# Common Empire

> A community cycling organization in the Ottawa–Gatineau region. Group rides, gravel adventures, routes, memberships and fundraisers — adventure is better when it's shared. Based in the Ottawa–Gatineau region of Ontario, Canada. Ethos: connection over competition — adventure is better when it's shared.

Common Empire runs free weekly group rides (road and gravel) with pace groups for every level, publishes interactive routes with GPX downloads, offers free and paid memberships, and hosts fundraising and signature events through every season (Taste the Maple, Candy Burner, Communiski, Park Loops / Rise & Ride).

## Key pages
- [Rides & events](https://commonempire.com/events): weekly group rides, gravel adventures, and signature events.
- [Routes & maps](https://commonempire.com/routes): interactive cycling routes with distance, elevation, and GPX downloads.
- [Membership](https://commonempire.com/membership): free Rider tier (Slack + weekly rides) and paid Community tier (partner discounts, free paid-event entry, member trips).
- [How we ride](https://commonempire.com/how-we-ride): group-riding guide — pacelines, hand signals, safety, and pace groups.
- [About](https://commonempire.com/about): who we are, what we value, and what we do.
- [Blog](https://commonempire.com/blog): ride recaps, route features, and community stories.

## Featured locations
Cycling destination guides for towns around the Ottawa–Gatineau region — riding character, points of interest, food & coffee stops, and featured routes.
- [All featured locations](https://commonempire.com/locations): browse every location guide.
- [Ottawa](https://commonempire.com/locations/ottawa): Ride the capital: car-free canal flats, market espresso, and the big grind to Champlain Lookout.
- [Gatineau](https://commonempire.com/locations/gatineau): Cross the river, climb the parkways, chase the lookout.
- [Carleton Place](https://commonempire.com/locations/carleton-place): Flat, car-free rail trail along the Mississippi River, capped by a heritage main street built for a mid-ride coffee or pint.
- [Almonte](https://commonempire.com/locations/almonte): Waterfalls, wool mills, and hard-packed gravel that rides like glass.
- [Arnprior](https://commonempire.com/locations/arnprior): Where two rivers meet and the rail trail rolls for miles.
- [Perth](https://commonempire.com/locations/perth): Stone-town charm, quiet farm roads, and a rail trail into the Highlands.
- [Carp](https://commonempire.com/locations/carp): Cold War bunkers, quiet country roads, and a village that lives for its Saturday market.
- [Merrickville](https://commonempire.com/locations/merrickville): Flat, fast miles down the Rideau to a storybook stone village.
- [Wakefield](https://commonempire.com/locations/wakefield): Chase the Gatineau River north to the red covered bridge.
- [Chelsea](https://commonempire.com/locations/chelsea): The gateway to Gatineau Park, where car-free parkways and a lung-busting climb to Champlain Lookout wait 15 km from downtown Ottawa.

## Resources
- [Resources hub](https://commonempire.com/resources): all rider resources in one place.
- [Bike shops](https://commonempire.com/resources/bike-shops): directory of Ottawa–Gatineau bike shops.
- [Bike fitters](https://commonempire.com/resources/bike-fitters): professional bike fitters.
- [Repair stands](https://commonempire.com/resources/bike-repair): public self-service bike repair stands and pumps, mapped.
- [Public washrooms](https://commonempire.com/resources/washrooms): public washrooms across Ottawa, mapped.
- [Water fountains](https://commonempire.com/resources/water-fountains): public drinking-water fountains for mid-ride refills, mapped.
- [Cycling network](https://commonempire.com/resources/cycling-network): interactive map of Ottawa's entire cycling network.
- [Cycling checklists](https://commonempire.com/checklists): dynamic packing checklists for road, gravel, mountain and bikepacking rides.
- [Fueling calculator](https://commonempire.com/resources/fueling-calculator): carbs, fluid, sodium and calories per hour for a ride.
- [Tire pressure calculator](https://commonempire.com/resources/tire-pressure): recommended front and rear tyre pressure via the 15% tire-drop method.
- [Rider waiver](https://commonempire.com/waiver): the seasonal waiver required for rides.
- [Become a Ride Lead](https://commonempire.com/ride-leads): volunteer to lead group rides.

## Work with us
- [Partnerships](https://commonempire.com/partners): overview of ways to partner.
- [For brands](https://commonempire.com/brands): content, events, and sponsorship for cycling/outdoor brands.
- [Municipalities & tourism](https://commonempire.com/municipalities): route planning, mapping, and visitor guides.
- [List your business](https://commonempire.com/list-your-business): bike shops and fitters can join the directory.

## Contact
- Email: info@commonempire.com
- Phone: (613) 355-3130
- Region served: Ottawa–Gatineau, Ontario, Canada
- [Contact page](https://commonempire.com/contact)