WHY
So we were thinking... Why not? Why not let you know, in a few brief (or no so brief) lines WHY we do the brands we do. Why we chose the brands we chose, why this brand over that brand, what's so cool about Jamis and why we may never NOT sell Rocky mountain bikes. Here you have it, the simple no B.S. pourquoi behind why we do the brands we do.

Check back soon and make sure to refresh this page as we add more brands every day.

Shimano, the big fromage of bike components, has stepped it up in recent years thanks, in no small part, to the push for serious innovation from the good folks at SRAM (another of our favorite brands) The big thing we love fro Shimano isn;t the uber-cool XTR or the sweet new XT stuff (of course they kick butt)... What makes us all giddy is the lowly LX stuff... Simply amazing bang for the buck... terrific performance at a reasonable price. Our two fav's from Shimano are the LX cranks (Never has $280 bought you better performance improvement over your current non-external set-up) and the simply unbeatable LX brakes (yes, we know, no-one is on mtbr right now vaunting the insane bullet-proof reliability and performance of Shimano LX brakes... and that's mostly because Shimano has not yet adopted the overt viral marketing tactics of many of its competitors). It's not the flashy stuff that earns Shimano points with us, it's the meat and potatoes.

The question would more like Why the _____ not? Of course Rocky Mountain Bikes! We're a heritage dealer, dude! We've been doing Rocky Mountain bikes since the dawn of man. Sensational Canadian built bikes built by Canadians. Great heritage, sensational value, wicked designs and a following that is rivaled only by those fans of the Grateful Dead. (remember the Deadheads?) Almost every one of us has owned a Rocky Mountain bike at some point... They are as core as core gets and yet they had the cojones to begin offering reasonably priced bikes a few years ago... Imagine, all the soul of a Rocky at a price everyone can afford. Things are looking very nice at Rocky. From their entry-level Flare to their sweet kids bikes to their wicked "Bike of the Year" Element family of yummy full suspension bikes... Oh, and lest we forget the off the hook Slayer family. Like Borat said "I Like!"

We love SRAM. Not just for what they do, but also for what they've done to the bike industry... Shaken things up and made others (like the dudes at Shimano) wake up and start building better gear. The simple fact that their shifters and their derailleurs have made most of us swear to never use anything else is saying something. Nevermind that their customer service guys (like ED in paryicular) have done nothing but raise the bar... If the bike you like comes with the stuff rejoice, it's some of the best stuff ever made... If you're looking to upgrade your current set-up, you owe it to yourself to put some SRAM goodies on your short list. It's just that good..

Why do we insist on doing these hard to pronounce tires? A customer once purred, when talking about her new Schwalbe's Big Betty ORC's: "Just the best tires I've ever been on". Now that's what we call a pretty clear endorsement. And it's a theme that resonates when we ask for feedback from people who we've sold these tires to. Good thing they slap on, in big white letters names like "BIG BETTY" or "MUDDY MARY" or "RACING RALPH" and the always popular "FAST FRED" because the name "Schwalbe" doesn't exactly roll off your tongue, now does it? In the end, it's not such a big deal... What is a big deal is how these tires perform. Simply amazing. They ride exactly as advertised and they last (provided you don't get the Gooey Gluey compound) and they corner and they climb, and they stick (especially if you get the Gooey Gluey compound) and the quality is simply second to none. There are different tires out there... But there are no better tires out there. Do yourself a favor, pick up a pair of Shwalbes and see the light.

You might have read somewhere on here that we're Canada's largest Jamis dealer. How we got to sell more Jamis bikes than anyone else in Canada is simple: We love these bikes. And the reason we love these bikes is because we Love Jamis. A great company with a soul run by good-hearted people that really do care for the end-user (that's YOU). From their award-winning full carbon road and triathlon bikes to their most excellent Dakar family of outstanding full-suspension bikes, Jamis never forgot the basic bikes that pay the rent. To buy a Jamis bike is to buy amazing value, painstaking attention to detail and unequaled bang-for-the-buck. Little things like the fact that Jamis chooses to have all of their bikes welded by hand by artisans who care as much about the experience as you do. The owner of Jamis once told us "we like to think that our customers see their bikes as more than simply the sum of their parts". Bikes with soul. What a fantastic concept.

