We are still deep in winter here and the only riding I'm doing is the 1 km ride to the commuter train station in the morning and back home again at night. Thanks to studded tires I have not missed a single day this winter, come ice or deep snow, wind or extreme temperatures.

I always rode a bike everywhere as a kid, but have been riding seriously since 1975. From '75 to '80 I did a lot of cycle touring/camping including trips from Vancouver to Montreal and several tours around Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. I also like to get out on the road and go fast for a few hours, but I'm not so serious that beautiful scenery, a roadside bakery or a beckoning beach on a hot day won't bring me to a stop for a break.

I used to ride and tour with my wife, but she is unable to cycle now, so most of my cycling is done alone and occasionally with friends. Actually, the first time I saw the woman who was to become my wife she was securing her bike to the bike trailer of the outdoor club I had just joined. The club was the business of an old high school friend of hers. He and his girlfriend (also a cyclist from the club) were the witnesses (like the best man and maid of honour, but in a civil ceremony) at our wedding.

I also enjoy getting out on trails with my mountain bike and am absolutely thrilled with the new mountain bike that I got last summer. It's more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

This year - a new road bike.

It is a shame your wife is unable to cycle anymore, because that is so sweet the way you met her! But still, the riding you are able to do is good.

What bike did you get last summer, and what bike are you looking at for the road?

Welcome to BF!

East Hill

Welcome to the forum. What parts of Montreal do you call home? Commuter train station... let's see... West Island? You might be referring either to the Vaudreuil/Dorion or Deux-Montagnes lines?

I live on the South Shore, in St-Hubert. I am a fair weather commuter to work in St-Laurent and can't wait for all that snow to melt!!!

Cheers,
Ron

The mountain bike I got last summer is a Trek 6500 and the road bike this summer probably will be a Trek Madone 5.2.

RHoude, I am in Pointe Claire and I take the train from the Cedar Park station. I often cycle into work at McGill University in the summer. The early morning ride along Lakeshore Road and the Lachine Canal bike path is spectacular. Beautiful light, cool air and ducks and herons in the water.

We probably crossed paths a number of times then. I commute from St-Lambert to St-Laurent crossing at the Victoria bridge/St-Lambert lock, the Jean Drapeau park, Cité du Havre, then up Lachine Canal, the along St-Joseph to 48th Ave in Lachine, across the tracks at the Lachine train station and through the industrial park to the intersection of Cote-de-Liesse and Montee-de-Liesse.

I ride a Cannondale Adventure 400 or a big red Gazelle Medeo (my Urban Assault Bicycle).

This coming May, biking is going to become a full time passion, as I will become a full-time Guide/Bike Leader. Biking has really taken over my life (and my girlfriend's) and I love every minute of it!

Cheers,
Ron

Wow, thats a commute with a lot of cityscape variety from industrial park to riverside parkland.

Will you be working from a tour company?

Ron is the tour company! See his signature link .

East Hill

Riding to work along that path was never boring, that's for sure. And there is quite a lot of history to discover along the Lachine Canal. If some of those old buildings could speak, they probably would have a lot to say.

And, yes. Biking has really taken my life (and my girlfriend's) over. We're bringing the Bike & Boat concept, which we discovered during our travels to the Netherlands, to North America. We'll be appearing in the Old Port of Montreal this coming May. We both decided that we wanted to spend more of our life with other cyclists, and I just love an opportunity to share some of my discoveries and passion about heritage, history and biking with others.

Best,
Ron