Waffle 1200

Route Logistics

• Total Distance: ~1,200 km
• 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 Western Essex Loop

The first petal tracks west out of the Chatham hub directly into the lowlands bordering Lake St. Clair. The loop captures scenic coastal horizons passing through Lighthouse Cove and Tecumseh before turning south to outline the Detroit River near LaSalle. Moving along the sunny Lake Erie northern coastline, riders sweep eastward through Colchester, Kingsville (including the mandatory control at Colasanti's Tropical Gardens), and Leamington. A quick pass through Tilbury closes out this scenic, flat leg.

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 Eastern Lake Erie Loop

The third 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 4: The Southern Elgin & Erieau Petal

The final loop serves up a fast finishing run, taking riders south out of Chatham toward the shores of Lake Erie. This leg specifically routes down along the scenic, narrow peninsula of Erieau. Cyclists can catch sweeping marsh and water views out to the bay while passing local landmarks like the Bayside Brewery control before making the final push back to Chatham to wrap up the grand 1,200 km milestone.

The rest of the Waffle Series:

• The Griddlecake 1,000: ACP 1,000 brevet runs concurrently over the weekend series.
• The Hotcake 300: ACP 300 brevet runs Saturday July 18th.
• The Crepe 200: ACP 200 brevet runs Sunday July 19th.
• The Blini Populaire: 100km populaire runs Sunday July 19th.