Vancouver Girls

[kelownagirl]

Grog? Shootingstar? Anyone?

What is the biggest Vancouver bike shop that carries Specialized? I might have a couple of minute to pop into one when I'm in town in March and I really want to see if I can find a Ruby Expert in my size to try out. The one here is a 54". I want to call ahead and see because I don't have much time, but I don't even know where to start. (Funny, since I grew up there... )

[shootingstar]

Try: the lst bike store. It's a 3 min. walk from Mountain Equipment Co-op. I haven't been there for awhile. Store doesn't seem to have a website.

Out of interest you might find Mighty Riders interesting. It is a 5 min. walk in the opposite direction from MEC. At corner of Ontario St. & Broadway.



I copied this from a website. It's not all the bike stores in town. I live 1/2 block away from Reckless Bikes.

La Bicycletta - high end road cycles and gear, located in the 200-block West Broadway (by Cambie). Road & Tri stuff only.

Mighty Riders - 'Ed's shop'. Specializes in cyclocross stuff. Whatever you've broken, Ed can get it working again. Also on Broadway, about 000 or West 100 block. A little road, a little mountain, a lot of courier specials.




Campione Cycles - Specialty is their own brand 'Cramerotti' cycles. Lots of Campy stuff. On W. 8th, just East of Burrard. Only road and tri.

Bicycle Sports Pacific - on Burrard just on the downtown (North) side of the Burrard St bridge. The only place in town to get cannondales. Road, tri and mountain (and lots of clothing).

[Grog]

Here is what the Specialized web site says, with my comments. My bottom line is: Check La Bicicletta, Dizzy's, Obsession and The Bike Gallery. (See more details below.)

LA BICICLETTA
233 WEST BROADWAY
VANCOUVER, BC V5Y 1P5 CA
(604) 872-2424
http://www.labiciclettaproshop.com
sales@labiciclettaproshop.com
(604) 872-2445
Road Competition
Women's Products

I remember seeing a few Specialized bikes there. They have A LOT of bikes in stock. Call ahead of time they'll be able to tell you what they have in stock. They're a bit... well, snob, but they know what they're talking about and although not always friendly they can be really helpful.

MIGHTY RIDERS
10 EAST BROADWAY
VANCOUVER, BC V5T 1V6 CA
(604)879-8705
ed@mightyriders.ca
Equipment Only

Ed IS a wonderful mechanics and I have enjoyed working with him over the past 2 years. He also is quite used to working with women as he sponsors a women's cycling club (Chicks Cycling Club). BUT they have very, very little in stock, it's a small store. He can order just about anything, but my understanding is that he specializes in unusual brands and small-production frame-makers. Just a few minutes walk from La Bicicletta though. The clothing store he has next door (The Rivet) is worth a visit.

This being said, he's gently grumpy at times, and if you want to make sure you get something specific you have to be specific in requesting it. For me that's common sense when dealing with any bike shop but my husband sort of expected Ed to read his mind and their relationship ended up short-lived.

SIMON'S BIKE SHOP
608 ROBSON ST.
VANCOUVER, BC V6B 2B9 CA
(604) 602-1181
http://www.simonsbikeshop.com
info@simonsbikeshop.com
MTB Racing
Aggro
Sport MTB and/or Ergo/Comfort
Women's Products

Haven't been there since my bikes were shipped there when I arrived in Vancouver. Not really where I'd go for road stuff.

DIZZY'S CYCLES (VANCOUVER)
1856 WEST 4TH AVE
VANCOUVER, BC V6J-1M3 CA
(604) 739-6848
http://www.dizzycycles.com
van@dizzycycles.ca
(604) 739-6859
MTB Racing
Aggro
Sport MTB and/or Ergo/Comfort
Road Competition
Women's Products
Test Centers

Disclaimer: Dizzy's used to sponsor my (former) club (Chicks, previously called the Dizzy Chicks) and we (the club and Dizzy) split up because we felt they were not very interested in the club and the prices were overinflated, making the discount club members had on products sort of meaningless...

BUT they may be THE store you're after: they have most of Specialized bikes (and a LOT of Trek also) in most sizes, including the WSD products. Remember that this is Kitsilano, Vancouver so if you go test-riding a bike there it will be in a 1) very hilly area and 2) with lots of cars.

BIKE DOCTOR
1350 COMMERCIAL DRIVE
VANCOUVER, BC V5L 3X6 CA
(604) 215-7433
(604) 215-7463
Equipment Only

Never been there but looks like they're like Mighty: Equipment only.

OBSESSION BIKES LTD.
94 LONSDALE
N. VANCOUVER, BC V7M 2E6 CA
(604) 985-2213
http://www.obsessionbikes.com
james@obsessionbikes.com
(604) 985-2510
MTB Racing
Aggro
Sport MTB and/or Ergo/Comfort
Road Competition
Women's Products
Test Centers

Don't know them but I think they might be the shop that used to be called Dizzy's on the North Shore. Worth a phone call I think.

THE BIKE GALLERY
4433 WEST 10TH AVE
VANCOUVER, BC V6R 2H8 CA
(604) 221-2453
http://www.vancouverbikegallery.com
info@vancouverbikegallery.com
(604) 221-8650
MTB Racing
Sport MTB and/or Ergo/Comfort
Road Competition
Women's Products
Test Centers

This is a small shop but they have a lot of Specialized bikes. My husband goes there for all his repairs and one of the guys there, Jeremy, is great. (I don't like the other mechanics as much.) Call ahead. They're really friendly, and they have (or used to have?) some sort of connection with the Wedgewood cycling club, which to me means a lot as I think it's a fairly respected road club.

I hope this helps!

[LBTC]

Hey, ladies! I've been to a bunch of those shops, but you haven't mentioned my favourite, yet. Okay, well, they are on the North Shore, but they are easy to find, are the largest Specialized dealer in Canada, and their service is Fantastic!!! John Henry the Bicycle Man! http://www.johnhenrybikes.com/index.asp

Call ahead and see if you can talk to Willie. He's great! The work they did getting and building DH's Specialized MTB was pretty amazing. If you get to talk to Willie himself, tell them we sent ya.

Of course, before you head to Van, call a few of the shops to be sure that they actually have the bike for you to ride!

Have fun!!

H&B
~T~

[kelownagirl]

Thanks everyone. LB - That's exactly what I plan to do. I don't have time to drive all the way out to north van without knowing they have one in my size and I figure a larger specialized dealer is more likely to have a 51" ruby expert...

[shootingstar]

remember seeing a few Specialized bikes there. They have A LOT of bikes in stock. Call ahead of time they'll be able to tell you what they have in stock. They're a bit... well, snob, but they know what they're talking about and although not always friendly they can be really helpful.

True, some sales folks are abit standoffish but seems to vary, depending who one deals with. I just walk in there to browse (@bicycletta) look at one's new.. since some of their clothing is expensive. I did buy a saddle from them a long time ago.

My partner has had different things ordered in and installed on his bike...he has never used that shop. I'm certain pricing is part of it or if it's attitude I don't know.

If the folks in the store knew that my guy who walked into their shop as a curious customer, spearheaded as a volunteer leading his organization, to secure several million dollars of cycling facilties for the City of VAncouver (ie. bike deck for the RAV line bridge), I wonder if they would sing a different tune to him..


this is why I wish the split between racing, tri and rest of cycling world wasn't too deep at times...

I'm sure kelownagirl, you may find something somewhere in Vancouver. Have fun in the 'rushed' search.