Cyclist: Patrick Riley (right)Hometown: Montreal, QC
Location spotted: Heading west on Villeneuve with Smruthi
Destination and distance: Terrasse Lafayette, 3K.
Cycling months: All year
First bike: I don’t even remember, but my favourite was a blue three-speed Raleigh.
Current ride: I’m borrowing my sister’s bike while I’m in Montreal.
Number bikes stolen: Two, but both times it was negligence
Number accidents: Flying over a car door and I had one scar here (points at chest and down to stomach). I was wearing my helmet but that would have been useless (laughs). And waking up with a series of bruises on my shins because of biking home so drunk that I was missing the pedals.
When not cycling: Bowling in Africa.
Discoveries through biking: Pause the tape! It’s way too early in the day for that.
Thoughts on biking and fashion: I think biking and fashion is restricted finding something to tie your pants up so they don’t get caught in the gears and don’t wear a long scarf that will strangle you by getting caught in the bike spokes.
Dream bike: A three-speed Sturmey-Archer
Why do you bike: It’s something you’re totally in control of. You can tear it apart yourself. You can tear it apart yourself. You can learn to deal with every aspect of it. If something goes wrong with your car, you have no clue what’s going on.
Bike tip: Feel absolutely comfortable on your bike, Ride it with one pedal, take it apart, carry it around. Have it be an extension of your body. Then you’ll be safer and you’ll enjoy it and become attached to it. That’s what makes it more fun than taking the bus or driving a car.
How to improve cycling conditions: We should reduce car traffic downtown and we should have bike-only streets.
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Cyclist: Smruthi Gargi Eswar
Hometown: Bangalore, India
Location spotted: Heading west on Villeneuve with Patrick
Destination and distance: Terrasse Lafayette, 3K.
Cycling months: Actually I don’t really bike.
Why don’t you bike: I’m usually not in a place where there’s a chance to cycle. I’m usually in a city that’s not built for cyclists at all like Deli or Accra or Bangalore and female cyclists especially. But during this Montreal visit, I’m actually biking because of pier pressure, but I’m actually enjoying it now.
First bike: A maroon BSA SLR
Current ride: We’re visiting from Ghana and Rose leant me the bicycle, which has a nice retro look to it.
Number accidents: My friend was riding in front of me outside of Bangalore, and he was in denial because he needed glasses. I saw a truck stop in front of us. I didn’t know what to say. He didn’t see it. So we hit it. It was a bike pile-up
When not cycling: Using automobiles.
Thoughts on biking and fashion: It’s important to wear comfortable clothes, but skirts are a bit dodgy.
Interesting bike story: When I was seven, my uncle was trying to teach me how to bike and it just wasn’t working. After many days he gave up and sulked and walked away. For some reason, because he walked away, I just hopped on my bike and cycled towards him. It was weird.
Dream bike: No I don’t have one.
Discovery through biking: Now we’ve been here for five days in Montreal and at first I was stressed out about biking and riding on the right side of the road. Initially it feels like the whole country is riding on the wrong side. But it’s actually not that bad at all. Also, it's not possible to always go downhill.
Why do you bike: I like the pace it sets because I’m not in a hurry. And it sets a whole pace for the city. I also like the landscape of other people cycling.
