Riders on the Ottawa River pathway at golden hour with Parliament Hill behind

Our story

Adventure is better when it's shared

What started as a few friends exploring the backroads around Ottawa and Gatineau grew into a community of cyclists, creators, and outdoor enthusiasts.

Common Empire builds stronger communities through cycling, creativity, and collaboration — connecting riders, brands, and regions through shared adventure. It began with a simple idea: adventure is better when it’s shared.

We’re a collective of riders, creators, and storytellers based in Eastern Ontario who live for the outdoors. What draws us together isn’t speed or watts — it’s the people beside us, the places we discover, and the feeling of belonging that comes from rolling out as a group and coming home with a story to tell.

Today that looks like weekly group rides on gravel and pavement, a growing library of mapped routes, signature events through every season, and partnerships that give back to the local businesses and communities that make our region worth riding. We’re inspiring and accessible, conversational yet purposeful — playful where it fits, but always safety-conscious and welcoming.

Riders filling a café after a morning ride
The coffee is part of the ride
A big group riding a gravel road above green farmland
Gravel roads north of the city
A rider on a quiet road lined with fall colour
Quiet roads, every season

Ottawa–Gatineau

The region we ride

Weekly

Community rides

40+

Mapped routes & GPX

Road · Gravel · Ski

Every season

What we do

A line of riders silhouetted on the Alexandra Bridge

Why we ride

Connection over competition.

The ride is the excuse. The people, the places and the stories are the point.

What we value

The principles behind every ride, event, and story we create.

Connection over competition

It's not about racing or records — it's about who you ride with and the shared experience of the road and trail.

Inclusivity & belonging

Everyone is welcome, from first-time riders to seasoned gravel cyclists. Pace groups for every level and a no-drop chill group.

Curiosity & freedom

We chase discovery — backroads, quiet trails, and the freedom of being out in nature under your own power.

Support for local

We ride to the cafés, breweries, and shops that make our region special, and champion local tourism along the way.

Authentic storytelling

Real experiences over staged shoots — strong photography and video that capture the feeling of riding and belonging.

Safety, always

Predictability and communication keep our rides fun. Helmets and lights every ride, and a briefing before we roll.

Rides through the seasons

A few of the experiences that bring our community together year-round.

Riders crossing the Alexandra Bridge toward Parliament Hill in morning light

Come ride with us

Everyone’s welcome — join for free, come to a ride, or help lead the way. Adventure is better when it’s shared.

Get in touch

Ottawa–Gatineau · [email protected] · (613) 355-3130