Cycling Thread

[cral12]

Where do you recommend buying bike rack here in Calgary? I've heard good things about Racks Unlimited, but there website seems to be down.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by temple5

I looked through a few pages but figured I would just ask.

I got a job and the building (bankers hall) I am now at doesnt have bike parking available (other than impark $170/month).

Does anyone have any suggestions on bike parking? I applied for the wait list at ParkPlus but I dont expect to hear back from them anytime soon. I am open to walking a good distance from where I would park to the building.

I am a very fair weather biker, would be biking Jul, Aug, Sept, and Oct only. Thanks.

The parkade south on the plus 15 has bike spaces (entrance is on 10th ave). No idea how much it is.

Originally Posted by cral12

Where do you recommend buying bike rack here in Calgary? I've heard good things about Racks Unlimited, but there website seems to be down.

Bow Cycle sells them as well.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by cral12

Where do you recommend buying bike rack here in Calgary? I've heard good things about Racks Unlimited, but there website seems to be down.

Mountain Equiipment COop or most LBS should have something, plus Can Tire.......don't be afraid to spend money to buy a good one.

I bought a Swagman for $550 or so for our four bikes and I am glad I spent the money. It is easy to load/unload bikes, it comes apart and can be used for 2 or 4 bikes and when a small part on it broke, I called Swagman and had the replacement the next day (they are located in Penticton).

[bossy22]

Racks Unlimited if you want to pay too much. Bow Cycle is a Thule dealer and you can usually get a discount there. I have a swagman, and don't like it much. It's functional. Can haul 2 or 4 bikes. but a pain in the arse when you have different types of bikes and have to adjust it all the time. My next rack is going to be a Kuat.

[cral12]

Where might one find this Just you speak of?

I want a good one, don't mind paying for quality.

Needs are for 2 bikes. Thinking have to install a hitch as best option (I have an Acura ZDX which is not the most conducive for bike rack installation).

[bossy22]

Unfortunately, only in the states that I know of. I have a few friends who bought them, and shipped to Montana Shipping.

This is the NV, which is what I'd get because you can get an add on to make it a 4 bike rack. It has a built in work stand. made of aluminum so it's lighter. Has an adjustment so it doesn't shake in the hitch.

http://www.competitivecyclist.com/ku...-BKPOLCHR-S2IN

They have a cheaper version, called the sherpa, which is only for 2 bikes.

http://www.backcountry.com/kuat-sherpa-2-bike-rack

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by cral12

Where do you recommend buying bike rack here in Calgary? I've heard good things about Racks Unlimited, but there website seems to be down.

Not sure about where to buy, but I highly recommend the Thule T2 rack. I bought one last year at Rack Attack in Vancouver, and it is outstanding. It takes 10 seconds to load the bikes, with a system similar to what goes on the front of transit buses. Last month I bought the T2 add on rack, which allows me to take four bikes. The bikes can be basically any size and there aren't any add ons or extensions needed. The main rack was around $600 and the add on was $400, but I had some promo codes for each. I needed to have them instal the hitch for it too, which was $250 or so. The rack takes less than two minutes to take off or put on if you don't want to drive around with it on your vehicle.

I also bought a roof top cargo box (I drive an X5). It's nice to have one key that does the box and the four bike locks on the rack. Last weekend four of us drove from Vancouver to Kelowna, with a couple sets of golf clubs, four bikes and all of our gear. We brought back 8 cases of wine, and still had room in the car. It was so much nicer than just cramming everything into a small space, or deciding on what to bring.

[cral12]

^Perfect thanks...

a) where'd you come up withe promo codes (I did just register on Thule website)

b) where might one get a hitch installed

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by cral12

^Perfect thanks...

a) where'd you come up withe promo codes (I did just register on Thule website)

b) where might one get a hitch installed

Rack Attack (yes I know they aren't in Calgary) had some on their website. There are also biking forums that gave promo codes for Thule products and the last one I got from one of those free papers they hand out by transit platforms. I didn't even have to show it, I just said I saw a coupon that gives 15% off items that are $250 or more and they accepted it.

