u/RayEn77

Hey everyone,

I recently bought a Decathlon RC 100 road bike for short daily commuting and the occasional ride on bike paths just for fun. I’m pretty new to cycling, so I don’t have much experience with different types of bikes.
Originally, I was planning to buy a mountain bike, but then I figured, “Why would I? I’ll be riding on roads 99% of the time.” So I went with the road bike instead.
Now that I’ve ridden it for a couple of days, I’m starting to wonder if I made the wrong choice. The roads where I live are pretty rough, and even a lot of the bike lanes have endless cracks, bumps, and potholes. I feel every single one of them through the bike because of the skinny tires, and it makes the ride much less comfortable than I expected.
I’m also a bit worried about getting frequent punctures because of the thin tires.

For those of you who own road bikes or hybrids, is this just something you get used to, or would a hybrid have been a better choice for my situation? Are there any upgrades I could make (wider tires, lower tire pressure, etc.) that would make a noticeable difference, or should I consider switching bikes while I still can?
I’d really appreciate any advice from people who’ve been in a similar situation.
Thanks!

Hey everyone,

I’m currently looking to rent a room in Ottawa and wanted to get some opinions on a situation I’m dealing with.

I had a video call with the landlord and saw the unit. He sent me a “tenant verification form” to fill out, and in that document it mentions sending a $200 deposit upfront (through e-transfer) before the lease is even signed. He says it will go toward first month’s rent.

The steps he gave me are basically:

• Send $200 deposit first
• Then he prepares and sends the lease
• I sign and send it back
• Then I send the remaining amount (first + last, etc.)
• Then on move-in day we meet and “sign again” and I get the keys

A couple things that feel off to me:

• Paying anything before signing a lease
• The deposit being included in a “verification form” instead of a lease
• Signing the lease again on move-in day
• He also asked for my SIN on the application (not sure if that’s normal)

Just wondering if this is standard practice in Ottawa, or if I should be careful here?

Would really appreciate any advice or experiences — trying to avoid getting scammed.

Thanks!

Hey everyone,

I’m currently looking to rent a room in Ottawa and wanted to get some opinions on a situation I’m dealing with.

I had a video call with the landlord and saw the unit. He sent me a “tenant verification form” to fill out, and in that document it mentions sending a $200 deposit upfront (through e-transfer) before the lease is even signed. He says it will go toward first month’s rent.

The steps he gave me are basically:

• Send $200 deposit first
• Then he prepares and sends the lease
• I sign and send it back
• Then I send the remaining amount (first + last, etc.)
• Then on move-in day we meet and “sign again” and I get the keys

A couple things that feel off to me:

• Paying anything before signing a lease
• The deposit being included in a “verification form” instead of a lease
• Signing the lease again on move-in day
• He also asked for my SIN on the application (not sure if that’s normal)

Just wondering if this is standard practice in Ottawa, or if I should be careful here?

Would really appreciate any advice or experiences — trying to avoid getting scammed.

Thanks!