Indiana23

Hello!
I'm new in Bike Forums. I live in Lima, Peru and moving to Montreal, Canada in August 15th. Since I'm a commuter in Lima and love going to work biking everyday, I plan to do it in Montreal. How Can I stop commuting being Montreal a city for cyclists?
I need advice and tips to start, what would be an appropriate bike to buy there? I've reading and maybe a (used) hybrid would be a good choice. My budget is US$500, aluminium frame.
Because maintenance is important, I can do the basics, what do you think about bike co-ops in Montreal, anybody know about them?
https://communities.canada.com/montre...le-co-ops.aspx
Thanks in advance.

JPprivate

All I can say is, it's bitterly cold there from Nov thru March.

AndrewP

Recycle Bicycle at around 5500 de Maisonneuve Ouest sell used bikes. With global warming it is only Jan, Feb that gets consistent temps much below freezing. When it snows it may be worth taking the bus/metro for a few days, then the roads will be clear again. Concordia university has a bike co-op Right-To-Move at 1500 de Maisonneuve Ouest (514-999-4885). McGill University has one, but I dont have any details. https://www.arrondissement.com/blogue...site/index.ntd. What will you be doing in Montreal?

wunderkind

Learn French. Montreal drivers are not allowed to turn right at reds. Try their poutine.

dwr1961

Learn to swear in French.

stomppow

Right to Move at Concordia (downtown campus) is the biggest and most well equipped co-op
The Flat (McGill's co-op) is smaller and sometimes less crowded, but it's nice.

Both are very cheap (or free) and are run by volunteers, have a stock of cheap used parts, and the volunteers take a hands-off approach to teach you how to repair your bike.

Belleville Bike Co-op is a worker owned and run co-op in the south of downtown, they have lots of better, fair priced parts and good service that you pay for.


Commuting in Montreal you need a good u-lock, good bike lights (days are not long much of the year), and GOOD TIRES and fenders. The roads are not very good, the weather is often sloppy in any time but summer. Preferably bigger sized tires with kevlar anti-flat protection. I don't like to go smaller than 700x35, even for longer commutes. If you try commuting through winter (it's not that hard) you need good breathable and windproof clothes, and tires with studs on them (Schwalbe Snow Stud, or Ice Spiker).

The city does have hills, so many people do use 3x9 gearing, however for ease of maintainance through the weather many people choose singlespeed or fixed gear.

I would not get a hybrid unless your commutes are short. A good type of hybrid at 500$ would be something similar to Trek 7.2.
I wouldn't get a road bike with 700x23 either though.

stomppow

oh yeah and this city is F#%*(%#(in awesome!

Indiana23

Thanks to all for your soon response.

Stomppow, could you tell me why hybrids are not a good choice. What would be a good bike for me considering wheather condition in Montreal?
I'm commuting is this: 10 miles everyday in mountain bike, aluminium frame and carry my stuff in a panier over a rack. I found body position riding a mountain bike is not confortable if I'm wearing clothes such as a coat, once I did, I rode wearing clothes for the office and I felt seams were tighten, the coat fits me OK, I think this was because the position of my body, you know, on a mountain the handle bar is lower than a hybrid.
I like mountain bikes and I know it's necessary for me, to have more than one bike, one for short distances and other -maybe a road bike- for long distances, but I'm not sure which would be the first bike to buy in Montreal.

stomppow

I guess the actual type of bike is more personal preference, but longer commutes (10km+), I would rather ride a bike with drop bars or bullhorn bars.

If you get a hybrid, I would say try to find a deal on a bike that would normally be 550$ about, at that price range they are equipped much better for durability than a 400$ bike. You could probably find a Trek 7.2 or something similar for 500$ quite easily, maybe into the mid-400$ range. Then count on spending 60$ on a pair of good tires, and 25$ on a rack. 20$ for the full coverage fenders.

You could also always check out Velomakak, where they re-build old used bikes, with some new parts. Prices have gone up though, but still you can find capable bikes which are cheaper than new, will last longer than a cheap new bike, and are less likely to be stolen.

My ideal commuter bike is a road bike with 700x35 tires and fenders and a rack. Also I don't like downtube shifters for Montreal traffic, you need your hands on your handlebars at all times.

kolossal

Keep in mind that you probably won't be to interested in using a nice bike in the snow. Salt can eat through a transmission in no time. A single speed or a fixie would be a nice option for those winter months.

coldfeet

Hasn't the turn on red rule changed recently? If not vegetarian, must try Schwartze's smoked meats, nothing place, no booze, but the taste!!!!!

AndrewP

Can turn R on red everywhere except the island of Montreal, and where it is marked on the Lights. Most of the lights I pass off the island, forbid the right turn. That doesnt bother me because I usually go straight through.

Indiana23

Hello AndrewP,
It seems buying a used bike it's a good choice. Montreal is a city with a market of used bikes because there is a lot of people biking, different from Lima, where despite the number of cyclists is increasing, we are not much and the market is small, so there's no other alternative than buying new stuff but maintenance is cheap.

Considering my budget US$500-600, I could buy an economic new bike (I need aluminium frame) or a good used bike, but if I buy this good bike new my budget will fail. Of course, it depends of what I can find in the market.

I'm going to be studying, doings courses about environmental studies (in English), but first I'll be studying French.

Thanks for your information.

Alox

+1 calisse!