BeatRoute Magazine BC Edition May 2019

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.
BeatRoute 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 2019 BEATROUTE 13