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DESTINATIONS
Roots Rocks Riding
Practicalities
By Joe Lindsey
It's not just a kitchen, it's a bike shop! |
Trails
In summer Mont Sainte-Anne provides maps covering its 200 kilometers of mountain bike terrain in much the same way as it provides ski trail maps in winter. The maps are well-marked and highlight a variety of terrain by difficulty level. You can pick them up at the gondola or the lift ticket office. Gondola passes are a far cry from their winter ski counterparts in price; it only costs $18 Canadian to ride the lift all day, and there are multi-day discounts. If you choose to bypass the lift there is still a $5 trail use fee. The trails are technically challenging and the terrain is steep. This is generally an area for experienced, fit riders. There are trails lower down on the mountain that will appeal to more novice riders.
Riding season in this area of Canada is typically June through September or early October. Mid-September (when we visited) is excellent as the trees are changing color and offer majestic views and exciting riding. Rain is typical, and fall temperatures range from just below freezing to about 60 degrees.
Lodging
Mont Sainte-Anne and the surrounding area have over 40 hotels and lodging options, ranging from camping to on-site condos like the Chalets Mont Sainte-Anne we stayed at. Diversions
Ever been to Europe? If you have, you'll be struck by how European the town of Quebec City is. If you've never been across the big pond, the town is a great primer on what to expect if and when you do go to Europe. It's not just that French is the dominant language in this part of Canada; the 400-year old buildings and tight, twisty streets, or the cannons overlooking the Saint Lawrence river add to it's Continental feel. The city has great restaurants and shopping with a very cosmopolitan flair for such a small city. An added bonus is that you can get by on English, as most residents are bilingual and very helpful to tourists.
At Mont-Sainte Anne, try shopping in one of the numerous stores, paragliding, or fruitbooting (inline skating) around the Promenade du Lac.
Riding Style/Gear
If you're new to East coast riding, it'll be a learning curve. You'll quickly learn to balance your weight and let the bike slide into the line. Be light in the saddle and allow the front wheel to"bounce" into the correct line. Don't fight it or you'll crash. Keep your weight back on steep descents and bend slightly at the elbows and knees to soak up shocks. In the fall, leaves often obscure the trail, so be careful of hidden roots and rocks which will likely be slippery from moisture.
Gear
East Coast riding is, pure and simple, about mud and water. Mont Sainte-Anne has terrain that is ideal for full-suspension (especially if you opt for the gondola rides), but hardtails are great choices as well. A suspension fork is a big plus, and make sure it has boots or wiper seals to keep mud and grit from contaminating the internals. White Brothers' Fork Wipers are a great aftermarket wiper seal for various suspension fork brands ($20). Good mud tires include thinner (1.5-1.95 inch width) tires with aggressive, widely spaced knob patterns and good tread cleaning action (like Michelin, Tioga, and Panaracer).
Fenders are also useful, particularly front models. Make sure the fenders are appropriate for true off-road conditions (not just around-town commuter versions). At the very least a Crud Catcher on the downtube helps cut down on spray from the front wheel. Other tips include using bailing wire, zip ties or adhesive on the grips to keep the dreaded "Moto-grip" a loose handlebar grip from occurring. A wet conditions chain lube is also helpful. SPD-type clipless pedals will tend to jam in mud. All three of us used Time's excellent ATAC pedal and had no difficulties engaging or clipping out of the system.
Bring:
Long-finger gloves, helmet, eye protection, padded shorts and plenty of warm clothing. Helmets are required by the resort, so bring one even if you normally don't use one. Also bring plenty of chain and cable lube, spare brake pads (they're expensive in Canada and availability could be an issue for some designs), tubes and basic tools. Make sure your bike is tuned and ready to go before leaving; Canada is tough enough on your gear already without a nascent mechanical waiting to spell doom for your vacation.
For you motoheads, the climate and terrain are ideally suited to using motocross-type pants and long-sleeve jerseys. Stay away from cotton clothing. Some days we rode in shorts and jerseys; others we resorted to tights and jackets, so pack a variety of clothing.
Contacts
Mont Sainte-Anne Resort (418) 827-4561, or plan your entire visit via the resort's excellent website.
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