Welcome Supercycle62,

I left Ontario 5 years ago, and took up bike commuting here in Vancouver, year round. When I first arrived, I was working on a contract, so all I had was a bike. I actually bought second hand at a shop called 'Our Community Bikes' at Main and 17th; there's another one on comercial drive.

If you're going to ride a lot - and count on your bike for transport, I'd suggest that you get familiar with them. Basically, it's an open shop where you can rent time on a bike stand, borrow tools, and do your own repairs and maintenance yourself. When they're not helping newbies, the staff at the shops harvest used parts from old bikes that are donated to the shop, and use these parts to build up a few 'cheap and cheerful' bikes for re-sale.

I spent my first 4 years here commuting on a 1980's vintage 12-speed, with downtube shifters, converted to a flat-bar. It originally cost me $75. Last year, when I completed 5000 kms commuting, I retired the 'beater' and bought a disc-braked bike with drop bars - better for the rainy weather.

You'll probably find (as I did) that commuting in the rainy months means that all kinds of gunk and grit gets caught up in your drivetrain. Be sure to get some generous mud-flaps for your front fender, so that your front tire doesn't coat your chain in crud. Also, despite what someone suggested to shop at MEC, stay away from MEC's "wet lube" chain lube. It absorbs dirt, and turns into a hard, waxy cement that is nearly impossible to clean!