04-24-2016, 11:50 AM
Shortly after we moved into our house a couple of years ago, my bike (a Trek Y5 I'd had for years, and loved) got stolen out of my shed. They politely refused to steal my husband's Canadian Tire bike. I'd like to get another one, but it's been so long since I've ridden that I don't really know even where to start looking. I get the impress that the stuff at Canadian Tire probably isn't really what I want - I want something that's going to last a while. Basically, I want the "Toyota Corolla" of bikes - not a Cavalier or a Mercedes. 
Any recommendations on cycle shops in the area that are good for beginners who want maybe something one-step up from just getting one from Canadian Tire? Back when I got my Y5, V-brakes were all the rage and had just come out. Everything now seems to have discs. I used to ride on a lot of trails at conservation areas when I was younger but I don't think I'll be doing too much of that, so I'm kind of leaning toward just getting a hard tail instead of a full suspension bike. I suspect most of my riding will be in and around town but I'd still like to ride on unpaved trails.
Any recommendations on cycle shops in the area that are good for beginners who want maybe something one-step up from just getting one from Canadian Tire? Back when I got my Y5, V-brakes were all the rage and had just come out. Everything now seems to have discs. I used to ride on a lot of trails at conservation areas when I was younger but I don't think I'll be doing too much of that, so I'm kind of leaning toward just getting a hard tail instead of a full suspension bike. I suspect most of my riding will be in and around town but I'd still like to ride on unpaved trails.