What better way to make the most of the endless days of summer than to hop on your bike and explore the over 800 km of multi-use pathways, cycling lanes and off-road biking trails that Ottawa has to offer. Known for having one of the best cycling networks in Canada, the Capital Pathway Network, Ottawa River Pathway, Rideau River Pathway, Rideau Canal Pathway and Greenbelt Pathways make the capital a bike-friendly city for people of all ages.
The National Capital Commission recently unveiled Kìwekì Point, a stunning lookout over the Ottawa River that connects Major’s Hill Park to the Alexandra Bridge. And from May to October, NCC Weekend Bikedays crank up the fun with over 20 km of car-free cycling paths along the beautiful Ottawa River and Rideau Canal—perfect for a weekend spin with a view.
All that pedalling calls for a reliable ride—think sturdy bikes, regular tune-ups, and expert repairs. Luckily, we’ve rounded up some of Ottawa’s top bike shops to keep you rolling smoothly all season long.
re-Cycles
445 Catherine Street
“What we do here is kind of like matchmaking. We’ve got all kinds of people and bicycles donated, and we strive to find the right match. And when we do, it’s a marriage made in heaven,” remarks Andrew Johnson, operations manager of re-Cycles.
Started in 1996 by Lloyd Deane to fill the gap for a community bike shop in Ottawa, the not-for-profit store, which has been in its current location for the past four years, aims to provide affordable, refurbished bikes to the community and reduce materials from going to landfills by recycling bikes and bike parts.
The shop offers DIY bike repairs for $4 per 30 minutes, with tools provided and volunteers on hand to assist customers. At re-Cycles, you can purchase a bike costing just $80, as well as top-notch bikes from the ’80s, which will be restored to look as good as new. Lights, locks, helmets and bike parts are also available for sale.
Johnson says he has school kids coming into the store to learn how to build their own bikes, as well as people who pull up in Teslas looking for a $5 part, which they can not find at other bike stores, since re-Cycles has the largest collection of donated bikes and bike parts in Ottawa.
In 2020, re-Cycles started its ‘Hop on Bikes’ program that provides donated kids’ bikes to children in community centres across Ottawa, in partnership with Ottawa Community Housing Foundation (OCHF). re-Cycles donates over 365 kids’ bikes a year to OCHF as part of the program.
In recognition of re-Cycles outstanding contribution to Ottawa’s cycling community, it has been awarded the Bruce Timmermans Organisational Award by the City of Ottawa three times in a row. “There are lots of used bikes in the city that need people to ride them, so I would invite people to come and have a look at what we have and hopefully surprise themselves with a unique find,” says Johnson.
PHOTO: re-Cycles Operations Manager, Andrew Johnson.
Quick Cranks
437 Cooper Street and 1089 Somerset Street W
“I started Quick Cranks when I was 18 years old, fixing bikes from my vehicle,” says director Mustafa Ismail, who currently runs the store alongside his partner Jacques Amsellem. “While we have since opened two stores—one in Hintonburg in 2021 and another one in Centretown last March following our acquisition of Foster’s Sports Centre— our mission has always been the same: to improve the accessibility of cycling and to be welcoming and inviting to everyone who visits our stores,” he adds.
Quick Cranks sells affordable bicycles, bike parts, accessories, bike apparel and nutrition products, all of which can also be purchased on its website. It offers bike repair and servicing, as well as servicing for skis, skates, and snowboards in the winter.
The store ships bikes to customers nationwide and offers free shipping on most items within Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal. In line with improving cycling accessibility in the city, Quick Cranks offers bicycle repair courses at its Hintonburg location from July to February, priced at $79 for the basic course and $1,699 for the pro mechanics course with accreditation.
Their popular Kids’ Bike Trade Up program provides parents a credit equivalent to 50 percent of the value of their initial bike purchase, which can be applied toward the purchase of a larger kids’ bike. Next year, Quick Cranks plans to revive its mobile repair service, adding yet another layer of convenience and accessibility for customers.
PHOTO: Mustafa Ismail, co-owner of Quick Crank.
McCranks Cycles
1b McCormick Street
For the past 33 years, McCranks Cycles has been a household name in Ottawa for bike repair. Started by Gary McCrank in the basement of the Lafayette pub, it then moved to the back of Irene’s Pub on Bank Street, before taking up its current Hintonburg location eight years ago. The store is now run by Angie Nellis and Peter Conway, who have served—and seen—three generations of loyal customers.
McCranks offers free bike assessment, as well as tune-ups and bike repair, ski and skate sharpening. McCranks sells a range of bikes, bike parts and accessories, which are also available for purchase on its website. Additionally, Nellis, who has been servicing bikes for the past 15 years, offers servicing for recumbent bikes, older bikes, internal gear bikes and European bikes—something that few other bike stores in the city offer.
“Bikes are fantastic tools that will live longer than any other thing on the planet. So if well-treated, you can keep a bike on the road for decades,” she says. While the store hasn’t changed much in the past 30 years, Nellis’ pet project is bike fabrication— assembling all the parts and components to build bespoke, custom bikes from scratch.
McCranks is well known for its Shanks at McCranks’ annual summer music festival held at McCormick Park and headlined by local musician Patrick Shanks with a varying line-up of local bands. Proceeds from the festival are donated to food banks such as the Parkdale Food Centre.
PHOTO: Angie Nellis, Operations Manager at McCranks Cycles.
