Biking in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais: The complete guide

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Itching to go cycling in Ottawa, Kingston, Gatineau or elsewhere in Eastern Ontario and West Quebec, but not sure where to start? Maybe you want to buy a bicycle, get your bike repaired, find a great new trail or join a cycling club? This comprehensive list covers everything you need, from Ottawa bike shops and Ontario bike trails to Gatineau bike rentals and a Lanark County cycling festival. (I’ve even included tips on Montreal, the Eastern Townships and points beyond.) If it relates to biking in our region, you’ll find it here—or, if you don’t, please send me your question and I’ll do my best to add it!

Bike shops

First things first: To head out on a cycling road trip, you need a bike. The following bike shops and sports stores sell bikes and cycling accessories; many also do bike repairs and some sell e-bikes. For the stores in Ottawa and Gatineau, I’ve added the neighbourhood in parentheses, to help you narrow down your search.

Bike stores in Ottawa

• Bushtukah, 203 Richmond Road (Westboro), 5607 Hazeldean Road (Stittsville)
• Cycle Power, 1574 Carling Avenue (Westboro)
• Cyco’s, 5 Hawthorne Avenue (Old Ottawa East)
• The Cyclery, 1115 Bank Street (Old Ottawa South)
• Dinardo’s Skis and Wheels, 44 Northside Road (Bells Corners)
• Euro-Sports, 13 Bullman Street (Hintonburg)
• Foster’s Sports Centre, 305 Bank Street (Centretown)
• Fresh Air Experience, 1291 Wellington Street West (Wellington Village)
• Full Cycle, 401 St. Laurent Boulevard (Ottawa East), 7 Hamilton Avenue North (Hintonburg)
• Giant Orleans, 2404 St. Laurent Boulevard (Orleans)
• Giant Ottawa, 1162 Bank Street (Old Ottawa South)
• Joe Mamma Cycles, 767 Bank Street (Glebe)
• Kunstadt Sports, 462 Hazeldean Road (Kanata), 680 Bank Street (Glebe), 1583 Bank Street (Alta Vista)
• McCrank’s Cycles, 1B McCormick Street (Hintonburg)
• Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC), 366 Richmond Road (Westboro)
• Phat Moose Cycles, 98 Hawthorne Avenue (Old Ottawa East)
• Rebec and Kroes Cycle & Sport, 2639B Alta Vista Drive (Heron Park)
• re-Cycles, 445 Catherine Street, Unit 1 (Centretown)
• Recyclore, 246B Britannia Road (Britannia; summer location)
• Scooteretti, 85 Murray Street (ByWard Market)
• Sport Chek, seven locations in the Ottawa area
• Sporting Life, 125 Marché Way at Lansdowne Park (Glebe)
• Tall Tree Cycles, 281 Sunnyside Avenue (Old Ottawa South)

Outaouais bike stores

This list includes bike shops in Gatineau, Chelsea, Wakefield, Montebello and elsewhere in West Quebec.

• Les Bicyclettes de Hull, 675 Saint Joseph Street, Gatineau (Mont-Bleu), 2 Louise Campagna Boulevard, Gatineau (Birch Manor/Plateau)
• Cycle Bertrand, 136 Eddy, Gatineau (downtown Hull)
• Cycle Outaouais, 1955 Saint Louis, Gatineau (Touraine)
• E-Cycliste, 138 Principale, Gatineau (Aylmer)
• Expeditions Wakefield, 721 Riverside, Wakefield
• Greg Christie’s Ski and Cycle, 148 Old Chelsea, Chelsea
• Kunstadt Sports, 58 Old Chelsea, Chelsea
• La Shop, 139 de l’Hôpital, Gatineau (Templeton-Ouest)
• Polo Vélo, 400 Main, Gatineau (Lac-Beauchamp)
• Procycle Aylmer, 216 Aylmer, Gatineau (Aylmer)
• Sports Experts, multiple locations in Gatineau

