Where to buy a hybrid in Toronto

philmarion

I have a long winded thread elsewhere on the forum about whether I really need to buy a new bike. I haven't bought one since 1992. IF I decide to get a new hybrid am I better to get one from an online vendor? I recently upgraded my computer and found it much cheaper to buy the various components online and build it myself - much cheaper than a brick and mortar store computer. I wonder if that is not also the case with bikes. Would a custom build from cheaper online vendors be the route to go, or like automobiles, are bikes best bought from a brick & mortar dealer?
My last buy was from Duke's in Toronto. The bike scene has changed alot...where else should I look to buy from, if brick and mortar vendors are the way to go?
Are there cheap online vendors? With the Cdn$ so strong I would consider buying from US vendors.

JM01

its always less expensive to buy a built bike compared to doing it yourself...the difference can be substantial

I would not recommend buying a bike on the net...fit is critical, and each mfg has unique specs, I'd also stay away from dept. store bikes as there are some quality issues (although the Schwinns at CTC aren't too bad)

Actually, not much has changed in the bike scene in Toronto...Duke's is still a high end dealer, but there are two LBS's located within walking distance of Queen & Bathurst...The Cycle Shoppe on Queen, and the new guy at Richmond & Bathurst, but I'd look close to home if there is a good selection. All LBS's carry at least 3 makes...good, better, best

Best to try a few makes and go with the one that fits best, both physical and budget

philmarion

There once were many stores at Dufferin/Bloor that are gone, as well as McBride Cycle. I once bought from a store that was near the Lovecraft Sex Shoppe on Yorkville Ave - it is also gone. I'll look at those 3 stores. I see Cycle Pth everywhere and there seem to be a few bike stores near Yonge & Egg - once call Trek and another 2 blocks north of Eg on the West side.

JM01

bloor/dufferin is a good area to look..Broadway Cycle and Sweet Pete's (formerly Cyclepath) cover most good mfg's between them, Cyclemania makes a good bike as well. McBride is gone (no loss) but there Chain Reaction on Dundas and Racer Sportif on Bloor in the west end, as well as the LBS at the foot of Jane.

For hybrids, I'd check out Urbane Cyclist on John St., Bikes on Wheels in Kensington (he has a store on Bloor as well),

Cycle Shop, Dukes, and the new guy at Bathust & Queen are OK

For one stop shopping, best to try Sweet Pete's and Broadway (they're within walking distance of each other)...between them they have Trek, Specialized, Giant, Marin, Diamondback, Scott, GT, Globe...and more

happy hunting

melslur

I would recommend educating yourself (browsing at a few shops) then going to the fall bike show in downtown Toronto. You will find your best deal there, in my opinion.

Yojimbo_

http://www.tbn.ca/retailer/rtdb/at.htm

This is a database of Toronto and area bike dealers, with some online ones thrown in for good measure.

Good luck.

deedubya

For what it's worth, I purchased two Specialized hybrids at Broadway last year (one for me, one for my wife), and think I got a pretty good deal. Since the purchase, they've been good on their promise to provide "free adjustments", but I wish I had written confirmation what was considered "an adjustment" (I understand that wheel truing is not included, but figured it was). That said, if you agree with JM01 that "fit is critical", you may be disappointed with Broadway; they did nothing to assess what the appropriate frame size for me was (let alone saddle position and handlebar angle), other than look me over.

Not that I'm unhappy with the size they recommended to me.

I think the following is the best advice:

Here are the deets:

8th Annual Bicycle Fall Blowout Sale

Saturday, October 13, 2007 10 am - 5 pm
Direct Energy Centre
(Formerly National Trade Centre), Hall A, Exhibition Place Toronto, Ontario, Canada

JM01

Most shops don't do a great job fitting, unless you're buying a road bike...they usually spend more time on these, but then you get a lot of kids selling bikes.

Mark, the new manager at Broadway is a lot better than the previous one (Who is now at Sweet Pete's)...takes a lot of time with the customers...knows a lot about bikes...if he can't answer your question, he'll use the computer thats now at the sales desk to access the appropriate sites

I've bought a couple of bikes at Broadway (My daughter tells me that her Stumpjumper FSR is the best fitting bike that she has ever had, but it took three visits to the store and 30 minutes with the wrench to get the fit right...even had to cut down the seatpost)...always great service, price, guarantee...the trick is to ask a lot of questions...bring in another sales guy (the owner's son is great, but not always there) if the person that is working with you can't answer them

Broadway also has the best wrencher that I've met in long time...just a kid, but knows his stuff

If you're looking for fit and service, the last place to look is at the bike blowout

deedubya

I've not been to the fall show, but I know that both Broadway and Sweet Pete's were at the spring show in '06. If these retailers are at the fall show, who is to say you can't have your cake and eat it too, in terms of getting a good price from a place that can provide quality service?

If it takes a couple of post bike show visits to the store to fine tune saddle position and/or swap out a stem to achieve proper fit, it would not matter if the bike was bought directly at the store, or at the store's booth at the show (provided this is the policy of the store).

That said, I don't know that they will be there. Maybe the original poster can find out.

BTW, I think the LBS at the foot of Jane is called Brown's.

JM01

Not sure if its Brown's..I changed my commute route so I haven't gone by in a while.

Everyone will be at the bike show...it's where they'll be clearing their old stock.

But here's a hint...every bike mfg has a MSRP min-max, so when buying a bike in season, the LBS has some wiggle room...depending on the bike, Broadway is able to offer larger mark-downs. Also, a the trick is to go to the store after the bike show, chances are he will have some unsold inventory, which is what happened with my kid's FSR, and he took a HUGE cut...something like half price. Just make sure that you speak with the owner...he splits his time between the two locations.

But then you take your chances...I missed out on a Nomad this spring because Duke's was able to sell it at the show.

Just remember, there's no wrench or fitting gear at the show, so they won't be able to dial in your bike or do a proper fit...and you really won't save that much as the bikes are ticketed at the store before they're shipped to the Ex.