Cycling Thread

[habernac]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

Go into a bike store and try a bunch of shoes on. Your foot length and width will determine what works best. I have narrow feet, with high arches, and I find Specialized shoes fit me perfectly.

For certain. Different styles fit different feet. Specialized don't work for me, Shimano shoes do, though. I'm sure there are others.

[boosterjuice]

Finally rode to work today for the first time. Loved it!

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by boosterjuice

Finally rode to work today for the first time. Loved it!

same here.....there was more uphill than i remember there being.....

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by burnin_vernon

I'm looking for an SPD shoe recommendation. I've never worn clipless before but I am training to do a 200k ride in a couple of months and I'm being told the difference will be massive.

I doubt I'll do a ride of this magnitude again (I'm not really much of a rider to begin with) so I'm looking for something that will be decent for this long ride, and be versatile for commuting/walking in the future.

one shoe that is good for walking and biking.....that is some kind of magic shoe.......anywyas, you might want to look at some pearl izumi's - similar to the link on the previous page. Cycling shoes these days can be a little flexible for shorter hikes, but if you are doing any real walking then you have to get a non-cycling shoe.

[#22]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

if they are still coming loose, then applyy some of the non-permanent loctite (I can't recall what color it is)

Blue.

Last year I lost a screw that holds the strap to my shoe. I went into the Lowes @ 130th. with the shoe and after 15 min. of searching in their metric fasteners drawers, I found one that worked. Bought 6 of them for something like $3.00 (Don't waste your time @ Home Depot, their selection is crap)

If that fails, try Triad Fasteners. They have the best selection of Metric fasteners in the city.

[Bill Bumface]

On my mountain shoes I have two "cleats" (maybe not the right word) on each shoe at the front that are meant to give you traction when walking in them. They each have a screw in them to hold them on, but mine are really worn down. Any ideas where replacements can be found?

Like the two round black studs at the front of this shoe:

[Old Yeller]

Ohhhhh I never knew they were used for traction when walking. I always wondered that... I've got 4 screw/cleat/bolts in each shoe and I've lost all of them in one shoe and all but 1 in the other shoe.

[Northendzone]

Hulk - I would start with the nearest LBS (local bike shop) and fan out, then MEC.

Then I'd try online - if you go online, order a couple of extra, plus some otehr stuff just to get the free shipping and then before you know it you are $250 in for a couple of cleats.....

[corporatejay]

Why is MEC not considered an LBS?

[GGG]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Why is MEC not considered an LBS?

Because they are a predatory big box.

They have a similar effect to Walmart when they are introduced to an area. They drive the little stores out of business. Now they do this by providing a very high quality product at a reasonable but there manufacturing streams give them an advantage over the little guy. Choosing to use them has a consequnce of pushing the little guys out of business.

There staff also isn't as specialized as an LBS. Really the only experts are the guys turning wrenches in the back. The remainder are sales people with general knowledge.

As a note I like MEC its just that we shouldn't view as a cottage industry co-op. They are a Mass Market retailer with goals of growing profit and revenue.

[Northendzone]

I'd say MEC is not not considered an LBS because they are MEC.....I know sometimes the LBS is more, but it is nice to establish a relationship with a store where the employees have more expert knowledge. MEC is a great place to buy clothing, small parts and tools. I only get there once per year.

Today I bought a new commuting backpack - the Eddie Bauer bacon (mmmmm bacon)

http://www.eddiebauer.com/catalog/pr...mPathInfo=null

The pack is light, but the material seems so thin, as do the straps and whatnot.......a search of the web suggests the material is rip resistant, but I was unable to find the thoughts of long term users.....it would be nice if the pack had a few more pockets.

Anyone got any commuting pack suggestions (I am not putting panniers on my bike).

This pack looked like it might fit my needs....

http://ca.oakley.com/products/snowma...pack/92556-001

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by GGG

Really the only experts are the guys turning wrenches in the back.

Those guys aren't exactly experts. I was told it was impossible to convert my bike from a threaded headset to threadless. It was so hard that the conversion was the first ever headset I'd installed and it was no problem. The guys at Ridley's (where I bought my Trail bike) are full of knowledge and never mind burning 30 minutes talking about bikes and parts and giving me tips to do my own maintenance. I've had great experiences there.

[pylon]

As someone who has used pretty much every LBS in Calgary, I cannot say enough about how awesome Ridley's is. The big thing about them, is they never seem to have the typical snobby LBS 'tude. They treat you just as friendly if you are on a cheap beach cruiser, or a $10k race bike.

