Author Topic: The bike thread (Read 17402 times)

dorin · « **Reply #20 on:** May 01, 2007, 10:28:42 pm »

AB, in the absence of more details I'll throw in a recommendation of getting a Devinci because they're about the only Made in Canada brand out there. Most bike frames are made in China or Taiwan nowadays but Devinci actually has a factory in Quebec where they make all of their aluminum frames. Given that generally all bikes priced within $50-100 are pretty much equivalent (at least in the sub-$1000 price range), the made in Canada connection is worth something.

I'd also recommend that you don't bother with the spandex shorts and the chamois until you start getting more serious. I agree that shorts with a chamois are useful for longer rides, but they're also bulky and feel like diapers. Unless you're planning on going on rides longer than 3-4 hours it's just not worth bothering with.

dorin · « **Reply #21 on:** May 01, 2007, 10:34:39 pm »

Quote from: airbalancer on May 01, 2007, 10:26:26 pm

I guess around $500
Most ride will be road or path with the wife
Saw this ad http://oshawacyclingclub.org/member_services/Classifieds.htm
has Trek for $200, will phone tomorrow
At 6-1 what size bike should I look at?

That Trek Navigator 300 for $200 is a pretty good deal. It's a good buy for casual riding and is comparable to a $500-600 new bike.

For casual riding don't worry too much about sizing. As long as you're not bent on going too fast you can easily get a long seatpost to raise the seat high enough.

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #22 on:** May 01, 2007, 11:00:26 pm »

Quote from: tpl on May 01, 2007, 07:46:38 pm

I do not have pic... wish I did but IIRC the familiy did not have a camera of any sort then... the Brownie 127 was either lost or broken and no-one had bought a new one...
The bike frame was a Dayton Lugless and the conversion was a well used and 2nd hand ( 2GBP IIRC) Holdsworth

so something like the pic But I only had one brake on the front whel ( legal at the time with a fixed cog)

How fast you could go round the bends on that?

HeliDriver · « **Reply #23 on:** May 02, 2007, 12:12:58 am »

Quote from: dorin on May 01, 2007, 09:35:18 pm

Quote from: barrie1 on May 01, 2007, 09:26:03 pm
You should also have a Bell and a Headlight as well as a rear light also as in many places you need these to be legal now on a public road. Depending on what you are doing with your bike I would also suggewst a Panyay Rack on the rear and saddle bags as they can be very handy hauling stuff home from the store or carrying stuff while you ride as well.

It's "pannier" not "Panyay". Seeing that just makes me cringe... :cry:

Well, at least barrie got it right phonetically. For a real cringe, try listening to someone call it a pan-yer.

The Fuzz · « **Reply #24 on:** May 02, 2007, 04:52:52 am »

Quote from: dorin on May 01, 2007, 10:28:42 pm

AB, in the absence of more details I'll throw in a recommendation of getting a Devinci because they're about the only Made in Canada brand out there. Most bike frames are made in China or Taiwan nowadays but Devinci actually has a factory in Quebec where they make all of their aluminum frames. Given that generally all bikes priced within $50-100 are pretty much equivalent (at least in the sub-$1000 price range), the made in Canada connection is worth something.

I'd also recommend that you don't bother with the spandex shorts and the chamois until you start getting more serious. I agree that shorts with a chamois are useful for longer rides, but they're also bulky and feel like diapers. Unless you're planning on going on rides longer than 3-4 hours it's just not worth bothering with.

While on a recent shopping excursion I was disappointed to hear that Devinci is now just "designed" in Canada and the majority of their product is built elsewhere. Apparently their customer service has gone downhill as well. The shop I was at will no longer be carrying their product for these reasons. However, you almost never read a bad review about Devinci bikes so if it's origin doesn't matter it certainly would be a good choice.

I recommend getting cycling shorts no matter how far you are riding. They make a huge difference and you can now get baggy ones so it doesn't look like you are smuggling grapes. And remember, DO NOT wear underwear under them....It defeats the entire purpose of them and the seams will chafe your nether regions.

Make sure the bike fits well too. A well fitting bike is a joy to ride. You are more likely to ride it if it is set up properly because it will cut down on numbness and discomfort.

tpl · « **Reply #25 on:** May 02, 2007, 06:26:21 am »

Quote from: UmroAyyar on May 01, 2007, 11:00:26 pm

How fast you could go round the bends on that?

Faster that you'd think. Right hand bends just let the right wheel lift a bit. Left hand bends the limitation was losing drive if you got the left wheel in the air. Also wheels could collapse if one was too violent.
The real limitation was the fixed cog and having to keep pedalling while leaning over, see the pic in the post.

dorin · « **Reply #26 on:** May 02, 2007, 09:10:15 am »

Quote from: The Fuzz on May 02, 2007, 04:52:52 am

While on a recent shopping excursion I was disappointed to hear that Devinci is now just "designed" in Canada and the majority of their product is built elsewhere. Apparently their customer service has gone downhill as well. The shop I was at will no longer be carrying their product for these reasons. However, you almost never read a bad review about Devinci bikes so if it's origin doesn't matter it certainly would be a good choice.

