MONTREAL BIKE CULTURE

Busy Week

2010-05-25T13:58:00.000-07:00

28 mai Masse Critique 18H00 Union et Ste-Catherine.

May 28th Critical Mass 6pm, Union and Ste-Catherine.

Samedi 29 mai de 12H00 à 17H00

Venez célébrer le vélo sous toutes ses formes lors de la Virée Vélo St-Michel!

Au menu: Démos de BMX, Monocycle et Vélo de montagne, Kiosque de mécanique, Jeux, Rallye, Visite guidée, Kiosques et de Nombreux prix à gagner!

Point de rencontre :
Le TAZ, Roulodôme & Skatepark
8931, avenue Papineau (coin Émile-Journault)
Rendez-vous au Skate Plaza, au nord de la bâtisse
En cas de pluie : rendez-vous à l’intérieur

Merci aux partenaires de cette journée: Bunny Hop, Forum Jeunesse St-Michel, Mountain Equipment Coop, Le Taz, La Tohu, Cyclo Nord-Sud et Monotréal!

www.velogik.org pour la programmation complète

Tour du silence / Ride of silence

2010-05-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

Une randonnée à Montréal a été ajoutée aux Tours du Silence, un
événement mondial qui a lieu mercredi en l'honneur des cyclistes blessés
ou tués lorsqu'ils circulaient sur les routes. La randonnée débutera au
coin du Chemin du Musée et de Saint-Patrick près du marché Atwater à
18h30 et fera une boucle de 20 km d'une durée d'environ deux heures.

D'autres Tours du Silence auront lieu à Laval, sur la Rive-Sud et à
Saint-Hyacinthe. Ces événements ont lieu quelques jours après le
décès de trois cyclistes fauchés par une camionnette sur la Route 112 à
Rougemont. Pour plus d'information, visitez:

<http://www.tourdusilencerivesud.org/>
<http://www.rideofsilence.org>

***

A Montreal date has been added to Ride of Silence, a worldwide event
Wednesday to honour those injured or killed while cycling on public
roads. The ride will start at Chemin du Musée and St. Patrick St. near
the Atwater Market at 6:30 p.m. and pursue a 20 kilometre roundtrip
route for about two hours.

Other Ride of Silence events will take place in Laval, on the South
Shore and in Ste. Hyacinthe. The events come only days after three
cyclists were killed when a pick-up truck plowed into them on Highway
112 in Rougemont. For more information about Wednesday's events, please
visit:

<http://www.tourdusilencerivesud.org/>
<http://www.rideofsilence.org>

MEC Festivélo/Bikefest

2010-05-13T21:24:00.000-07:00

Le Festivélo MEC est une célébration urbaine de la culture du vélo, venez faire la fête au vélo !

Dimanche 23 mai 2010 au 3700, rue Calixa-Lavallée, au coeur du parc Lafontaine

Description de l'événement

Que vous soyez amateur ou expert, entre amis ou en famille, le Festivélo MEC vous attend. Assistez à des ateliers de mécanique et à des présentations d'experts. Essayez les nouveaux vélos MEC et découvrez des associations qui œuvrent au sein de votre communauté. Profitez d'activités et ateliers pour enfants et surveillez les aubaines au P'tit Marché vélo MEC. Une journée de plaisir sur deux roues !

Ateliers offerts :

Mécanique vélo 101 : vérifications, ajustements et entretien de base.
Vérification de l'ajustement des moyeux, du jeu de direction, des freins et des dérailleurs ; ajustement des freins et des dérailleurs ; réparation d'une crevaison et gonflage adéquat des pneus ; nettoyage et lubrification de la transmission ; trucs et astuces variés !

Atelier présenté à 10 h 30, 12 h 30 et 14 h 30.

Ergocyclisme : Choix d'un vélo et positionnement ergonomique.
Cette formation aura pour but d'informer les gens sur les choix et le type de vélo selon leurs besoins réels. La seconde partie de la formation sera en lien avec la position correcte pour la pratique de leurs activités de performance ou récréatives.

