Bicycle experts please weigh in

[onthebottom]

It's clear that some here don't know much about bikes. There are a plethora of bike geometries to fit your shape and flexibility, it isn't as simple as race vs beach cruiser or drop bars or not. I have a race quality bike (ssl carbon, carbon wheels, electronic shifting) but with a larger head tube to accommodate my middle age back. The bike was fit to me, including the geometry, width of the bars and the saddle. A good fit trumps tech, a good fit plus tech is heaven.

Bike shops (not chains) are full of people who love cycling, find one, then find someone you like, then have them suggest bikes. If they are any good at all they will want you to ride several of them and offer a custom fit For you.

 

[onthebottom]

How many of you guys have bikes with 18, 21, 24 or 27 speeds? How many gears do you actually use? My current bike has 21 speed, I use 2, sometimes 3 and very rarely 4.

I have 20, use 8-9 per ride. I keep my cadence within 8RPM of 90 and shift accordingly.

 

[SkyRider]

use 8-9 per ride.

What happens when you hit a red traffic light or have to made a sudden stop? How do you gear down from #9?

Don't tell anybody but I go to the CNE grounds on an off day when I want to exercise all 21 gears.

 

[Goodoer]

Nice Made In Canada bikes - Good quality
www.devinci.com

I'm not sure they are 100% Canadian any longer... Their higher end bikes are not. The aluminum frame ones maybe. I looked myself and found their dealer network to be minimal. Norco and Cervelo are not Canadian-made either.

 

[Goodoer]

It seems, the best supported bikes are Trek and Giant.

I'm a Giant fan... Looked at the AnyRoad pretty hard, but settled on the FastRoad for the flat bars figuring it would be better for handling in tight traffic confines. Also figured I could change out the tires to wider ones should I need too. It is much different than my old mountain bike (and old Giant).

You can go to the dedicated brand shops as there are both a Trek and Giant store in Toronto. I believe in buying from the local little bike shop instead and did so when I dropped my $2K.

 

[onthebottom]

What happens when you hit a red traffic light or have to made a sudden stop? How do you gear down from #9?

Don't tell anybody but I go to the CNE grounds on an off day when I want to exercise all 21 gears.

You rapidly shift and hit the brakes. Not really very complicated.... In traffic you spend most of your time in 2-3 gears.

 

[SkyRider]

In traffic you spend most of your time in 2-3 gears.

In the city I find that 1-2 gears is what I need. I use 1 gear for uphill. On Queens Quay I can sometimes get to gear 3 before I run over some pedestrians trying to get across.

 

[Lady fisher]

Trek

I would agree with the above comment on cyclocross, I would strongly disagree with aluminum though. No idea of your budget but if you can afford carbon your ass and hands will thank you. I would also get disc brakes.

http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/bikes/road-bikes/cyclocross-bikes/c/B240

Trek is a US company, I think only the high end bikes are still made in WI (my road bike was - by hand).

I own a Trek DS. Dual sport great dual purpose bike aluminum frame disc brakes front and back

As a bike ride ............it glides .........and it's smooth riding

 

[SkyRider]

Don't buy any accessories from pro bike shops. You'll get ripped off.

 

[dirkd101]

I've had the same bike for over 25 years. To find a good bike and the right tires for the type of riding you are doing, my advice, ask the same question at a good bike shop and not just one, but try a couple. You want to find a shop that fully understands what it is you seek, not just some schmuck looking to make a sale. Treat it like car shopping.

 

[TESLAMotors]

Don't buy any accessories from pro bike shops. You'll get ripped off.

I'll agree with that. Although I went to MEC on the weekend splurged a tiny bit, not much. LOVE that store.
www.mec.ca

 

[MattRoxx]

Then you should go and educate yourself.

You have no idea what you're talking about.

