Swap the endless doom-scrolling for the open road. Cycling is the perfect escape plan from the addictive grip of social media on our lives.
That bike later came with me to Montreal when I started university, then Toronto for grad school, and even had a brief stint in Ottawa in 2010. It carried me from home to campus and across these cities during the formative years of my early adulthood. I navigated those streets before smartphones and Garmin maps, in a time when my brain was pestered with far fewer notifications and fuelled with idealism about the path I might make in the world. Over the years, it visited bike shops across these great cities, often greeted by initial “hmmm, what exactly is this?” by the local mechanic. But with a smile, they would figure out that actually, she made sense if you listened for what would make her tick. Eventually, she became less and less of a mountain bike, got slicks, a basket and fenders, but something about her still felt strong, free and steady under my feet.
Then, for about ten years, I mostly lived abroad and my beloved bike lived in storage above my parent’s garage. When Hani and I moved to Arnprior in 2021 and started Montu, my bike came with us. My bike mechanic husband, who had seen it all, quickly named her the Frankenbike. It was fitting, because by this point, she really was a cobbled together assortment of parts. That still worked. So although we were starting a bike company, and had an ever-growing inventory of carbon frames and fast builds to ride, I just wasn’t ready to let her go.
After four years, I finally decided to pass the Frankenbike on this fall. I’ve been thinking about why it took me so long to let go of something I was barely using. I knew it wasn’t about the utility of the bike, it was a tiny part the sentimentality of having this constant through so many phases of my life, but mostly it was about what she represented to me, about me. This bike carried me through some major life phases and adventures, as I grew, learned and explored. I was young, optimistic and independent. Those were the years of developing an understanding of who I was and wanted to be in the world. I had many of those ‘aha’ moments riding my bike across the city while contemplating whatever I was learning about, or reflecting on relationships, self and what to do with this great privileged life I had been given.
I was physically more independent during this time of my life. Pre-kids, I trained for marathons and rode my bike to yoga class, actually, I even rode this bike to my Boston-qualifying marathon because it was logistically simpler and I thought it would be a good “warm-up”. Those were the days.
So when it came time to let go of the Frakenbike, it makes sense that I didn’t want to. Here I was, in a completely different life stage – married with two young kids, starting in a new town with a new business. And I think I wanted to bring that 15-25-year-old motivated, optimistic independent me to the table. It was an all-or-nothing, either-or zero-sum game in a way. I wanted to do the things and be the things, that made me feel good and ‘like myself’ in the past, in ways that no longer fit the mold of my present life. I was clinging on, not only to my old bike, but to old conceptions about how I should be training, what I could give to my work, and the kind of social relationships I wanted to have. And don’t get me wrong, these were all great ideas, based on what I knew about myself and what worked for me. But I was stuck on a previous version of myself, without asking if that version was the best for my life right now. And all the while, my beloved Frakenbike had been relegated to storage again because there just wasn’t room for the all of the old and the new in the garage, and in life.
So what happens when we decide to let things go to make space for who we might become? What do we gain when we let go of the past — of old bikes, or old notions of ourselves?
The good news is, I realized that I didn’t have to let go of what the Frakenbike represented- to me, about me. I could move forward with the fundamental parts myself that would adapt and evolve, but always be there.
That’s what I have been focusing on. Do I want to bring my 25-year-old grit, optimism and joy into my 43-year-old life? Of course I do. Can I also bring the wisdom and self-compassion I’ve developed in these years along, and let go of the things that didn’t serve my younger self? I married a man who builds beautiful carbon bikes – can I accept that strong, independent, powerful me, is still those things, but admittedly co-dependent when it comes to the bike mechanics of life? Maybe by leaning into the leaps we’ve made to be standing here together, building a life and a business, I can find a new equilibrium for this phase of my life.