I'd assume that any place that sells and instals a rack like this would do the hitches as well. They are easy to do (for them), and they allow the people to get everything done at once. Since Rack Attack has a current promo on their own site, somewhere like Cap It might price match, since you can get it shipped to your door from them. Cap It does look like it instals hitches. There is also Rack Experts and Roof Racks in Calgary.

[Paladium]

So I am thinking of biking from evanston to downtown for work - would I be strictly on the road or is there some secret bike path I need to know about?

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Paladium

So I am thinking of biking from evanston to downtown for work - would I be strictly on the road or is there some secret bike path I need to know about?

Just put your address and destination into google maps for direction. Then switch the icon from car to bike and it will switch it to bike paths and you'll discover so much more. The problem is getting from Evanston onto the Nose Creek Pathway which is a pathway system parallel to Deerfoot. That's the main bicycle artery for the North into downtown.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by Paladium

So I am thinking of biking from evanston to downtown for work - would I be strictly on the road or is there some secret bike path I need to know about?

Once you get to 14th Street at Nose Hill Park I believe there is a pathway that runs along the east side of 14th Street down to Confederation Park. Just north of Confed Park you can hop onto Cambrian Drive/10th Street and ride on the dedicated, on-street bike lane all the way downtown.

A buddy of mine rides his bike into the office from Thorncliff (just south of 64 Ave) and he uses the 14th Street pathway and 10th Street bike lane.

The ride back to Evanston seems like it would be brutal as it is pretty much up hill the whole way.

[Paladium]

Thanks



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

The ride back to Evanston seems like it would be brutal as it is pretty much up hill the whole way.

I used to live in Patterson in the SW and rode from there to downtown, the ride home was exhausting as I had to make the climb up thru ed worthy (massive 7 minute climb - when I was in shape), or behind shaganappi golf course (switchbacks - a little easier), and from there it was slight rest, and then more climbing from Bow Trail/Sarcee right to to the apt - i was bagged at night........and when going west like that I was usually riding into the prevailing winds....good times.......

/cool starry bra

[cral12]

Originally Posted by bossy22

Racks Unlimited if you want to pay too much. Bow Cycle is a Thule dealer and you can usually get a discount there. I have a swagman, and don't like it much. It's functional. Can haul 2 or 4 bikes. but a pain in the arse when you have different types of bikes and have to adjust it all the time. My next rack is going to be a Kuat.

Racks Unlimited actually have Kuat racks: https://racks-unlimited.com/Product.aspx?brandID=8
***

One Hitch installation quoted ~$270 for hitch and installation - reasonable?

[Bill Bumface]

If anyone is interested on saving on some shipping, I'm going to be ordering 1Up bike rack today or tomorrow.

I have one I bought off a friend to try, and they are by far the easiest loading rack I've used. Wheels on too!

http://www.1upusa.com/product-rooftray.html

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by cral12

Racks Unlimited actually have Kuat racks: https://racks-unlimited.com/Product.aspx?brandID=8
***

One Hitch installation quoted ~$270 for hitch and installation - reasonable?

That's pretty close to what I paid.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by cral12

Racks Unlimited actually have Kuat racks: https://racks-unlimited.com/Product.aspx?brandID=8
***

Yeah, that's $200 more than the US. Add the add-on, and now you are $400 more.

[bossy22]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

If anyone is interested on saving on some shipping, I'm going to be ordering 1Up bike rack today or tomorrow.

I have one I bought off a friend to try, and they are by far the easiest loading rack I've used. Wheels on too!

http://www.1upusa.com/product-rooftray.html

That's pretty slick. If they made it to accomodate a fat bike, I'd probably get their hitch mount one.

[cral12]

Originally Posted by bossy22

Yeah, that's $200 more than the US. Add the add-on, and now you are $400 more.

Wow - yeah.

Plus, just got a quote for hitch and installation thereof - $294 for the hitch plus $75 per hr for installation. Said should be 1 hr only, but "ya never know".