It's clear that some here don't know much about bikes. There are a plethora of bike geometries to fit your shape and flexibility, it isn't as simple as race vs beach cruiser or drop bars or not. I have a race quality bike (ssl carbon, carbon wheels, electronic shifting) but with a larger head tube to accommodate my middle age back. The bike was fit to me, including the geometry, width of the bars and the saddle. A good fit trumps tech, a good fit plus tech is heaven.

Bike shops (not chains) are full of people who love cycling, find one, then find someone you like, then have them suggest bikes. If they are any good at all they will want you to ride several of them and offer a custom fit For you.

Yes.

What happens when you hit a red traffic light or have to made a sudden stop? How do you gear down from #9?

Don't tell anybody but I go to the CNE grounds on an off day when I want to exercise all 21 gears.

But there are no hills there! Better to ride at High Park to give your gears a workout:

Or at the other end of the city is the big hill at south end of Brimley Road. Do a few repeats of that climb for some great exercise.
In the summer I like to ride out to and around the Zoo, works out to 50-60 km round trip and there are some good rollers and nice scenery.

 

[thesun]

I should give Brimley road a try but the roads in Scarborough area are horrible. Warden roads from 401 to Sheppard is much better as they just paved a new one there. I am actually from the downtown area but like to go for a ride up north. The don valley trails are pretty good but they are flat. I want a combination of flat and few hills roads.

 

[MattRoxx]

ucycle downtown in queen west is a great shop. it's a co-op and they will not be prissy with their pretentious bike knowledge.

when i switched from 10 speed to fixed gear, my eyes were opened up. less random shit on my bike, lighter, took corners more precisely. i still had a front brake but one day i will be brave enough to take it off.

Please don't do that. Not only dangerous but illegal - a bike must have at least one brake system.

 

[SkyRider]

i still have a front break but one day i will be brave enough to take it off.

Please don't do that. Not only dangerous but illegal - a bike must have at least one brake system.

I think some of these single speed bikes have a weird braking system where you backpedal. I remember 100 years ago when I was a kid I had a bike like that.

P.S. I went to a bike shop and noticed they were charging $105 for a Krytolite(sp) lock and I'm almost sure I saw the same lock at Canadian Tire for $25. Also, MEC tried to rip me off on a rear rack and basket.

 

[cunning linguist]

I own a Trek DS. Dual sport great dual purpose bike aluminum frame disc brakes front and back

As a bike ride ............it glides .........and it's smooth riding

I'm looking at a Trek 8.3 DS, been at least a decade since I rode a bicycle and I'd like to get back into it.

 

[MattRoxx]

I have a friend who's in her 50s and been riding a fixie for years without knee problems.

Anyway, what happened with whitewaterguy? Have you test-ridden any bikes yet?!

 

[jcpro]

I've never had a fixed gear bike, but I would imagine that breaking with just the force of your legs must put an awful lot strain
on your knees and ligaments.
I'd speak to some couriers, who have fixed gear and see how their knees are holding up.

Good luck, ride safe!

Actually, breaking is very easy.

 

[Geoff]

you can backpedal on a fixed gear and you'll slow down automatically. .

You're absolutely right here, but it's the emergency situation that requires a brake. You can't control everything that happens to you out there on two wheels.
It's totally different on a Velodrome where everyone is on a breakless fixed gear. When there is a slow down in the race each competitor backs off the gas or backpedals to slow down,
But if someone were to step off in front of you or the traffic light changed colour suddenly, that's when a brake comes in handy.

 

[MattRoxx]

The free fitting is important. The store will set up the bike for you when you buy it and it will feel comfortable, but you need to put in some hour-long rides before you go in and get it properly fitted.
Pedals also matter, and if you've never ridden clipless before, the pedal/shoe combo is another topic of discussion. And it won't help you find your bike but the Garmin Edge 200 is the best bang-for-the-buck GPS cycling computer currently available.

Correction: Garmin no longer sells the Edge 200. The new model is Garmin Edge 20. $190 @ mec.ca

http://www.mec.ca/product/5044-951/garmin-edge-20-gps-cycling-computer/?q=garmin+edge+20