Waffle 1200 2026

## Route Logistics - Total Distance: ~1,200 km - Start Time: Thursday July 16th, 5:00 - Cut-off Time: Sunday July 19th, 23:49 (90:49 elapsed) - Format: 4-Loop Cloverleaf (Central Hub: Chatham) - Terrain: Predominantly flat with rolling upland variations and grid interior roads. - Surface: Highly paved with strategic, fast connectors. This LRM 1,200km brevet is sanctioned by Les Randonneurs Mondiaux, and can therefore be used as a pre-qualification event for Paris-Brest-Paris 2027. See below for other shorter rides available in this series. ## About the Ride Centered in the historic city of Chatham, the route utilizes a 4-petal cloverleaf design, allowing riders the rare logistical comfort of returning to the same start/finish control at the Tim Horton's / Comfort Inn after each of the four distinct days. ### Petal 1: The Eastern Lake Erie Loop The first petal turns east into Ontario’s rich agricultural interior. Riders roll through Glencoe and St. Thomas—where the iconic Jumbo the Elephant statue sits visible right from your bike. From there, the path dips south to hit the beautiful bluffs of the Lake Erie shoreline, offering striking views over the water at Port Stanley and Port Burwell (home to the historic HMCS Ojibway submarine). The loop cuts back inland via Wallacetown for a rest break at the Tall Tales Cafe before finishing back at the hub. ### Petal 2: The Northern Blue Water Loop The second petal aims straight north to meet the stunning shorelines of Lake Huron. Riders will head past Petrolia to hit the expansive sandy beaches of Grand Bend. Turning southwesterly along the lakefront toward Sarnia, the route guides cyclists right alongside the St. Clair River Parkway—giving you unobstructed views of international Great Lakes freighters. The return path follows the water paths south through the town of Wallaceburg before re-entering Chatham. ### Petal 3: The Western Essex Loop The third petal tracks west out of the Chatham hub directly into the