Kingston, Ontario, bike shops

• BB’s Cycle and Revival, 558 Glenview Avenue
• Frontenac Cycle and Sport, 336 Barrie Street
• Gear Up! Recycled Bicycles, 559 Bagot Street
• i-Cycle Electric Bike Company, 25 Fort Henry Drive
• J&J Cycle, 1690 Bath Road
• R.L. Fletcher Bicycle Sales and Service, 916 Portsmouth Avenue
• Rick’s Bike Repair, 400 Elliott Avenue
• Sport Chek, 945 Gardiners Road (Cataraqui Centre)
• Trek Bicycle Kingston, 477 Princess Street
• Yellow Bike Action, 303 York Street (refurbished bikes)

Other Eastern Ontario bike shops

• Almonte Bicycle Works, 101 Bridge Street, Almonte
• Bicycle World, 24 9th Street East, Cornwall
• Bloomfield Bicycle Company, 225 Bloomfield Main Street, Bloomfield
• GearHeads, 3067 Petawawa Boulevard, Petawawa
• Harold’s Bicycle Sales and Repair, 26 Charles Street South, Gananoque
• Heritage Bikes and Rentals, 16 Conlon Drive, Perth
• Kalrim Cycles and Sports, 850 Boundary Road, South Glengarry
• Sports Experts, 454 County Road 17, Hawkesbury
• Total Cyclery, 241 Pitt Street, Cornwall
• Wheels in Motion, 7454 Fourth Line Road, Kemptville
• VéloXpress, 671A, rue Notre-Dame, Embrun
• Yantha Cycle, 499 TV Tower Road, Pembroke

Montreal bike shops

• Allo Vélo, 141 Shannon
• La Bicycletterie J.R., 201 Rachel East
• Bicycle McW, 6010 Sherbrooke West
• Bicycles Eddy, 6341 Monk
• Bicycles Quilicot, multiple locations in Quebec
• Bikurious, 169 Ontario East
• C&L Cycle, 978 Rachel East and 75 Villeneuve West
• Cycles Gervais Rioux, 4646 Park
• Cycle Néron, multiple locations in Quebec
• Cycle Technique, 788 Atwater
• Giant Montréal, 5252 Sherbrooke West
• Le Grand Cycle, 901 Cherrier East
• Mécanocycle, 1619 William
• Vélo iBike, 2101 Rachel East
• Vélo Montréal, 3888 Rachel East

Bike repairs in the Ottawa area and beyond

While many of the bike shops listed above repair bikes as well as sell them, the services below focus primarily on bike repairs (although, just to confuse the issue, some also sell bikes).

• Beacon Bike & Brew, 188 Picton Main Street, Picton (repairs, café)
• Bikemobile, Ottawa (mobile repair service)
• The Brake Room, 34 Dundas Street East, Belleville (repairs, bike sales, café)
• CAA Bike Assist, nationwide (roadside assistance for bikes, for CAA members)
• Dave the Bike Mechanic, Smiths Falls
• Dr. Cycle Service, Ottawa (picks up and delivers bikes for repair)
• Gears & Grinds, Kingston
• Montreal Fixed, 3543 Swail, Montreal
• Ottawa Bike Repair (mobile repair service)
• Rick’s Bike Repair, 400 Elliott Avenue, Unit 8, Kingston (also sells bikes and does fittings)
• Ron’s Classic Cycle Repair, 3756 Maple Avenue, Prescott (also sells refurbished bikes)
• T.I Cycle, Mallorytown Landing (bike fitting and repairs)
• velofix (mobile repair service; international chain with franchises in Ottawa and Gatineau)

Where to rent bikes in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario, the Outaouais and Montreal

Don’t want to buy a bike, don’t want to store a bike, or don’t want to cart your bike on a rack or trailer to your road trip destination? Renting a bike is the easy solution. Here are some places to start your search for an Ottawa bike rental, or rental bikes in Gatineau, Kingston, Perth, Wakefield and other communities in our region.

