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Whether you’re hiking the Inca Trail or biking around Paris in search of the flakiest croissant, employ these rad travel hacks from MEC staffers and Ambassadors to make the most of your time on the road.

**1. Go light.** Pack everything you need (nothing you “might” wear), then remove half – you’ll be surprised how freeing it is to go with less. Bonus tip: [fast-drying, no-iron shirts](/en/product/5040-129/Overlook-Long-Sleeved-Shirt) are a saving grace on hot days (wear them damp and still look good at dinner), and [merino wool](/en/products/clothing/c/981?f=CFfabricContent%3AMerino+wool) is naturally odour-fighting for long stretches on the road.

**2. Kiss your comfort zone goodbye.** Embrace curiosity and ditch your traditional notions of time and schedule. In fact, leave your watch at home.

**3. Say yes.**Yes is the password to awesome – dining with locals, moonlit skinny-dips in lakes or trail runs through the rainforest.

**4. Don’t bring t-shirts.** Instead, buy them at your destination. Once you’re home, they’re wearable souvenirs.

**5. Watch your back(pack).** If you’re travelling with a checked backpack, get a cover – like this handy [Skyway Airline tote](/en/product/5030-444/Skyway-Airline-Tote) – to protect the straps and buckles from overzealous luggage handlers and rollers at airports. Some bags even have straps that tuck away.

**6. Two words: ear plugs.** ‘Nuff said.

**7. Embrace the pause.** Bad weather and indoor days happen. Lift your spirits with playlists, an e-reader, podcasts or a [sketchbook](/en/products/camping-and-hiking/camp-and-hike-accessories/notebooks-and-pens/journals-and-writing-materials/c/934).

**8. Keep a record.** Write it all down – from the epic hiking sandwich to the time your only dinner companion was a street cat – take photos or videos, and collect ticket stubs or brochures. Don’t want to carry paper memories along? Mail them home as you go.

**9. Be grateful.** Being rude to a customer service agent will never get you to your destination faster. If your travel plans get screwed up, take a deep breath and remember how lucky you are to be able to travel in the first place.

**10. Little things make a big difference.** Use SeatGuru.com to stake out a comfy airline seat, bring a [packable travel pillow](/en/products/camping-and-hiking/sleeping-bags-sleeping-pads-quilts-and-pillows/pillows-and-pillowcases/c/1408) and wear comfortable shoes. Pack a [squishy water bottle](/en/products/camping-and-hiking/camp-kitchen/water-bottles-and-reservoirs/water-bottles/collapsible-bottles/c/1534) to stay hydrated through security.

**11. Roll with it.** Don’t be afraid to wait until you’re at your destination to book any local tours or excursions. You’ll often find better deals and recommendations from fellow travellers.

**12. Speak up.** Learn “hello,” “thank you,” and “coffee, please” in the local language. When all else fails, Pictionary your way through.

**13. Depart in good health.** Before you take off, make sure you’re set for dental work, prescriptions and vaccinations. Be sure to leave space between your appointments and your departure date in case anything needs a follow-up. And always get travel insurance.

**14. Don’t be afraid to travel solo.** You’ll be surprised how savvy you truly are when left to your own devices, plus it’s easier to meet locals and other travellers.

**15. Think beyond your hotel safe.** Scan and email a copy of all your important documents and IDs either to yourself or a friend or family member in case anything goes missing.

**16. Travel isn’t a competition.** The point of leaving isn’t to launch a new career as an Instagram star. Go for you. See what you came to see, be open and maybe don’t even take a photo. Nobody needs picture proof that you’re #blessed.



## Related articles
- [The ultimate travel pants](/en/article/the-ultimate-travel-pants)
- [How to choose a travel adapter](/en/explore/how-to-choose-a-travel-adapter)
- [Roll or fold: packing tips from the pros](/en/article/roll-or-fold-packing-tips-from-the-pros)



Use these savvy travel tips, packing hacks and life lessons to get ready for some of the best times (and memories) of your life.

16 rad travel hacks from adventurous Canadians

Burlington, Hamilton and the surrounding area are home to lush parks, scenic trails and an impressive number of waterfalls. You’ll have plenty of scenic views to enjoy on any route you choose. Grab a run buddy and explore somewhere new with these 6 ideas for running routes in the region.

#### Kerncliff Park Climb (3K)


Kerncliff Park offers a variety of double track trails, challenging hills and rocky sections for the runner looking to improve their technical skills. While you’re on this [3-kilometre run](http://milermeter.com/?r=6948457), you can get a spectacular view of Burlington, Hamilton – and on a clear day, even Toronto – from the top of the escarpment hills.

***Get more tips in [our guide to this Kerncliff Park run route](https://gto.mec.ca/en/activities/get-a-tad-technical-on-the-escarpment).***

#### Stair Circuit Challenge (6K)


The stairs accessing the Hamilton Escarpment alongside the city are popular with not only Hamiltonians, but many fitness enthusiasts of the GTA. For a solid workout, try Burlington’s [6-kilometre Stair Circuit](http://milermeter.com/?r=6951977). Starting at Chedoke Civic Golf Course, you’ll run up and down 289 Chedoke stairs and then head over to the Dundurn stairs, where you’ll run up and down another 326 steps. Rinse and repeat!

***Ready to sweat? See [our guide to running the Hamilton stair circuit](https://gto.mec.ca/en/activities/step-up-your-training-with-this-climb).***

#### Smooth Hendrie Valley Run (7K)


This gentle [7-kilometre run](http://milermeter.com/?r=6951984) on a multi-use trail is great for beginners as it provides even footing on relatively flat terrain. This is also an excellent spot to add some [speed training](/en/article/be-a-better-runner-how-to-get-fast-with-speed-work) into your workout. Along the way, you might spot birds, deer and other local wildlife. (Make sure to stay on the trails as the Royal Botanical Garden doesn’t allow runners on their property.)

***Explore the trails with [our guide to running in Hendrie Valley](https://gto.mec.ca/en/activities/7km-route-in-a-nature-sanctuary).***

#### MEC to Newport Out-and-Back run (12K)


Starting from [MEC Burlington](/en/stores/burlington), you’ll head over to Roly Bird Park before embarking on the Hydrocut Trail that will take you to Newport Park and back. This [12-kilometre trail](http://milermeter.com/?r=6948475) is a favourite of the MEC Burlington running club as the route offers plenty of space as well as gentle rolling hills away from traffic.

***Find out more in [our guide to the Newport Park run route](https://gto.mec.ca/en/activities/set-out-on-a-local-run-crew-favourite).***

#### Streams and Climbs Point-to-Point Run (15K)


Set off with a friend and two cars; leave one car at Highland Gardens Park – the start of this [15-kilometre run](http://milermeter.com/?r=6952021) – and the other by Valleyside Lane and Davidson Blvd in Hamilton. You’ll follow the Bruce Trail where you’ll come across some of Hamilton’s famous stairs and pass through conservation areas like Iroquoia Heights, Tiffany Falls, Canterbury Falls and many more.

***See where to start with [our guide to the Hamilton waterfall run route](https://gto.mec.ca/en/activities/go-chasing-waterfalls).***

#### Bruce Trail Old-Growth and Cascading Waters Run (20K)


The Bruce Trail is a great place to tackle a long-distance [20-kilometre run](http://milermeter.com/?r=6952014). Many spots provide free parking, like Hidden Valley Park, Kerncliff Park as well as several streets. Set out with a run buddy and make sure to bring along your [GPS watch](/en/products/camping-and-hiking/electronics/gps-navigation/gps-watches/c/1155?b=100-1552-1567-1153) or download the [Bruce Trail App](http://brucetrail.org/pages/trail/app) on your phone, which offers up-to-date info on the trail along with potential side trails and parking access.

***A must-do trail adventure. Make it happen with [our guide to running the Bruce Trail](https://gto.mec.ca/en/activities/must-do-old-growth-trail-run).***



The area around Burlington offers a diverse range of routes that lead you past waterfalls, over hills and stairs, and across different terrain. Why run on just sidewalks when you can explore the full beauty of the city’s natural landscape? Happy running!

*Photo credits: Jacob Lund / Shutterstock.com, peters011235 / Shutterstock.com*



Some of the best places to run around Burlington and Hamilton, Ontario. Check out 6 routes around Roly Bird Park, Bruce Trail, the stair circuit and more.

