General Cycling Discussion - Bought a new bike (but not for myself).

So today was a rather interesting day. My friend who likes to ride a lot, but only owns a Huffy, calls me today saying that he needs me too look at his bike, a few things are broken. So I go over and I look at his bike. Derailleurs shot, freewheel is shot, chain is shot, tires are worn. Bike has to go. So he says ok. I say we can go over to the bike store today and look at some bikes. He's like alright, I'll spend around $500.

So we go to the store and I show him some bikes. The store owner comes to me asking if we need help, and I say it's alright, I know what I'm doing (not in a rude way). He asked, what are you a bike mechanic or something, and I said, yeah, actually I was for 3 seasons. So he says ok and walks off. So I'm looking at bikes and we happen to find the bike for him. It is a 2003 GT Aggressor 3.0. Bike is on sale for $470CDN. Nice bike for the money I must say. Components go up to ACERA on it and it has a semi decent Fork (RST Capa CL) on it. So test out the bike, have them adjust it and test it out again. Of course, for all of those people who live in Toronto, we know that when buying a bike, the stores never correctly adjust the bikes. So I asked if I could adjust the bike myself, adjusted and got everything working. I only did this because I didn't want to spend 3 hours in there. After that the bike worked great, my friend bought it and just as we left, the owner reminded us of their 5 year service warranty deal. Basically, with any bike purchase comes 5 years of basic tuneups and adjustments which I think is great.

So we walk to my place and get my bike and go riding. After the ride, my friend says, wow thank g-d I didn't fix my bike, this bike is amazing. He then says, I only thought I'd be spending $100 to fix my bike but instead, I spent the best $550 (after tax) that I could have.

And that was pretty much my day. :)

introducing a friend to the sport of cycling is one of the coolest things in the world. i helped a friend buy a new road bike recently, and at the beginning she didn't really like cycling, so i was kinda disappointed. but recently she told me she was riding by herself one day and just started laughing out loud because of how fun it was! it made my day to hear that!

Originally posted by WorldIRC
And that was pretty much my day. :)

Coooool. :cool:

It's awesome to turn friends on to the joy of a good bike. Good stuff!

Which bike store did you go to??

Just Cyclepath at Yonge just south of Finch. I was gonna take him to Bike Depot but I heard they have been asses to customers lately (I used to volunteer there). I knew Cyclepath would have something that he needs and not too far of a drive away if he needs service and since they match Bike Depot's service warranty, I took him there.

Sounds like me and my wife last week... we walked into the LBS looking to buy a new roll of bar tape for my old bike, she was gonna attempt to ride, and we walked out spening $650 on a new Specialized Sequioia Sport that she loves riding ! :-)

It;s great to see the smile on her face, and the look for determination when she tries to tear my legs off on the Local bike trail :-)

Jeff

Originally posted by WorldIRC
Just Cyclepath at Yonge just south of Finch. I was gonna take him to Bike Depot but I heard they have been asses to customers lately (I used to volunteer there). I knew Cyclepath would have something that he needs and not too far of a drive away if he needs service and since they match Bike Depot's service warranty, I took him there.

I bought my bike at the same cycle path too. The guys are pretty nice there. DONT go to bike depot...they are asses. Last time i went in to ask about wheel sets, and they forgot about me..wtf is that? i'm still standing there looking at other **** they have, and they just walk back and forth? wtf?! .. and those guys there just sit around reading magazines..i'm glad i didn't buy my bike from there.

Another good place is, Silent Sport. The people are nice, helpful and the place looks decent with a wide range of Norco and Thin Blue Line.

Also, the people at bike depot, i doubt they would take the 5 year free warranty seriously...only kids there who look grumpy...but at Cycle Path, the mechanic would come up and test my bike..and see what's wrong..and than tell me to check it out and see if it's alright...and their students too like me.. so it's all good. I got the 5 yr free warranty as well.

Do u guys mountain bike?

THe people at Bike Depot arn't all that bad. WHen I was looking for a bike they took their time to help me select one and their prices are cheaper then most stores in the GTA. I'll hafta check out Cycle Path. Seems like a good place from all of your comments.

Originally posted by AquariaGuy
Do u guys mountain bike?

Ohh and yes I mountain bike

I used to volunteer at Bike Depot. There were some thing's I didn't like and I HATED the fact that the store is so small. It gets very uncomfortable in the summer. Also, they believe if it ain't a specialized, it's crap. And as for their 5 year warranty. My friend bought a bike from there and after 1.5 years, they BARELY do a tuneup on it. I know with Cyclepath, from other friends experiences, they keep their promise to their service warranty.

They aren't the cheapest store in the city, but like the saying goes, you get what you pay for. You pay a little more, and you get the quality of service that a newbie, like my friend, would expect. I personally don't shop there because they don't cater to my level of cycling. I'm more of a higher end person and in that, I prefer downtown shops such as Dukes. I'm not worried bout service quality because I fix my own stuff. I'm not worried about price on parts because I still can get most of that at wholesale.

As for Silent Sports. They are the closes bike shop to my house. I like the store, i LOVED their mechanics and the good work they do when I couldn't do it myself. However, I refuse to buy Norco. The reps in Toronto were asses towards me and I chose to have nothing to do with them. As for the TBL line up, I believe they have stopped production as of last year.