• Ahoy Rentals, 21 Ontario Street, Kingston
• La Bicycletterie J.R., 201 Rachel East, Montreal
• BIXI, Montreal bike-sharing program for traditional and electronic bikes
• Closson Road Cycles, 690 Closson Road, Hillier
• Cycle Bertrand, 136 Eddy, Gatineau
• Cyco’s, 5 Hawthorne Avenue, Ottawa
• Cykel, 1944 du Village, Mont-Tremblant (e-bikes)
• Dive Brockville Adventure Centre, 12 Water Street East, Brockville
• Ecorécréo, three- to six-person bikes (Old Port of Montreal) and single-rider fat bikes (Parc Jean-Drapeau), Montreal
• Expeditions Wakefield, 721 Riverside, Wakefield
• Geo-Explora/Scootrek, Fairmont Le Château Montebello, Montebello (e-bikes and e-scooters, plus iPad-guided scooter adventures)
• Heritage Bikes and Rentals, 16 Conlon Drive, Perth
• i-Cycle Electric Bike Company, 25 Fort Henry Drive, Kingston
• Ideal Bike, 225 Front Street, Belleville
• Marina 200, 200 Water Street East, Cornwall
• Ma Bicyclette, 2727 Saint Patrick, Montreal
• Montreal on Wheels, 27 de la Commune, Montreal
• Pedego Electric Bikes Canada, 39 Stanley Street, Unit C, Bloomfield
• RentABike, 2 Rideau Street below the Plaza Bridge over the Rideau Canal (ByWard Market) (also offers repairs and tours)
• Relic Outfitters, 15010 Colonial Drive, Ingleside
• Spade & Palacio, 3801 Saint Denis, Montreal
• Smiths Falls Pedal and Paddle (mobile rental of bikes, kayaks, canoes and paddleboards)

Cycling trails and bike routes in Ontario, Quebec and beyond

Now that you have your wheels, where can you go? As more and more communities become bike friendly and more aware of the popularity of cycling among locals and visitors alike, the quantity of bike-related information online has skyrocketed. You’ll find maps of cycling trails, information on cyclist-friendly accommodations, suggested biking itineraries and lots more. Check out the following for inspiration. (I plan to keep expanding this section, so check back often for the latest updates.)

Ottawa bike maps and routes

If you live in Ottawa, you more than likely have a paved cycling trail or on-road bike path not far from your home. Here are some tips for discovering and exploring them.

• Ottawa Tourism’s cycling guide: Lots of good, practical information here, from routes to rental companies.
• City of Ottawa self-guided bicycle routes: The City has put together more than a dozen bike route suggestions covering a wide swath of the city, from a downtown route featuring Little Italy and the Rideau Canal to rural routes in Cumberland, Munster and Carp. Several routes also extend into Gatineau and the Outaouais. Feeling ambitious? Check out the 100-kilometre route through Kinburn, Fitzroy Harbour and Dunrobin. There’s a downloadable PDF map of each route.
• Cycling in the Greenbelt: A few suggested routes from the National Capital Commission (NCC).
• Ontario by Bike Ottawa guide: A variety of on- and off-road routes in the Ottawa area.
• Bike Ottawa’s route planner: An interactive map that lets you input your start and end points, then create a customized route.

• Bikemap Ottawa routes: Bikemap is a huge collection of user-generated cycling itineraries; here’s the Ottawa page.
• Escape Tours and Rentals self-guided routes: The local bike rental and tour company has a great page of suggested routes, including itineraries along the Rideau Canal, through the Experimental Farm and along both shores of the Ottawa River.
• NCC’s guide to cycling in Ottawa-Gatineau: Basic tips on using the pathways and lots of suggested itineraries on both sides of the Ottawa River.
• NOKIA Sunday Bikedays: This summer program closes various scenic parkways in Ottawa-Gatineau to vehicles on Sunday mornings, so cyclists, pedestrians and other non-motorized travellers can enjoy them car free. In 2021, as a pandemic measure to promote physically distanced exercise, the program has been greatly expanded, so that some stretches of road are car free for all or much of the week.
• OC Transpo bike infrastructure: This webpage has tips for bringing your bike on the O Train; information on secure parking and bicycle repair stations at Transitway and O Train stations; and details on the Ottawa transit company’s Rack & Roll program, which allows you to transport your bike on certain OC Transpo buses equipped with bike racks.
• NCC cycling map: This downloadable PDF shows the large NCC trail network in both Ottawa and Gatineau.

Outaouais cycling ideas

Outaouais biking ideas range from urban routes in Gatineau to woodsy itineraries in Gatineau Park and long-distance trips through rural areas.