Atelier présenté à 11 h 30, 13 h 30 et 15 h 30.

Conseils mécaniques personnalisés
Voici votre chance d'obtenir des conseils adaptés à votre propre monture. Venez profiter de l'expertise de nos mécaniciens lors d'une évaluation personnalisée de l'état mécanique de votre vélo.

Cet atelier informel se déroulera tout au long de la journée.

Lieu

Le Festivélo MEC de Montréal aura lieu en plein cœur du parc Lafontaine, au 3770, rue Calixa-Lavallée.

Lien: http://www.mec.ca/Main/content_text.jsp?FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302888240&bmUID=1273810975309&bmLocale=fr_CA

Sunday, May 23, 2010 at Parc Lafontaine, Montreal

Event Description

Amateurs, experts, and kids – there's something for everyone at MEC Bikefest Montreal. Workshops and clinics provide the opportunity to learn everything from how to change a tire to how to cycle safely in traffic. Take a guided ride of the city or show off your mountain bike skills on our pump track. Browse local bike vendors, learn about community-based cycling advocacy, or find potential riding partners in your neighbourhood.

Location

MEC Bikefest is located in Montreal at 3700 Calixa-Lavallée, in the heart of the Parc Lafontaine.

Link: :http://www.mec.ca/Main/content_text.jsp?FOLDER<>folder_id=2534374302888240&bmLocale=en&bmForm=setLanguageCookie&bmFormID=1273811017580&bmSubmit=SetLanguageCookie&bmUID=1273811017580&bmHash=35e37dda4e49296606ee3d0edf1f43e34e80db97

Gerry :)

Bike clinic cancelled

2010-05-10T14:14:00.000-07:00

Sorry but a last minute emergency forces me to cancel this evening's scheduled event. We'll try again next Monday.

Désloé mais je dois annuler la clinique de réparation de ce soir à cause d'une urgence imprévue. Nous tenterons l'expérience une fois de plus la semaine prochaine.

Gerry :(

Free Bike Repair clinic Montreal Clinique de Réparation Vélo Gratuite

2010-05-05T18:12:00.000-07:00

Lundi 10 mai 18H00 clinique de réparation vélo gratos au Parc Laurier en bordure de la piste cyclable en cas de pluie remis plus tard. Votre prof, moi-même. :)

Monday May 10th 6H00pm free bike repair clinic in Laurier Park near the bike path. This is a weather permitting event, I'll be the one sharing the knowledge. :)

Gerry :O)

April's Critical Mass was a BLAST!

2010-05-03T19:20:00.000-07:00

Last Friday's ride was amazing. Great weather, great people and great spirits. A solid 2 hours of riding from Bleury to Westmount and back. I was proud to see the discipline of all riders when an Ambulance came flashing down René-Lévesque and all riders, without exception, cleared all three lanes to the right to let it through. It is possible to have close to 300 bike riders take to the street in a responsible fashion. Police presence, apart from a few beat cops with stunned faces, was non-existent throughout the entire ride.

I am proud to say that I had the privilege to participate in such a cool ride.

Gerry :)

Critical Mass Montreal Masse Critique

2010-04-28T15:24:00.000-07:00

Masse Critique ce vendredi au Square Phillips à 17H30, coin Union et Ste-Catherine.

Critical Mass this Friday at Phillips Square at 5H30pm, Union and Ste-Catherine.

MOVING BY BIKE DÉMÉNAGEMENT MYETTE

2010-04-27T18:50:00.000-07:00

Want to move in Montreal in a greener fashion and you want to save some cash as well? Check out Déménagement Myette. They can move anything in your apartment by bike trailer at a better cost to your wallet and the planet.

Website:http://www.demenagementmyette.ca/

Vous voulez déménager à Montréal de façon plus écologique et plus économique? Allez voir du coté de Déménagement Myette. Ils peuvent vous déménagez un appartement au complet par remorque vélo à moindre coût pour votre porte-feuille et la planète.

