Cycling Thread

[Fuzz]

Don't get a sport check bike. You will just have to replace it in 2 years anyway, as it will fall apart if you do any normal amount for riding, and those 2 years will be miserable as the POS will fight you at every turn.

Find a real bike shop somewhere near you or near where you work. Most of them will have something in the $600-$1000 range that should last you a decade or more if you care for it. My daily rider is almost 20 years old now.

[Mass_nerder]

I bought a sportcheck special, and regretted it almost immediately. I rode it every day last summer to work, and was constantly fighting with it.
Don't do it!

[GGG]

Sportchek does carry orbea which are real bikes. The problem is you still need to get it re-assembled and tuned outside of sportchek as the people in the bike shop their are inexperienced.

The benefit is that by watching for sales and coupon you can stack you can get the bikes for 50% off. So if they fit you that's an option but you get better service and a bike store.

[cracher]

Originally Posted by GGG

The benefit is that by watching for sales and coupon you can stack you can get the bikes for 50% off. So if they fit you that's an option but you get better service and a bike store.

Could you please elaborate on this one a bit? Are the coupons online codes? And where does one get these?

With how soggy WBC/Canmore has been this weekend, my lycra-clad friend convinced me to take his carbon roubaix out. We did an 80km loop (near loop; his wife rescued us due to a broken chain) around the city pathways. It was so much fun. It was my first experience with a decent road bike and now I want one. I'm in the market for a couple of marginally better than intro level bikes.

[jeffman]

Thanks for the replies. In general, I was thinking of getting a hybrid. Any recommended brands? Sorry I'm too much of a noob to know which companies are reputable

[Fuzz]

Depends what shop you go to. Most have 2 or 3 brands they deal with, but really anything in that price range is going to be similar. You end up picking between a bike with better brakes, or shifters or shocks. Best to go in and take a look, or let us know where you want to go and we can point you to some options.

Is this bike for commuting, or recreational? Only pathways, or something like Nose Hill?

[GGG]

Originally Posted by cracher

Could you please elaborate on this one a bit? Are the coupons online codes? And where does one get these?

With how soggy WBC/Canmore has been this weekend, my lycra-clad friend convinced me to take his carbon roubaix out. We did an 80km loop (near loop; his wife rescued us due to a broken chain) around the city pathways. It was so much fun. It was my first experience with a decent road bike and now I want one. I'm in the market for a couple of marginally better than intro level bikes.

with online coupon codes I was able to stack a 10% off sign up for email code, a free shipping code, a 10% off friends and family code on top of their 20% off of everything on sale sale they had the week I bought the bike.

Mostly found them through watching flyers and then found the one extra code googling for coupon codes before I bought it.

[Coys1882]

Originally Posted by jeffman

Thanks for the replies. In general, I was thinking of getting a hybrid. Any recommended brands? Sorry I'm too much of a noob to know which companies are reputable

If you go to a LBS you'll find: Giant, Trek, Norco, Scott and Kona just to name a few. Any of those are great and it will come down to personal fit and preference - finding the frame geometry that works for you. Treat it like you would buying a car - go to the stores and take some for a rip.

[Northendzone]

last winter i purchased a giant fast road as my commuter bike. main reason i bought it was due to the fact it had disc brakes - solid bike. only issue thus far is a couple of flats.

at a cost of ~$!,100 i would highly recommend it. although perhaps you are looking for something a little more "burly" as it si not the type of bike that you would really want to tkae on a gravel road.

[cracher]

^will check giant out for sure. Looking around all morning... seems like the sales this year are much better than the last couple of years. Makes me wonder if bike shops are dealing with a lot of excess 2015 inventory.

[cracher]

Hm. Some smoking deals on earlier model year bikes up in Linden, Alberta. Had a couple of late-day cancellations so I'm heading up there now. Road bikes for me and the wife for under 2 total? Yes please. http://calscycle.ca/specials.html

[TSXCman]

So far I see most sales being under 10% off listed prices, which you can usually get by asking. Which places have you noticed the most?

nm, just saw your follow up post.

[cracher]

The link I posted earlier has some decent deals.

The bike shop downtown has altitude 750MSL for a grand off. The thunderbolt 799 MSL is down to $9k. This really pisses me off because I just bought a frame-only for $3k. Carbon wheels, XTR di2, quality dropper for another 4k? In a heartbeat.

The deals usually do get better in 2-3 weeks, but I generally find that the selection sucks by mid September. It's great that a bike is 40% off, but I can't ride a S or XL bike.

Edit: Owned by math. 9-3 =/= 4.

[phaneuf_train]

My bike got stolen today out of my garage in Tuscany. Keep a look out for a 2014 Kona Mahuna.

[pope04]

Originally Posted by jeffman

Hi all,
I just started cycling this year and am looking to buy a new bike that I would use for years instead of selling it in a year. I have around 2 months of experience, should I get one of those 200$ bikes at Sportchek or would a 600$ to $1000 bike at one of those specialized bikes be better for me.

Thanks

Alternatively, look for something secondhand. Kijiji's full of bikes/accessories right now.

[pope04]

Originally Posted by phaneuf_train

My bike got stolen today out of my garage in Tuscany. Keep a look out for a 2014 Kona Mahuna.

What color?

[phaneuf_train]

Originally Posted by pope04

What color?

Dark Grey. Just a reminder to keep your garage doors closed.

[peter12]

Got halfway to work, feeling like the ride was pretty easy, and realized I had forgotten my backpack at home. Had to turn around, grab the bag, and bike like heck to work. Made it on time!

[Fuzz]

Ouch! I once rode in about half way to work with no bag, no helmet, no gloves. Usually autopilot works well and I get all my things. Every so often it short circuits though. The worst were the days I forget to throw underwear in the back pack....After a few of those events I've been leaving a few pairs at work.

[habernac]

the best is when you have to spend a few hours sitting in your bike shorts because you forgot pants. You only do that once.