Discover L&A Ride
Enjoy the Ride in L&A County!
This 56-kilometre journey takes you along paved roads that overlook the water’s edge and authentic rural Eastern Ontario landscapes. Rest stops are at fascinating historic sites, beautiful parks, and award-winning wineries for a day of cycling you won’t soon forget.
- Saturday, September 9, 2023 (rain or shine)
- Check-in: 9 – 10am
- Start & Finish: MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company, 1915 County Rd. 22, Bath, Ontario
It’s not just about the cycling – which is great, by the way. The Discover L&A Ride is about the experience. It’s a 56 kilometre tour of Lennox & Addington where you’re encouraged to enjoy the picturesque rural countryside, relax at the rest stops, and learn the history of our county. It’s a chance to meet other cyclists while sampling carefully crafted beverages and listening to live local music.
We're sold out!
Food & drink aplenty before, during & after the ride
Great cycling AND amazing treats! Enjoy cookies and coffee from The Lodge at registration. Along the way sample apple cider donuts from Spring Meadow Orchards, apples from Wynn Farms, and a honey-related treat from The Hive & Hearthstone. Bergeron Estate Winery is serving “Nonna’s Pizza” ($) at the half way point and the 33 Vines will be offering tastings too. After the ride, you’ll have many food & beverages options back at MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company. You will receive a post-ride ticket that you can use for a complimentary beverage from MacKinnon Brothers, The Lodge Coffee House or The County Bounty Soda Company. Food will be available for purchase from Old Style Barbecue!
The Route
Refresh at The Hive & Hearthstone, Old Hay Bay Church, Bergeron Estate Winery & Cider Company, 33 Vines, Loyalist Trading Co. Gap Park and Finkle’s Shore Park. Each stop has a water-bottle fill station and light snacks. Lunch is also available for purchase at Bergeron Estate Winery & Cider Company!
Note: rest stops subject to change.
Registration packages may be picked up at the site beginning at 9 am on event day. The ride begins at 10 am. Enjoy a coffee and a cookie from The Lodge Coffee House and live music from Bon Evans before you leave.
At the end of the ride enjoy a delicious glass of MacKinnon Brothers beer back at the brewery while listening to great music from Christopher Jackson. Drinks from The County Bounty Soda Company and The Lodge Coffee House will also be available post-ride. Old Style Barbecue will have food available for purchase.
225 South Shore Road, Greater Napanee
Distance from Start: 14 km
Distance from Finish: 42 km
Rest Stop Hours: 10:45am – 12pm
Water, snacks (including a honey-inspired ice cream treat).
Discover The Hive & Hearthstone: They’re a small apiary and wood-fired ‘breadery’ (yes, they have made breadery a word), offering fresh honey, artisan bread and an array of fresh in-season produce. But, once you visit you realize that this amazing little spot is so much more than just that. This charming apiary welcomes with personality and the most ooey-gooey delicious honey you’ve ever tasted. The honey bees are affectionately referred to as The Sugar Fairies and they are lovingly cared for. The honey that’s produced is sold raw and unpasteurized to keep all the goodness intact.
2365 South Shore Road, Greater Napanee
Distance from Start: 25 km
Distance to Finish: 31 km
Hours of Operation: 11am – 1:30pm
Water, snacks (including apple cider donut samples from Spring Meadow Orchards!) and washroom facilities will be available. Complementary tours of the church are available.
Discover Old Hay Bay Church: It’s the oldest Methodist building in Canada and the second oldest church in Ontario. Built in 1792 on land donated by Paul Huff, Hay Bay Church was the first meeting house for Loyalists in Ontario. In addition to weddings and special parties, the restored church is host to an annual service on the fourth Sunday of August. Old Hay Bay Church is recognized as a national Canadian historic site.
9656 Loyalist Parkway, Adolphustown
Distance from Start: 32 km
Distance from Finish: 24 km
Hours of Operation: 11:30am – 2:30pm
Water, snacks and washroom facilities will be available. Participants are entitled to a complementary wine OR cider tasting. Delicious Nonna’s Pizza will also be available for purchase by the slice. Cyclists can purchase product from the winery and have it delivered to MacKinnon Brothers for post-ride pick-up.
