Bicycle Buying 101

Bicycle Buying 101

Are you in the market for a new bike? There are lots of options on the market, so before heading down to your local bicycle shop, read up on models, features, prices, and the pros and cons of each type. Prices range from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars, so investigate all the possibilities. Not every two-wheeler will fit every cyclist, because there are multiple bike-rider personalities. Which type are you?

If you are a commuter who wants to "go green" while pedaling to work, consider a hybrid bike with comfy handlebars and seat. A hybrid is sturdier than your basic road bike, but not quite as rugged as a mountain bike. If you are an adventurer who likes to rip up the gravel while zipping up and down off-road trails, select a mountain bike with full-suspension, wide tires, low gears, and disc brakes. If you are an athlete who wants to log miles and burn calories at the same time, you might want to consider a racing road bike. Road bikes are designed for speed and fitness, but you'll need to learn to change tires, because the skinny tires go flat more often than other bike tires.

To learn more about bike types and the features of each model, take a look at this detail-filled infographic. After reading it, you'll be ready to hit the road for some test drives.


Presented By Bicycle Adventures Bike Tours and Vacations

1865 - First Bicycles Brought to Toronto

A display of Toronto's history of sports is at the Toronto Reference Library's art gallery. The two images below talk about how "Boneshakers" was the first type of bicycle imported to Toronto in 1865, and "Cycles Brownie" was one of the first bicycles manufactured in Toronto.

Custom Bianci / Corno Marrone Bicycle

The custom bicycle above is owned by "Jade" of Toronto, who purchased the bicycle in Italy.

Very shiny and chic!

Stephen Harper Blocks Bicycle Lane

Stephen Harper was in Toronto for the Maclean's leaders' debate at the City studio in Yonge and Dundas Square, but his campaign bus was photographed blocking a bike lane in front of the Delta Hotel on Lower Simcoe St. near the CN Tower in Toronto.

The driver of the bus refused to move it when asked and blocked photographs of himself by lifting a newspaper to cover his face.

The fine for parking in a bike lane in Toronto is $150. The fine is there because in order for cyclists to get around parked vehicles they have to merge with faster moving traffic, putting themselves in danger of a collision or being killed.

Toronto Police Service says no special parking arrangements made for the Harper bus, and therefore it was parked illegally.

A representative of the Conservative Party did not return a request for comment.

A Brief History of the Weird and Wonderful Gasoline Bicycles

Throughout history, several manufacturers have experimented with making gasoline-powered bicycles. Here is a list of some notable historical manufacturers who ventured into this field:

1. Hildebrand & Wolfmüller:

   • Hildebrand & Wolfmüller, a German company, is often credited with producing the world's first commercially available gasoline-powered motorcycle in 1894. Their motorcycle, known as the Hildebrand & Wolfmüller, featured an internal combustion engine mounted on a bicycle frame.

2. De Dion-Bouton:

   • De Dion-Bouton, a French automobile manufacturer, produced motorized bicycles in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They were among the first companies to mass-produce engines specifically designed for bicycles, and their motorized bicycles gained popularity during that era.

3. Werner Brothers:

   • Werner Brothers, a German company, manufactured gasoline-powered bicycles in the early 20th century. Their motorcycles featured compact engines mounted on bicycle frames and gained recognition for their innovative designs.

4. Indian Motorcycle Company:

   • The Indian Motorcycle Company, an American motorcycle manufacturer, experimented with gasoline-powered bicycles in the early 20th century. They developed models such as the Indian Motoplane, which combined a motorcycle engine with a bicycle frame.

5. FN Herstal:

   • FN Herstal, a Belgian firearms manufacturer, also dabbled in the production of motorized bicycles in the early 20th century. They manufactured motorcycles with engines mounted on bicycle frames, catering to the growing demand for motorized transportation.

6. NSU Motorenwerke:

   • NSU Motorenwerke, a German company known for its motorcycles and automobiles, produced motorized bicycles in the early 20th century. Their designs incorporated compact engines integrated into bicycle frames.

7. Excelsior Motor Manufacturing & Supply Company:

   • The Excelsior Motor Manufacturing & Supply Company, an American motorcycle manufacturer, produced motorized bicycles in the early 20th century. They created models that combined bicycle frames with small engines, offering an alternative mode of transportation.

It's worth noting that these manufacturers and their ventures into gasoline-powered bicycles played a significant role in the evolution of motorcycles and motorized transportation as we know it today.

Top 10 Cycling Movies

Below are 10 of the best cycling movies ever made (up to June 2015). I may update this list sometime in the future if new films come out or if I am made aware of other films. If you know of any cycling films that should be mentioned on this page, please add them in the comments section.

A Sunday in Hell - 1976

Breaking Away - 1979

American Flyers - 1985

[Note - See the trailer for American Flyers further below.]

2 Seconds - 1998

Ghislain Lambert's Bicycle - 2001

The Flying Scotsman - 2006

Phantom Pain - 2009

Premium Rush - 2012

The Armstrong Lie - 2013

Half the Road - 2014




For a more complete list of cycling films, see the list below:

Fictional Cycling Films

Bicycle Thieves - 1948
Jour de Fête - 1949
Onna Keirin-o - 1956
One Got Fat - 1963
Slipstream - 1967
A Peasant on a Bicycle - 1974
A Sunday in Hell - 1976
Breaking Away - 1979
BMX Bandits - 1983
Pee-wee's Big Adventure - 1985
American Flyers - 1985
Quicksilver - 1986
Rad - 1986
On Time - 1987
Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar - 1992
Boy and Bicycle - 1997
2 Seconds - 1998
The Amateur - 1999
Beijing Bicycle - 2001
Cyclomania - 2001
Ghislain Lambert's Bicycle - 2001
The Triplets of Belleville - 2003
Nasu: Summer in Andalusia - 2003
Island Etude - 2006
Clorophilla - 2006
The Flying Scotsman - 2006
Phantom Pain - 2009
The Kid with a Bike - 2011
Premium Rush - 2012
Wadjda - 2012
Allez, Eddy - 2012

Documentary Cycling Films

Vive le Tour - 1962
A Sunday in Hell - 1976
Bicycle Safety Camp - 1989
Road to Paris - 2001
Hell on Wheels - 2004
Klunkerz: A Film About Mountain Bikes - 2006
Pedaling to Freedom - 2007
Bicycle Dreams - 2009
Chasing Legends - 2010
With My Own Two Wheels - 2010
I Am - 2011
The Last Kilometer - 2012
A Winter of Cyclists - 2013
The Armstrong Lie - 2013
Half the Road - 2014

Memories of a Bicycle

What do you do with your old bicycle when you don't like it anymore?

Start with restoring it and then selling it! Give your old ride a rebirth and a new owner.

One of the things I love doing is restoring old bicycles - the older the better! So if you have an old bicycle and are too busy / unmotivated to fix it up, give it to me and I will fix it up and find it a new owner. [My contact info is on the upper right.]

Every old bicycle (regardless of age or how badly damaged it is) still has the potential for new life. In my experience some of the most gratifying restorations have been bicycles that were in really horrible shape, but a few new parts, a tune up and some new paint and that bicycle was gleaming like new and soon found itself a nice new owner.

Below is a lovely video of a bicycle, as told from the bicycle's perspective.