Our road-bike day in La Petite-Nation, 82 km from Thurso to Saint-André-Avellin

The south end of La Petite-Nation suits a road bike for a simple reason: the villages line up along Route 148, ten kilometres or less apart. You're never far from a café, an ice cream counter or a bike repair station.

Our day is about 82 km. Start in Thurso, ride the 148 east to Montebello, come back to Papineauville and head up Route 321 to Saint-André-Avellin for lunch. Then roll back down and home to Thurso. If your legs aren't having it, skip the Saint-André detour and it's 52 km.

A word on the numbers. Distances come from a routing service on the same roads, rounded. For the clock times we assumed an average of about 22 km/h. Adjust for your pace and your headwind.

8:30 a.m. · Leave Thurso

Thurso is about 50 minutes from Ottawa on Highway 50. Before you roll, Café Bistro Léo on rue Galipeau does breakfast, and the Metro on Victoria has bars and bottles. Thurso also has a bike repair station, one of four in the area along with Plaisance, Papineauville and Montebello.

Distance: ~11 km to Plaisance on Route 148. About 30 min.

On the way, in Lochaber, the Route verte rest stop has bike racks and a dry toilet built by a local artist. Good to know for the ride back.

9 a.m. · Plaisance

Time here: 20 min

Stop at the Parc des Pierres, at the corner of rue Principale and chemin des Presqu'îles: a giant open book carved in stone, with sculpted Canada geese. If you're already hungry, Café d'la rivière on rue Principale does paninis and homemade soups.

Distance: ~7 km to Papineauville on Route 148. About 20 min.

9:40 a.m. · Papineauville, in passing

Time here: 10 min

A quick photo at Sundial Park on the 148, with its armillary sphere sitting on the 75th meridian. Save the ice cream for the way back.

Distance: ~8 km to Montebello on Route 148. About 20 min.

10:10 a.m. · Montebello, the real break

Time here: 45 min

In Montebello, it's waffle time. Gaufre n' Go makes sweet or savoury Liège waffles to go. La Belle Pâtissière on Notre-Dame does Parisian-style pastries and coffee. Le Café entre amis serves breakfast and lunch, but it's closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tires need a top-up? Montebello's repair station is there for that.

Distance: ~8 km back to Papineauville, then ~15 km north on Route 321. About 1 hr.

Noon · Saint-André-Avellin, lunch

Time here: 1 hr

In Saint-André-Avellin, La Crèmerie 321 is at 612 route 321 Sud, right on your way. Soft serve, hard ice cream, slushes and a small lunch menu. It's seasonal, from late March into the fall.

For a proper sit-down lunch, La Toquade is a bistro Lyne Rossignol and Yves Cossette have run for more than 16 years. For bread to go, Boulangerie Au pain d'antan is in the heart of the village.

Distance: ~15 km back down the 321 to Papineauville. About 40 min.

1:40 p.m. · Papineauville, ice cream

Time here: 20 min

Les Mignardises on rue Henri-Bourassa is a café, pastry shop, artisanal ice cream counter and snack bar with a terrace. If you saved room, now's the time.

Distance: ~18 km to Thurso, west on Route 148. About 50 min.

2:50 p.m. · Back in Thurso

Crèmerie Les Délices d'Alice on rue Victoria, for those counting calories burned rather than calories eaten.

Repair stations are handy, but they're not a mechanic. Bring your own tube and pump.

Other options

• The long version, the official loop. The Cycl-O-Route West Loop is 87 km and part of the Route verte. It crosses into Ontario on the Thurso ferry, runs through Prescott-Russell and comes back on the Québec side through Plaisance national park, Papineauville and Montebello. Well signed. Check the ferry schedule before you go.
• On a hybrid. Parc national de Plaisance has more than 40 km of bike trails, with an entrance in Thurso from which you follow the Ottawa River for 21 km. Before taking a road bike, check the surface with Sépaq. The season runs from late April to mid-October.

What to know

• Distance: about 82 km for the full day, 52 km without the Saint-André-Avellin detour. All distances are approximate.
• Roads: Routes 148 and 321 are numbered highways you share with cars. Ride single file, with lights and visible clothing.
• Road conditions: check Québec 511 for roadwork before you go.
• Refuelling: Thurso, Plaisance, Papineauville, Montebello and Saint-André-Avellin all have food. Hours change with the seasons, so check before you count on a stop.
• Repairs: bike repair stations in Thurso, Plaisance, Papineauville and Montebello.

ThursoLochaberPlaisancePapineauvilleMontebelloSaint-André-Avellin

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