Which Bike Should You Rent in the Laurentians?

It depends less on your budget than on what you're actually planning to do. Someone who wants a relaxed ride on the P'tit Train du Nord has very different needs from a group heading out to explore the forest trails around Prévost. At RST Vélosports, we rent several types of bikes, and the question we get asked most often is exactly that one: which one should I take?

Here's a practical guide to help you choose based on your type of ride, your fitness level, and the people riding with you.

The P'tit Train du Nord bike path: hybrid or electric?

The linear P'tit Train du Nord trail stretches over 230 km across the Laurentians, from Saint-Jérôme to Mont-Laurier. The Prévost–Saint-Sauveur–Sainte-Adèle section is one of the busiest in summer: paved surface, moderate elevation gain, and dozens of small villages accessible along the way without ever getting in a car.

For this type of ride, a hybrid bike suits the vast majority of cyclists. It's built for hard surfaces, stable in a straight line, and comfortable enough for a full day in the saddle. If you're planning a 30-60 km loop with a few coffee stops along the way, a hybrid rented for the day does the job perfectly. It's also the most accessible option if you don't ride regularly.

An electric bike becomes worthwhile in two situations. First, if you want to cover a longer distance — say 80 km or more — without arriving exhausted. Second, if you're riding with people of different fitness levels: the motor evens out the gaps and lets the whole group keep a shared pace, which avoids a lot of frustration on both sides. We have customers who rent an electric bike for the first time on a Laurentians outing and come back convinced they want to buy one. That's actually a topic we cover in detail in our article on renting vs buying a bike.

Check out our bike rental page for the hybrid and electric options available by half-day or full day.

The mountain trails around Prévost: when a fat bike is the right call

The Prévost and Saint-Sauveur area gives access to several unpaved trail networks. If your ride takes you off the main path, the answer changes.

A fat bike is our recommendation for any unprepared terrain: dirt trails, rocky sections, uneven surfaces. Its wide tires — much bigger than on a regular hybrid — absorb obstacles and give stable grip where a road or city bike would lose control. A fat bike isn't built for speed on asphalt, but on a wooded Laurentians trail, it completely changes the experience. You ride with more confidence, the handling is less jarring, and unpredictable surfaces become far less intimidating.

A typical fat bike outing in the area is 2 to 4 hours. We offer fat bike rental by half-day or full day from the shop in Prévost. If you're not sure yet which trail network suits you best around here, our in-shop team can point you in the right direction.

The family outing: kids' bikes, trailers, and an easy pace

Riding with young children takes a different kind of planning. The pace is slower, the distances shorter, and the gear needs to fit every member of the group.

For kids who pedal on their own, we have 24-inch bikes available for rent. They suit children roughly 8 to 12 years old, depending on their size. For toddlers who don't pedal yet, or who tire quickly over long distances, a child trailer is often the most practical solution: it hitches to an adult bike, the kids climb in, and everyone moves at the same pace. There's also a child seat, which mounts directly onto an electric bike to keep your little one close to the pedaling parent.

A few useful details: the child seat is only available with an electric bike. The trailer can pair with either a hybrid or an electric bike, depending on preference. For family outings, we suggest sticking to the main bike path, which is the most accessible and safest surface for young children.

Check out our kids rental page for available models and rates.

Hybrid or electric: how to decide based on your fitness and the distance

If you're still torn between hybrid and electric, here are a few concrete markers.

A hybrid bike is the right choice if you ride regularly over the summer, if your outing is under 60 km round trip, and if there's no significant elevation gain planned. It's also the most affordable rental option: $35 for 4 hours, $40 for a full day.

An electric bike is worth considering if you're planning more than 60 km, if you haven't ridden much since spring, if you're combining elevation and distance, or if you want to have energy left to enjoy the villages and terraces along the way. Rental runs $70 for the day. For perspective, an electric bike rental elsewhere in the Laurentians typically starts around $65-80 depending on the location and duration — we're in the same range, with the advantage of a specialized shop that maintains and adjusts the bikes between every rental.

One criterion that's often overlooked: who you're riding with. If you're with someone who pedals a lot less hard than you, or who's getting back on a bike after a few years away, an electric bike closes the speed gap and keeps anyone from constantly falling behind.

Book at RST Vélosports in Prévost

We're located at 815 rue Shaw in Prévost, steps from the P'tit Train du Nord. The shop is open year-round, and rentals are available during the summer season. To make sure you get the right model and size on the day of your ride, we recommend booking ahead by phone or through the form on our site.

Our fleet includes hybrids, electrics, fat bikes, and kids' bikes, all maintained in-shop between every rental. We also provide transport gear if you need to move your bike between different points along the trail.

If you're looking for the perfect itinerary for a full day starting from Prévost, we cover the best options in our guide to a day of cycling in the Laurentians.

Check out the RST Vélosports rental page for the full lineup of rates and options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I rent an electric bike in the Laurentians?

Several shops offer this service along the P'tit Train du Nord. At RST Vélosports in Prévost, we rent electric bikes by the day starting at $70. The shop is open during the summer season, and booking ahead is recommended in July and August, when demand is higher.

What is the rental rate for a bike in the Laurentians?

At RST, rates vary by bike type: hybrid at $35 (4 hours) or $40 (day), electric at $70 (day), fat bike at $60 (4 hours) or $90 (day). Kids' 24-inch bikes are $20 (4 hours) or $25 (day). Taxes are added to listed rates.

Where can I rent a fat bike in the Laurentians?

RST Vélosports in Prévost offers fat bike rental at $60 for half a day and $90 for a full day. A fat bike is the best option for outings on the region's unpaved trails. Check the rental page for availability and book ahead.