Cyclists are ruling the roads this weekend, despite stormy skies on Sunday morning.
Bicyclists took over city streets as part of the Tour de l'Ile Sunday and Tour La Nuit Friday night.
On Sunday, riders chose from 25-, 50- or 100-kilometre routes that circumnavigate the western half of the island, from the Olympic Park to Senneville.
“Cycling events with more distance, with more endurance, are getting more and more popular,” said Joelle Sevigny of Velo-Quebec, which organized the 29th annual event.
The 100-kilometre challenge was a special event for 200 enthusiasts led by a motorcycle escort travelling at an average speed of 30 kilometres per hour.
It began under rainy skies, which cleared up for the duration of the event, despite severe thunderstorms in the forecast.
“I think we have to bike rain or shine and it's just a fabulous event, great excersis and you feel so great afterwards,” said cyclist Jay Biem.
Sunday's ride began on Saint-Joseph Blvd. at 9 a.m. and winded through eight boroughs before wrapping up at Olympic Park.
Car traffic was limited, but not entirely excluded.
Cyclist Lynne Tremblay said it was a fun event that included some sightseeing.
“I think it’s a great way of visiting Montreal and just doing things with a big group of people,” she said. “It’s lovely.”
Tour La Nuit
A 25-kilometre circuit through the Mercier-Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Saint-Leonard and Anjou boroughs took place Friday evening, with some 17,000 participants of all ages. Streets were closed to motor vehicle traffic for the evening.
It’s a special event, said organizer Joelle Sevigny of Velo-Quebec.
“When you ride on a daily basis with your bike, you share the road with the cars, and once a year at night, you only share it with other bikers,” said Sevigny.
While the night race is a bit more relaxed in nature, when it began 15 years ago, it was designed to make cyclists more aware of how important it is to be visible at night.
Some cyclists were drawn to the novelty of racing in the dark.
