Tour d'ile

Montreal Tour de l’ile is another major bike fest. This time the ride is during the day, with even more cyclists and closing even more roads. You have to feel sorry for the motorists, well, no not really.

Stuart and Nathaniel are signed up for the 100km ride, and I’m going to do the 50km with Ann. We signed up for the ride months ago, and it never occurred to me that I should be aiming to ride 100km. Recently I did check to see if I could sign up for the longer ride, but I was relieved to see that it had sold out. I’m not sure that I’m ready for 100km yet.

Stuart and Nathaniel set off at 7am, no doubt going to try and out race each other. It’s raining steadily already. Ann and I agree a more leisurely departure time of 8.15. (it’s still raining steadily). I’m surprised to find that she’s not at the meeting point. It transpires that she has a puncture to fix. I head over to the guest house to pretend I can lend a hand.




Puncture is fixed in no time, and I’m no help whatsoever!

We head off again (it’s still raining steadily), but now we are too late for the Grand Depart. As we cycle down Rue Rachel, we see the cavalcade heading towards us! Easiest option, turn the bikes around and join in!



It’s a lot of fun cycling in a huge group through the streets of Montreal, and it’s not raining steadily anymore. It’s bucketing down! At one point I can hardly see in front of me there’s so much water streaming over my eyes. I’ve forgotten my wet weather booties and I can feel the water sloshing around inside my shoes!

We get to the first rest stop and wade through the park to pick up the snacks and treats that they hand out. It’s still raining so we don’t hang around.



Fortunately, over the next leg of the ride, the rain gradually stops, the sun comes out and we slowly dry out. By the time we stop for lunch the skies are blue and all is well.



Lovely weather for ducks



At the end of the ride, we meet up with everyone (100km, 50km and 25km riders) and are able to sit chatting in the sun, and listen to tales of Stuart and Nathaniel trying to out ride each other (which seemed to end up with Stuart lying flat on his back in a puddle), but he’s all in one piece and everyone is dry now and all have enjoyed a great day out!




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