• Tourisme Outaouais cycling routes: The Outaouais tourism board has created five cycling itineraries covering large stretches of the far-flung region. Most are fairly ambitious—including a 164-kilometre behemoth through the Pontiac—but there is a gentle 12-kilometre urban route, too.
• City of Gatineau cycling information: Basic tips on cycling in Gatineau (in French).
• Cycling in Gatineau Park: Useful information from the NCC.
• NCC’s guide to cycling in Ottawa-Gatineau: Basic tips on using the pathways and lots of suggested itineraries on both sides of the Ottawa River.
• NOKIA Sunday Bikedays: See this page for info on the car-free-roadways program in Gatineau Park.
• Escape Tours and Rentals self-guided routes: The local bike rental and tour company has created routes to Lac Leamy and along both shores of the Ottawa River.
• Official Outaouais cycling map (downloadable PDF).
• NCC cycling map: This downloadable PDF shows the large NCC trail network in both Ottawa and Gatineau.
• STO bike infrastructure: This page has information from the Société de Transport de l’Outaouais (STO) for cyclists, including details on the Rapibus bike path and station bicycle racks.
• The City of Ottawa self-guided routes also have several Gatineau/Outaouais suggestions.

Eastern Ontario cycling itineraries and information

Whether you want to try a flat rural route, a challenging hilly itinerary or a laid-back pedal through a small town, these sites have you covered.

• Cycle Downtown Brockville: Maps and information on bike-friendly businesses from the Downtown Brockville BIA.
• Cycling in Cornwall: Cornwall Tourism’s cycling page has trail maps, park-and-ride locations, information on cycle-and-stay programs and more.
• Frontenac Arch Biosphere cycling: The Frontenac Arch Biosphere (FAB) stretches across a good chunk of Eastern Ontario, so this page features cycling routes in all sorts of locations, including Belleville, Gananoque, Delta, Westport, Brockville, Lyndhurst, Merrickville and many more. (The routes are shown toward the bottom of the FAB page.)
• City of Kingston cycling page: Basic information on Kingston’s cycling path network and other biking amenities.
• Kingston bike routes from Gears & Grinds: The Kingston-based bike repair company has a big collection of Kingston-centered bike routes.
• Lanark County cycling and running routes: Lanark County Tourism’s info-packed page includes links to dozens of road, gravel and mountain biking routes in and around Perth, Carleton Place, Almonte and Pakenham, along with maps and bike rental options.
• The Log Drivers’ Waltz: This 800-kilometre self-guided “bikepacking” route will take you through a huge swath of Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais.

• Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail: This multi-use trail stretches roughly 300 kilometres, connecting Mattawa to a point near Smiths Falls, and cutting across large swaths of Renfrew and Lanark counties.
• Ottawa Valley Tourist Association cycling page: Download a cycling map and lots of suggested routes for biking adventures in Renfrew County and beyond, including Petawawa, Eganville, Barry’s Bay, Algonquin Park and more.
• Prescott-Russell cycling and walking network: Get the scoop on the Prescott and Russell Recreational Trail and other cycling routes in this largely rural region immediately east of Ottawa.
• Rideau Canal cycling routes: On his comprehensive Rideau Canal site, Ken Watson has a good page of suggested bike routes leading through communities such as Smiths Falls, Jones Falls and Chaffeys Lock.
• Rideau Lakes cycling: Check this Township of Rideau Lakes page for a range of suggested bike routes through Newboro, Delta, Athens, Rideau Ferry and many other picturesque small communities.
• Hiking and cycling in South Eastern Ontario: The South Eastern Ontario tourism board has compiled a list of cycling routes and resources in destinations ranging from Prince Edward County and Cornwall to the Rideau Canal, complete with maps. (Click on the photo marked “It’s definitely about the journey.”)

Other Ontario and Quebec biking routes and ideas

Seeking cycling tips for destinations further from Ottawa-Gatineau? Check out these websites.

