While Bike Bros sells all types of bikes, the expertise in full suspension - and selling only the best of the best is where
Bike Bros really shines.
Explanation. The quality of bicycle suspension varies greatly from brand to brand. Some very high profile bike companies insist on
using suspension designs that are either flawed in performance or flawed in longevity or both. They typically get around this problem
with savvy marketing, including "band-aids" to try to fix the problems or they act like George Bush - telling lies over and over
until weak minded people believe the hype.
So unless you want to work harder, have a greater chance of being bucked off, want a sore ass or like missing rides because you're
suspension is in for service, you'll have to buy your full-suspension dream machine at Bike Bros.
Bike Buying Tips (for Newbies)
Of most importance: leave your "buddy" who was apparently a "world-champ" cyclist of some sort "back in the day" - leave him at home. Bicycle technology
has advanced significantly over the last few years. I hate being in the position to tell "champ" that everything he thinks he knows about bikes is totally outdated.
Now that you have lost "champ", visit your bank. Not just any bank, but the branch that handles your mortgage. We're getting silly today!
Seriously though... Let us begin - before the test-ride.
Figure out what you are going to do on your bike. Will you ever go off-road? What will you do 90% of the time?
Figure yourself out. Do you need the latest, greatest? Are you "frugal"? Will you pursue back-country cycling as a passion? How much are you comfortable spending?
Learn. Get comfortable with bike terminology. Ask questions.
Choosing YOUR bike. Don't get your heart set on a bike purely based on appearances. You may be surprised how subtle layout differences between bike models can change
the comfort and fit.
This is when you have to visit a shop and not just any shop - it must be Bike Bros.
Share how and where you want to ride, if you're a "latest-greatest" guy or a "frugal" shopper. You must remember. What one person thinks is agressive, another
will think is tame and what one thinks is expensive is another man's chump-change. talk to us.
Try to zone in on a level of bike. We'll make suggestions, but it is all based on your feedback. If you can zone into about a $200 range, you will have a number
of bike models to try.
Test ride. Spend some time riding around. Play with the gears (because it is fun), but concentrate mostly on comfort and feel. Some bikes automatically feel great
while some just don't. Pay attention to your butt, hands, neck, and lower back. Let us watch you. In some cases, people have become so used to poorly-fitted bikes,
that they don't feel right on a perfectly fitted bike - in this case you need trust - in this case you need us.
Mountain Bike Technology
Gears: Mountain Bikes need gears - lotsa them. Off road cycling involves
sections of steep hills, both up and down, different soil conditions and friends
who want to beat you back to the car to grab the last beer. For these differing
conditions, gears are essential - the more the better and they must shift smoothly!
Modern mountain bikes (worth owning) have either 18, 20, 21, 24, 27 or 30 gears. The shifting is indexed,
meaning your shifter clicks into each gear - when adjusted correctly (we are the only shop in the world
that can do this) the shifting will be smooth, quiet and quick.
The last couple years has brought new gearing options. 2x10 and 3x10 (20 and 30 speeds) are the newest to the market. 3x9 has been the "go to" option
for the last 10 years or so. This is coming down to what works best FOR YOU - not necessarily what is best. Talk to us about some of the pros and cons.
Brakes: Disc brakes are awesome - powerful in wet, dry, hot or cold. Disc brakes are superior because the braking surface is designed specifically for
braking - so it is stainless steel - allowing the use of brake pad material simillar to that used in the Starship Enterprise (and cars). The same could
have been achieved with a stainless steel wheel, but 35lb wheels would be a bit hard to pedal.
V Brakes (Linear Pull) are still on many cheap bikes. With disc brake equipped bike prices coming down so drastically, disc brakes are pretty much a must if you're
going to ride off road at all - especially if you'll ever see mud or water.
Mountain Bike Terminology
Types of mountain bikes
Hardtail: A bicycle with suspension forks and rigid frame. (front suspension only).
Full Suspension: A bike with suspension in the frame and fork. These can range from low-tech "pogo sticks on wheels" like the stuff you
see at department stores to bikes that we sell (bikes that actually enhance your riding experience.