Awesome Running Routes around Burlington and Hamilton

Awesome run routes around Burlington

Whether running’s part of your weekday schedule or your weekend fun, you might find yourself growing tired of following the same paths over and over again. To break out of a running rut, check out these great route ideas and inspiration around Ottawa-Gatineau.

From urban scenery to peaceful parks and riverside trails, these routes offer something for every runner. Grab your run buddy to explore somewhere new – lace up, Ottawa, it’s time to get out there!

#### Arboretum Run Route (3K)


This short, snappy [3-kilometre route](http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6941903) through Ottawa’s Arboretum will give your legs (and lungs) a quick and satisfying workout. If 3 kilometres isn’t enough to get your heart rate going, you can throw in extra loops for an added push.



Head out to Parc la Baie in Gatineau for a workout in a peaceful setting. This [5-kilometre loop](http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6941906) takes you through the park and along the Ottawa River, where you’ll find sparkling waters and very little traffic.

#### Rockcliffe and River Views Run (7K)


This [7-kilometre route](http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6941910) starts in Rockcliffe Park Pavilion and heads along the river that separates Ontario and Quebec. Once you reach your halfway point, the second part of your run brings you through quiet residential neighbourhoods before connecting with Rockcliffe Driveway to return where you started.

#### Run the Canal Route (10K)


Home to the Ottawa 10K, this [iconic canal loop](http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6941915) provides traffic-free paths surrounded by beautiful scenery. Your run starts on the Rideau Canal Western Pathway by City Hall and takes you down to Dow’s Lake, where you’ll cross over onto the Rideau Canal Eastern Pathway. Follow this path until you reach the Corktown Footbridge, then cross back over onto the Western Pathway to finish your run at City Hall.



Strap on your favourite runners and a GPS watch, and set off on this [12-kilometre jaunt](http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6941925) through the city. Starting at the [MEC Ottawa](/en/stores/ottawa) store on Richmond Road in Westboro (a good place to pick up energy gels before you start), you’ll make your way through Wellington West, Fisher Park, Little Italy, Chinatown and Centretown. After working up an appetite, end your run at [Bridgehead](http://www.bridgehead.ca/pages/440-richmond-rd-at-golden-ave), where a cup of coffee and a treat await.

#### South March Highlands Forest and Lakes Run (13K)


Outside the heart of Ottawa is the South March Highlands Conservation Forest. The old-growth forest is home to more than lots of trails including this [13-kilometre trail route](http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6941954) for you to explore, surrounded by ponds and sugar maple trees.

#### Across the Border Route (20K)


If you’re up for the ultimate adventure through Ottawa, try tackling this [20-kilometre route](http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=6941939). You’ll start at the Arboretum and head all the way to Quebec, where you’ll enter Gatineau Park for some light trail running. From sidewalks and towering trees to flowing rivers and pretty forests, this journey will give you a taste of everything the Ottawa region has to offer.



#### Have fun exploring
Whether you prefer a relaxed run through Ottawa’s Arboretum or a challenging route across rocky terrain, you’ll have an excellent time exploring routes and trail around Ottawa. Looking for a run watch to help track your route? Learn [how to choose the right running watch](/en/article/whats-the-best-running-watch-for-you) for you.

*Photo credit: [Chanan Greenblatt](https://stocksnap.io/photo/RMDYXIJFJN)*



Discover some of the best places to run in Ottawa. Check out 7 great mapped run routes featuring forests, rivers, coffee and more.

Awesome Running Routes in Ottawa-Gatineau

Awesome run routes in Ottawa-Gatineau

From Sleeping Giant park in Ontario to northern lights flickering above the Yukon, Canada is definitely no stranger to magical places. There’s one spot however, that’s a constant on bucket lists of Canadians and travellers from all over the world: [Haida Gwaii](https://www.google.ca/maps/place/Haida+Gwaii/@52.6841535,-132.9095063,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x546c6f6256063303:0xec928b07eef2bdeb!8m2!3d52.656235!4d-131.8117735). The archipelago on BC’s north coast combines a lush natural setting with cultural richness and historical significance. (No wonder *National Geographic* chose it as one of the [20 Best Trips of 2015](http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/best-trips-2015/#/orca-haida-gwaii_85230_600x450.jpg).)

After years of having it on my own bucket list, I was recently fortunate enough to visit – and it more than exceeded my expectations. Here are a few things you may not know about Haida Gwaii and some spots to check out when (yes, when!) you head there:

##### There are all kinds of multi-day hiking, trail running and even surfing opportunities
Whether it’s a trail run to the Pesuta shipwreck or up Tow Hill in [Naikoon Provincial Park](http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/naikoon/), there are so many ocean views and forests to explore. For a longer hike in the park, go for the 90-km East Beach Trail Hike. I opted for a run on the beach to visit the famous shipwreck (one of the highlights of my trip).

During my visit, I also heard whispers about the [epic surf](http://www.gohaidagwaii.ca/blog/surfing-haida-gwaii) on Haida Gwaii. The region’s only surf shop is in Masset and offers rentals and lessons. Judging by the views, I’m going to guess you’d have quite a few waves to yourself.



##### Haida Watchmen help you discover the beauty of Gwaii Haanas
You can kayak or take a zodiac to [Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve](http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas/natcul.aspx) – commonly referred to as Gwaii Haanas (which means “Islands of Beauty”). Years before the national park reserve was established, the [Watchmen Program](http://coastalguardianwatchmen.ca/haida-gwaii-watchmen-program) was created to ensure these sites were respected.

Watchmen spend the summer months at five different sites in Gwaii Haanas, safeguarding culturally significant sites and sharing their incredible knowledge about the area and Haida culture with visitors.



##### There are awesome organizations that connect youth to Haida Gwaii’s wilderness and culture
[Mount Moresby Adventure Camp](http://mountmoresbyadventurecamp.ca/) and [Swan Bay Rediscovery Program](http://www.swanbayrediscovery.ca/) are just two of the organizations connecting youth to the outdoors. I visited Swan Bay to see first-hand what participants get to experience on their eight-day cultural and stewardship trips into Gwaii Haanas each summer.

Through MEC’s [Community Investment program](/en/explore/granting), we donated $10,000 worth of gear and funding while we were there to support the program.



##### You can eat a traditional Haida feast
After your trip to Haida Gwaii, you’ll likely have a hard time adjusting to not having fresh-caught salmon every day when you return home. One of the most memorable experiences? Visiting [Keenawii’s Kitchen](http://www.gohaidagwaii.ca/directory/detail/keenawiis-kitchen) in Skidegate. Roberta Olsen invites you right into her home for a delicious meal of salmon, sablefish and herring roe on kelp. We even tried a few drops of precious oolichan oil in our soup.



##### Opportunities to learn about Haida Culture are everywhere
You’ll learn stories and history from the Watchmen, from staff at Haida-owned businesses or from walking around town chatting with locals. One must-see? The [Haida Heritage Centre](http://haidaheritagecentre.com/) at Ḵay Llnagaay, an ancient village site. It has so much knowledge, artwork, experience and language in one location. Not to mention the buildings and surrounding scenery are breathtaking.



##### Master carvers and weavers create artwork right before your eyes
Haida Gwaii’s artist population is thriving. I was lucky enough to meet a number of carvers, including Master Carver Jim Hart, who was working on a reconciliation pole that will be raised at UBC later this year. Even one of the Watchmen at SGang Gwaay was working on some drawings when my tour group stopped in.



##### There’s a summer music fest at the edge of the world
[Edge of the World Music Festival](http://edgefestival.ca/) is an awesome jam fest that takes place every summer in Tlell, and features local and visiting musicians. Along with kayaking in Gwaii Haanas, this is definitely on my list for my next visit.

Overall, I was deeply impacted by my time on Haida Gwaii. The people I met, the culture and history they shared, and the incredible places I visited will stick with me for a long time. I’m grateful for the opportunity I had to visit, and I hope you’ll have the chance to do so too.