All in all, when my friend is ready for an even higher end bike, I will be sure to take him to Duke's or The Bike Zone in Mississauga.

Makes me think twice aobut buying from them. So you would recommend Cycle Path over Bike Depot any day?

Well it depends. Bike depot carries a DIFFERENT line than Cyclepath. Just be prepared that after a year, your service warranty is pretty much useless. Other then that, buy from them. The bikes are assembled safely. However, negotiate your price, save a few bucks.

yeah they are negotiable. THey offered me a Marin P-trail for 950 tax included. Was about to buy it when i realized I was a 16 year old with no job. :)

And why's that? I'm a 16 yr old, almost 17, and I work :D

I would have been working but i need community hours to graduate! where do u get your parts from wholesale??

Originally posted by mindbogger
Makes me think twice aobut buying from them. So you would recommend Cycle Path over Bike Depot any day?

YES ANY DAY! I literally hate Bike Depot. They treated me like ****. Cycle Path is really good..their students too, but they are knowledgeable, friendly, and like i said the mechanics even come outside with you to test ride your bike. It makes me feel like they actually did something to it. Btw, good thing WorldIRC told me that Bike Depot does **** to the tuneups. I thought so.

Originally posted by WorldIRC
And why's that? I'm a 16 yr old, almost 17, and I work :D

Heh..i feel worse..i'm 19, almost 20 and i'm going into 2nd year with -$0 .

Originally posted by WorldIRC


As for Silent Sports. They are the closes bike shop to my house. I like the store, i LOVED their mechanics and the good work they do when I couldn't do it myself. However, I refuse to buy Norco. The reps in Toronto were asses towards me and I chose to have nothing to do with them. As for the TBL line up, I believe they have stopped production as of last year.

All in all, when my friend is ready for an even higher end bike, I will be sure to take him to Duke's or The Bike Zone in Mississauga.

Duke's is a really nice store...their bikes look awesome..especially the road ones. It's a huge store too. Didn't know they stopped TBL. Ah..nice bikes.

I think, Cycle Path and Silent Sports are the best stores in our area. There's also Bayview Cycle that have Treks, and they are decent to bargain with. The owner though, (from my feeling) tried to lure me into a lot of high-end bikes. Nice family store. Priced higher than Cycle Path though.

Mr. Singh (Bayview) is alright. They don't fit properly. Thats the only thing. I called about a Trek 5200 once (expensive bike) and asked how they fit me and they said we have you stand over the top tube and take it from there. I was like sir, I am buying a $3500 bike and you don't even use a fit kit to fit me on it. That's why I went to Duke's and Racer Sportif.

Bike Depot does do the tuneups. Don't get me wrong. They just try less and less everytime they see the bike, so I noticed and so I've been told by friends who shop there.

I've been to the Cyclepath near abouts Eglinton before. Thier prices seemed good on the folding baskets for one of my bikes. I've never been to the ony by Yonge & Finch. I recently bought pouch from Bike Depot. I agree the store is small. Also when I was looking at some of the backpacks they kept pacing back and forth and behind checking me out. I mean, I'm not wearing beat up clothes. I looked presentable and was ready to buy but it seemed like there was tension when asking for the prices. I'm not sure if it's because a lot of people come and check out the prices and get sticker shock or what. The service I got at Bike Depot was so-so. They are the third closest store to me (Bayview being the first, then Silent Sports) so it's more for some parts if I don't have something or need an emergency item.

I actually got the TBL bike off Silent Sports customed. The store space is nice and you don't really feel too eagle eyed on when you're looking at stuff. I mean, you don't feel like you're pressured to buy and they do give you space to look (personal space). I've never done any tune ups at SIlent Sports and I am going to take the bike in for an overhual soon. However being that my bike is a TBL I have been in a few times and they have tightened the headset, shifters, and lubed the cables for me no charge. I once (not sure how I goofed this up as both quick releases are normally on the same side) suppositly got the QR on the wrong side thus preventing my gearing and they took the wheel off and got it right with the reminder which I got a little red faced over. Mine you I bought this bike 10yrs ago and didn't really ride it till 10yrs later so the bike was new and still they gave me that excellent service without the need for showing and paperwork.

Bayview Cycle is larger then the Bike Depot by about 2-3 times the size. However you always feel pressured to buy stuff when in there and always eyed on. They do have some nice stuff. The owner and his son was helpful and his son did cut my seatpost and adjusted it for me till I was happy with it. Tho thier stock and pricings are not all on thier website. Thier website only has about 1/4 what they have in the store and I prefer to know the pricings before walking into the store. Nice people but you feel a bit pressured to buy stuff when you're there.

After a three week search, my friends and I, purchased 2 Trek Fuel EX-8 & 1 Trek Fuel EX-7, from Bayview Cycle.
Checked out Bike Depot and seemed to being doing deals, deals and more deals. Silent Sport where a bunch of 'stuck up' snots with their own opinion on bikes. (I've been there a few times with same experience, will never be giving them my business)

Very happy with my purchase and would recommend.