29er: A mountain bike with 29" diameter wheels instead of 26" wheels. This is a touchy subject with some retro-grouches. The idea behind 29ers
is that they benefit from being more stable, offering superior traction and rolling over obstacles more easily. Bike Bros. was one of the first stores in Alberta
to stock and sell 29ers. We like 'em.
Single Speed: This proud sub-culture of mountain bikes and riders use only one gear on their bikes. This is "that next level" for ultra fit riders
looking for additional challenge. It also means less mechanical issues to deal with and a style of riding where the rider's skills must increase.
Geometry: In cycling, this is a general term to sum up the length, position or angle of different tubes. Changing a bike's geometry can affect both
the comfort of the rider and how well the bike performs in different situations.
XC Bike: Cross Country (XC) Bikes are light mountain bikes that are designed to put the rider in a powerful position - especially for climbing. These
can be either hardtails or full suspension with less than 4" of travel. XC bikes tend to favor efficient climbing over descending.
Trail Bike: These bikes, typically with 5" of travel, are designed to be as good for climbing as descending. The rider's position is slightly more upright
than an XC bike with slightly slacker angles than the XC bike to add to stability - especially when descending.
All Mountain Bike: Favouring more aggressive downhills, the All Mountain Bike is still a capable climber even with 6" of travel. While the All Mountain bike is capable of riding uphill,
it will take more energy and skill.
Freeride Bike: Pedalling efficiency is not a major concern on freeride bikes. These bikes are designed for stability and strength. Usually ridden at ski hills or places where
using a truck to shuttle to the top of a trail is possible
DH Bike: Downhill (DH) bikes are similar to freeride bikes but more emphasis is put on the bikes stability - both with the geometry and amount of suspension (8" to 10" of travel).
Why do you ride?
There is no right answer, but there is a right bike. New riders tend to focus on one type of riding - for them selecting the right bike
can be a critical difference between great feedback and never catching the bug.
Experienced riders tend to develop multi-personalities - and need a quiver of bikes to match the mood. For these guys there is no "one" bike, instead having a bunch of bikes - sometimes for unique types of riding, sometimes just because more bikes is better.
A wise man once said, the right number of bikes is one more than what you already have. He also said keep your number of bikes to one less than will cause divorce.
Mountain Bikes we sell
Full Suspension
click to see the selection from each brand
Hardtails
click to see the selection from each brand
Full Suspension Mountain Bikes
All Suspension bikes are NOT CREATED EQUAL. This is the category of bike that is about so much more than just comparing
components. We are absolute bike geeks and understanding full-suspension and ONLY SELLNG THE BEST of the best is what makes us happy about working in a bicycle store.
Giant's Maestro patented suspension design is an amazing design using short, dual links which allow engineers huge freedom to adjust rear
wheel path and shock ratios while eliminating brake-jack. Maestro has been around since 2005 and continues to be improved each year.
Giant full suspension bikes are typically very light, with good efficient pedalling and long-lasting pivot hardware.
We believe Giant offers THE BEST FULL SUSPENSION BIKE FOR THE DOLLAR.
2013 Giant Anthem Advanced X29er Series
AnthemX ADV 29er 0 $8399 Special Order Only
Anthem X ADV 29er 1 $4499
AnthemX ADV 29er 2 $3099
Highlights and Comments
All AnthemX bikes share the same geometry and 100mm (4") of suspension. In General, these bikes blur the lines
separating Cross Country Race Bikes and Trail Bikes. Weight and the amount of travel (4") are very typical of XC race bikes. Using 29"
wheels is what makes the bike so versatile. The big wheels help improve traction and make the bike more stable - especially when ripping down hills.
Sharing the same carbon frames, these 3 bikes range from a World Cup ready race bike to the best valued carbon full-suspension mountain
bike. Advanced frames use T700 carbon - a stronger, lighter grade of carbon material than most mountain bikes, resulting in amazing strength, durability and weight.
The incredible value the X1 and X2 represent has to be mentioned. You get carbon and a good spec at a better price than many other companies Alloy bikes.
And you KNOW the Giant has better suspension and will last longer.