### 5 things to pack on your Haida Gwaii trip
- Rain jacket, like the [MEC Hydrofoil](/en/product/5034-278/Hydrofoil-Jacket) (tip: red and other bright colours pop for photos in mossy forests and near the ocean)
- Warm layer, like the [MEC Uplink Hoodie](/en/product/5025-735/Uplink-Hoodie)
- [Daypack](/en/ideal-for/camping-and-hiking/products/gear/packs-and-bags/daypacks%2c-slings-and-school-bags/daypacks/c/1333) for hiking and wandering around
- [Hat](/en/ideal-for/casual-wear/products/clothing/accessories/headwear/sun-hats/c/997?q=%3Asales-rank) and [sunglasses](/en/ideal-for/casual-wear/products/gear/eyewear/sunglasses/c/1171?q=%3Asales-rank&text=) for sunny days on the beach
- [Trail runners](/en/ideal-for/running+trail-running/products/footwear/shoes/c/1195?q=%3Asales-rank&text=) for all the exploring you’ll be doing (this [Salomon pair](/en/product/5037-389/XA-Pro-3D-GTX-Trail-Running-Shoes) are my go-to travel shoes)

*Top photo credit: @shibbystylee*



From shipwreck beach runs to the meaning of Gwaii Haanas, here’s a preview.

Surprising things you'll discover on Haida Gwaii

*From relaxing mud baths and natural attractions to action packed trails and fun obstacle courses, these are the top spots to muddy things up.*



### Mountain biking on Vancouver’s North Shore, Canada


Bring your bike to the North Shore in October or February and prepare to get dirty. The constant downpour muddies up every twist and turn, giving your ride an added challenge. With so much terrain to explore, you won’t want to let the soggy conditions stop you. Just wear your sludge like a badge of honour. That said, [layers](/en/ideal-for/cycling+mountain-biking/products/clothing/c/981?q=%3Asales-rank) are wise.



Forget clinical-feeling float therapy tanks – keep it natural with a trip to the Dead Sea. As the saltiest body of water in the world, a dip in these waters is said to relieve joint pain, heart complications and even skin problems. Smear on some mud before taking a dip to remove toxins and toss on your [packable robe](/en/product/5034-747/RobeTowl-Personal-Towel) on the way out.



Fitness buffs looking for a new challenge will love the [Rugged Maniac 5k](http://ruggedmaniac.com/). With Canadian stops in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver plus races across the United States, there’s plenty of opportunity to get in on the rugged fun. Expect playground-style challenges: slide, monkey bar rings and see-saw-like obstacles – and a bunch of mud. Before you hit the Shoe Catcher make sure you heel-lock those runners!



An archipelago of over 500 islands, Palau is home to more than a few mysteries. Adventurous [beach travellers](/en/products/clothing/swimwear/c/1036?q=%3Asales-rank) can swim with golden jellyfish in the Rock Islands (these isolated marine animals have lost their sting) before making your way to the Milky Way Lagoon to coat up with shining white limestone mud and rinsing off with a [snorkel](/en/products/gear/snorkel-gear/c/1417?q=%3Asales-rank) session.



Active travellers exploring the land of fire and ice will undoubtedly make a stop in Reykjavik, but few may take the short 35 minute car ride to Hveragerði. The small town is just 45km east of the capital and is located in an active volcanic zone, giving tourists a great display of the country’s geothermal activity – including its mud baths, which are said to offer natural pain-relief for hikers and wanderers looking to dip their tired feet.



Best places in the world to get muddy | MEC blog

Best places in the world to get muddy

We all have those favourite routes from home that are quick, fun and get us familiar with our neighbourhoods, but what if venturing further meant we had more to admire? We chose some pieces of art, architecture and engineering from a few major Canadian cities, to help turn your next run into a culture crawl.

### Toronto and Barrie
##### The distillery district


This artisan mecca boasts great shops, restaurants and cobblestone streets worthy of a Saturday stroll and patio lunch. But while you’re mid-sweat why not take off down Gristmill Lane and spend time with a few notable pieces of art instead? Keep an eye out for Michael Christian’s *Koilos*sculpture, *Still Dancing*by Dennis Oppenheim and the Insta-famous Love Locks installation. Use [#distilleryto](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/distilleryto/) to find more.



##### Monument to multiculturalism at Union Station


As Canada’s busiest multi-modal transportation hub, [Union Station](https://twitter.com/unionstationto) sees a lot of different faces. In 1985, Italian artist [Francesco Perilli’s bronze masterpiece](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/monumenttomulticulturalism/) was unveiled in front of the Beaux-Arts-style building as an ode to the positivity of multiculturalism and the dialogue and peaceful collaboration it can spark among people of different ancestries and convictions – a great place to see and a great topic to meditate on when your mind starts to wander on long, slow runs.



##### Spirit Catcher


Ron Baird’s [*Spirit Catcher*](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/spiritcatcher/) sculpture has travelled the nation from its original Expo 86 home in Vancouver’s False Creek, all the way to Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie. The piece explores First Nations’ mythology of the Thunderbird and is now part of the MacLaren Art Centre’s permanent collection. MEC Ambassador [Jim Willett](/en/explore/mec-ambassadors/jim-willett) appears ant-sized next to the twenty tonne steel sculpture. Cool fact: its 16 quills are kinetic and rock back and forth as the wind blows.

### Calgary
##### The Peace Bridge


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In an interview with the Calgary Herald, Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava called the [*Peace Bridge*](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/peacebridge/) the most technically challenging work he’d ever designed, and for good reason. The structure has a webbed, tubular design with just a 1% slope – a pretty amazing feat considering it has no pillars, masts, beams, arches, cables or lower supports other than the embankment at either side of the Bow River. A favourite of pedestrians, the maple-leaf-red bridge is so famous it has its own Instagram account, [@peacebridgeyyc](https://www.instagram.com/peacebridgeyyc/).



##### Wonderland at the Bow


If you’re looking for a turning point in your run, consider [*Wonderland*](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/wonderlandyyc/) at Calgary’s [Bow building](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/bowbuilding/). The 12-metre high, bent-wire cameo features two door-sized openings that invite passersby to get up close and personal with Barcelona-based artist Jaume Plensa’s work. Participation is a big part of this YYC landmark and from inside, visitors can get a whole new perspective of the iconic skyscraper that rises 58 storeys above it.

### Vancouver
##### Science World


Originally built for Expo 86, this “golf ball” on False Creek is a [geodesic dome](https://www.scienceworld.ca/buildinghistory) – a patented invention of American inventor R. Buckminster Fuller, also used at Expo 67 in Montreal. The 391 lights across 766 triangles make [Science World](https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/1654/) a favourite to capture at night. Plan your run for dusk and enjoy the scene as the sunset fades and the dome lights up (and revisit during the day to check out all the cool exhibits inside).



##### Bridges galore


From [Ironworkers](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ironworkersbridge/) to [Lions Gate](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/lionsgatebridge/), Vancouver is home to more than a few bridges. [Burrard](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/burrardbridge/), [Granville](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/granvillebridge/) and Cambie offer great views of False Creek and English Bay and are accompanied by ocean air breezes (plus Granville offers an awesome view [@OsGemeos](https://www.instagram.com/osgemeos/)’s [*Giants*](https://www.instagram.com/p/seDDTXhwhv/?taken-by=osgemeos)). Ironworkers features three-metre safety railings that skew and fade your perspective the faster you tread. And suspension-style Lions Gate is a great way to tack on a couple extra kilometres to your next [Stanley Park](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/stanleypark/) run.

### Montreal
##### Habitat 67


Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie’s [*Habitat 67*](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/habitat67/) has become an emblematic symbol of the Montreal landscape. The building’s design was originally conceived as part of Safdie’s McGill University thesis and focused on the connection between quality of life and an urban environment. The building draws its name from both the centennial year, and the 67.354 modules stacked on top of one another to form 148 individual residences. Run by and you might see MEC Ambassador [Joan Roch](/en/explore/mec-ambassadors/joan-roch) training for his next ultra.



##### Montreal Biosphere


Consider yourself an environmentalist? A sprint past former Expo 67 pavilion, aka Montreal’s [Biosphere](https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/montrealbiosphere/), may be just the thing to convince you to take on more foot-powered commutes. The design combines R. Buckminster Fuller’s steel geodesic dome with an interior set of enclosed buildings designed by Éric Gauthier. Together they make up an environmental museum exploring water ecosystems, climate change and sustainable development.



Take your run to the next level by looping in art, history and architecture.

Run this: Bridges, monuments and open-air art

Every road gives a different feeling – some inspire us to ride fast, some beckon to be explored, others encourage us to just take it in.

Ride enough, and you realize that bikes are the same way – some make you feel really fast, some scare the pants off you and (the really good ones) make you feel really happy. Combine the best bikes with the best roads, something magical happens: rides that stick with you forever.