Site web:http://www.demenagementmyette.ca/

Gerry :)

MONTREAL'S LADY CYCLE BIKE GANG

2010-04-27T18:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a group for free spirited ladies who want to ride bikes and have a good time. I don't think this is for the lycra and century crowd but they seem to have a blast every time they ride. Check out there facebook group and their MySpace webpage for more info.

Gerry :)

Reclyclo nord sud bike swap meet, the aftermath!

2010-04-18T19:58:00.000-07:00

Getting back in the swing of things bike wise is always more fun when you are with a bunch of passionate and enthusiastic individuals such as yourself. This was the case at the bike swap meet organized by Cyclonordsud in their shop on St-Urbain today.

Although the weather sucked ass with rain and cold temperatures, inside the shop everybody was warm and happy. The crowd was slow to show up but eventually the floor was packed. Valet bike parking was available and the safety of my ride was never in doubt.

More than a few great deals were made and it was also a great way to raise some funds for a most noble cause. There could have been a bit more on sale but this being the first year I'm sure future events will draw more people to sell their stuff. I hope their will be another as this event was a lot of fun to attend.

See you at the next one.

Gerry :)

MONTREAL BICYCLE SWAP MEET

2010-04-12T17:13:00.000-07:00

Cyclonordsud is holding a swap meet called Recyclo Nord Sud on Sunday April 18th. This is a first so don't miss it. It is a great opportunity to buy and sell anything and everything bike wise from parts to bikes between bike folk.

Click on the image for more info and all the details or go to there website: cyclonordsud.org

Français

Gerry :)

RED TAIL FENDERS

2010-04-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

Made by local artisan Nicholas Knowles, these wooden fenders look great on any fixie or other deserving ride. The price is decent too.

Check out all the details on the Red Tail Fenders site here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/redtailfenders

Gerry :)

Montreal's First Artistic Bicycle Exposition

2008-04-15T17:02:00.000-07:00

CELEBRATING BICYCLE ARTISANS

Right to Move/La Voie Libre and Cyclo Nord-Sud are
proud to invite you to the first Montreal Artistic
Bicycle Exposition. You will have the opportunity to
meet some of the most talented bicycle frame builders
from Québec and Ontario, passionate people for whom a
bicycle is more than a mean of transportation: it's
also a piece of art!

Saturday, April 19th - 12 to 7 pm

Sunday, April 20th - 12 to 4 pm

The Cyclo Nord-Sud Warehouse
7235, Saint-Urbain Montréal
Métro De Castelnau
www.cyclonordsud.org

Entrance free, donation suggested. All profits
generated from the event go to Cyclo Nord-Sud

The fund raising event is organized by Right to
Move/La Voie Libre, Montreal's community
not-for-profit bicycle repair shop, in solidarity with
Cyclo Nord-Sud.

Downhill Mountain Biking and other mayhem

2007-12-09T09:08:00.000-08:00

Urban assault and other craziness that happens here in Montreal. These guys have balls and I admire them a lot. It's also cool to realise that we have access to an actual forest to bike in the middle of the city, I don't think it's legal, but then it's even more fun and exciting. Keep it up guys, ride like Hell for those of us who can't or don't have the guts for it.

Take care of yourselves.

LATE HALLOWEEN BIKE RIDE

2007-10-28T20:20:00.000-07:00

Montreal November 3rd 2007 at 6H30 pm on Rachel in Lafontaine Park in front of la Maison des Cyclistes. Everybody is welcome whatever you ride. Come in costume to end the season with a bang and prepare for the next one.

MONTREAL BICYCLE THEFT, A PLAGUE WITH POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS?

