How to choose a bike that you will be happy with

I am often asked, mostly by people who have never ridden a bike before, how to choose a bike. While there is no simple answer to this question, there are some basic things to keep in mind. 

Rather than writing everything that someone else has already said, it's easier to direct to another page, so if you are wondering how to choose a bike, here is some information: http://lifehacker.com/the-beginners-guide-to-picking-the-perfect-bicycle-1782443592 

Now that you've read that article, a few add-ons: I generally do not recommend anyone buy a bike from places like Canadian Tire, Walmart or Costco. These bikes, especially the kids bikes, are made with heavy steel frames (which will rust), cheap parts (shifters, brakes) and are really not worth the money. Bikes from sporting stores like SportChek are better (though some are still steel frames) as the people who assemble them are usually bike mechanics/technicians, but sometimes they cost more than they are worth and their parts may still be lower quality.
Also note that the prices in this article are American: if you are looking for a bike with an aluminum frame and good components, expect to pay at least $600 in Calgary, but keep in mind that with proper care, you shouldn't have to replace the most expensive part of the bike (the frame) ever and all the parts will work smoothly for many years. You may never have to buy another bike again (but do expect that parts, like the tires, chain and cables will wear out).  Our choices here in Canada are a little more limited, but there are still awesome bikes easily available. There are also options for buying used bikes that don't involve driving all over the city or interacting with strangers. 

Please carefully read the section on fitting: seat height in relation to the ground! I recently bought a new bike and though I went to 3 good bike shops and talked to owners of 2 of those shops, it was the 4th person, a regular employee, who actually properly fit me to a bike. One owner - I won't name the shop - actually told me that I need to have my feet on the ground, which is incorrect unless you're buying a "crank forward" bike, which I wasn't looking at. If you are just learning how to ride, you do need to be able to get your seat low enough to have your feet on the ground, preferably flat, but once you know how to ride, you will want to be most efficient and protect your knees from injury by having only a slight bend in your knee when the pedal is at the lowest point. It should be virtually impossible to touch when seated on bikes with the pedals almost directly below the seat. I would never recommend anyone buy a bike that will not allow them to have proper leg extension for long term!

If you would like specific assistance in choosing a bike, or recommendations on where to buy a bike - for yourself or your child, new or used - don't hesitate to send me a message!