Interesting. Are you 100% sure that the shop was telling you the truth? Sometimes manufacturers will pull a line from shops they're not happy with too. I'll definitely check into it next time I have a beer with the guys from the bike shop, but I'm a little skeptical that Devinci would have shut down their factory just like that over the winter. Anyway, it's worth checking into.

Quote from: The Fuzz on May 02, 2007, 04:52:52 am

I recommend getting cycling shorts no matter how far you are riding. They make a huge difference and you can now get baggy ones so it doesn't look like you are smuggling grapes. And remember, DO NOT wear underwear under them....It defeats the entire purpose of them and the seams will chafe your nether regions.

It's reasonable advice, but the big thing I don't like about padded riding shorts is that the padding traps moisture. Sure the padding is great while you're riding, but if you're off the bike for more than a few minutes and you don't change then you have a real wetness problem going on - I hate that.

Allen · « **Reply #27 on:** May 02, 2007, 09:32:26 am »

Quote from: dorin on May 02, 2007, 09:10:15 am

more than a few minutes and you don't change then you have a real wetness problem going on - I hate that.

You can always try these for your wetness problem

dorin · « **Reply #28 on:** May 02, 2007, 09:35:00 am »

Quote from: Allen on May 02, 2007, 09:32:26 am

You can always try these for your wetness problem

Those are the wetness problem.

airbalancer · « **Reply #29 on:** May 02, 2007, 09:59:28 am »

The used bike has been sold
But I do not need a bike for a while yet

mrthompson · « **Reply #30 on:** May 02, 2007, 11:11:39 am »

What about Norco or Rocky Mountain? Canadian owned and designed.

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #31 on:** May 02, 2007, 11:13:27 am »

Quote from: airbalancer on May 02, 2007, 09:59:28 am

The used bike has been sold
But I do not need a bike for a while yet

Are you trying to upstage Jeff from his lengthy ~~Miata~~ MX-5 buying adventure?

safristi · « **Reply #32 on:** May 02, 2007, 11:53:28 am »

TRIKE_enosis.....isn't their a worm PILL fer that.............

...seroiusly tho'...Skritch scratch.... UNLESS yer EPO"ed UP or Testoe'd to tha LEFT NUT....NO WAYS yer gonna COMPUTE inna 2007 Tour_de_FARCE................I loved my Raleigh..my case comes UP next week...

...called a BLUE_STREAK after the ROCKET of the DAY......but it GOT me ta MA's and Back daily............

dorin · « **Reply #33 on:** May 02, 2007, 12:13:47 pm »

Quote from: mrthompson on May 02, 2007, 11:11:39 am

What about Norco or Rocky Mountain? Canadian owned and designed.

That's the problem in the bicycle world. Owned/Designed != Made $:-\$

Usually you tend to see a big maple leaf or stars and stripes with "Designed in Canada/USA" in big bold letters and then there is a small "Made in Taiwan/China" sticker hidden underneath. A lot of shops also peel off the "Made in Taiwan/China" stickers in order to make buyers think that they're getting something from Canada/USA - now that's something that pisses me off.

tpl · « **Reply #34 on:** May 02, 2007, 01:29:22 pm »

I agree.

It was so much simpler when I was a lad. Bike stuff was UK made EXCEPT we all lusted after French and Italian gear which we could not afford. I did manage a French Simplex dérailleur at one point. 4 speeds...what a luxury.

safristi · « **Reply #35 on:** May 02, 2007, 01:47:45 pm »

De Raullier is /woz fer sissy Up_hill_iers...........feel tha' BURNS

...wee timorous beastie

airbalancer · « **Reply #36 on:** May 02, 2007, 02:17:57 pm »

Wife pick up her bike today
Trek has made in China across the front

safristi · « **Reply #37 on:** May 02, 2007, 02:45:50 pm »

where is MY Air_"B" RING thing?

?

DEE CODE to HEAD _CHEESE....coming in loud and cheesy.............

HeliDriver · « **Reply #38 on:** May 02, 2007, 08:12:54 pm »

Absolutely nothing wrong with a "made in Taiwan" bike frame. Taiwan is pretty much the centre of the bike-building universe, and the quality of the stuff that comes out of the better factroies there is absolutely beyond reproach.

Not so sure about mainland China, though.

The Fuzz · « **Reply #39 on:** May 02, 2007, 09:04:42 pm »

Quote from: dorin on May 02, 2007, 09:10:15 am

Interesting. Are you 100% sure that the shop was telling you the truth? Sometimes manufacturers will pull a line from shops they're not happy with too. I'll definitely check into it next time I have a beer with the guys from the bike shop, but I'm a little skeptical that Devinci would have shut down their factory just like that over the winter. Anyway, it's worth checking into.

I'll be curious to see what they say. I never believe anyone 100% unless I see it myself.