2007-10-14T10:16:00.000-07:00

Ever since I moved to the city I have been surprised on how the situation of bike theft is overwhelming. It seems that locking up your ride outside anywhere in Montreal comes with the understanding that it is not a question of if but when it will be stolen. This explains the numerous old bikes you see people riding around with and their relative high market value in the used bike business. I mean junk 3 speeds that wouldn't fetch $15 at a garage sale in the west island are sold for $100 and up as "vintage cruisers" on Craigslist and they actually DO sell! The fact that bikes are being stolen from a 3rd story balcony without any stairs to get there or that one of 5 tall bikes known to exist in Montreal gets it's lock cut and stolen says a lot about the gravity of the current situation. So I went out and talked to people, did some research and here's what I have come up with.

THE PROBLEM

Bikes are stolen everyday from all kinds of places and thieves are not picky about what they steal. Any ride is fair game. People really don't give a crap if someone is cutting your lock in broad day light and they know that. Most people don't report the loss because either they think the cops won't do anything about it or they don't even know the serial number on their bike. The bastards know that as well. Selling used bikes in Montreal is easy with all kinds of methods from a piece of paper on a post to an add on the web. There is a good market for used bikes in Montreal and the thieves know that too, they thrive on it. That particular part of the equation also brings to mind those of us who don't really mind paying someone cash for a bike that you know is worth a whole lot more. You're a part of the problem too. It has been reported in local media that stealing bikes can be very lucrative for any motivated individual. One number that was brought up last year in an article was $75 000 a year, tax free!

WHAT'S BEING DONE RIGHT NOW.

I was very surprised to learn that the local Police stations on the plateau are actively doing something about bike theft. Without revealing any details that would warn would be bike thieves, let's just say that there are quite a few sting operations during the summer. One of the comments that I noted from my source is that Police officers know their subjects very well and often intercept bike thieves while on patrol. However, often times they come across a known suspect on a bike they know is stolen and unfortunately cannot do anything since the serial number doesn't come up on the CRPQ registry (That's where the number ends up when you bother to report your bike stolen with the serial number). What is being done right now by the Montreal Police dept is by each local station reacting to local concerns. The SPVM should look into this problem as a serious objective for it's entire service very soon. Local neighborhood stations can only do so much. There has been some posts on Craiglslist by someone wanting to start some kind of citizen's watch to prevent bike theft, but replies to the ad from this author were never answered.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

The first thing you must do is lock that bike. If it's out of your sight, it should be locked, where ever it is. It's that simple. My bikes sleep indoors and I lock them, remember the 3rd story balcony story? Thieves are like any other predator, they go after easy prey. Know your bike's serial number and report it when it's stolen. You give those morons even more power when they know they can fence that bike without any problems. You can register your bike at
http://www.bikeregistrycanadafr.com/ for $10, but I am not sure that the guys and gals in blue here even know that it exist. What would be great would be a similar service offered for free by the City of Montreal. Especially since they pulled the plug on bike registration back in 1999. Talk to your elected City officials about it, I know I will. Lastly, don't buy a bike you even remotely think is stolen, hit those bastards where it hurts most: the wallet. Here's a simple document you can print and use right now to have your bikes info should the unthinkable happen.
WHAT'S NEXT?

I guess we will have to wait and see. This is not the type of thing that will be fixed by an overnight miracle. It needs a lot of work and the participation of all from the cop, to the politician and you. Your comments here are always welcomed and it's even more than true if you have some ideas that would help out. I have to go now and right down all my serial numbers somewhere. ;)

Ride safe and Godspeed.

Gerry

Montreal Bike Culture: Let's make it happen !

2007-07-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

Montreal is a bike vibrant city. Lots of people doing lots of things. Somehow everybody seem to be doing them in their own little way. There doesn't seem to be a gathering presence to bring all of this diverse bike culture together like in other major cities in the world. This blog will be an attempt to bring all these different activities, groups and culture information in one place.

From critical mass, to alley cat races, to community bike shops we'll try our best to bring this all here. I am not alone in this endeavor and share this dream with many others. Bike presence and weight can be greater in Montreal. The potential is there but we are divided! Let's join forces and network together.

Any information you wish to share or post on this blog, please contact me at: xddorox (at) gmail.com