• Bikemap: As mentioned earlier, this site compiles maps created by individual cyclists all over the world into a searchable database. Plug in the community you’re interested in exploring and you’ll likely come up with something.
• Canada Trails: Not strictly a biking website, this site includes information on cycling, hiking, skiing and multi-use trails across Canada.
• Cycling in the Eastern Townships: Lots of suggested itineraries from the local tourism board for this pretty region near the U.S. border in southern Quebec.
• Great Lakes Waterfront Trail: At 3,600 kilometres and growing, this trail runs along the shores of much of lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario, as well as Georgian Bay, the St. Lawrence River and parts of the Ottawa River.
• Cyclotourism in the Laurentians: Tourism Laurentians has an extensive list of road and mountain-biking itineraries in this scenic region just north of Montreal.
• Cycling in Mont Tremblant: There’s more to Tremblant than skiing!
• Greater Montréal Bikeways map: A free downloadable map from Vélo Québec.
• Montreal biking guide: You’ll find lots of links and info on this page from Tourism Montreal.
• Great bike rides for Montreal visitors: Route suggestions from Tourism Montreal.
• Bike paths in Montérégie: Explore some 635 kilometres of bike paths in the region south of Montreal.
• La Route Verte: This is a 5,300-kilometre network of cycling trails throughout the province of Quebec. The website features maps, guides and more.

Bike tours near Ottawa

If you’re looking for a guided cycling tour, lots of companies—including several bike shops and bike rental firms—will happily send you out on the road with a leader. Here are a few places to try.

• A la Carte Shuttle and Tours, Ottawa (supported, self-guided tours in and near Ottawa, with a shuttle to the starting point, and food and drinks en route)
• Closson Road Cycles, 690 Closson Road, Hillier, Ontario
• Cykel, 1944 du Village, Mont-Tremblant (e-bikes)
• Downtown Kingston by Bike Tour (affiliated with Ahoy Rentals)
• Escape Tours and Rentals, 79A Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario (fuel up at their bike café before heading out!)
• Fitz & Follwell, 1251 Rachel East, Montreal
• Ideal Bike, 225 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario
• Kingston Bike Tours (several public tours daily, all beginning at the Flora MacDonald Confederation Basin)
• Montreal on Wheels, 27 de la Commune, Montreal
• RentABike, 2 Rideau Street (below the Plaza Bridge, beside the Rideau Canal)
• Spade & Palacio, 3801 Saint-Denis, Montreal

Ontario and Quebec cycling clubs

Sure, cycling is a solo sport in the sense that there’s generally only one person on a bike at at a time (unless you have a tandem bike or you’re shuttling a child in a seat or trailer). But biking can also be a very social activity when you head out on adventures with like-minded people! The GoBiking.ca website has a detailed post about what you can expect from a bike club and why you might want to join one; it also includes a big list of local clubs.

If you’re looking to connect with other cycling enthusiasts in the Ottawa area and beyond, here are some places to start.

• Beachburg Off Road Cycling Association
• Bloomfield Bicycle Club (Prince Edward County)
• Club Vélo-Plaisirs (Gatineau)
• Cornwall Cycle Club
• Cornwall Outdoor Club de plein air (cycling and other sports)
• Cross Canada Cycle Tour Society (national)
• Cyclefit Chicks (Ottawa-Gatineau)
• Kanata-Nepean Bicycle Club
• Kingston Velo Club
• Lanark County Mountain Bike Association
• Ottawa Bicycle Club
• Ottawa Mountain Bike Association/Association de vélo de montagne de l’Outaouais
• Ottawa Outdoor Club (multiple sports, such as hiking and canoeing, as well as biking)
• Peterborough Cycling Club
• Randonneurs Ontario (long-distance rides)

Biking events

Looking for a competitive bike race, a fundraising ride or a strictly recreational cycling event in Eastern Ontario or West Quebec? One of the following just might be up your two-wheeled alley.