2013 Giant Anthem X29er Series
AnthemX 29er 1 $2799
Anthem X 29er 4 $1879
AnthemX 29er 0 Womans $2749
Anthem X 29er 4 Womans $1879
Highlights and Comments
All AnthemX bikes share the same geometry and 100mm (4") of suspension. In General, these bikes blur the lines
separating Cross Country Race Bikes and Trail Bikes. Weight and the amount of travel (4") are very typical of XC race bikes. Using 29"
wheels is what makes the bike so versatile. The big wheels help improve traction and make the bike more stable - especially when ripping down hills.
Sharing the same Allux SL Aluminum frames, these bikes bikes range from a great regional level race bike down to incredible riding bikes under
$2000. Speaking of the Allux SL frames, they are lighter than many of the carbon suspension frames on the market. Not many people talk about the different
grades of Aluminum, but there can be a massive difference in strength and weight depending on different alloying elements and heat treatment. Giant's
Allux SL is a proprietary alloy with similar weight, strenght, stiffness properties to Scandium enriched alloys which are found on frames from boutique
frame builders costing much much more.
The Anthem 29er series of bikes have been overwhelmingly popular with the ladies. Great to see a Woman's version with slightly different angles and improved standover
height to make the ladies happy(er) with this killer bike.
2013 Giant Trance X29er Series
Trance X 29er 0 $3999
Trance X 29er 1 $2699
Trance X 29er 2 $1899
Highlights and Comments
The most anticipated bike for us at the shop in a long time. 5" of suspension on a 29er?? One of the common themes with 29ers is they behave as if they
have an extra inch of travel when you're ripping through the rough stuff. What it results in for the Trance X 29er is a bike that climbs incredibly well
but decends like a 6" travel freeride bike.
Impressive weight, amazing value and performance, great traction and stability. All these things add up to a bike that couldn't be more appropriate for
so many riders. If you may do the occasional fun race or enduro race but mostly concentrate on fun trails that include hard climbs and decents that make
your eyes water - the Trance X 29er is an amazing choice!
The fact that you can get into a Trance X 29er for under $2000 is mind-boggling. What you get for the money on the upgraded spec models is equally amazing. I think
Giant wants your business!
2013 Giant Trance X (26" wheels) Series
Trance X Advanced $4299 special order only
Trance X 1 $2999
Trance X 2 $2199
Trance X 3 $1499
Highlights and Comments
The Trance X has been a top selling model for years. Just because there is a 29er version of this bike, doesn't make this
any less awesome. For every standout strength of a 29er, you can find something to say that is pro 26". I, for one, enjoy how maneuverable a 26" bike is.
The Trance X is still the benchmark in the 5" travel trail bike. Its geometry sits on the border between a race-able trail bike and one that is slack and fun.
Every serious rider needs to have owned a Trance X. You can't call anything else the best until you've ridden the best.
2013 Giant Reign 6" Travel All Mountain Series
Reign 0 $3999 ...special order
Reign 1 $2899
Reign 2 $2299
Highlights and Comments
Graham and Damian rode Reigns as their personal bikes in 2012. Such a versatile bike. Combine the light weight and efficiency of
Maestro suspension and you have a bike that outperforms just about anything with similar travel. When pointed down, the bike rips and the Maestro suspension makes sure
that there aren't any pogoing rear wheels when brakes are used heavily in choppy stuff.
Notice the details on the Reigns. For the price the quality of shifting and suspension parts is the benchmark in the bike biz. The dropper seatposts being included, even on bikes at $2299 is nuts.
For me, one of the nicest surprises was that I could run the shock at normal riding pressure and get away with doing decent sized drops without bottoming out the shock. Such a good bike!
Giant's Maestro Suspension - a Quick Video
2012 Giant Trance X1
SALE $2499 Was $2799
125mm Patented Maestro Suspension, Shimano SLX/XT 30spd, tapered steer tube, press fit BB
1 Size Large left
2012 Giant Trance X3
sale $1999 was $2129
125mm Patented Maestro Suspension, Sram X5/X7 30spd, Fox air fork and shock, press fit BB
Small and large size only
Flat out awesome spec for the price... and of course, not a bunch of good parts attached to a rolling pogo stick.
This bike PERFORMS!
