'Wonderful world of bicycles': Gatineau-Ottawa Bicycle Show kicks off

The Gatineau-Ottawa Bicycle Show kicked off on Friday, showcasing the latest cycling trends for the 2024 season, with nearly 100 participating exhibitors. (Shaun Vardon/ CTV News Ottawa)

Attention road cycling and mountain biking enthusiasts -- beginners or experts – the "wonderful world of bicycles," is calling.

The Gatineau-Ottawa Bicycle Show kicked off on Friday, showcasing the latest cycling trends for the 2024 season, with nearly 100 participating exhibitors.

"Whether you are searching for a bicycle, equipment, accessories, clothing or advice, this is the best place to know about the cycling world," said the organizers of the show.

While enthusiasts ranging between the ages of seven and 77 are trying out various models of bicycles and participating in the show’s mechanical workshops, organizations operating in the cycling industry are showcasing "many popular cycling paths and events, the most beautiful cycling trails in Québec and more than one hundred other cycling destinations on five continents."

Ways to save money and get in shape

Most of the people attending the show are looking for ways to save money and get in shape. With hundreds of bikes on display, innovation is key to meeting demand. One of the biggest displays is from Seven Peaks -- a Canadian manufacturer of bikes and e-bikes. Owner Pierre Rainville says right now, the demand for e-bikes is soaring, as baby boomers are looking to downsize or reduce costs.

"E-bike is huge. And then you see road bikes. The road bike is coming back. People are looking to upgrade their road bikes as well," Rainville said. "In terms of e-bike, we are now in a new generation of batteries and that’s a key thing."

With the unseasonably warm weather, folks like Kevin Elliott are already hitting the pavement.

"I like my old school peddle bike, but there are a lot of electronic bikes here and I found out not all electronics are bad. For example, when changing the gears, there is new technology that can change your gear automatically when you are going up a hill," Elliott said. "On a leisure bike ride, I usually put in 100km, and I do that once or twice a week. On the weekends I go way longer."

The show is taking place at the Palais des Congres de Gatineau and has the following schedule:

More information is available online.