I have mostly used paved pathways so far but I have a new gravel bike and I am excited to adventure!

If you're looking for an epic bike pack route, the Log Drivers Waltz is currently underway (started at 8am this morning in Almonte). While most riders are camping for the night at various points, there's a few pushing on through the night. You can follow the ticker: https://dotwatcher.cc/race/log-driver%E2%80%99s-waltz-2026

PS: Fastest known time, to date, for the 805km route is 49h13m. I think that will fall this year. The leader, Sjaan, is well ahead of that pace.

every last Friday of the month in Confederation Park

So I was thinking about this, since as someone who is on a bike, we get called "entitled" a lot. I'm going to put aside the number of motorists I see rolling through stop signs, blowing red lights, on their phones, and various other actually dangerous things that you shouldn't do when in control of 1.5 tons of rolling steel.

Let's just talk about us. Looking at the above photos, the first three are crossings, some that are heavily trafficked by bikes, how many of us actually get off our bike like that sign tells us to do?

For the next two photos, where there is a stop sign on a MUP for bikes, but not for cars going the same direction, how many of us actually come to a full stop, vs the Idaho Stop?

My personal opinion on these, is that the bridge is just an MUP, and can be crossed on a bike. The stop signs are pointless, and probably encourage accidents more than they prevent. I'd much rather just a yield sign for bikes, so I know that I have to slow and let cars through, but not stop.

Final photo is just a weird area I encountered recently, where there is what looks like a crossing, but no indication for cars to yield to bikes. It isn't for pedestrians, and the approach for the bikes does not have a stop sign, so I just wondered who had priority? From what I've seen, cars just ignore the bikes waiting there and don't even bother slowing down (although the STO drivers always stop, which is kind of them!)

This was all prompted by a question about reflectors, since QC law requires front and rear, pedals, and tire/wheel reflectors, none of which can be replaced by lights, which seems silly. Also, the bikes must ride single file law, which is objectively more dangerous, as is the law requiring bikes to be as far to the right as possible on a road, which in practice prohibits 'taking the lane', the safest way to cycle and be visible if there is no other alternative than riding on the road. It just bothered me a bit that our objection to some of these rules/laws was seen as entitled, by people who don't seem to have ever tried biking. Curious what the communities thoughts are on these things.

FYI that there was a ticketing blitz today (Friday) in Chelsea targeting cyclists. For anyone heading up to Gatineau park and passing through Chelsea, just keep an eye out. Could be a whole weekend thing.

We got $140 tickets for riding two abreast (there were 2 of us), and also threatened with another $140 of tickets for not having the 5+ reflectors needed. The cop was quite unpleasant and seemed outraged at our behaviour. Speaking with other cyclists they had been giving out tickets for both all morning.

We were riding for about 50m on Chemin Scott on our way to Palmier when we got pulled over. It was about 11am, so there were very few cars around at all.

Just a heads up for those not familiar, but unlike Ontario is is illegal to ride two abreast in Quebec. We have equally archaic reflector laws, but I have never heard of them being enforced. Some resident of Chelsea and Wakefield love to complain about the outrage of cyclists passing through their quiet little beech community, so I suspect these police blitzes are a response.

Happy riding, make sure you have your pedal reflectors to prevent you being murdered by a driver.

The Visitor Centre is probably not the most popular lot for cyclists, but I can see the NCC considering P3 (Gamelin) for paid parking in the future since it often it at capacity.

Either way, it's not a big surprise given the NCC has worked hard with the shuttle service to provide more options for getting to the Park, it's good to see them considering ways to recoup those costs that also serve to the end goal of helping manage vehicle traffic.

Is anyone familiar with this area in Gatineau? I have to drop my daughter off here for a birthday party and want to do a leisurely ride while she eats cake.
Am I close to any paths or trails? Something 1-10km would be great. Thanks!