Which is why the three of us – Geordie, Megan and I – have travelled to Southern California. The brilliant Belgians over at Ridley set us up with three rides purpose-built for tackling a wide range of road types: the race and cobble ready [Liz CR40](/en/product/5044-407/Liz-CR40-Road-Bicycle); the revamped and Paris Roubaix-proven [Fenix SL40](/en/product/5044-401/Fenix-SL40-Road-Bicycle); and the do-it-all newcomer wunderkind – the [X-Trail C30](/en/product/5043-674/X-Trail-C30-Bicycle). Over the course of a long weekend, we put each bike through its paces by tackling plenty of *pavé*, switchbacks, merciless climbs, and bucolic stretches of rolling California paradise. While power meters and heart-rate monitors are essential and useful tools for any cyclist, we haven’t brought either along. Why? Because we’re here with a simple goal in mind: to find three roads that best represent each Ridley ride we’ve brought along.

Here it is, then: 3 Ridleys for 3 Roads.



### Prefumo Canyon Road + The Fenix SL40


##### What’s the road like?
A cobbly, scarred snake of asphalt carved into rolling, densely treed hills. Undulating sections lead to steep pitches, brief descents and tight switchbacks from start to finish.

Three-quarters of the way up it opens to an astounding view of endless rolling hills and the shining Pacific to the west. Closing in on the summit, a picturesque switchback gives way to a steep ramp, another hairpin, and a beautifully exposed finishing section.

##### And that descent?
A technical delight. There’s plenty of less-than-ideal asphalt, so you have to concentrate. Outside of that, it’s just plain fun. Fast rolling sections give a roller coaster like feel, and we collectively “whoop” and “yip” on the way down.



##### Tell me about this Fenix SL40
The [SL40](/en/product/5044-401/Fenix-SL40-Road-Bicycle) is a totally revamped Fenix for 2016. Not to be mistaken with the Fenix CR, Ridley placed it between the lightweight Helium and the aero Noah. Skinny seat stays and clearance for 30mm tires give plenty of rough-road comfort, but don’t think of it as a cushy slouch – the massive BB and tapered headtube boost stiffness, while the geometry firmly places it in the realm of race bike.



##### So how is it, then?
Outstanding. It really is a convincing endurance/race bike. Climbing up Prefumo, it’s race-bike fast and responsive under hard efforts. Unlike some hard-edged race bikes, it doesn’t toss you around over rough asphalt, and you never get the feeling that it’s trying to kill you. Instead, it infectiously coaxes you to ride a bit faster, corner a bit harder and ride longer than expected

Descending Prefumo, it’s a gem. The predictable turn-in and outstanding stability nails the apex on the way down. And when riding over that scarred and gnarly asphalt? Cool as a cucumber. Brilliantly composed with race-ready climbing abilities and handling prowess, somehow it just feels built for fast European feeling roads like Prefumo.



### Figueroa Mountain Road + The X-Trail CR50


##### What’s the road like?
Nestled in Los Padres National Forest, it’s less of a road than an experience. 15km of climbing, too many cattle gates to count, ridiculously rough pavement and endless technical corners. It’s a hoot of a road, with just a hint of terror. We scope some gravel detours and get a sense of just how incredibly expansive this park is (we end up coming back three days later). You could seriously lose yourself here for days on end, exploring everything from fast asphalt, to singletrack (with knobby tires on the X-Trail), to bouts of gravel. It’s a cyclist’s dream.

##### So what of the X-Trail?
Road bike, cross bike and gravel grinder – the [X-Trail C30](/en/product/5043-674/X-Trail-C30-Bicycle) is a bit of everything. Ridley chose to push the “one bike to rule them all” notion to whole new levels. The result is a bike that feels road-bike responsive under power, yet totally competent and nimble on technical terrain. With 38mm of clearance, you can tackle cross and gravel-grinding. Looking to winter ride? No sweat. Fender eyelets make that a cinch. It is, simply put, the most versatile bike here (and, just maybe, on the market).



##### So why the X-Trail for Figueroa Road?
When climbing, it’s remarkable how much it resembles the Fenix and Liz. It’s a bit heavier and the geometry is slacker, but it never struggles to keep up, an impressive feat for a bike this versatile. When descending, it really shines.

Winding, technical and rough – descend Figueroa Road with some gusto, and it gets serious. Thankfully, the X-Trail made short work of it. The bridgeless seat stay design lends itself to a ride that’s even more compliant than the Fenix or the Liz’s – a remarkable achievement. And then, there’s the game-changer: those brakes.



##### The brakes?
We had reservations about disc-brakes on road bikes, but on a demanding road like this, the benefits are irrefutable. The X-Trail is running Shimano’s 105 spec hydraulic disc brakes, and it’s incredible how much they can change a road like this. For one, you can brake much, much later. It’s difficult to comprehend how much speed you can scrub before tackling frightening corners. On top of outright power, the control and modulation is unlike anything else. There are still benefits to caliper brakes (we wrote an article about the pros and cons), certainly, but our brief encounter with these discs forced us to reconsider our once stubborn opinions. On top of that, the thru-axles obliterate any sense of flex under hard braking or accelerating.

Every bike here is exceptional, but on Figueroa Mountain Road, the X-Trail is the clear winner.



##### What’s the road like?
Sometimes, pictures do a better job of telling a story than words ever can. So, here goes:



##### Oh. Wow.
Right? It’s unlike anything else. The views are nothing short of spectacular, the climb up is difficult but satisfying, and the descent is so delirious that you feel like you’re going to teeter off the edge of the world. One particularly steep and fast section gives the impression that you’re going to plummet straight into the Pacific Ocean.



##### And that Liz?
The [Liz CR40](/en/product/5044-407/Liz-CR40-Road-Bicycle) is likely the stiffest of the bunch, and has the looks and responsiveness to make it a true crit weapon. It’s a touch small for Geordie and I to ride, but Megan’s pace up Nacimiento under a hard effort demonstrates just how fast this thing is. Despite that, there are endurance bike touches throughout, and it retains the diamond shaped tubing that graces the Fenix and the X-Trail (Ridley’s unique tube design that boosts stiffness and strength).

Megan swears it’s just as stiff as race bikes she’s shredded in the past, yet retains a level of composure and comfort on the rough stuff that others can’t match. At one point, Geordie manages to scoop it from Megan for an extended test ride. He quickly falls in love with the stiffness and pink paint job, and it takes a lot of convincing for him to give it back.



##### So why the Liz and Nacimiento Road?
Think of it this way: when you were a kid, the colour of your bike *really* mattered. My first bike was neon yellow and I chose it because it was neon yellow. Why? Because it screamed fun and fast in equal measure. Whenever I rode it around the neighbourhood, there was a giddy promise of adventure and discovery. While all of the bikes on display here bring out that feeling, the Liz is one that makes you grin every single time you look at it. It taps into those feelings of adventure, discovery and excitement that we felt as kids when looking at a shiny, colourful new bike.

As a road, Nacimiento does something similar. The foaming brilliant Pacific below, the golden sunset above, those perfect sun-soaked corners and the briny wind in our faces – I’ve known Geordie and Megan for a long time, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen bigger smiles on either of them. Riding Nacimiento for the first time, we all felt like kids giddily riding around on bikes, feeling that sense of adventure and discovery that got us hooked on bikes in the first place.

The Liz captures that sensation, but so do the Fenix and X-Trail. With the advent of incredibly versatile road bikes that can go seemingly anywhere, there’s good reason to be excited, more roads than ever before are yours to ride. And while not everyone will have the chance to explore every nook and cranny of Southern California this year, that giddy feeling of discovery is always out there waiting to be found. The trick to finding it? You just gotta ride more roads.



3 Ridleys for 3 California Roads | MEC Blog

3 Ridleys for 3 California Roads

The task was simple: move from Ottawa to Vancouver in five days. With those instructions, it would have been easy to think of it as nothing more than A to B, and a 5500 km straight shot across the continent. And why not? A new job, a new city, and a new life were waiting out west. It could have been little more than one long ride.

Five days of the driver seat and the fast lane. An endless number of billboards, truck stops, and little white lines, blurred together by the vision of a single destination. But it also could have been a lifetime worth of opportunity, slipping through our fingers with each kilometer traveled. A world of adventure, passing by as fast as the road we traveled over.