Discover Bergeron Estate Winery & Cider Company: It was being the first winery to be open for business in L&A County, selling its award-winning wine since 2007. Bergeron Estate produces Gamay Noir, Pinot Noir, Vidal, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, and a Rosé from wines that are made exclusively from grapes grown on their 10-acre vineyard. They also produce a delicious cider made from apples from a local orchard and feature “Nonna’s Pizza”.
9261 Loyalist Parkway, Adolphustown
Distance from Start: 35 km
Distance from Finish: 21 km
Hours of Operation: 11:45am – 2:30pm
Participants are entitled to a complementary wine tasting. Cyclists can purchase product from the winery and have it delivered to MacKinnon Brothers for post-ride pick-up.
Distance from Start: 38 km
Distance from Finish: 18 km
Hours of Operation: 12 – 3pm
Water and snacks will be available. Cyclists may purchase products from the store and have it delivered to MacKinnon Brothers for post-ride pick-up. Enjoy music from Carrick McAllister.
Discover Loyalist Trading Co.: a family-run business that offers a wide range of preserves, apparel, decor and much more. All products in the store are proudly made in Canada, and locally sourced whenever possible.
Highway 33 (just east of County Road 21 Intersection)
Distance from Start: 46 km
Distance from Finish: 10 km
Hours of Operation: 12:30 – 3:30pm
Water only is available at this stop.
Gap Park: Take advantage of this new park and stretch your legs and fill your water bottle. It’s also a great opportunity to take some amazing selfies with Amherst Island in the background.
Distance from Start: 52 km
Distance from Finish: 4 km
Hours of Operation: 12:30 – 3:30pm
Water and snacks will be available.
This is the final rest stop on the tour… a perfect spot to take a quick breather and fill your water bottle. Oh, and maybe get a quick poutine from the Fryway 33 Chip Truck while you’re at it.
Sore, tired and out of breath? Refuel with music.
It’s not just about the cycling! The entire day is an experience and includes first-rate entertainment along the way. Can you think of a better way to spend a cycling day? Participants will enjoy live music pre-ride, along the route, and back at MacKinnon Brother’s at the conclusion of the ride.
Check out our amazing lineup of entertainers:
- Pre-ride: Bon Evans (8:45 – 10:15am)
- Stop 1: Joe Ramsay (10:30am – noon)
- Stop 2: David Cossaboom (10:45am – 12:30pm)
- Stop 3: Dave McGrath (11am – 1:30pm)
- Stop 4: Bon Evans (noon – 1:30pm)
- Post-ride: Gerald McGrath (1 – 4pm)
Make it a whole weekend of riding!
The Discover L&A Ride falls on the same weekend at the Limestone Century Tour! Participate in the Discover Ride on the Saturday, then hop back on your bike and enjoy this 17th annual event on Sunday, September 10th. Choose from 50km, 100km and 161km routes. Find out more.
The Discover L&A Ride is an open course, meaning you and your bicycles will be sharing the road with motorized vehicles. Please be safe and obey all traffic laws. All participants are required to wear a helmet. Please ride single-file on the extended paved shoulders where applicable.
All participants will receive a ‘Discover L&A Ride’ route map at registration. The route is marked with turn signage (‘500m ahead’ and ‘turn here’ signs). Rest stops will be well-marked as well. Each rest stop has a water bottle fill station (please bring your own bottles) and snacks to keep you refreshed and charged for the ride. Support vehicles will be making regular trips around the route. If you require assistance, please flag us down and we will assist you.
Although wineries and breweries are highlighted in this tour, we ask that you please use your judgement when partaking in the consumption of alcohol. Two wine tasting tickets and a post-ride beverage ticket will be distributed to each participant at registration. A single 2 oz. wine will be provided at the Bergeron Estate Winery & Cider Co. and 33 Vines rest stops when you present the tickets as part of your registration entitlement. Additional tastings may be purchased at each stop but it is at the discretion of the participant.
Participants can receive either a glass of beer from MacKinnon Brothers Brewing Company, an iced coffee beverage from The Lodge, or a beverage from The County Bounty when they present a ticket provided at registration. The beverage will not be served until the ride is complete. Again, additional beverages may be purchased at the end of the ride. Please drink responsibly and arrange for a safe ride home.
