Argon18

For the last couple years I have felt like I am putting a ton of work into the bike, but my return has been minimal. Nothing I could do on my road bike could help me get faster. Sure the common saying is it is not the bike but the engine, but I say the engine is working fine but you can only push that civic so fast.

My 1.5 year plan is an ironman distance 2015, and in an ironman you ride for 180km. That is a long way to feel that you are working way to hard. I want every advantage I can get. Hence, it was decided I needed to pay for some speed.

 

I have always said I wanted used. There is nothing wrong with a used bike that has been maintained. So for the last six months I have looked regularly on kijiji. Pink bike, slow twitch, and word of mouth that I was looking. Only one bike really piped my interest and overall, after consultation with people more knowledgeable than I,  I felt it was over prised.

 

Thus, the Toronto bike show. Friends went on Friday and Saturday and basically told me I would be crazy not to go. Very good deals in my price range.

The thing about the bike show is, for some venders, it is basically a flea market. Bike stores come with last years or even older stock with the hope of unloading it for any sort of a profit. Thus the best time for a deal is Sunday afternoon.

I had done some calls ahead, knew what some stores where bringing, and zeroed in one them. I had no shame is saying what my budget was and no shame in saying exactly what I had to get out of that money. I know how to bargain well, and I knew exactly the MSRP was for most bikes I was looking at. Most important, I wasn't afraid to drive home with nothing.

 

Then I saw this bike and I feel in love. Matte black. I LOVE matte black. I repanted Evers bike matte black. The sales person was a very nice soft spoken fellow, and his boss was willing to haggle. I thought about every angle for a price reduction, and I was signigicantlly under budget. At the cash register, just to be a jerk, after I had paid I asked if I could have haggled for any lower, and I was told he lost $150 on the bike. So I think I am good.

 

The one thing that is not good is the bike fit. Part of my haggling was about the bike fit. I saved mucho money from not getting it from that bike shop. It is in downtown Toronto, so the trouble of getting down there and paying for parking just wasn't worth it. I have been fiddling at home with it since I bought it and with likely go someplace a tad easier to get to in the next couple of weeks.

 

The thing is I have always admired Argon 18 bikes since I saw Bree Wee ride one years ago, I have a minor girl crush on her. Canadian company. But mostly I bought it for the matte black. I buy shoes on appearance also.

 

I have been riding it on the trainer and find it so smooth as comparied to my roadie. As this is the winter from hell it will be May before I ride it out of doors.