Hotcake 300

Route Logistics

• Total Distance: ~300 km
• Format: Single Loop (Start/Finish: Chatham)
• Terrain: Predominantly flat with expansive sky views and coastal winds.
• Surface: Fast-rolling paved roads with iconic marshland causeways.
• Time Limit: 20 hours. (3:00 July 19th cutoff)

The Hotcake 300 is a classic long-distance ACP brevet that serves as the perfect introduction to the "Waffle Series" geography or a fast-paced challenge for seasoned randonneurs. It runs as a single loop starting and ending at the Comfort Inn in Chatham, ON. See below for other rides in the Waffle series. Regional randonneurs will recognize this route as Erie-Oh 300, with a Chatham start.

About the Ride

The Western Essex Loop

The Hotcake 300 heads west from Chatham, immediately immersing riders in the unique lowlands of the St. Clair delta. The journey takes you to the picturesque docks of Lighthouse Cove before following the shoreline of Lake St. Clair through Tecumseh and down into Lasalle.

As you turn south, you will experience the lush "Banana Belt" climate of the Essex coast—the southernmost reaches of Canada—riding through the charming lakeside communities of Colchester and Kingsville. A major highlight of the route is the primary control at the famous Colasanti's Tropical Gardens, where the exotic indoor flora and friendly atmosphere provide a vibrant contrast to the open road. The return leg carries you back along the Lake Erie north shore and through the quiet, fertile plains of the interior, offering a rhythmic and scenic conclusion to this 300 km "hotcake" of a ride.

The rest of the Waffle Series:

• The Waffle 1200: LRM 1,200 brevet runs for the entire 90 hours of the series weekend.
• The Waffle 1000: ACP 1,000km brevet starting Thursday July 16th.
• The Crepe 200: ACP 200 brevet runs Sunday July 19th.
• The Blini Populaire: 100km populaire runs Sunday July 19th.