XS, S, sizes only
2012 Marin Rift Zone 29er XC7
Sale $2699 was$3169
Shimano SLX/XT 30 speed. Fox suspension. Category killer!
Size Medium (17" only)
The high quality hard-tail bike was an endangered species until 29ers took over. Now the idea of a 29er hardtails brings thoughts
of light weight, simplicity and speed. If you can't afford to get into a full suspension bike or are racing, the 29er hardtail is a great choice.
The XTC series of bikes simply offers the best use of your dollar. The aluminum framed versions can still be built up to under 23 lbs (just a sign that
all these bikes have extremely light frames). The Composite version sets a new standard for a well equipped carbon mountain bike.
2012 Giant XTC 0 29er
Sale $1999, was$2289
Nice light, high quality parts xc racer.
size S only (5'4 to 5'7)
2012 Giant XTC 2 29er
Sale $1350, was$1459
Nice light, high quality parts xc racer.
size m only (5'7 to 5'10)
2013 Giant Talon 29er Bikes
Talon 0 29er $1099
Talon 29er 1 $879
Talon 0 Womans 29er $1099
Highlights and Comments
How quickly things evolve. Both the Talon 0 and 1 29ers look stunning. Rumor has it the frames pass through the painting process 9 times to acheive the stunning
aesthetics. Both models also have hydraulic disc brakes. 2 different colours and levels of components. The Talon is a tad less aggressive than the XTC 29er. This means a little more upright
sitting position and extra stability. Lockout forks are a standard feature and have helped this series of bike gain popularity with riders looking for a 50/50 mountain/commuter bike.
Notice the womans version. It has a dropped top-tube and slight geometry change to fit shorter ladies better. A fantastic choice for a stable, affordable, fun bike that could help you love cycling offroad or around town.
2013 Giant Revel 29er Bikes
Revel 0 29er $699
Revel 1 29er $589
Highlights and Comments
Entry level 29ers. Aluminum frames, disc brakes, quality gears. 3 years ago this description belonged to a $900 bike and if you wanted hydraulic discs you'd be well above $1000.
Now it belongs to bikes in the $600 and $700 range. These bikes are a great entry point into cycling. Components are good enough that you won't have
any reason to not want to ride and geometry/seating position/gearing are more in tune with streets, pathways and light offroad duties. Welcome to enjoying riding a bike!
2013 Giant Revel (26" wheels)
Revel 1 $629
Revel 1 Womans $629
Revel 0 Womans $689
Highlights and Comments
How far have we come. At $629 you get a 24speed aluminum mountain bike with hydraulic disc brakes. Forks feature a lockout to make them firm for efficient asphalt riding.
This is one category where the ladies get more choice than the men. Ladies can get up upgraded Revel with longer travel forks, upgraded drivetrain with 27 speeds for just $60 more.
While there is a pile of buzz about the 29" wheeled bikes, there is still a place for 26" bikes. For small riders the small wheels just make sense. For the youth market the small wheels
result in a tougher wheel. The value is just awesome!
Marin Hardtails
We've been fans of Marin bikes for a while. Having met their founder, visited their HQ in Novato, Marin County, California, I understand how such a small company can make such amazing bikes.
The people at Marin love the brand and work really hard to be, "the little brand that could." Marin's hardtails tend to offer slightly more upright seating and a certain "something" that just feels
great." The fact that a small brand can offer quite excellent value is testament to the hard work everyone at Marin does. Their namesake is the birthplace of mountain biking - their brand is
something for all cyclists.
2013 Marin 29er hardtails
Alpine Trail 29er $1079
Bolinas 29er $759
Highlights and Comments
The Marin 29er hardtails compliment the Giant Revel and Talon series very nicely. Having these two bikes allows for a different feel and an option for Shimano components at
a higher quality level or a 100mm travel fork at the lowel price level. Marin's sizing fits between Giant's and the geometry is a bit more aggressive so there is going to be a difference in how
the bikes feel.
The question used to be, "is full suspension any good?". Well the story has changed. That question is now, "which company or which suspension design is good... or Best!?"