See, if there’s one thing I’ve come to believe, it’s that the greatest experiences are not exclusive to the grandest plans. The moments we so deeply long to live are in no way reserved for only the most exotic trips. They are held for those who search for them, who step out of the everyday routine, and who take them. It was this simple belief that made those five days so much more than a long drive. It transformed them into an opportunity to explore, adventure, and connect with a world we then knew nothing about. It turned a car ride into a road trip, and turned the kilometers into opportunities to seek the unknown. The journey became a destination in and of itself.

Because of that simple shift, I don’t have to tell you what I think it could have been. I can show you.

It was taking moments to get back to the things that matter most:



and chance after chance to embrace the unknown.



It was taking time to make new friends:



and learning lessons in history, without stepping into a classroom.



It was places that looked like different planets,



and waking up on the side of a mountain.



knowing full well it would likely lead us astray.



It was landscapes that left us looking at this world differently



and moments we still can’t find the words to describe.



It was a reminder that some of the best things are not on the well-travelled path



and that sometimes you have to go where there is no path at all.



And coffee just about anywhere we could get our hands on it.



It was a reminder that the “little moments” really aren’t so little.



And that we should spend just a little more time kicking back and taking it in.



It was Ottawa, Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison, Minnesota, Badlands, Rushmore, Black Hills, Big Horn, Yellowstone, Butte, Columbia, Seattle, home and everything in between.



We saw things we didn’t know existed and learned things we didn’t know were there to learn. Felt emotions we didn’t know we could feel and created memories that will change the way we live our lives.

It was anything but A to B.



*This post was submitted by Julian DeSchutter from [Chasing Sunrise](https://www.instagram.com/ChasingSunrise/). You can keep up with Julian on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/deshoots/).*



Vancouver to Ottawa: Finding adventure at every turn | MEC Blog

Vancouver to Ottawa: Finding adventure at every turn

New deals dropping – see what’s fresh

Free store pickup and returns. Find out more

Phone: (514) 788-5878

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).




#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $15 – $20|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|




Bike shop

Your local MEC store is more than just a place to get gear – it’s a hub for your outdoor community. MEC All Out (our community program) has all kinds of ways to help you get outside:



### Local events
Find [MEC events](https://events.mec.ca/&organization=mec) near you to see what’s happening in store, make connections with interesting people and get active outdoors. Year-round, MEC offers low cost (or even free) clinics and workshops from friendly staff instructors, plus events happening in the larger community – everything from backcountry navigation classes to film screenings.



### Grants and donations
Our community program has given tens of millions of dollars to help people in Canada get active outdoors. Have an awesome outdoor idea? Check out our [community grants](/en/explore/spring-and-fall-grants) and [grassroots product donations](/en/explore/grassroots-product-donations) for criteria and applications.



### Free display space
Not-for-profit groups and local clubs that share MEC values can use our floor space to tell people what’s going on. Let people know about outdoor issues, collect input on plans, or just get the word out about your club. For more info, please email mon_aa@mec.ca or phone the store.

### Free meeting room
*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all bookings of the Community Room for the moment.  We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings. We will continue to monitor and reassess the situation as it evolves. For groups with a current booking, we’ll contact you by email to ensure you can plan accordingly. *



Community

If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Montreal for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

MEC Montreal opened in 2003, and was our first store in Quebec. It was also the first retail building in Quebec to meet the national C2000 Green Building Standard, and the amount of energy it consumes is nearly 70% less than was required by the Model National Energy Code at the time of construction. Here are some of the green features:

- The wood deck inside the curved roof was salvaged from the Seagram’s distillery in Ville Lasalle. Salvaged wood is also used in the entrance canopy and railings.
- To reduce material waste, the concrete slabs contain 27% blast furnace slag (a by-product of steel manufacturing).
- 50% of the materials used in the building are made of recycled content, by weight.
- Walls are insulated with cellulose fibre from recycled newsprint to cut down on energy consumption (they provide about twice as much thermal insulation as conventional retail buildings from the same era).
- Captured precipitation (stormwater run-off) from the roof is stored in a 45,000L underground cistern, and is used for landscaping and toilet water – this cuts our potable water use in half.
- To keep energy usage down, the concrete floor acts as a thermal reservoir that’s warmed or cooled by fluid pumped through embedded piping. Twelve geothermal wells pump extracted heat in winter and disperse heat in summer.
- There’s mostly natural ventilation with fresh air coming in through underground tunnels. In summer, warm air rises and escapes through roof vents and motorized window openings.
- CO2 sensors keep a good balance of fresh air coming in, so energy isn’t wasted in heating or cooling.
- Lots of daylight reduces the need for artificial lighting. The lights we do have shut off automatically when there’s enough natural light to save energy (for both the lights and the energy needed to cool heat from the bulbs).

Like all MEC buildings, we’re proud to say that this store is carbon neutral. We purchase Green Electricity Certificates and Green Natural Gas Certificates from [Bullfrog Power](https://www.bullfrogpower.com/), which means that Bullfrog procures renewable energy (wind, micro-hydro and biogas) on our behalf for electricity and natural gas.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



Green building features

For the safety of staff and members, we are pausing in-store gear repair services for a while. Thanks for your understanding. Want to try some repairs on your own? Learn how to fix your own gear with these [how-to articles and videos on popular gear repair topics](/en/explore/product-care-and-maintenance).

### Recycling
If you bought any of the items below at MEC, you can bring them back to our store for recycling:

- Batteries (no broken or corroded ones please).
- Bike tires (no tubes) – they can get ground up for tarmac or playground surfaces.

Due to safety concerns, we do not accept used flammable goods, including camping gas canisters, stove fuel, flares, bear bangers and bear spray. Please contact your local waste management office to find out how to properly dispose of these items.

Have a question about something that’s not on the list above? Give us a call or contact your local municipal recycling program.



Repairs and recycling

Professional ski and snowboard shop services to set you up for the season. Some services may not be available year-round. Call us to set up a visit.

Buy two of the big three – board/skis, bindings, boots – from MEC and we’ll mount your bindings for free. This offer applies to all types of snowboard and ski equipment sold at MEC. If you’re shopping online, take advantage of this deal by calling your store to arrange an appointment to mount your bindings before you visit. Our ski techs get busy, and we don’t want to let you down.



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (machine)| $15|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Machine sharpen and wax| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|
| Boot punching (First punch)| $50|
| Boot punching (Additional punch)| $25|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



Ski services

Easter Monday

Store Pickup

We are following the advice and guidance of local health authorities to ensure we are providing the safest possible environment to MEC members and staff.

We aim to provide a safe environment that respects everyone’s comfort level and risk tolerance. Thanks for looking out for each other.

Order online and [pick up](/en/explore/in-store-pickup) at this location.

You can [return](/en/explore/covid-19-shipping-and-returns-updates) products to any store.



**MEC is closely monitoring provincial government guidelines to ensure the safety of all members and staff.**

#### Safety measures
- Number of people inside stores is limited and controlled at all entrances.  
- Social distancing guidelines are posted outside and inside stores.
- Lineup areas have two-meter markers on the floor.
- Staff are required to wear personal protective equipment, including masks.
- Hand sanitizer stations are set up for members and staff to use.  
- Staff practice and promote everyday preventive behaviours including frequent hand washing and social distancing.  
- Common areas including doors, staircases, cash desks, and bike fitting areas are regularly disinfected.  
- Cleaning processes are enhanced for the entire store. 
- Restrictions on the type of clothing and gear members are permitted to try on.  
- Plexiglass shields are installed at cashier stations. 

#### Service updates  
- Climbing walls and play areas are closed.  
- Clinics, events and community room bookings are paused.  
- Rental services are paused.  
- Repair shops are open for bike and ski repairs only.

#### Facilities and supply chain
- We are following all government advisories regarding gathering sizes and retail operations  
- We remain committed to our responsible sourcing practices. MEC continues to uphold standards for the health and safety of people who make and distribute the products we sell.   









Welcome

Phone: Call(905) 333-8559

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).




#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $15 – $20|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|






Your local MEC store is more than just a place to get gear – it’s a hub for your outdoor community. MEC All Out (our community program) has all kinds of ways to help you get outside:

### Local events
Year-round, MEC offers low cost (or even free) clinics and workshops. Find [MEC events](https://events.mec.ca/&organization=mec) near you see what’s happening in store, learn new outdoor skills from friendly staff instructors, and spark ideas for your next outdoor trip.

