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Toledo Talk   (musing about Lake Erie West and beyond)
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Bicycle buying in Toledo area

Any recommendations as to where to purchase a bicycle in Toledo?

I realize, of course, that you can purchase a bike at darn near any discount store in town. But I wouldn't mind paying a little more (not an exorbitant amount, but a reasonable price difference) to get a knowledgeable salesperson who will steer me in the right direction. No clue which kind of bike to buy...it has been awhile since I purchased a bike, and I'm sure there are all sorts of new features that I don't have a clue about these days. lol

A few notes...

Will be purchasing primarily for recreational trail riding. Not errand running or daily use.

(Within the next year or so, I would like to start training for the Juvenile Diabetes ride: http://ride.jdrf.org/ . But that's not my immediate goal with this purchase.)

Um...that's about it. Would be grateful for any suggestions!

created by mom2 on Jul 14, 2008 at 06:27:36 pm     Comments: 10

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Comments ... #

I like Reggies bike shop on Secor Rd. north of Alexis.

posted by trixanne on Jul 14, 2008 at 08:03:57 pm     #



I purchased a Trek from Cycle Werks in Maumee last year. The staff there really knows there stuff.

posted by Adam on Jul 14, 2008 at 09:18:20 pm     #



We got all new bikes this year from Dick's at Westfield. The guy on staff was a fairly serious biker himself and has a nice little repair bench with toolbox and all right in the middle of the sales floor. I thought it was cool because you get the pricing and big inventory variety of a chain retail store, but still have the expert service from a pro. Great idea for them to keep both bases covered.

posted by babbleman on Jul 14, 2008 at 10:23:47 pm     #



The Bike Route on Monroe near Talmadge got my biz moons ago.

posted by jr on Jul 14, 2008 at 10:30:45 pm     #



Thanks for the tips everyone.

babbleman - the Dick's idea is intriguing, because I can purchase Scrip through my kids' school. Always a bonus any time I can get a kickback towards their tuition for a purchase I'm going to make anyhow. :)

But I'll check out the local suggestions too, because I like to patronize local businesses. (If only more of them participated in the Scrip program...lol...I always choose local over chain when that's the case.)

posted by mom2 on Jul 14, 2008 at 10:32:22 pm     #



Wersell's Bike Shop has been a Toledo locally owned business for over 60 years. Try 'em out.

posted by KraZyKat on Jul 14, 2008 at 10:39:06 pm     #



I would pick a manufacturer you like 1st. Giant, Felt, Cannondale, but if you're doing the 40 mile hill-free ride in a pack you can get away with almost anything. As long as someone else is blocking the wind, you're only doing about half the work.

This is an interesting case about Type II, but I suspect Type I might be caused by being inundated with heavy metals and chemicals that weren't so prevalent 100-200 years ago. But then again I err on the side of most disease being iatrogenic or industrial in nature.

posted by charlatan on Jul 15, 2008 at 07:36:31 am     #



Bike Route, Cycle Werks, Wersells all good but, if you do decide to go to Dick?s, go to Giant Eagle first and buy Dick?s gift cards and you will earn FuelPerks $

posted by Offshore on Jul 15, 2008 at 07:55:06 am     #



Garage sale. Several of my friends have found excellent bikes at garage sales in Sylvania and bought them for a fraction of the cost of a new bike.

posted by madjack on Jul 15, 2008 at 09:09:35 pm     #



Thanks for the tips - I happened to notice some of the shops you guys mentioned while I was running errands today.

Hopefully I'll have some time to go out bike shopping this afternoon. :) (Didn't stop in today, because I wasn't exactly dressed to test ride a bike.)

posted by mom2 on Jul 15, 2008 at 10:43:37 pm     #