Montreal Cycling

[mars]

I'm in Montreal on and off alot for work lately and wondered if anyone could provide info on where to rent a bike (too hard to transport mine). Then advice on where to ride that would be close to Longueuil, I stay right at the base of the bridge. It's killing me not being able to ride when away from home.

[Grog]

Hi Mars,

WHERE TO RIDE, very close from your hotel:
There is a long bike path that goes past your hotel, between the 132 road and the river.

For an interesting experience, go ride on the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, on the Notre-Dame Island. Pretty well sign-posted from the Jean-Drapeau metro station (one station away from your hotel). You can ride your bike over the bridge but it can be a bit confusing, just as easy to take the metro, and you can do it as long as it's outside of rush hour (use first or last wagon, I can't ever remember, but it's posted on the floor of the stations I think). The pavement there is PERFECT (it is redone every year), and it's a 5,5 km loop or so. People ride there FAST. Don't go there to ride fast on the weekends, too many families/inline skaters/couples holding hands etc. It will be closed during the Grand Prix weekend (sometime early June), obviously.

Also try the "Les Berges" and "Canal Lachine" bike paths. These are lovely. You can also lounge at the Parc René-Lévesque (where the two paths connect) for a while and admire the larger-than-life modern sculptures there. Same warnings for the weekend, except early morning. You can actually connect the two and it gives you a 40 km loop, more or less. Again I'd suggest using the metro, go out to the Atwater metro station, go towards the Atwater Public Market (a wonderful farmer's market - stop there for lunch at the end of your ride). The bike path is right on the other side of the canal, after crossing a small pedestrian bridge.

If you take the metro with the bike be ready to go up and down about 50 stairs. It's easier than it seems though.

There are many many many other rides from where your hotel is, and charming rides on the south shore. When you get to Montreal, you can go to the Berri-UQAM metro station bookstore (it's inside the station, and called le Parchemin). They have a good section of travel guides and a few different itinerary guides for Quebec riding. Will probably be available in English. The Green Way (Route verte) guide should help, although it's not the best one in my opinion. It really depends on how much time you have and how confident you are in hitting roads that you don't know too well. Also try: http://www.routeverte.com/ang/index.lasso for the Montreal and Monteregie sections.

Just bring sunglasses: May and June are love bug season!!

WHERE TO RENT A BIKE:
I am not sure about road bikes. Of course, hybrids are available everywhere. But try these for road bikes, first addresses in Montreal then Longueui:

Pignon sur Roues
1308, ave Mont-Royal Est, Montréal - 514-523-6480

La Cordée (right by the Jacques-Cartier Bridge)
2159, Ste-Catherine East, Montreal - 514-524-1106

Le Grand Cycle
901 Cherrier, Montreal - 514-525-1414

VéloEspresso
1269 Amherst, Montreal - 514-596-0655

VéloDidacte
4468 de Brébeuf, Montréal - 514-522-5499

Bicyclette Tranquille (only if you have a car)
9611 Lasalle, Montréal - 514-365-1524

For Longueuil check the following link:
http://www.routeverte.com/fr/voyager.lasso?p=marchand
and look for "Longueuil" references.

Good luck! Do not hesitate to send me a private message or write again in this thread if you have any questions (or if you are also looking for restaurant recommendations!!!!).

Have a great trip!

[mars]

Hey Grog, wow, are you a travel agent in your other life??? I love all the details and will now go figure it out and let you know. Today I drove down to the park on the other side of the pedestrian bridge at the exit just north of #8, which is my exit. I see these blue arches and they seem to be marking a path along there. I'm looking for a 20-30 mi route so one of these may work.

Thanks again, very helpful.

[Grog]

Hey Grog, wow, are you a travel agent in your other life??? I love all the details and will now go figure it out and let you know. Today I drove down to the park on the other side of the pedestrian bridge at the exit just north of #8, which is my exit. I see these blue arches and they seem to be marking a path along there. I'm looking for a 20-30 mi route so one of these may work.

I'm originally from Montreal and always very happy to make people feel great while they are there, it's such a wonderful city in my view.

Try going both East (towards the tunnel) and West (towards the Champlain bridge) from that place you just mentioned. I think you can go pretty far to the West, and the East is probably less interesting...

You could also ask around for directions to ride to Chambly. If all you find is a hybrid bike, you'll be happy to ride there on their great path. Some of it is paved, but not all.

I think the highlight is really the Les Berges / Canal loop. Easy, flat, but quite scenic, especially the Berges part. You can cycle there from your hotel. If you want to know how send me a private message and I'll send you a small google-map...

Good luck and enjoy!!