It will always mean movement, training, pushing myself, it’s part of who I am and how I know I need to be in the world. The shape that can take however, will look different this year, and next and the next, as our kids grow and change, and as our lives through us curveballs and periods of peace. But in order to be able to adapt to what’s around the corner, we need to be agile—and with too much baggage, be it old bikes or old notions of who we are, we will struggle to rise to the next challenge. Instead, when we can let go of what is no longer serving us, when we look to the past for inspiration and our own wisdom, it is then that we starting evolving into who we need to be tomorrow.
Also, there is more room in the garage this way, and who am I kidding, the carbon frames are faster.
At the end of this post you will find a limited-time discount code on select Montu cargo bibshorts!
We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to bring you some incredible new additions and restocks. We’ve listened to your feedback and are thrilled to introduce a mix of upgraded favorites and exciting new additions. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s rolling into Montu.cc soon:
The Untu Trail Pants for men and women
The Canopic Endurance Cargo Waistshorts for men and women
The Nesh trail tee comes in several new colourways
The new Mistral wind vest
Our beloved Canopic Cargo 4-pocket bibs are getting a serious upgrade! We’re introducing a new version that takes everything you love about the original and enhances it with:
Not all cycling tops need to be race fit super aero. You’ll love our new short sleeve button-up casual cycling shirts on the bike or in a cafe. Perfect for coffee rides, commuting in style, super warm days where the loose fit and super light fabric will provide extra airflow and cooling for your body, or post-ride/race hanging out when you don’t want to stay in your damp aero jersey.
The Peak zipless jersey, a minimalist favorite, will be restocked in classic black, along with three exciting new colours: Lavender, Tuscany and Sage.
Our ultra-lightweight Iteru jersey will be available in two new colourways: Northern Lights and Ombre Blue. Remember: the Iteru is made from a fabric different from any other jersey in our collection, perfect for those scorching summer days.
Our very popular versatile Neht short sleeve jersey will also arrive in two fresh new colourways: Frost/Maroon and Navy/Hibiscus.
Our incredibly popular men’s and women’s Canopic Race Cargo bibshorts will be fully restocked in three colours.
We can’t wait for you to experience these new additions and restocks. Keep an eye on our social media and your inbox for the launch announcement, and get ready to gear up for an unforgettable summer on two wheels!
P.S. To make room for incoming inventory, select Montu bibshorts are now on clearance pricing! Use the code montubibs2025 to get 30% off Montu Canopic Evo men’s, Canopic Evo women’s, Canopic Race men’s, Canopic Race women’s and Canopic 4 pocket bibshorts. Discount valid from June 1st to June 8th 2025.
Let’s be honest, for too long, classic two-straps-and-a-chamois bibshorts have been stuck in the dark ages. They’re comfortable, sure, they keep things where they need to be, but they’re about as practical as a screen door on a submarine when it comes to carrying anything.
Cycling’s adherence to tradition can be funny. Can you imagine your classic full-zip short sleeve jersey without the 3-pocket panel on the lower back? Then all of a sudden, someone comes up with a “cargo jersey”? Sounds silly, right?
Why should bibshorts be any different?
For those of you still stubbornly clinging to your pocket-less bibs, cargo bibs are regular bibshorts, but with one glorious addition: pockets. And we’re not talking about some dinky little coin purse. We’re talking proper, functional pockets, usually on the thighs, sometimes on the back.
Now, some purists might scoff. “Pockets on bibs? That’s not aero*! That’s not traditional!” To them, we say, have you ever tried to stuff a multi-tool, a spare tube, your phone, your wallet, your keys, and three emergency gummy bears into three tiny jersey pockets? It’s like playing a high-stakes game of Tetris while simultaneously trying to avoid getting doored by a car.
With cargo bibs: just imagine the sheer liberation!
At Montu, we believe cycling should be about enjoying the ride, not wrestling with your gear. That’s why we’re championing the cargo bibshort. Pockets on the classic bibshorts is fundamental improvement to the cycling experience. It’s about practicality, convenience, and a healthy dose of “why didn’t anyone think of this sooner?!”