• Beau’s Oktoberfest Charity Bike Ride (Eastern Ontario)
• Breakaway Cycling Adventure for Kids With Cancer (nationwide)
• Canada Africa Partnership Ride (fundraiser, multiple communities)
• Cataraqui Kingston Cruiser
• CN Cycle for CHEO (Ottawa)
• Discover L&A Ride (Bath, Ontario, area)
• Fat N’ Frosty Winter XC Races (Ottawa Valley)
• Five Boro Bike Tour (a massive one-day ride along closed roads and freeways throughout all five boroughs of New York City)
• Friends for Life Bike Rally (Toronto to Montreal; riders can do part or all of it; fundraiser for people living with HIV)
• Go Bike Montreal Festival (a large, multi-day festival with multiple events, including a night tour)
• Gran Fondo Ottawa
• Grand Tour (Vélo Québec)
• Healing Cycle Ride (fundraiser for hospices across Ontario)
• KIN Vineyards Kermesse (starting in west Ottawa)
• Kingston XC Marathon Weekend
• Limestone Century (Kingston area)

• Mississippi Mills Bicycle Month (Almonte, Pakenham and Ramsay, June)
• MS Bike Ride (multiple fundraising events, nationwide)
• Paramedic Ride (multiple long-distance rides, including one from Renfrew to Hawkesbury)
• PEC Annual Lilac Ride (Picton)
• Pedaling for Parkinson Canada (multiple rides, including Prince Edward County)
• Petite Aventure (Vélo Québec)
• Prince Edward County Gran Fondo
• Reggie Ramble (Warkworth)
• Renfrew Rough Rider Griffith Gravel Grinder (Ottawa Valley)
• Rideau Lakes Cycle Tour
• Spring Chicken MTB Race (Ottawa Valley)
• Thousand Islands Gran Fondo
• 1000 Islands St. Lawrence River Ride
• Terry Fox Ride of Hope (nationwide)
• Tour de Bonnechere (Eganville; raises money for mental health)
• Tour de Mississippi Mills (Lanark County)
• Tour de Whitewater (Westmeath area, Ottawa Valley)
• Vélo Mag Challenge: Eastern Townships
• Vélo Mag Challenge: Metropolitan (Montreal)

Other cycling-related miscellany

This is where I’ve corralled all the other biking-related information that didn’t fit neatly under bike shops, bike rentals, general interest cycling websites or other sections. There’s a little bit of everything here!

• Action Vélo Outaouais (advocates for cyclists in the Outaouais)
• Bike Ottawa (an advocacy group for safe cycling)
• Cornwall BMX Club (runs racing events on one of Ontario’s longest BMX tracks)
• Frontenac Trail Tours (provides cycling info and support to guests of the Rock Hill Bed and Breakfast in Sharbot Lake)
• Ontario Cycling Association (aimed at keen sports cyclists)
• Ottawa Valley Cycling and Active Transportation Alliance (advocates for better cycling and other outdoor infrastructure in Eastern Ontario)
• Thursty Pedaler, Ottawa (multi-person bike/roving pub)
• Tri & Run Coaching, Belleville (triathlon coaching, cycling accessories)

Cycling websites and blogs

Cycling in Ontario and Quebec is a huge topic, and I’ve just scratched the surface in this post (long as it is). If you’re looking for more detailed information, please check out some of these excellent websites. You’ll find more than enough inspiration for a lifetime of two-wheeled road trips!

• GoBiking.ca: Local cycling enthusiast Michael McGoldrick runs this site covering all things bike-related in Ottawa-Gatineau and points beyond. It’s aimed primarily at beginner or intermediate touring cyclists and features route suggestions, news, links to clubs and similar info.
• Hans on the Bike: A chatty, newsy blog about cycling in Ottawa, with lots of tips on routes.
• Mississippi Mills Bicycle Movement: Everything you want to know about biking in and around Almonte, Pakenham and Ramsay, including routes, repairs, bike clubs and events.
• Ontario By Bike: Very comprehensive website covering cycling all over Ontario, with tons of information on routes and trails, bike-friendly businesses, bike events, cycling clubs, maps and lots more.
• OttawaVeloOutaouais: Not a terribly active blog, but once every couple of months there’s usually a new post suggesting a local cycling route, complete with photos.
• Vélo Québec: Like Ontario By Bike, this is a detailed, province-wide resource with links to everything from cycling clubs and cyclist-friendly accommodations to races and maps.

Looking for more ideas for things to see and do in Ottawa-Gatineau, Eastern Ontario and the Outaouais? Please subscribe to my free weekly newsletter or buy my new guidebook, Ottawa Road Trips: Your 100km-Getaway Guide.