How to Choose a New Bike

Ready to find the perfect new bike?

Congrats! Bike shopping is exciting. But it can also be overwhelming, especially if you’re not entirely sure what you’re looking for. With so many different brands, styles and sizes out there, plus all the technical specs and marketing jargon, it’s easy to get sucked into endless hours of online bike reviews and abstract comparison shopping.






Before the internet, most bike hunts relied on trial and error: show up at your local bike shop, ride some bikes…and some more bikes…aaaaand more bikes at a different shop…and then maybe circle back to the first shop, and on and on.



These days a bike hunt usually begins online. The web is a great resource for scanning all the offerings at a glanceand can help you start to zero in on what you’re after, but how a bike feels on the road is an X factor that no amount of research can replicate. But site after site after site–or ride after ride after ride–can be time-consuming and exhausting.


That’s why we do it differently. We figure you’re the expert when it comes to knowing your own needs.

Our expertise is knowing which bikes will meet them. By leveraging our years of experience as bicycle matchmakers, we can eliminate the guess-and-check of it all.





Step One: The New Bike Survey

The New Bike Survey is our secret weapon for streamlining your bike hunt. The online survey is a quick, accessible way for us to gather all the info we need to do the first 90% of your comparison shopping for you.

The survey asks about how and why you ride, budget, aesthetic preferences, hopes, dreams and deal-breakers for your new bike. If you include your basic body measurements too (which you can take in minutes at home) even better! Once you’ve submitted your survey, it’s on to…



Step Two: We look over your survey responses, crunch your measurement numbers, and send you an email with a shortlist of recommendations based on what you’ve told us. You can take a look, let us know what you think, ask any questions that come up, or ask for more or different options.

Working together remotely before you come to the shop for test rides means that by the time you…




Step Three: …schedule a New Bike Shopping appointment, we’ll have already ruled out bikes that don’t match your criteria. All you have to do is choose between the top candidates that do!


If you’re ready to get bike shopping, go ahead and start your New Bike Survey! If you want a behind-the-scenes look at how we turn your survey responses into a list of bikes we think you’ll love, keep reading.

How We Pick Your Shortlist Bikes

Bikes come in all shapes, sizes, and styles. It takes some technical knowledge to understand what makes an “all-road” bike different from an “adventure” bike, or why one bike tends to fit people with long legs while another is perfect for people with long torsos.




The New Bike Survey helps us apply our technical knowledge to you as an individual. The survey asks a range of questions, but focuses on three foundational categories: fit, function, and feel.

Fit

The first step of filling out the New Bike Survey is to find your measurements. Why? Because whether a bike is a good fit is about more than height. No two bike frames have exactly the same proportions. Same goes for people!

And since bike sizing isn’t standard across brands and models (think jeans rather than shoes),

your measurements mean we can be sure the bikes we recommend will fit your body.















Four basic measurements establish what frame size and geometry will work best for you. You can easily find them yourself at home.

They are:

• inseam length
• sternal notch height
• arm length
• foot length

The survey also gives you the option to tell us about any injuries, health conditions, or other concerns that may affect how you ride or how your bike needs to fit.

Function and Feel

Gravel, mountain, road, cyclocross, race, all-road, adventure, cargo, touring, bikepacking, trial, crit, track, hardtail, commuter, hybrid, dutchy, cruiser…there’s a bike for every riding style and setting! Figuring out which is best for the way you ride is a big part of any bike hunt.



Will you be cycling paved roads, gravel bike paths, forest trails, or a bit of everything? Do you want to be comfy over long distances or sprint at top speeds? Will your bike be your trusty commuter? Your weekend pleasure cruiser? A little of each?



When you tell us where, when and how much you’ll be riding we sift through the jargon and make sure the bikes we recommend are right for the job!



To determine the best style of bike for you, the New Bike Survey asks:

• how often you’ll ride, 
• round trip distance and duration of your average ride
• the conditions you’ll ride in (weather? hills? hauling heavy loads? etc.)

You may already have some ideas for your new bike, and we want to hear those too! The survey gives you the chance to tell us about features and characteristics you’d like your new bike to have, including

• drop bars vs. flat bars
• modern vs. classic aesthetic
• durability vs. lightness
• speed vs. stability
• and, of course, favourite frame color!

Budget

Budget can be a big consideration in finding the perfect new bike. The brands we work with make quality bikes at a wide range of price points. A Sidesaddle bike can be anything from an no-nonsense steed that checks all your boxes without breaking the bank to a high-end, custom made or highly purpose-specific bike–and everything in between!


In general, our bikes fall into a these budget categories:

• Under $1200: as inexpensive as possible while still being fun, safe and reliable
• $1200-$2500: entry level drop bar bikes, mid-range flat bar bikes
• $2500-$4000: mid-range drop bar bikes, either highly versatile or optimized for a particular use
• $4000-$6000: top range from many large companies, custom becomes an option
• $6000-$8000: top range from small companies, likely custom or at least customized
• $8000+: dream bikes for discerning cyclists

Whatever your budget, we’re always happy to break down a bike’s price tag so you can compare options and assess value between different models and brands.



At the end of the day, what makes a bike right for you is simply that you love riding it. And finding that bike shouldn’t have to feel like a needle-in-a-haystack problem. Whether you’re an experienced cyclist, returning after some time away, or shopping for your first bike ever, we’re excited to help you find your perfect new ride!