Every summer, a route around the city/island is closed off to cars and turned into an all-comers cycle route. No registration required. Although it's about 50km-odd in length, the flatness of the terrain means that just about anyone with a saddle-hardened arse can make it. I had the priviledge of cycling through the famous Olympic stadium to the strains of John Williams' Star Wars theme in 2001. Unforgettable.
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The Tour La Nuit, which occurs around the same time is an easily manageable 20km. The enormous Notre Dame de Grace graveyard is opened especially for part of the course and you get to ride through it in the dark with 8000 other flourescent tube & flashing light - bedecked riders, whilst volunteers dressed up as ghosts attempt to scare you off your bike. The Tour la Nuit is definitely fun, but the route varies from year to year. The Tour de l'isle is usually held on the first Sunday in June. Registration is required. The Tour de Nuit is on the Friday night before the Tour de l'isle.
Both are a lot of fun but you had better like crowds since they attract tens of thousands of cyclists.
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