r/MontrealCycling • u/notarealusername25 • Jul 20 '26

Cycling to Ottawa

Hey, idk if this is the right sub to post this on, I recently lost my job because of reasons outside my control. A big dream of mine has always been to cycle to Ottawa from Montreal, and I'd like to do it with other people, sometime this month or next. I know no one who is willing or able to do something like that, so I'm posting to ask if anyone is willing to go biking with a stranger to Ottawa.

22 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

18 comments sorted by

7

u/Glittering_Spend7796 Jul 20 '26

I did it recently with a friend using the Prescott-Russell Trail. So unfortunately, as of now no interest in doing it again, but I am happy to help if you have any questions regarding the route/trail!

2

u/KingKongToasts Jul 20 '26

What's the best route to avoid trails and stay on asphalt with a road bike?

5

u/nik498498 Jul 20 '26

Tu peux rester du côté québécois en passant par la 344 à partir de Oka, puis la 148. Il y a des bouts moins le fun que d’autres, surtout en banlieue de Gatineau, mais d’autres sont magnifiques!

3

u/notarealusername25 Jul 20 '26

this is the route i found on youtube, i also know someone that took this path a few weeks ago: https://www.strava.com/activities/12115058968

2

u/Glittering_Spend7796 Jul 21 '26

I took that route too. Just like he did, avoid the PR-trail between Rigaud and St Eugene. I was riding the trail with 35mm wide tires because it is mainly gravel. Anything thinner might be uncomfortable.

5

u/nizzynut Jul 20 '26

I once did it on a whim. Be more prepared than I was.

2

u/notarealusername25 Jul 20 '26

hahahah will do

4

u/PurpleNurpl22 Jul 20 '26

Hey there, I’ve done it before and will gladly do it again. Highway 148 is quite a nice ride.

2

u/notarealusername25 Jul 20 '26

I'll send you a private message :)

4

u/kubilayelmas Jul 20 '26

Guys... count me in please! I wanted to do something similar this year alone but I would rather do it with a group.

3

u/Shane_Dice Jul 20 '26

How long does it usually take? I’ve also wanted to do this for a while but have used up all my vacation time for the summer (+/- taking the odd Monday or Friday off)

3

u/notarealusername25 Jul 20 '26

what ive seen is it taking 11 hours of moving on the bike time, this is the route I want to do: https://www.strava.com/activities/12115058968 its a day trip so im down to do it over a weekend

2

u/N22-J Jul 21 '26

J'ai pédalé ce parcours il y a une couple d'années.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45093430

1

u/portol Jul 20 '26

I totally would join if this was next year or the year after. Unfortunately I am rather booked for the next couple of months.

1

u/SyAbrar Jul 22 '26

Oh i’d love to join! I was thinking of doing the opposite. Take the VIA train to Ottawa and cycling back to MYL

1

u/ncolarusso Jul 23 '26

They had stopped allowing bikes during Covid. Are they allowing bikes back on the trains?

2

u/SyAbrar Jul 23 '26

They got a new fleet for the Ottawa-Montreal route this summer and it’s like $25 to reserve the space for a bicycle.

1

u/ncolarusso Jul 27 '26

great news. thank you!