Take your pick: adrenaline packed or slow and contemplative?
Published on Oct 27, 2025
Bags are hastily packed after work. We’re running around the apartment like headless chickens — our downstairs neighbors probably think we’ve adopted a herd of hyperactive kids. In reality, we’re just getting ready for a weekend getaway to Bromont, and, as usual, we’re running late.
The plan: biking, more biking, hiking, wine, and spa time — the perfect way to enjoy the region during what many mistakenly call the “off-season.”
*“Got the toothpaste?”
“Yep.”
“Phone charger?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I can’t find mine, I’ll borrow yours if I have to. Okay, let’s go!”*
The strategy is simple — hit the road early enough to beat the traffic of fellow Montrealers escaping to nature. Miraculously, we’re actually on schedule. Bags fly into the back seat, the key goes in the ignition… and nothing. Dead battery.
So, we start our weekend with a boost — quite literally. And that’s how our Bromont adventure begins: eager to leave the city behind and soak in some fresh air.
A quick check-in at Le Beatnik Hotel (thanks to our newly revived car battery), and it’s already dinner time. Our reservation at Chardo – Restaurant & Bar à Vin, a trendy yet unpretentious wine bar, is at 7 p.m. The food is outstanding, and we resist the temptation to linger over a glass of light red — we’ve got an early start at the National Cycling Centre of Bromont (NCCB) tomorrow.
The alarm goes off at 5:30 a.m. Excitement and anticipation kick in. Today, we’re trying track cycling and the pump track at the NCCB. Quick coffee stop at the drive-through, and we’re on our way. With each sip, I feel a little more awake, just like the sun slowly climbing over the horizon.
In the distance, the Bromont peaks come into view. The weekend has barely started, and already, it’s clear: this town runs on bikes. Mountain biking, gravel biking, fat biking — plus endless cycling paths winding along the main roads. Add the NCCB’s new facilities, and it’s no exaggeration to say that Bromont is Quebec’s cycling capital.
At the National Cycling Centre, we head straight for the velodrome with our instructor. Track cycling, it turns out, is great for everyone — all ages, all levels. It’s my girlfriend’s first time riding with clip-in pedals, and she’s loving it (never mind the fact that track bikes don’t have brakes, which is a challenge in itself!).
After two hours on the track, we move on to the pump track for another round of fun. After the rush of high-speed laps on a banked track, now it’s all about balance, momentum, and flow.
Half a day at the NCCB, and we’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible here. It’s hands down the best place to extend your cycling season — and keep your feet dry while you’re at it.
Let’s face it, cyclists can be a bit high-maintenance. It’s part of the ritual — a reward for all that pedaling. I’m no different, so the rest of our trip is all about cafés, relaxation, and aperitifs.
First stop: Pittstop Vélo-Café, a stylish café-boutique that celebrates cycling culture. Over lunch and coffee, the view of the mountain reminds us once again that Bromont and bikes go hand in hand.
Next up, we swap our bikes for bathrobes at BALNEA Spa — the ultimate leg-soothing experience. Fall is, without a doubt, the best season to go. I’m not a big fan of cold plunges, but I convince myself that alternating between hot pools and crisp autumn air must have the same benefits. Our favorite spot? The stunning infinity pool overlooking Lake Gale.
Speaking of Lake Gale, we kick off our last day with a hike around the lake. Several of the trails here are also open to cyclists. After a little yogurt-granola snack by the waterfall, we continue our walk back to the car. (Okay, maybe we “borrowed” a reusable jar of yogurt-granola from the Beatnik’s amazing bagel bar for our hike snack — but don’t worry, we brought the jar back!)
At Léon Courville, Vigneron, we’re instantly charmed — by the smell of freshly made mulled wine and the warm welcome from the staff. During the colder months, the tasting room transforms into a cozy chalet where guests can sip wine and play board games by the fire.
And so, with happy hearts, full bellies, and pleasantly tired legs, we head back to the city — hoping our car battery feels as recharged as we do after this perfect weekend escape.