So, the next time you’re in the market for new bib shorts, do yourself a favor. Embrace the revolution. Join the ranks of the enlightened. Choose cargo. Your snacks will thank you. Your phone will thank you. And honestly, your inner peace will thank you.
*The exception to the rule is bibs designed for time trials or ultimate aero gains.
What’s the most unusual item you’ve ever managed to cram into a jersey pocket? Share your cargo bib stories in the comments below!
Exciting Collaboration Announcement for 2025!
We are thrilled to announce a fantastic collaboration between Montu and Missing Link Adventure Tours for 2025! As two Ontario-based small businesses in the growing world gravel cycling, we’ve crossed paths numerous times while both supporting events like Hurtin’ In Haliburton and the Greystone Gravel Grinder events. We had some great conversations while playing sponsors and watching the riders fly by, and found we share some common values when it comes to supporting people from all walks of life to get the most out of their two-wheeled adventures on dirt roads.
Enter, a great opportunity to bridge our communities. Missing Link Adventure Tours is putting on two Endurance Gravel Camp retreat weekends this summer, designed for riders looking to up their endurance gravel racing game! Montu and Missing Link Adventure Tours want to get you there, and we are offering mutually beneficial discounts to help make it happen. See below for details.
Ontario-based racer, Adam Hill, who will be the “camp counsellors” for MLAT’s Endurance Gravel Camp in August, will be riding his beautiful new Montu Kopis in his epic gravel adventures in 2025. Over the past few years, we have gotten to know Adam and are glad to have this accomplished local athlete and all-round great guy riding a Montu. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from this machine of a rider!
We’re excited to support the upcoming Gravel Camp in beautiful Huntsville. This area is near and dear to our hearts. Growing up in the Haliburton Highlands, Katharine knows well, the hills of Huntsville are not for the faint of heart. Hani recently rode the 100km Greystone Gravel Grinder and can definitely vouch for this. This challenging terrain is all the more reason to add the weekend to your summer training plan.
So, how does this double discount offer work?
Exclusive Benefits for the Montu Community:
Did you recently get a beautiful new Montu bike, such as the versatile Kopis gravel bike, the Osiris all-road machine, or perhaps another model from our range? Are you a member of our newsletter ? If so, you’ll have access to discount codes for our 2025 season events.
Use your code provided by Montu for the following exclusive discounts:
Event registration discounts:
◦ Gravel Camp (with either Julie Toole or Adam Hill) – $50 off per person
◦ Gravel Grazer (July or September events) – $50 off
◦ Intro Bikepacking Weekend – $25 off
◦ Personalized Retreat – Accommodation Discount:
◦ Custom Retreat – Booking of the LINNK – $75 off per stay
These discounts are a fantastic way to join incredible events and experiences while saving
Special Offer for Missing Link Adventure Tours Participants (aka double-dipping discounts if you’re already a Montu community member)
Join us for Adam’s Endurance Gravel Retreat in August and receive a discount code for Montu apparel!
Attendees of Adam’s August retreat will receive a 30% exclusive discount for Montu apparel. This code will be sent directly to registered participants. It is applicable to any Montu apparel order of $100+ and is valid until the end of August, 2025. Please note that this code does not apply to products already on sale or on kit bundles. This is a great opportunity to stock up on Montu gear like bibshorts, jerseys, vests, accessories and more from our collection.
Don’t Miss Out! Sign Up for the Gravel Camp!
Considering joining the Endurance Gravel Camp in August hosted by Montu-supported rider Adam Hill. This is your chance to learn from an experienced rider and explore new terrain. Remember, if you’re a Montu community member, you get $50 off your registration! Plus, as a camp participant, you’ll receive an exclusive 30% discount on Montu apparel to get geared up for your adventures.
Spaces for the Gravel Camp are limited, so sign up today to secure your spot! It’s going to be an epic experience riding beautiful gravel roads.
Share the Adventure!