I had a problem with my Devinci I bought from their competitor just up the street, the wheel desperately needed to be re-trued, and whenever I try and true them they end up looking like Homer Simpsons BBQ. Anyway, I stop at the competitor on my way home. "Next week is the soonest I can get it in." Roll into Ridley's 3 blocks up the street to see if their tech could give be of advice as they don't hide him in the basement. He pulls the wheel off the bike, throws it in the truing stand, and 20 minutes later hands it back to me. "What do I owe you?" "This ones on the house, even though I am fixing one of my competitors bikes. But I know you've bought a few bikes here."

Since then, nobody else get's my business. If you buy a bike there, they treat you like gold.

[Coys1882]

Did the morning commute for the first time this year yesterday. My god the hill out of Fish Creek park behind the Ranche almost killed me!!! HAHA. So nice to be back on the bike though.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by pylon

As someone who has used pretty much every LBS in Calgary, I cannot say enough about how awesome Ridley's is. The big thing about them, is they never seem to have the typical snobby LBS 'tude. They treat you just as friendly if you are on a cheap beach cruiser, or a $10k race bike.

I had a problem with my Devinci I bought from their competitor just up the street, the wheel desperately needed to be re-trued, and whenever I try and true them they end up looking like Homer Simpsons BBQ. Anyway, I stop at the competitor on my way home. "Next week is the soonest I can get it in." Roll into Ridley's 3 blocks up the street to see if their tech could give be of advice as they don't hide him in the basement. He pulls the wheel off the bike, throws it in the truing stand, and 20 minutes later hands it back to me. "What do I owe you?" "This ones on the house, even though I am fixing one of my competitors bikes. But I know you've bought a few bikes here."

Since then, nobody else get's my business. If you buy a bike there, they treat you like gold.

I get the same treatment at Bow. I brought in my Rocky, which they don't sell. Repaired in 30 minutes. It also helps if you bring the guys a 6 pack of beer. I've bought my road bike there, my kid's bike, wife's, etc.

Then there's the Bikeshop...

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by habernac

I get the same treatment at Bow. I brought in my Rocky, which they don't sell. Repaired in 30 minutes. It also helps if you bring the guys a 6 pack of beer. I've bought my road bike there, my kid's bike, wife's, etc.

Then there's the Bikeshop...

+1 for Bow Cycle. I have had great service there, and the prices for parts aren't bad.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by habernac

I get the same treatment at Bow. I brought in my Rocky, which they don't sell. Repaired in 30 minutes. It also helps if you bring the guys a 6 pack of beer. I've bought my road bike there, my kid's bike, wife's, etc.

Then there's the Bikeshop...

It's pretty consistent too. You always hear people raving about Ridley's and Bow, and absolutely trashing The Bike Shop, and usually Cyclepath.

Cyclepath is the one place that will never get a nickel from me. The lies they fed me a few years back trying to unload a previous model year bike that didn't even remotely fit were hilarious. I always pretend I am a total noob when I go into bike shops I don't frequent regularly, just to see what they say and what lies they will feed you. I do this as competitors car dealerships too...lol.

[habernac]

Biggest complaint you'll see at Bow is their turnaround for repairs. They're busy because they're good at it. If you want an in, join a race team or hang around the shop a bit and get to know the guys.

[bossy22]

I go to Bow for any repairs I can't do. Marty was awesome. Too bad he's no longer there. Like Habernac said, get to know them. Now my wife won't go there with me because my 5 min just grabbing something, is always one hour talking with Kurt, Franksy, Bob, and Doug.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by pylon

As someone who has used pretty much every LBS in Calgary, I cannot say enough about how awesome Ridley's is. The big thing about them, is they never seem to have the typical snobby LBS 'tude. They treat you just as friendly if you are on a cheap beach cruiser, or a $10k race bike.

I guess I'll be an exception here - I've been trying to make them my LBS for the last 10 years as they're super close but get very little service there. I was in there for a pair of gloves and the 4 kids behind the till couldn't even be bother to stop their chat fest. Chatting up the tech and staff gives me the impression they're disinterested. Oh well. I use them for dire needs and that's it.

Bow Cycle gets my nod for sales and service. That and they are a Cannondale authorized dealer. MEC for the fiddly routine bits for a bike. While I'm certainly for supporting LBS - not if it means paying too much for stuff. Increasingly using Chain Reaction Cycles for certain items - Saint Flat Platform pedals at The Bike Shop $119 - CRC = $61. Schwalbe winter tires $95 locally, $65 on CRC. Not a hard decision.