Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) unveiled its inaugural line of bicycles, online at www.mec.ca/bikes. The collection includes eleven styles in four categories – mountain, road, specialty and urban. Three are available in frames that are specifically designed for women. “Bicycles have a timeless appeal that we believe MEC bikes will honour and reinforce,” said CEO David Labistour. “Quality, value and performance are hallmarks of MEC-brand products, and these same traits define MEC bikes.”
MEC bikes were designed in-house by seasoned Canadian bicycle designer, MEC product manager Tim McDermott. The line consists of two hard-tail mountain bikes, three road bikes and five urban styles. A folding specialty bike rounds out the line, which will also see a kids' bike introduced in early 2010. “The MEC bike line is geared to what our customers want,” said McDermott. “A majority of MEC members stated a preference for urban bikes, and we worked hard to push the bounds of what urban bikes can be.”
“Our objective is to see more Canadians riding bikes – any bikes – and we welcome opportunities to work with the cycling industry and community partners to make that happen,” said Labistour.
MEC's community grants program has provided more than $450,000 to date in support of cycling advocacy and infrastructure projects across Canada. MEC bikes are presently being sold at select Mountain Equipment Co-op stores, in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Winnipeg as well as the co-op's new Longueuil, QC store. MEC's Burlington, ON and Montreal (Marche Central) stores will also be selling bikes, beginning in February 2010.