After our monster 2007 season we looked long and hard at where we sat with our bike selection... And came up with the conclusion that we needed to add a few more choices to already stellar line-up. We've always admired Scott bikes from afar, their attention to detail, their huge commitment to technology, the fact that they are one of the largest bike companies in the world and the fact that they are quite serious about full-suspension bikes... All of the above reasons were bolstered by the fact that the bikes simply rode like stink during the INTERBIKE demo in Nevada in October of 2007 and boy did we enjoy riding them... Scott bikes simply hit all the right buttons with us: They look so nice and bling and all techno-cool, they provide excellent value throughout their MTB line-up AND their accessory line-up is just as nice. Top to bottom, entry-level to full carbon full-suspension, we couldn't NOT do Scott. Needless to say we're super happy with the addition of Scott mountain bikes to our summer portfolio. Drop on by, check them out, we think you'll agree.

One of the reasons we chose NorthWave as our primary line of Cycling shoes is that they make some of the very best fitting shoes in the business, Nice snug heels and generous forefoot widths, exactly the way lots of you like 'em. Oh and did we mention that NorthWave not only makes some of best looking shoes around but they also make some of the best cycling gloves and clothing around. We are especially big fans of their Skeleton bike gloves and their simply amazing cycling socks. Do your feet and your cycling experience a favor, check out this Italian company's stuff. Chances are you'll become a fan, just like us.

We've been doing Intense tires for quite some time now... They are quite serious about their tires. One of our most favorite tires from them is the Intense System 4 - EX DC LITE these tires simply rock. Smooth rolling yet very grippy, if you're looking for a moderate-knobbed all-around tire this is the one. Intense Tire Systems describe it this way: System 4 is the high volume counterpart to the Intense System line. A performance full volume 26 X 2.25 tire, the System 4 offers the same fast rolling, hard cornering feel as their System 2 but with added volume and taller knobs for the tougher demands of Enduro style riding. Now with the added benefit of a 72 TPI, long lasting, iso-ply folding bead EX casing and Dual compound, the System 4 tire is the one to have. With added strength to the center knobs that extend the wear life the System 4 is a perfect balance of speed, handling and durability. Whew, that's a mouth-full. Like we said, serious tires.

Everyone does Mavic rims. Including us... There's a simple reason for this fact: Mavic is seen by many as the world's leader in wheel technology, they not only make make great wheel sets but also some of the very best bike rims known to man. If you want to build the best wheelset and you're into substance over flash, you almost gotta start with a Mavic rim.

We'd like to say that we did our homework on this one. That, Like Scott bikes, we spent days doing research and pouring through data, websites, reviews and specs... But no. Picture a guy (JF) just wandering around the Demo Day and stumbling upon a neat looking bike with an odd name... He proceeded to ask if he could take it out for a spin and instantly thought WOW! "This bike is amazing in its solid, composed demeanor". "Too bad we have enough bike lines, if we had room for one more brand this'd be it" was the initial thought... and so Rob got on it... and the big smile emanating from his face cemented the fact that we needed to make room for this little European bike company from Andorra named Commencal. (it's pronounced com-en-sahl). So good that JF and Ruth each got one. Sweet, solid full suspension bikes.

We've always had a little secret thing for Spinergy wheels. There is no denying the high bling factor behind their excellent wheels. Spinergy engineers have invented a revolutionary technology for stronger, lighter and faster wheels. Introducing PBO Fiber Spoke Technology. Every PBO spoke contains over 30,000 strands of polyphenylene bensobisoxazole fiber (huh?), delivering 3-times the strength of stainless steel at just half the weight. This means that not only are the wheels strong, they also have a unique "feel" to them. Very, very sweet riding wheels. The patented PBO spokes are lighter than traditional steel spokes which results in less rotational weight and a faster responding wheel – giving you the ultimate edge. All this delivers a wheel that is lighter, stronger, faster and superior in every way. The clincher, for us was the fact that Spinergy now uses Hadley hubs. Wicked, Wicked Wheels.

