12 BEATROUTE MAY <strong>2019</strong>
VanCity Places TUNE-UP TIME: ASK THE EXPERTS The best cycle shops, bike parts, and tune-up tips for summer By DAYNA MAHANNAH Spring has sprung in Vancouver and those clouds could clear at any time so bikers should be road-ready. <strong>BeatRoute</strong> checked in with experts at five Vancouver bike shops to talk about the most important things to look for in bike upkeep. Here’s the lowdown on how to prep for a solid summer of smooth cycling. Adam Douglas believes in the power of grease Ride On Bike Shop 2180 Main Street Daily: 11 am-630 pm, Holidays: noon-5 pm The Main Street location’s top technician, Adam Douglas, describes the owner as a “pure legend” and cycling advocate who keeps the shop simple and approachable to all levels of bike-enthusiasts. A standout? Their bike baskets, which come in sizes ‘six-pack’ to ‘weekend grocery-load’. The stays make them secure as heck (read: hard to steal) and go for $45. Douglas emphasizes the importance of chain upkeep; “Less is more with oil.” Once a month and after a long, rainy rides, run a thin oil over the chain and wipe excess off with an old rag. KRISTI CALDERON Super Champion Specialty Bike Shop 245 Main Street Mon—Sat: 11 am-6 pm, Sun: noon-5 pm BLAKE STARTUP Kirsty Stevens is ready to build or fix anything thrown her way Landyachtz Factory Store 1146 Union Street Mon-Fri: 8am-7pm, Weekends: 10am-6pm “We can handle anything a bike needs,” says store manager Blake Startup. “Because we build them from the ground up.” Hundreds of tires ($50-$150 each) hang from the shop walls and ceiling. The “world of gravel tires” references a new form of biking, off-road exploration. Top brands including Shwalbe, Panaracer and the new Teravail are available. Landyachtz sees tons of commuters from the Adanac bike route and Startup knows a squeaky brake can be dangerous. “Listening to your brakes is one of the most important safety things you can do.” Nick Hart has a handle on handlebars Sidesaddle Bike Shop 2496 Victoria Drive Mon-Sat: 11 am-6 pm, Sun: 11 am-5 pm Vancouver’s first women-focused bike shop boasts a saddle library of 60 to 100 styles between $30- 300. Want to try before you buy? Test drive as many as you like for a $50 fee and get $25 credit towards your saddle of choice once you’ve found the perfect fit. Staff mechanic Johanna Bleecker says saddles are a huge factor in a rider’s comfort and, subsequently, how much they ride. “Don’t wait until things are super bad,” is her tune-up advice. Changing gears, for example, should not feel difficult. “That usually means your cables are corroded or rusted.” Replacing them will make it smoother, easier. Don’t we all want that? Johanna Bleecker wants you to take a seat DARROLE PALMER Full of punk and bike curios, Super Champ still has a practical yet extensive handlebar collection of road and track styles. Proper handlebars can improve comfort and diminish wrist pain. They range from $5 to $150 in-house, but co-owner Nick Hart says they can order anything. On the road, Hart advises, “Try to avoid cross-chaining.” That is, for bikes with gears, you never want to be on your biggest ring and your biggest cog at the back, which puts the chain at an extreme angle and causes it to strain, skip and wear out. DARROLE PALMER Resident mechanic Joshua Manimtim is at one with two wheels Our Community Bikes 2429 Main Street Daily: 11 am-6 pm Our Community Bikes is uberstocked with cool parts, but co-manager Emiliano Sepulveda is stoked about their stash of interesting hubs (the centre part of the wheel the spokes are threaded into), which can be rebuilt into new wheels if you change a bike. Used hubs start at $6 and vintage ones go for $40-50. Aside from oft-neglected advice of putting air in your tires every two weeks, Sepulveda suggests raising your seat post. If it’s too low, you don’t have full leg extension which can create knee problems. “Even 10 millimetres,” he says. “That makes a big change.” , COURTESY OUR COMMUNITY BIKES MAY <strong>2019</strong> BEATROUTE 13