### Grants and donations
Our community program has given tens of millions of dollars to help people in Canada get active outdoors. Have an awesome outdoor idea? Check out our [community grants](/en/explore/spring-and-fall-grants) and [grassroots product donations](/en/explore/grassroots-product-donations) for criteria and applications.



### Free display space
Not-for-profit groups and local clubs that share MEC values can use our floor space to tell people what’s going on. Let people know about outdoor issues, collect input on plans, or just get the word out about your club. For more info, please email bur_aa@mec.ca or phone the store.

### Free meeting room
*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all bookings of the Community Room for the moment.  We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings. We will continue to monitor and reassess the situation as it evolves. For groups with a current booking, we’ll contact you by email to ensure you can plan accordingly.  *



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Burlington for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

MEC Burlington opened in 2008, and was designed to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification. Compared to conventional retail buildings from the same period, it was made to be 70% more energy efficient. Here are some of the green features:

- A photovoltaic system generates energy that’s fed into the power grid.
- The structure and envelope are designed to be disassembled and repurposed when the building reaches the end of its useful life.
- There are separate systems for heating, cooling and ventilation to maximize energy efficiency. For heating, there are high-efficiency gas boilers with radiant in-floor heating. For cooling, there’s an ice storage system that uses off-electricity. And for ventilation, there’s a fan-assisted displacement system with heat recovery.
- Many high clerestory windows at roofline reduce the need for artificial lighting. The lights we do have turn down or off automatically when there’s enough natural light to save energy (for both the lights and the energy needed to cool heat from the bulbs).
- The combo of low-flow fixtures and grey water usage cuts potable water requirements by half.
- Captured precipitation (stormwater) provides water for all non-potable uses, like toilets and garden watering. Stormwater gets retained and infiltrated on site and won’t discharge water to municipal storm drains (except under extraordinary circumstances, like an enormous storm).
- Landscaping uses non-invasive species that encourage bird and insect populations.

Like all MEC buildings, we’re proud to say that this store is carbon neutral. We purchase Green Electricity Certificates and Green Natural Gas Certificates from [Bullfrog Power](https://www.bullfrogpower.com/), which means that Bullfrog procures renewable energy (wind, micro-hydro and biogas) on our behalf for electricity and natural gas.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



For the safety of staff and members, we are pausing in-store gear repair services for a while. Thanks for your understanding. Want to try some repairs on your own? Learn how to fix your own gear with these [how-to articles and videos on popular gear repair topics](/en/explore/product-care-and-maintenance)

### Recycling
If you bought any of the items below at MEC, you can bring them back to our store for recycling:

- Batteries (no broken or corroded ones please).
- Empty CO2 cartridges used for bike tires and avalanche safety.
- Bike tires (no tubes) – they can get ground up for tarmac or playground surfaces.

Due to safety concerns, we do not accept used flammable goods, including camping gas canisters, stove fuel, flares, bear bangers and bear spray. Please contact your local waste management office to find out how to properly dispose of these items.

Have a question about something that’s not on the list above? Give us a call or contact your local municipal recycling program.



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement – per rivet| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement – per strap| $15/unit|



Phone: 450.688.2712

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).




#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $15 – $20|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|



### Free display space
Not-for-profit groups and local clubs that share MEC values can use our floor space to tell people what’s going on. Let people know about outdoor issues, collect input on plans, or just get the word out about your club. For more info, please email lav_aa@mec.ca or phone the store.

### Free meeting room
*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all bookings of the Community Room for the moment.  We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings. We will continue to monitor and reassess the situation as it evolves. For groups with a current booking, we’ll contact you by email to ensure you can plan accordingly.  *



It’s small, but it does the trick. Available for use by local outdoor clubs, environmental groups and NGOs that have a similar mandate as MEC. Please email lav_aa@mec.ca at least a month before your event to reserve the space.

- Space: fits up to 35
- Equipment: wall-mounted TV with HDMI, dry erase whiteboard, MEC guest wifi
- Seating and tables: long tables, office chairs, folding chairs



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Laval for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

The space we are taking over provides great potential to bring the MEC brand to life inside and out.

The design will be in-keeping with the new architectural embodiment of the MEC brand, with extensive use of wood on both the inside and outside of the building. Green building features will include a high-performance building envelope and heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) system.

All MEC facilities are subject to our internal green building program, which establishes minimum performance standards. MEC Laval will be no different.

Two of the most important aspects of green buildings are the building envelope and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (or HVAC) system. The Laval store will provide R40 and R60 thermal performance in the walls and roof, respectively, and feature a best-in-class roof top HVAC system.

Energy efficient lighting will also be used throughout the store. Plus, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) will be purchased for all energy consumed by MEC Laval.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



Professional ski and snowboard shop services to set you up for the season. Some services may not be available year-round. Call us to set up a visit.

When you buy 2 or more of the big 3 items (skis, boots or bindings), we’ll mount your bindings for free. This offer applies to all types of ski equipment sold at MEC, and proof of purchase is required. If you’re shopping online, you can take advantage of this deal by placing your order via phone at 1.888.847.0770 or 604.876.6221.



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Machine sharpen and wax| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|



Phone: (250) 448-7637

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).



#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $15 – $20|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|





### Free meeting room
*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all bookings of the Community Room for the moment.  We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings. We will continue to monitor and reassess the situation as it evolves. For groups with a current booking, we’ll contact you by email to ensure you can plan accordingly.  *



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Kelowna for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

Located in the heart of the city, MEC Kelowna is a prime location for Okanagan residents and visitors. The store opened in 2016 after doing extensive renovations to an existing building, which included updates to make the space more energy efficient. Here are some of the green features:

- Moved into an existing building, which saved on construction materials and the embodied energy costs.
- Significant updates to the roof insulation, since that’s a major spot to cut down on heat loss (just like people, buildings can lose a lot of heat through their highest point).
- Rooftop solar system pre-heats the hot water for the building to cut down on energy required.
- Upgraded to a high-efficiency HVAC to reduce energy use, and a heat recovery ventilator reduces the amount of energy required to heat the building.
- Furniture is certified by Level, a third-party sustainability certification program that looks at environmental and social impacts.
- To cut down on materials required, there are minimal floor coverings.
- To reduce energy consumption, we use predominately high-efficiency LED lighting controlled by auto dimmers and occupancy sensors in some areas, and on automated schedules elsewhere.
- Landscaping uses non-invasive species that encourage bird and insect populations, and doesn’t need irrigation except for in drought conditions.
- Low-flow fixtures such as toilets, urinals and shower heads reduce overall water consumption.

Like all MEC buildings, we’re proud to say that this store is carbon neutral. We purchase Green Electricity Certificates and Green Natural Gas Certificates from [Bullfrog Power](https://www.bullfrogpower.com/), which means that Bullfrog procures renewable energy (wind, micro-hydro and biogas) on our behalf for electricity and natural gas.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



For the safety of staff and members, we are pausing in-store gear repair services for a while. Thanks for your understanding. Want to try some repairs on your own? Learn how to fix your own gear with these [how-to articles and videos on popular gear repair topics](/en/explore/product-care-and-maintenance).

### Recycling
If you bought any of the items below at MEC, you can bring them back to our store for recycling:

- Batteries (no broken or corroded ones please).

Have a question about something that’s not on the list above? Give us a call or contact your local municipal recycling program.



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Alpine| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



Phone: (902) 421-2667

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).



#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $15 – $20|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|






### Free display space
Not-for-profit groups and local clubs that share MEC values can use our floor space to tell people what’s going on. Let people know about outdoor issues, collect input on plans, or just get the word out about your club. For more info, please email hal_aa@mec.ca or phone the store.



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Halifax for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

MEC arrived in the Atlantic region in 2001 with our Halifax store. We moved into an existing building and used as many of the on-site structural elements as possible. While this store wasn’t built from the ground up, we still found ways to make small changes that add up to energy savings over time. Here are some of the green features:

- Moved into an existing building, which saved on construction materials and the embodied energy costs.
- To cut down on materials required, there are minimal floor and ceiling coverings.
- We’re replacing some of the conventional lighting with energy saving LED fixtures.

Like all MEC buildings, we’re proud to say that this store is carbon neutral. We purchase Green Electricity Certificates and Green Natural Gas Certificates from [Bullfrog Power](https://www.bullfrogpower.com/), which means that Bullfrog procures renewable energy (wind, micro-hydro and biogas) on our behalf for electricity and natural gas.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement| $15/unit|



Phone: (613) 729-2700

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).




