Biking

[pictor]

I am determined to bike more this summer (like......at all. I never used my bike once last summer).

The weather is getting clear enough that it is starting to be an option, and I want to do even more going forward. I like biking....I just rarely bother to choose it as for my transportation needs.

I have a bike...that has sat in the garage for almost 2 years. Accordingly, I want to bring it in for a tune-up. This is where you come in. Where would you recommend for a good major overhaul. Front to back, everything, from taking out the bearings and cleaning them, to tuning the brakes, to....well, everything. Not far from home is a bonus, but I can get the bike in the car.

I plan to get a helmet (this is a big commitment on my part...I have always avoided them, stupid, yes, I know). I won't be biking to work, until after I move maybe, but I can certainly still use it more.

edit: $100 plus parts at http://www.cyclepower.ca
plus parts will be the trick....I am betting I will need some parts replaced. Still...they are very close to the queensway just off Kirkwood.

Comments

[mikepictor.livejournal.com]

They are more expensive than cyclepower, is there something in particular that you like about them?

[xiphia.livejournal.com]

Well since you asked, I have found them to be really professional, good at explaining things, and interested in giving everyone they talk to a positive biking experience. When I bought my bike from them (after nightmarish experiences at several other stores), we looked at 3 models, and they eventually convinced me I didn't need the most expensive one. They seemed more interested in getting me what I *needed* as a rider than in selling their latest and greatest, that impressed me. Also, their service is more thorough than other places I've checked, and the one time I had a problem with something they did, they fixed it immediately and didn't charge me. Basically it seems like a store full of people who love bikes and want to make sure others love them too.

[mikepictor.livejournal.com]

thank you....good to hear.

[xiphia.livejournal.com]

If you try them, be sure to let me know how it goes. :)

The thing that gets me about them is the amount of customization they do for you if you take the time to talk to them. I told them that I use the middle 8 gears (bike is 24-speed) more than the top 8 at my current fitness level, so during the maintenance they adjusted the gearing so that those gears shifted the smoothest. For most people, the top 8 are set to be the smoothest, but until I am fitter, I wouldn't get any benefit from that. Little touches that make a difference, you know? They also altered the handlebars for me so it was easier to grip with my arthritis.

They're not perfect or anything, one time I got my bike back from maintenance and one brake was loose (they hadn't tightened it all the way after removing it and cleaning it), but they fixed it immediately while I waited, and then walked out to the parking lot with me afterwards and watched while I took it for a test ride to make sure everything was exactly the way I wanted it.