Full Cycle
401 St. Laurent Boulevard and 7 Hamilton Avenue North
Since 1994, Full Cycle’s mission has been to provide the best products and services to Ottawa’s cycling community to help them make the most of the city’s numerous bike paths.
“We are one of the largest bike stores in Ottawa with the best breadth of inventory. We also have competent and knowledgeable staff, all of whom are passionate about cycling,” remarks Matti Pihlainen, who runs Full Cycle along with his partner Phil Brun del Re. Both stores offer a wide range of bicycles, accessories, tools, camping gear and apparel, which can be purchased in-store or on the website, with free shipping within Canada on products over $99.
Full Cycle also sells bike parts, offers servicing and bike repair, and provides winter bike storage with bike tuning. Another unique selling point is the Lifetime Service Warranty offered on every bike purchased from the store. This includes bike assessment, servicing and a 20 percent discount on labour for installation of new parts and accessories.
Full Cycle recently rolled out three exciting new services for cyclists looking to personalize their ride. First up is Retül Fit, a motion-capture system that analyzes a rider’s position and movement to help fine-tune the perfect bike fit. They’re also the only shop in Ottawa offering Fizik 3D custom-printed saddles from Italy—precision-crafted to match each rider’s unique anatomy. And for those dreaming of a completely personalized ride, Full Cycle Black offers custom bike builds, working closely with customers to develop and design custom-built bikes with carefully chosen parts, tailored to their specific requirements.
“Personalized service for all our customers is what sets us apart. We have loyal customers who will travel out of their way to come here. Many repeat customers eventually become friends of the store, just dropping by for a chat or to head out for a ride with us,” says Will McBane, Operations Manager, Full Cycle.
PHOTO: Matti Pihlainen, co-owner of Full Cycle, alongside Operations Manager Will McBane.
Joe Mamma Cycles
767 Bank Street and 66 Moore St, Carleton Place
When Jose Bray started Joe Mamma Cycles in 2004, people told him he was crazy because there was little demand for commuter bikes. Cut to 21 years later, commuter bikes account for the highest sales at his Bank Street location, thanks to the steady uptake in people using bikes as a primary mode of transport. (Can you say NO-Train?)
The mission of Joe Mamma Cycles has always been to fill a void in the selection of high-quality bicycles of all styles, with a particular emphasis on fun and practical bicycles that encourage community cycling. The store is also one of the largest dealers of BMX bikes in the Ottawa area.
Apart from bikes, bike parts, accessories, skateboards and apparel, Joe Mamma sells its own branded products. Everything is available on the website, with free shipping offered across Canada for orders over $200, excluding bulky items.
Joe Mamma is a full-service shop offering bike repairs and servicing, as well as ski and snowboard maintenance and repair. The store offers a ‘winter tune-up’ package that includes switching from summer to studded winter tires, lubrication, cleaning, and an overall bike assessment.
The approachable and friendly staff, coupled with the uncompromising quality of service and wide array of bikes, have enabled Joe Mamma to scoop up a number of awards over the years but Bray’s biggest satisfaction is pairing eager kids with their first bike: “We’ve seen a lot of kids grow up coming to the shop. In fact, my right-hand man at the store has been a client since he was a teenager. We’ve seen generations of shoppers who have stayed with us.”
PHOTO: Jose Bray, owner of Joe Mamma Cycles.
Retro-Rides & Ottawa Bike Café
79 Sparks Street
True to its name, Retro-Rides—the only vintage bike shop in downtown Ottawa—was founded in 2013 by Jason Komendat.
In 2021, the home-based custom bike business moved to its current location, and Ottawa Bike Café became an extension of the store. “The bicycle business is very seasonal, so having a café ensures we get a steady source of income all year round,” explains Komendat.
Ottawa Bike Café supports small businesses, with all of its food and beverages being either locally sourced or made in-house.
Apart from selling vintage bikes, Retro-Rides is a full-service bike repair shop for both vintage and modern bikes, offering restorations on vintage bikes, selling bike parts and accessories, and custom-building bikes. The store offers a one-year guarantee on all bikes sold, covering any post-purchase maintenance requirements.
“It’s our aim to provide the highest level of genuine and efficient customer service. And we look at each bicycle as a rolling piece of functional art,” remarks Komendat.
That philosophy shines through in the bike-themed art adorning the store, as well as the bike-related events regularly held at the café. “This month we also organized a commuter cycling workshop, a bicycle repair workshop and a bicycle trivia night as part of Bike to Work Month in Ottawa, an annual campaign organized by Bike Ottawa,” says Komendat.
Known for its welcoming and all-inclusive vibe, regulars of all ages stop by to check out vintage bikes, to get a free bike assessment, for advice on where to sell their bike or just for a chat. Komendat has a passion for people and bicycles, and a goal to bring them together in harmony.
“Riding a bicycle is a special thing, and when you have the right bicycle that fits, you have a friendship that lasts a lifetime,” remarks Komendat.
PHOTO: Jason Komendat, owner of Retro-Rides and Ottawa Bike Café.
Biking Trends in Ottawa
• E-bikes, gravel bikes and commuter bikes are currently trending
• More people are using bikes to commute than ever before
• Cyclists have increased since COVID, especially with the increase in bike paths
• Massive increase in winter cycling – bike stores see more sales of fat bikes
• Higher demand for Canadian bike brands since the imposition of US tariffs
Tips for cyclists
• Pump up your tires regularly
• Oil the chain
• Keep your bike clean
• Learn how to do a flat repair (change a tire)
• Get good lights and use your lights even during the day