The world needs another bar-end manufacturer like we need more flying fish. No kidding, there are over a hundred bar-end manufacturers out there... And yes, Rav-X is one of those brands. What sets Rav-X apart is that they do high quality accessories at a reasonable price. Their stuff lasts, works well and it provides all-important VALUE. Our favorite from them? Their Combo-pack for folks that are getting into mountain biking. It features everything one would need to get started... and, like everything Rav-X it's great quality AND priced right. It's the easy add-on to every bike purchase and it'll make ALL the difference if you have a problem 10k's away from home. Other stuff we like from Rav-X includes their nice saddles and their most excellent seat bags, we've been doing those for the past 3 years and not a single one has come back for warranty (we like that a lot, when stuff doesn't come back) Agreed, Rav-X isn't the bling bling of bike accessories, it's more like the meat and potatoes of bike accessories... and that's ok.

We don't do a whole lotta Hope brakes mostly because they're pricey... but man, are they simply amazing. Take for example the lofty "Hope M6" brakes; not one, not two, not three, but SIX pistons! A gorgeous work of art that begs to be drooled upon. Like come on, man, WTF is "fade"? The only people who are NOT riding Hope brakes are those who know not how they perform or those who can't afford them. Because dude, trust me, to experience Hope is to believe in Hope... and dude, Hope is sweet. Oh, did we mention the rotors... OMG... You must see their rotors... simply amazing.

Why do we do Marin bikes? Marin bikes have always flown just below the radar. Great quality, nice finishes, unique riding experience. Great price-points. This will be our third year with Marin Bikes... Based out of Marin county, California, After 20 years in business, Marin hasn’t lost sight of their core values. They are committed to building a bicycle that is superbly engineered, lightweight yet durable, and designed to give riders the highest quality experiences for years to come. You’ll find that whether it’s a quick trip to the corner store or racing down your favorite single track, Marin bikes are low maintenance, well put together and simply easy to ride.

It all started with our tremendous success in BMX last year. After the season we looked around and thought that perhaps our customers were ready for a higher-end BMX bike, something low on hype and high on quality and performance. We already do Intense mountain bikes so when Intense rolled out a new street/vert series of BMX bikes (they already rule the world in BMX track and racing bikes) we though Hmmmm... We took a long hard look at them at Interbike in Vegas and concluded that they were a must-do. Sweet looking, well spec'd, nice paint jobs and of the quality level we expect from a brand such as Intense. They are called Felix, Clutch, Dudley and Crabtree, all four Models rolling into our stores mid-March, we're seriously stoked to show them off to you.

Mmm... Electra cruiser bikes. Arguably the big daddy of them all. In the old days, cruisers were very cool looking but heavy, hard to pedal and build only for the short 'cruise' around the neighborhood. Electra's "Modern Cruisers" are an evolution of the classic designs that defined the 40's and 50's. But no worries, they kept all the cool stuff; the style and the attitude and discarded the bad stuff; the extra weight and the lack of maneuverability. They began with the look, chose lightweight materials, engineered better frames and added state of the art components so you can look great, ride comfortably for any distance and enjoy your classic Electra for life. THAT is why we do the very cool Electra bike program.

Innovative, engineering intensive, and of irreproachable quality, Oakley is the undeniable leader in sports optics, the benchmark by which every other sunglass, goggle and eyewear manufacturer is judged. Sure, they are the 800 pound gorilla and not everyone likes to cheer for the overdog but everyone appreciates money well spent on quality merch.

When it comes to stems and seatposts, Thompson is quite simply the shiznit. No one makes a better seatpost and stem. Period. Their designs are timeless, their attention to detail and absolute excellence is unmatched in this or any other industry. They don't make bars, they don't make seats, they just do a few variations on two themes: Stems and Seatposts. Stronger, lighter, bulletproof... and if you're wondering why this blurb is turning out to be an exercise in superlatives it's because you've never owned a thompson stem and/or seatpost. Once you do, you don't use anything else.

It's simple, we only do two types of Hydration systems. Our main staple, the granddaddy of them all is Camelback. For many years we only did one type of hydration system and if it wasn't for our need for some Skull Candy we'd still be doing but one. Camelbak rules the world of sports hydration. Their packs are the very best, their bladders are the standard of industry and their bite valves are simply the very best, bar none. We could do other brands... There are so many to chose from, it's mind boggling. But when you actually test them all, you quickly realize that there's only one "camelbak" hydration system... and it's the standard of the world. Head and shoulders over their competition. So good, in fact that every soldier in the US and Canadian armies has one issued to them... More importantly, though is the fact that everyone we ride with has one too.

