The Covid-19 pandemic has had some weird effects on the cycling world, one of which is a shortage of new bicycles to purchase. Last summer I was in the market for a gravel bike and started trolling the websites of local shops - here in the Valley, in Truro, and in Halifax - for a new ride.
I loved the Specialized models, but went to Banks Bikes in Wolfville to check out their offerings first. Banks is not a Specialized dealer – they carry Felt, Scott, and Opus and tend toward the off-road world of cycling. Proprietor Colin Banks is an avid mountain biker and extremely helpful when it comes to choosing the equipment that’s right for your style of cycling. Banks had already been hit by the supply shortage: they had ONE gravel bicycle in my size. And it was butt ugly.
The Scott Speedster was not a bike I was familiar with, and its dull green paint job put me in mind of slimy swamps and smelly amphibians. I declined a test drive and went back to dreaming of metallic-midnight-blue-and-purple Specialized Elites and sparkling red Giant Defys, even though they were far out of my price range.
A few more weeks went by and I was getting very frustrated with my two reliable but slow rides, the 1976 Raleigh Sprint and 2006 Giant Boulder. I wanted something built for speed, quite frankly. So back I went to Banks in hopes that something different had come in.
Nope. Same battleship green Speedster. I argued that it was probably not my size after all. [I DID NOT WANT THIS HOMELY BIKE]. Colin sent me out with the mechanic for a fitting. OK, so it rode all right around the parking lot with just a slight adjustment of the seat height. “Take it for a spin, go down the trail or to the end of town”. So I took a helmet and my scepticism for a ride.
The first thing I noticed was the fit: after a lifetime of riding bicycles too large for me, I was finally on something that was truly comfortable. My shoulders and neck didn’t hurt. And it made me efficient. Or maybe the bike is efficient, or the gearing is right, or . . . I dunno. But that baby will roll, even with big, nobbly gravel tires. A couple of changes in direction and “agile” was added to its positive attributes. I did not want to return it, I wanted to just ride it home.
I took it back to the shop. Looked at Colin and said, “Yeah. You know, no good hound is a bad colour That’s my bike. I’ll be back Tuesday to pick it up”
Banks Bikes https://www.facebook.com/banksbikes/
Getting a Proper Bike Fit https://www.liv-cycling.com/global/campaigns/the-importance-of-proper-bike-fit/19822#:~:text=Although%20there%20are%20many%20different,Diagnosing%20saddle%20discomfort
And: https://www.bicycling.com/skills-tips/a20036352/bike-fit-0/
No Good Hound is a Bad Colour https://www.ckc.ca/CanadianKennelClub/media/Breed-Standards/Group%202/Basset-Hound.pdf