#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $20 – $25|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|




If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Ottawa for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

MEC Ottawa opened in 2000. Before we started construction, there was a 40-year-old building on the site. We carefully dismantled it and then reused as much material as possible for our store. In the end, about 75% of the existing building (by weight) was incorporated into our store. To add to that accomplishment, this was the first retail building in Canada to comply with Canada’s C2000 Green Building Standard. Here are some of the green features:

- 80% of all the material travelled less than 500km to the site, which cuts down on transportation emissions. For example, rock excavated from the site was used in cladding.
- The floor is made from timber reclaimed from the St. Lawrence River and the previous building.
- During construction, we used panelized material and screwed connections, so the building can be taken apart, reused and recycled more easily when it’s reached the end of its life.
- One of the walls on the upper floor is infilled with bailed straw, a natural, renewable resource. (Check it out in the viewing portal.)
- Rock Wool insulation in other walls have 50% recycled content.
- The heating system uses a 94%-efficient natural gas hydronic boiler system to heat water.
- CO2 sensors keep a good balance of fresh air coming in, so energy isn’t wasted in heating or cooling.
- A skylight and roof monitor means we don’t need as much artificial lighting.
- To keep landscaping looking good, the irrigation system uses non-potable rainwater that gets gravity-fed to plants.
- Electric vehicle charging stations have reserved parking spots.

Like all MEC buildings, we’re proud to say that this store is carbon neutral. We purchase Green Electricity Certificates and Green Natural Gas Certificates from [Bullfrog Power](https://www.bullfrogpower.com/), which means that Bullfrog procures renewable energy (wind, micro-hydro and biogas) on our behalf for electricity and natural gas.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



For the safety of staff and members, we are pausing in-store gear repair services for a while. Thanks for your understanding. Want to try some repairs on your own? Learn how to fix your own gear with these [how-to articles and videos on popular gear repair topics](/en/explore/product-care-and-maintenance).

### Recycling
If you bought any of the items below at MEC, you can bring them back to our store for recycling:

- Batteries (no broken or corroded ones please).

Due to safety concerns, we do not accept used flammable goods, including camping gas canisters, stove fuel, flares, bear bangers and bear spray. Please contact your local waste management office to find out how to properly dispose of these items.

Have a question about something that’s not on the list above? Give us a call or contact your local municipal recycling program.



Recycling and repairs

| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Downhill| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (machine)| $15|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Machine sharpen and wax| $35|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|
| Boot punching (First punch)| $50|
| Boot punching (Additional punch)| $25|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



Phone: (604) 872-7858

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).





#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $15 – $20|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $


More than just a place to get gear – this store is a hub for your outdoor community. As a flagship, it’s home to a couple of cool extras, like a bouldering wall and a special space for events.

*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all community events for the moment. We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings.*

### Local events
Basecamp is our open-concept community space.  Year-round, MEC offers low cost (or even free) clinics and workshops from friendly staff instructors, plus events happening in the larger community – everything from backcountry navigation classes to film screenings. Find [MEC events](https://events.mec.ca/&organization=mec) near you

### Outdoor impact
This year, we’re  donating $1 million to Canadian outdoor organizations to teach outdoor skills, protect wild spaces and grow the communities of people getting active outside. Funding  supports groups across Canada with avalanche safety training, outdoor programs for youth, conserving wilderness and more. [Learn more about community partnerships](/en/explore/outdoor-impact)

### Free display space
Not-for-profit groups and local clubs that share MEC values can use our floor space to tell people what’s going on. Let people know about outdoor issues, collect input on plans, or just get the word out about your club. For more info, please email van_aa@mec.ca or phone the store.



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Vancouver for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

MEC was born in Vancouver in 1971. Over the decades, we’ve moved through a number of spaces, and our current flagship store in Olympic Village was designed with sustainability from the ground up.

Here are some of the green features:

- **Wood is good**. In fact, when it’s a mass timber superstructure like this flagship store, wood is great. The timber is a composite, which means it doesn’t use old-growth sources. It’s also a renewable building material, stores carbon, and can easily be reused at the end of its life.
- **Drip, drip, drip**: It rains 150+ days a year here, so we make the most of it. The roof captures rainwater that funnels into an underground cistern to provide up to 80% of the water used for flushing toilets.
- **Less is more**: 30% less s’mores around the campfire? Not so good. 30% less energy used by a building? Brilliant. This space is designed to use almost one-third less energy than the standards set out by the national energy code for buildings.
- **A renewable day in the neighbourhood**: We’re connected to an innovative energy system that recovers heat from untreated urban wastewater (a sanitized way of saying sewage). It’s renewable and doesn’t rely on fossil fuels.
- **Behind the scenes**: Some of the biggest energy savings come from things you can’t see: heating and cooling systems. The building envelope has more insulation than most and the HVAC units are high-efficiency.
- **Carbon neutral**: Like all MEC buildings, this space is operationally carbon neutral. We buy renewable energy certificates (wind and low-impact hydro) to match the electricity we use in this location.
- **Safe for salmon**: It’s official: this building is certified as Salmon-Safe, thanks to its progressive water management practices. It’s only the second Salmon-Safe urban site in BC – [MEC Head Office](/en/explore/head-office) was the first.

MEC aims to minimize environmental impacts and make our buildings healthy, inviting spaces. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



For the safety of staff and members, we are pausing in-store gear repair services for a while. Thanks for your understanding. Want to try some repairs on your own? Learn how to fix your own gear with these [how-to articles and videos on popular gear repair topics](/en/explore/product-care-and-maintenance).

### Recycling
If you bought any of the items below at MEC, you can bring them back to our store for recycling:

- Household batteries (no broken or corroded ones please)
- Bicycle tires and tubes
- Climbing rope – it could become dog leashes, acoustic insulation or stuffing

Due to safety concerns, we do not accept used flammable goods, including camping gas canisters, stove fuel, flares, bear bangers and bear spray. Please contact your local waste management office to find out how to properly dispose of these items.

Have a question about something that’s not on the list above? Give us a call or contact your local municipal recycling program.



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (machine)| $15|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Machine sharpen and wax| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



Canada Day

Labour Day

Thanksgiving

Remembrance Day

Christmas Day

We are following the advice and guidance of local health authorities to ensure we are providing the safest possible environment to MEC members and staff.

We aim to provide a safe environment that respects everyone’s comfort level and risk tolerance. Thanks for looking out for each other.

Order online and [pick up](/en/explore/in-store-pickup) at this location.

You can [return](/en/explore/covid-19-shipping-and-returns-updates) products to any store.


Phone: (416) 340-2667

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.



## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).



#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $20 – $25|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $20 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|






### Free meeting room
*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all bookings of the Community Room for the moment.  We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings. We will continue to monitor and reassess the situation as it evolves. For groups with a current booking, we’ll contact you by email to ensure you can plan accordingly.  *





If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Toronto for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|



| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



Friday

Sunday

Thursday

Christmas Eve

Boxing Day

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

New Years Eve

New Years Day

**MEC is closely monitoring provincial government guidelines to ensure the safety of all members and staff.**

#### Service updates  
- Climbing walls and play areas are closed.  
- Clinics, events and community room bookings are paused.  
- Rental services are paused.  
- Repair shops are open for bike and ski repairs only.

#### Facilities and supply chain
- We are following all government advisories regarding gathering sizes and retail operations  
- We remain committed to our responsible sourcing practices. MEC continues to uphold standards for the health and safety of people who make and distribute the products we sell.   









Phone: 519.896.4972

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike Fitting services are temporarily paused.

## Tune-up packages
###### *Parts are not included in tune-up prices.* **Add-on services for all Tune-up packages: bike cleaning fee $20, hub repack (single) $20, spoke replacement $10 (spokes and nipples not included).