Sometimes you just gotta go for the bling. Skull Candy is one of these brands. They make sweet sounds sound sweeter and they make packs, including the super cool "Link" Hydration system that just blow our minds. Mountain bikers and hikers get both hydration and audio in this full feature 3-season pack. With its expandable pocket open, you have room for all the gear you'd want. Zip it down, and it's a super stable, low-profile, breathable summer system... With bitchin' strap-mounted speakers so you can ride without buds, so you can hear everything that's goin' around you... AND rock out to the beat of your favorite AC/DC tune.

First things first: It's pronounced "GEE-ROH". Ok, now that we've taken care of that neverending query, let us tell you why we do Giro helmets: Quality, Safety and innovation. Giro has been an innovator in the field of head-protection for decades. Giro is the maker of more than one iconic helmet, from the Xen that many of us own to the lids that have graced Lance's head at every Tour he's won, Giro has been there.

Sure, everyone makes a great $4500 bike, but who do we turn to when what we need are high quality kids and entry-level bikes? Norco! Yes, they make some sweet bling bling bikes (like we said, everyone makes those)... But where they truly shine is in the first-price-point category. Norco bikes offer amazing value, great quality and some of the best kids bikes anywhere. THAT is why we do Norco.

Planet Bike is one of those brands that we cherry pick... some of what they do is amazing, other stuff, not so much. Planet Bike stuff that we're all gaga for include their outstanding line-up of cycling computers, their very nice bottle cages and their very well made pannier racks. But by far our fav Planet Bike product is their cycling computers: A must have accessory on every bike, they work, we've had ZERO warranty issues with them and they feature a little read-out that we all appreciate: TEMPERATURE!

Why Smith? Simply great shades. These guys pretty much put interchangeable lenses on the map a few years ago. Now everyone does interchangeable but in our opinion Smith still rules the world of interchangeable-lense sunglasses... Great quality lenses, swet frame styles and while not cheap, certainly not expensive. When it comes to dependable, well put together shades with sweet features, Smith should be on your short list.

There are few products that so completely reside head and shoulders above all others. Dianese is one of these companies. Manufacturers of simply superior protective gear, the stuff reeks of quality, great fit and design excellence... But lets not forget what Dianese protective gear does for a living: PROTECT. Many of us were saved from serious injury by Dianese protective gear including JF and Catherine. Just ask us, we have footage to prove it.

The reason we do Kryptonite is pretty simple, they not only make locks, they firmly (and corporately as a division of mega-corp Ingerson Rand) stand behind their products and behind the stuff you lock with it. Yes, there are hundreds of lock companies, lock companies that promise us larger profits, higher margin and so on... But Kryptonite just makes better and better, more and more secure locks. From the virtualy impenetrable "New York" series of locks to the industry-standard Evolution Series, Kryptonite rules the world of locks... and our bikes are all better off because of it.

Ryders sunglasses are unpretentious about their lot in life. They live neatly between the Oakley's of the world and well above the gas-station variety of mass-market sunglasses. Good quality, nice R&D (which for Ryders means "Rip off & Duplicate") and great price-points, all adds up to a good value sunglasses that won't make you ante-up a panic seizure should your buddy roll over them with his bike... Sure, the lens quality may not be quite the same as a more expensive pair of Smith's or Anon's but hey, they still look good ... and it won't hurt so much when you lose them like you lost all the other sunglasses you lost last summer.

You finally have your ride dialed and now it's time to bling her up, that's when Dangerboy brake levers, bar-ends, pedals and other nice little accessories round out your ride perfectly. Made in Canada and engineered just right, these nice touches of functional bling go a long way in personalizing your bike. Our favorite? The ubiquitous brake levers... just about the best way to make your nice brakes feel just a bit better. Many of us swear by them. If you need some convincing (we understand, that's cool) just ask to try out a set on one of our personal bikes... you'll get it.