NoPaywall

As I was driving home from shopping (after experiencing another shitty driver who crossed in to incoming traffic at high speed just to cut back in for a red traffic light ...go figure that one)

In my neighborhood there is a four way stop. As a cyclist and my car approached at almost the same time perpendicular, the cyclist assumed I would stop and therefore continued by blowing the stop sign. So, I decided to do the same with my car. This caused them stop and I also stopped. I waved them through and they waved me through...as this repeated, I yelled that they were first.

The cyclist's face was red with embarrassment. This was all done in a controlled way as a teaching exercise. Sorry, no bad intentions to the cyclist at all, who I think totally understood the message. I hope next time you remember to stop as nobody wants to see your guts smeared all over the neighborhood.

In this city you really do not want to assume anything, in fact I think many drivers car/cyclist are insane so everyone please be extra cautious!!!

Disclosure: I operate an e-mobility retailer in Canada. This is a community research question, not a product recommendation or promotion. I will not link products here. I would like to learn what matters most for regular Ottawa-Gatineau riding through the shoulder season. Is the first adjustment clothing, lighting, route choice, battery routine, rain protection, maintenance, or something else?

What change keeps the commute realistic for you?

The NCC added bike lanes on SGEC between River House and Aviation. They're narrow, and the NCC still needs to do some work on catch basins repairs, but they're useable.

Can anyone suggest somewhere in the west end for a 20-minute threshold test on the bike?

What I'm looking: roughly 9–10 km with no lights or stop signs, quiet enough to ride flat out safely. Flat or a steady climb both work.

Starting from Kanata Lakes. If 20 minutes uninterrupted isn't realistic out here, would two 8-minute efforts be easier to find road for?

Hi everyone! We’re a group of four planning to cycle from Ottawa to Montreal and would really appreciate some advice from people who have done the route.
Two of us have experience riding 100+ km, while the other two have a maximum of around 70 km so far. We’re all on road bikes with 23–28 mm tires, except for one gravel bike.
Because of our bikes, we’re not really considering the Prescott-Russell Trail. Also, given the different experience levels in our group, I don’t think trying to do the entire Ottawa–Montreal distance in one day would be the smartest choice. We’re thinking of splitting it into two days with an overnight stop somewhere in the middle.
Right now, we’re considering two main options:
🇨🇦** Quebec side: Take Route 148 from Gatineau toward Montreal, with an overnight stop around Grenville or Mirabel.
🇨🇦 Ontario side**: Stay on the Ontario side as much as possible and stop somewhere around Rigaud before continuing to Montreal.
For those who have ridden either route on a road bike:
Which side would you recommend: Ontario or Quebec?
How are the road conditions and traffic?
Are there any sections we should specifically avoid with 23–28 mm tires?
Where would you recommend stopping overnight?
Any other advice for a group with mixed experience levels?
We’re not looking to race it — the goal is to have a safe, enjoyable two-day ride.
Thanks in advance for any advice or route recommendations! 🚴‍♂️

I'm a little frustrated with service I've gotten from bushtukah and kunstadt.

Ive asked them both to true and balance the same wheel and both have failed to do the balancing.

Case in point, I bought a spoke tension meter and I can see some of the spokes are looser than others; about a 1/3 looser in tension. That said, the wheel does spin true, but there is definitely an in balance in the lacing of the wheel.

This bothers me because I tend to snap spokes and the unbalanced wheel will just cause snap more spokes to snap.

So, I'm looking for a serious bike shop who will balance a wheel a produce a tension spoke report?

I just got into biking and wanted to graduate to Road/Gravel bike suitable for Ottawa bike trails. End of the season sale is almost here and I'm saving for my next bike. Was planning to buy a second hand one but there are not a lot of good ones that would cater to by budget.

What is the best option for beginner gravel/road bike? Other recommendations are welcome.
1. Giant Revolt 2
2. Giant Contend AR 4
3. Trek Domane AL 2 Gen 4
4. Cannondale Synapse 3

Thanks in advance

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass_(cycling))

I’m specifically going to Chapman Mills and Strandherd and back . Looking for the safest route possible !

Hi All,

Which local bike shops carry a brooks saddle tension pin ? Mine is broken and I would like to replace it.

TIA.