Do you have riding buddies who love gravel, bikepacking, or just exploring on two wheels? Tell your friends about this exciting collaboration! Share the news about the event discounts for Montu community members and the special apparel discount for Gravel Camp attendees. Let’s help more riders connect with incredible tours, events, and quality cycling gear.
We are looking forward to a fantastic 2025 season and connecting with more riders through this collaboration. See you out there on the trails/roads/hills !
The past two years have been a fairly rough period for the bike industry. From the mega brands to small builders like Montu, everyone has felt the impact of the economic turbulence. News of brand closures and industry struggles have become a weekly, if not daily, occurrence, casting a dark shadow over the bike industry and cycling communities.
As a small (but fiesty) fish in the big ocean of the big industry, a year ago we chose to embrace hope and look towards 2024 as a year of opportunity.
And what a year it has been! 2024 has been a testament to the power of community and the enduring passion for cycling. We’ve witnessed incredible rides, built amazing bikes, and experienced the joy of shared experiences. We’ve experienced firsthand a rapidly growing trust and confidence in what small businesses like Montu can do in and for the cycling industry and community, and that is what illuminates the road ahead for us.
2024 has been our best year yet. We have sold more bikes, doubled our apparel product offerings and continued to grow the Montu brand beyond our home turf in the Ottawa Valley.
Montu Bikes continues to thrive not as a result of exceptional talent or clever marketing; but it’s a direct reflection of your support. Thank you to our community, customers, partners, athletes, supporters and ambassadors for choosing Montu. Thank you for embracing our products and for inspiring us with your incredible journeys.
While challenges loom ahead, we remain optimistic about the future. We will continue to offer products with an intrinsic Ba (what is Ba? read here). The unwavering support of our community is our compass in navigating the road ahead.
Thank you always for your trust and support.
Hani & Katharine
Mass consumerism is a plague to the planet. As a small business, opportunities to boost our sales are always welcome, but we also want to avoid those opportunities which are at odds with our values.
Every November, your inbox is flooded with emails promising incredible deals and massive discounts. But let’s be real: most of these so-called “deals” are just smoke and mirrors. If a brand can afford to slash their prices for a few weeks each year, it’s a strong indication that their regular prices are inflated beyond offering their customers genuine value for their money for the rest of the year.In our view, that’s not honest pricing. It’s a marketing tactic designed to trick you into thinking you’re getting a bargain when, in reality, you’re not. Ask yourself if you would like to reward and reinforce what we judge to be dishonest business practices.
At Montu, we’ve decided to take a different approach. We believe in honest pricing and genuine value. If you’ve purchased anything from us, you already know that our products offer incredible value for money, mainly because we don’t believe in having our customers pay massively inflated pricing, which is a problem that the cycling industry already suffers from.
Our profit margins are already incredibly slim. When we have offered Black Friday deals in the past, the discounts were real, but they did not make business sense. It is not something that we see either value for us nor for our customers. Read on for our reasons why.
Mass consumerism is a plague to the planet. As a small business, opportunities to boost our sales are always welcome, but we also want to avoid those opportunities which are at odds with our values. It has been estimated that up to 80% of Black Friday sales are thrown away after having been used once or never at all. This is not something that we feel we want to be part of. There are things more important than profit.
Given the above: We are no longer going to participate in “Black Friday”. We choose to maintain consistent, honest pricing. Instead of relying on short-term sales tactics, we focus on providing long-term value and quality.
We will still offer sales and discounts in ways that make sense for us as a small business as well as offer even more value for our customers.
1- We have a clearance section in which you can snag high-quality pieces of Montu apparel that we need to clear to make room for incoming inventory
2- On a rotating basis, we will offer some of our products on a “pay what you want” system that let’s our customers determine their price (yes, a minimum will be set to ensure that this system, which is based on mutual trust, is not taken advantage of in a way that hurts us as a small family-owned business). When you enter your price, remember that all our products punch way above their price points in terms of price/value even at full retail. Find the products currently offered on a “pay what you want” model here.
Thank you always for your trust and support.
Hani & Katharine
