Folks, I am planning to buy a bike (adult) which one is good? How is Raleigh is it expensive? and also what are all the maintenance costs involved? and accessories which needs to be bought? like air pump, bell etc?

There are two schools of thought. Hopefully someone on here is a bike lover and can explain why they think you should pay more $$$ for a beautiful bike that will shift gears better than a cheap bike and last forever. Personally, I suggest buying any cheap multi-speed bike that is in good working condition (if its used take it in to a shop for a tune up). Unless you are doing something special like racing or mountain biking, you don't need anything fancy. Bikes are stolen too easily and many people buy them with good intentions then rarely ride them. I rode to and from school in Montreal for three years on a cheap bike. There was a free place to do bike maintainance at Concordia University. However I couldn't handle riding in downtown Toronto - drivers never leave any room and there are few paths where I need to go.

If you end up loving it, it will be very easy to resell any bike on craigslist - people are always looking, and then you can upgrade to something more expensive.

You need a helmet (please, please, please wear a helmet, the health care worker in me begs you, it may not save your life but it will reduce your risk of head injury), bell, lights, a good lock. I've always used gas station air pumps but an air pump and a repair kit could be useful.

Here is a good resource: http://bikingtoronto.com/how-to/ I think it would be useful even if you don't live in Toronto.

Good luck, enjoy biking in the beautiful weather!

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My prayer to you
Is that you do all the things you set out to do
And live your life the way you love

Thurston Moore, Psychic Hearts

In addition to Portia's excellent post on bicycle , please check out this thread as well .. http://canadiandesi.com/read.php?TID=31070 .

On a related note , I saw an Indian Hero Bicycle selling @ subzi mandi , Brampton ... Honestly for those who are used to those bicycles , its a learning to switch to any other type of bicycle including geared and cruisers .....

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Fido.

A couple of years ago I did all the analysis, comparison, websearches and visits to various shops like Target(USA), Walmart, Sears, Canadian Tire, Sportchek and many other stores across Ontario and Upstate NY.

I found a bike store on Burnhamthorpe (East) right before 427 intersection. This is a Guyanese guy who sells good quality, liteweight aluminum bikes. He brings parts from USA, China and assembles them. I found the quality to be the best and the time to buy them was during winter and after Christmas as his sales was down and you could negotiate.

I paid about 350 bucks for a bike valued at 500 regular price. I used to bike around my place for excercise and it was the center of attraction for many in the local park.

I parked it with all locks/wires and padlocks in the bike storage area(monitored by camera) in our Condo building and somebody stole it one night. The camera picture print gave a person in a hoodie but could not visualize more. The peel region police took this as a complaint but nothing has happened since last few years.

I spoke to my home insurance company and as I have a deductable of 500 the insurance did not cover it but entered this conversation as a claim.

To make a long story short I started walking for excercise again.

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Sunny Leone a true Canadian DESI now back in India !.