#### Basic Tune-up $100
*For when your bike hasn’t had a tune-up after a season of light use. Designed to get you rolling smoothly again by solving your drivetrain issues, imprecise shifting, loose feeling brakes, or when the whole bike is feeling slightly off.*

- Full bike safety check; all bolts, pivot points, and components inspected for proper torque and wear levels
- Light cleaning -- Frame and fork wiped down and inspected 
- Tires inflated, chain lubricated, and grease applied to seatpost
- Bearing adjustments -- including headset, and front and rear hubs
- Brake systems adjusted -- including cable adjustments and pad position 
- Shifting systems adjusted  -- including cable adjustments and hanger alignment
- Minor wheel truing -- lateral truing and light radial adjustments (spoke replacements extra)
- Minor components installed (chain, cassette, brake pads, tubes) 

#### Advanced Tune-up $140
*For when your bike hasn't had a tune-up after a season of regular riding or has issues caused by dirt, component wear, or light damage. If your bike has poor or inconsistent shifting, soft brakes, or the wheels aren’t straight, this package is for you.*

- Includes every service from the Basic Tune-up, plus:
- Major wheel truing as needed -- including tension and dish adjustments
- Drivetrain removed and fully washed, lubricated, and reinstalled
- Frame, fork, and wheels cleaned -- including braking surfaces
- Installation of up to 2 cables, with housing **parts extra

#### Advanced Plus Tune-up $220
*A comprehensive service for well-used bikes that need of some TLC.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced Tune-up, plus:
- Headset and Wheel bearings cleaned and repacked
- Hydraulic brakes bled, or the installation of all cables and hosing for non-hydraulic systems
- Installation of intermediate-level components (bottom bracket, spoke replacements, tubeless sealant refresh) **parts extra

#### Premium Tune-up 
*Available in Road and MTB specific packages. This complete service gets your bike looking and feeling brand new.*

- Includes every service from the Advanced PLUS Tune-up, plus:
- Complete tear down and rebuild (MTB includes linkages)
- Full frame, component, and wheel detailing
- ** NOT included -- Specialty services such as: Suspension services, dropper post services, and wheel building.




### A la carte bike services
 
|**Wheels**|**Price**|
| ---|--- |
| Tire or tube install| $12|
| Specialty Tire or Tube Install (e-bikes, fat bikes, etc)| $20|
| Wheel true| $15 – $20|
| Wheel build| $70 and up|
| Hub adjustment| $10 – $20|
| Hub overhaul| $25|
| ---|--- |
|**Brakes**|**Price**|
| Brake adjustment| $15 – $25|
| Brake bleed| $30|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
| ---|--- |
|**Drivetrain**|**Price**|
| Gear adjustment| $15 – $20|
| Chain installation| $8 - $17|
| Bottom bracket replacement -- *BB Removal, frame prepped, installation (parts not included)*| $30|
| Shimano internal geared hub service -- *Disassembly, fluid replacement, and lubrication*| $70|
| Shimano Di2 reprogramming and firmware update -- *call for store availability*| $35|
| Cable and housing replacement -- *Installation cost per cable and housing length*| $10|
|---|--- |  
|**Other services**|**Price**|
| Headset adjustment| $10|
| Headset overhaul| $30|
| Miscellaneous accessory install| $10 – $35|
| Bar tape installation -- *Tape extra*| $25|
| Bike boxing -- *Partial disassembly and packaging for shipping or airplane travel*| $60|
| General repairs -- *Minimum shop charge is $5*| $80/hr|





### Free meeting room
*We’re taking precautionary steps due to COVID-19, and pausing all bookings of the Community Room for the moment.  We take your health seriously and are following the recommendations of public health agencies to practice social distancing and limit gatherings. We will continue to monitor and reassess the situation as it evolves. For groups with a current booking, we’ll contact you by email to ensure you can plan accordingly.  *



It’s small, but it does the trick. Available for use by local outdoor clubs, environmental groups and NGOs that have a similar mandate as MEC. Please email at least a month before your event to reserve the space.

- Space: fits 15–20, large windows, natural light
- Equipment: Wall-mounted TV with HDMI, projector with HDMI input, mobile projector display, dry erase whiteboard, MEC guest wifi
- Seating and tables: long tables, office chairs, folding chairs



MEC Kitchener is a new purpose-built store that has been constructed to our specifications. The store will join the co-op’s growing portfolio of high-performance green buildings.

All MEC facilities are subject to our internal green building program, which establishes minimum performance standards. MEC Kitchener will be no different. Like all MEC buildings, we’re proud to say that this store will be operationally carbon neutral.

The building incorporates key elements of MEC’s renewed architectural brand, including a distinctive floating canopy to mark the store’s entrance and wood-infused interiors to define the store and display merchandise.

Green building features will include:

- A high-performance building envelope and heating, cooling and ventilation (HVAC) system
- A high R-value thermal barrier, allowing for superior insulation and energy savings.
- Energy-efficient LED lighting and low-flow fixtures throughout the store.

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) will be purchased for all energy consumed by MEC Kitchener. We purchase Green Electricity Certificates and Green Natural Gas Certificates from [Bullfrog Power](https://www.bullfrogpower.com/). Bullfrog procures renewable energy (wind, micro-hydro and biogas) on our behalf for electricity and natural gas.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



(418) 522.8884

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.

Bike fitting services are temporarily paused.



Welcome back! MEC in Quebec is open with limits to the number of people inside, plus reduced hours and services. We are following the advice and guidance of local health authorities to ensure we are providing the safest possible environment to MEC members and staff.

Note, we are not yet accepting returns in person. For the safety of MEC staff, we are accepting returns by mail only.



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC Québec City for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

The space we are taking over provides great potential to bring the MEC brand to life inside and out.

The design will be in-keeping with the new architectural embodiment of the MEC brand, with a distinctive floating canopy to mark the store’s entrance and wood-infused interiors to define the store and display merchandise.

All MEC facilities are subject to our internal green building program, which establishes minimum performance standards. MEC’s new Quebec City store will be no different.

Two of the most important aspects of green buildings are the building envelope and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (or HVAC) system. The new Quebec City store will provide R40 and R60 thermal performance in the walls and roof, respectively, and feature a best-in-class roof top HVAC system.

Energy efficient lighting will also be used throughout the store. Plus, Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) will be purchased for all energy consumed by MEC’s Quebec City store.

MEC aims to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impacts in our stores. Learn more about our [green buildings](/en/explore/green-buildings).



For the safety of staff and members, we are pausing in-store gear repair services for a while. Thanks for your understanding. Want to try some repairs on your own? Learn how to fix your own gear with these [how-to articles and videos on popular gear repair topics](/en/explore/product-care-and-maintenance).

### Recycling
If you bought any of the items below at MEC, you can bring them back to our store for recycling:

- Batteries (no broken or corroded ones please).
- Bike tires and tubes – they can get ground up for tarmac or playground surfaces.
- Climbing rope – it could become dog leashes, acoustic insulation or stuffing.

Due to safety concerns, we do not accept used flammable goods, including camping gas canisters, stove fuel, flares, bear bangers and bear spray. Please contact your local waste management office to find out how to properly dispose of these items.

Have a question about something that’s not on the list above? Give us a call or contact your local municipal recycling program.



| Mounting| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Classic| $30|
| Skate| $30|
| Telemark| $50|
| Alpine touring| $50|
| Binding removal*With purchase of new binding or skis*| Free|

| Base tune-up| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| General repairs*Minimum shop charge is $5*| $70/hr|
| Hot wax (hand)| $35|
| Pine tar*Call for availability*| $30|
| Base cleaning| $10|
| Base binder application| $10|

| Additional services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Skin fit and shaping*Call for availability*| $25|
| Boot liner molding*With purchase of boots*| Free|
| Boot fitting| $20|

| Snowshoe services| 
|----|----|
| ---| ---|
| Binding replacement| $70/pair|
| Rivet replacement (per rivet)| $15/unit|
| Binding strap replacement (per strap)| $15/unit|



Phone: 519.668.6657

Our bike mechanics can do it all, from installing fenders to building wheels from scratch. Not sure what work your bike needs? Bring it in for a free safety inspection and we’ll let you know. Call us to set up a bike shop visit. Small repairs can be done while you shop.



If you love trails, snow, water or fresh air, this is your store. Visit MEC London for outdoor gear, know-how and inspiration.

The space we have taken over provides great potential to bring the MEC brand to life inside and out.

The completely refurbished building incorporates key elements of MEC’s renewed architectural brand, including a distinctive floating canopy to mark the store’s entrance and wood-infused interiors to define the store and display merchandise.

Our new architectural design is featured in the building and improvements include a new roof with R40 thermal protection and a high-performance heating, cooling and ventilation system.

As part of MEC’s extensive green building program, the store operates on renewable energy.

