Is there an equivilent of a Halfords here in Canada? I've just been having a look online at wallymart and canadian tire but the ladies bikes aren't skirt friendly so I'm wondering if they even sell bikes that you can step through rather than ones you have to throw over? This is going to sound silly but I'd rather like an old fashioned one like Miss Marple...wicker basket on the front and all

Anyone got any ideas?

You could write to these people :

http://www.communitybicyclenetwork.org/

they might know.

You may be able to get a free one, off of www.freecycle.org. Freecycle is great, as people post things that are to be given away for free, that normally would be tossed in the trash. The main goal is to keep as much stuff out of landfills, as possible.

You'd be surprised some of the stuff you can get from there...and best of all, free! Furniture, tvs, bikes, vehicles...anything that someone doesn't want anymore. And you can ask for items you are looking for, as well. Just check it out. The more people doing this the better. Hope this helps.

Hi Smokey

I bought my wife a Schwinn 5-Star Cruiser from Canadian Tire back in the spring. It has all the attributes you are looking for including step thru frame, basket (well at least space for one, you could buy one and my wife did), plus it looks very cool with its chrome mud guards, cream and red paint and white wall tyres. It's extremely comfortable too, with a big spongy saddle!

Check the gents one out here...the womens is the same apart from the cross bar.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/assortmen...=1134369193486


Happy Cycling!

Well the stores you mention are like shopping in B&Q and ASDA

Local store with links to major manufacture is
http://www.gords.com/05-bikePriceList2005.htm

They are like a lot of top end stores Specialised in Adventure outdoor sports so are full of ski, snowboard bikes and skateboards..

How about a cruiser called Taxi

http://jamisbikes.com/bikes/06_taxi.html

and perhaps the most important link

http://www.gords.com/04-bikes-howtobuyamountainbike.htm

Depends what you want to spend.

Crappy, Walmart, Zellers all sell what you are looking for, with minimal (no) expertise in setting it up, maintaining it etc. But they are cheap, heavy noname brands bikes, generally with poor quality components like the shifters, bearings, brakes, Steel wheel rims etc.

Your local bike store will have what you are looking for, for a bit more money perhaps, plus also they will lightly be better machines with better (more reliable / durable) components, lighter frames, and experts to advise and set up the machine as well as maintain it later on if necessary.

I bought an relatively expensive bike when I came over (cheap by UK conversion standards, I would never have got a Specialized in the UK!) and I'm glad I did as its given me many years of trouble free enjoyment.

If it were me I would start at the LBS, and if its really too much money then go downmarket from there. When you cut right down to it, you get what you pay for up to a certain price point.

I got my wife a nice step through GT mountain bike with front shock and seatpost shock for about $400...not that she uses it a lot. Its a bit like these ones from Specialized(Dont know what the cost of those is, but I bet its worth it in the long run) The step thru frame is loosing favour as its not as strong as a conventional triangular one, but you should still be able to find one. As mountain bike frames get smaller and top tube angles steeper its less of a problem to get on a conventional one now anyway.