Choosing a bike, seat, shoes

[Grog]

I have fallen in love with this year's Solo bikes by Rocky Mountain (owned by ProCycle). The designs are really beautiful (this year's colours and glazes... wow) and they're somewhat local (based in Vancouver). I got all the components from last year's Solo AL-30 in Ultegra 10-speed with Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels and a carbon fork, couldn't be happier. (I have had the parts put on a different frame because I worked for a different brand owned by the same company.) (Disclosure: I used to work for ProCycle, which owns Rocky Mountain and that other brand.)
Look at these babies: http://www.bikes.com/bikes/2006/solo/index.aspx
They also do custom bikes now...

Another less known Canadian brand is Opus, and they have a few options in that price range. Similar to Lemond, if you like, but also more "local".

Another Canadian company, Marinoni, might have bikes in your area:
http://www.marinoni.qc.ca/html/detaillants.html

Of course there's all the regular stuff like the Trek 1000 etc. but others know better about this.

When I'm in Vancouver next week I could photocopy the pages of the Velo Quebec road bikes guide for 2006. It's in French but "Ultegra" and "carbone" are quite easy to understand It's just a table with all the bikes available in Canada with their price and components. If you want this, just send me a private message with your address.

[kelownagirl]

I have fallen in love with this year's Solo bikes by Rocky Mountain (owned by ProCycle). The designs are really beautiful (this year's colours and glazes... wow) and they're somewhat local (based in Vancouver). I got all the components from last year's Solo AL-30 in Ultegra 10-speed with Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheels and a carbon fork, couldn't be happier. (I have had the parts put on a different frame because I worked for a different brand owned by the same company.) (Disclosure: I used to work for ProCycle, which owns Rocky Mountain and that other brand.)
Look at these babies: http://www.bikes.com/bikes/2006/solo/index.aspx
They also do custom bikes now...

Another less known Canadian brand is Opus, and they have a few options in that price range. Similar to Lemond, if you like, but also more "local".

Another Canadian company, Marinoni, might have bikes in your area:
http://www.marinoni.qc.ca/html/detaillants.html

Of course there's all the regular stuff like the Trek 1000 etc. but others know better about this.

When I'm in Vancouver next week I could photocopy the pages of the Velo Quebec road bikes guide for 2006. It's in French but "Ultegra" and "carbone" are quite easy to understand It's just a table with all the bikes available in Canada with their price and components. If you want this, just send me a private message with your address.

Thanks Grog (how did you pick that name btw?)

My MTB is a Rocky Mountain so it might be a good chocie for me. I checked out their website and do like the colours Do they have any bikes that are WSD (or however you say that grammatically or are more compact for a short girl like me? (5' 2") I tried a Giant OCR1 the other day and ended up with a 42cm frame(!) - even then, they'd have to change the stem so I don't have to stretch my arms so far to reach. The Rocky Mountain Solo bikes on the website have 48cm as their smallest size but maybe I should go back and compare the actual top tube length etc.

I'm going bike shopping after school on Friday so will check out some of the bikes available here in Kelowna. There are 5 stores and each pone seems to carry different brands.

Hold off on copying the Velo Guide for me for now. I don't bother you unless I really get stuck.

I appreciate the feedback. I am listening to the salepeople at the various stores and trying to weed out the pitch from the true info.

barb