Suspension has evolved a bunch over the years. Some companies have devoted incredible amounts of time and money to come up with great mechanical engineering. Other companies concentrated on spending
those same dollars on slick advertising. People are finally getting it. Some suspension designs just work better... they all work... but some work better.
Every year we are presented with numerous options for bike brands and models to sell. Some bikes look amazing. Some have great marketing that we know will help
a brand sell well. Because we know and understand suspension... and we want to be proud of the product we sell... we sell Giant and Marin as our primary full
suspension brands.
Taking into consideration a bike's efficiency, durability, weight, price, handling characteristics and even the quality of after-sale service is how we selected Giant and Marin. If
you want to spend your money wisely, we have a bike for you.
A bit about Carbon...
Carbon (from Latin: carbo "coal") is the chemical element with symbol C and atomic number 6. As a member of group 14 on the periodic table, it is nonmetallic and tetravalent—making four electrons available to form covalent chemical bonds.
... Oh, sorry, started geeking out a bit.
When used in bikes, carbon is a broad term. Carbon frames and parts vary greatly in strength, weight and cost. There seems to be a void of information regarding the material as we know it in the bike world. So I'll try to offer the basics:
"T" is for Toray, one of the world's major carbon fiber manufacturers. When you see a number like T600, T700, T800, the T could stand for thread-count which is essentially what it means but it actually stands for Toray. The higher
the T number, the stronger/lighter the sheets of carbon are. The higher T number is achieved through further, higher temperature processing of the carbon fibers to achieve higher purity. If carbon sheet doesn't come from Toray, it won't have a "T" number, it may just be called "high modulus".
Because "High Modulus" doesn't actually mean anything measurable, it could be equal to lower strength than the T600 or up to T800. But it is a mystery.
Monocoque, modified monocoque, Tube-to-Tube are general terms referring to how the frame is manufactured. Big companies like Giant use either monocoque or modified monocoque - partly because they're the world biggest
carbon bike manufacturer and these are very expensive to set-up but result in faster mass production. Smaller companies typically do some version of Tube-to-tube manufacturing which is much more labor intensive but less costly for initial setup.
I believe the end result is how well either of these techniques are employed, not necessarily the method itself.
Layup. More than just a basketball term. In carbon manufacturing this describes the size, shape and orientation of little pieces of carbon sheet layered and epoxied over other layers to achieve the ultimate goal of price, weight, strength and stiffness. This can require lots of engineering and R&D
to get the best results.
Not Every carbon frame is equal. Try any bike you're interested in to get a "feel" for how it rides. Look for reviews about breaking and defects. This is how we end up with the brands we sell.
In general, carbon's selling features are that it can be engineered to offer incredible vibration damping (nice smooth ride) or can be incredibly stiff (for ultra powerful racer-types). At the entry prices, the focus is typically to
get a nice, smooth ride with weight not being a huge factor. As prices go up, the quality of carbon and intricacy of layup are used to achieve greater stiffness and reduced weight.
Ask anyone who has ridden a carbon bike and there is a certain something that just feels awesome.
In the grand scheme of bicycle brands, Marin is a relatively small company. They are, however, very innovative and smart. Their smarts is what led them
to using the Quad Link suspension design. John Whyte, a former Formula 1 suspension designer, had developed an amazing suspension design for bicycles that
he was employing on his Super-Ultra-high-end Whyte Bikes. Marin realized how good the design was and partnered with Whyte to offer the design to the everyday cyclist.
Marins full suspension bikes use their version of a short-dual-link suspension design. Like Giant's Maestro system, this design offers incredible efficiency, is robust,
eliminates brake jack. Marins bikes tend to offer slacker geometry for people who want to ride steep and fast.
Why only 2 brands of Full Suspension bikes?
This is where you politely ignore that there are three brands if you include some of the clearout bikes... clearout being the key word that helps put value on an even playing field
with the dominant Giant
Every year we hunt around for companies that offer amazing suspension bikes. We compare the quality of the ride, the value for the dollar, geometry, components, long-term durability
and anything else that matters. Over the last few years we have not found any other brands we would proudly recommend. This is our livelihood. You come here because you trust us. Is there anything wrong
with saying, "these are the best bikes available, we don't need more brands."?
