bike on a big cardboard box, and had to argue not to remove the handlebars and wheels (which would have asked me to carry much more tooling to put the bike back up in Mt Laurier. I couldn't find the bus service that is supposedly dedicated for bikes.
IIRC the Mt Laurier - Mt tremblant trip is about 120km, and super flat, so definitely doable considering you already have mileage in your legs.
@@OhTheUrbanityCan a bicylist who doesn't know how to change a tire do long distance cycling?
@@jeffreykaufmann2867 Assuming you're going through populated areas, technically you can always cover some ground on foot or call a taxi to get to a town with a bike shop and a hotel. It would just be a question of how flexible you can be with your time and budget, since that might cost a few hundred dollars and throw your schedule off. It's not something to do if you really need to get back home for work by Monday.
If we were in that position we'd definitely be careful about the routes we took, maybe staying to the Montreal region and doing medium-distance trips following an exo train or bus line that we could rely on if needed. Mont-Tremblant is more accessible than average due to the route getting lots of traffic and having lots of towns and bike shops. Also, the route is pretty high quality and unlikely to result in a puncture.
There are also puncture resistant tires and tubes that a bike shop could install to give some added protection.
With all of that said, changing a tire isn't too difficult so I'd recommend learning if possible. We have a relatively basic level of bike maintenance skills and we figured it out through some CZcams videos.
@@OhTheUrbanity My tires are tubeless so the odds of getting a flat is less than with a tubed tire but I can still get a flat so I would need to carry a tube if cycling far. You guys are pretty impressive travelling long distances with bikes that arent very light like Carbon Bikes.
You passed by my boyhood home in Sainte-Rose.
Were the Route Verte trails were available then? That would have been excellent as a kid
Know these types of videos don't get the most views on your channel, but they're really lovely.
Appreciate it!!
This seems like a really awesome trail but I always get a little upset at the what-could-have-been with keeping the rail line and actually having the option to take the train to a ski resort. You take what you can get I suppose!
The train does not go all the way to Montreal on the weekends. So it is important to consult the schedule. However, as mentioned in this video, it is possible to ride the métro on the weekend with your bike (first car) and get to the de la Concorde station (Laval). This métro station is equipped with an elevator, so be sure to look for it as it has been designed for bikes. It is also quite easy to cross the river and ride from de la Concorde to Montreal by crossing the pedestrian bridge across Ile Perry, or riding north a bit and crossing at Pont Viau. From both areas, there are bike routes all the way to Montreal (Pont Viau gets you to the REV, which is wider and faster).
For the rain, I bought cycling shoe cover and they really keep the shoe dry. Look up "Showers Pass Club Shoe Cover - Unisex" on mec canada website (I assume I can't post link here). It looks very similar than what I got.
It's on my list and I heard it goed as far as Mont Laurier and that there is a bus that can take you, your bike and your luggage up there from Saint-Jerome and then you come back descending to Montreal.
That said, Great vid!
Thanks! And thanks for the recommendation on shoe covers, we definitely have to get something like that for future rides.
This looks like a great ride! How gravelly were the gravel parts? Wondering how bad this would be on a road bike.
We encountered one stretch with "mushy" gravel (which caused problems even for our hybrid bikes), but I'm 90% sure it was just in the process of being worked on and wasn't normally like that. Aside from that, we found the gravel very smooth, and it wasn't uncommon to see road bikes on the trail. Another comment mentioned doing the whole trail with road tires and only encountering one problematic stretch too, so you should be good to do it!
I've done this route from Montreal to Tremblant on a road bike with 28 mm tires. And my wife does it on 23 mm tires. Neither of us have much issues and there are lots of other road bikes on the trail in the summer.
There is only a short section with really loose gravel due to road works on the trail. But otherwise it's quite smooth
Awesome vid as always! Question for you guys: if I am buying one bike, do I get a road bike, mountain bike, hybrid or does it matter?
Thank you! A hybrid bike is a good default choice. For the type of riding we present in our videos, the suspension of a mountain bike is completely unnecessary, but the small tires of a road bike don't necessarily handle gravel well. Hybrid bikes (and similar styles) are also the most likely to have mounts on the back for a rack. Also, maybe even more important is just making sure the bike fits you. We've used bikes that were too small in the past and the difference is night and day.
Get a gravel bike. They'll be coming the most popular bikes. It's almost a cross between a road bike and a mountain bike.
Gravel bike for sure.
What month did you guys do this trip in? I might have missed it in your video. Excellent, by the way!
I believe this was early/mid-October. Glad you liked the video!
What about a rain poncho for your bike?
I hope you still read these comments, but :
How was the suburban train with your bikes? The old models (the ones were the doors lead immediately into the lower floor and a bike space) seem not to be a problem, but the newer ones (the ones where the (low platform) doors lead to small stairs and a door at a 90 degrees angle which itself leads to a bike space on the medium / center floor, visible around 1:30 and on the following train shots and I think also at the end) seem quite harder for boarding with bikes. How was your experience about that? Any problems? I have only ever taken the old suburban train with a bike and had no issues, but I was wondering if I should worry about the other ones if I have to take them.
Yeah, the bike area was on the mid-level floor so it sounds like we were on one of the newer trains. I do remember it being a challenge to get our bikes onto the train, especially because one of our bikes was more awkwardly weighted due to the panniers, although it was probably made worse by the fact that we were rushing because we were still buying our fares when the train came in. Once up and into the train, the two bike areas gave us enough room, although it helped that the train wasn't busy.
@@OhTheUrbanity Good to know! Btw I can confirm that yes, you were on the newer ones (well at least the first time, couldn’t tell on the second because there was so few images). The old ones are much more of a pleasant experience when it comes to bikes, but not really for everything else. So I’ll keep in mind that I should arrive on time and go on quieter hours. Thanks!
If you do it in summer don t forget bug repellant cream or lotion , or you will be eaten alive , also a netted hat is not a bad idea
The trail is now too busy. The trade off is safety from cars.
Although a bike trail for those who cycle, ot would have been much more intelligent to keep and modernize the actual train. Blame it on Via Rail who let the line deteriorate after inheriting it from CP.
Gotta love Quebec... Literally have Arrêt signs... 2:35
Meanwhile in France... STOP
Le français ne cède pas a l'anglais au Québec ;)