Man's Greatest Invention

When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Here was a machine of precision and balance for the convenience of man. And (unlike subsequent inventions for man's convenience) the more he used it, the fitter his body became. Here, for once, was a product of man's brain that was entirely beneficial to those who used it, and of no harm or irritation to others. Progress should have stopped when man invented the bicycle. - Elizabeth West

Purpose and Mission


To share our experience and to encourage and inspire others to use a bicycle as a form of year round recreation and transportation. To be an example of living car-free and to help others to make the transition to having a car-light or car-free life style.

Our bodies is the engine that moves us.


Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Electra Ticino Lux Long Term Tester


Saddle Up Bike has been given the opportunity and the honour to do long term testing on three different models of Ticino from Electra.

Three of us will be testing these bikes.  Myself, of course, and my friends (and brothers) Scott and Ryan Meyers.

Scott and Ryan both live in the suburbs.  They are commuters who ride into the "core" of the city everyday they go to work.  Even in the middle of winter when it freezing cold out.  Now, that's commitment! 

One of the tests will be to see how the Ticino bikes stand up in the "real" world of cycling against other major brands.  We will be testing them to the everyday stresses of cycling.

People buy bikes for all kinds of reasons.  It's important to find out what a bike is going to be used for.

The question is:  are bikes toys?  Cruisers?  Can they be relied upon as a form of daily transportation?  Is it a utility bike? 

Electra is a well known brand in the industry and is known for their quality and design.  They are typically known for their cruiser bikes.  Bikes used for fun, riding on the boardwalk or just in the neighbourhood; not for transportation.

Why would a Ticino make a good commuter bike?  Well, we don't have the answer to that question yet, hence the testing and that's what we are working on finding out so we can tell you whether they would be or not. 

We will have two commuters that will be testing these bikes to see if they are good enough to qualify for that title.  Or, are they still just expensive cruisers? 

Ticino bikes have been compared to other urban and commuter bikes as far as pricing.  We are aiming to find out how they stack up performance wise to other bikes.

They will be ridden in all kinds of conditions, from simple cruises to commuting. Stay tuned as riders continue to share their impressions of these unique bicycles.

Become a "Follower" of our blog or "Like" our Facebook page and become a "Fan" to ensure you stay up to date with our reviews. All of us will be updating you with information as time goes on.  More to come very soon.

Here is a link to my initial post on the Ticino Lux I renamed The Scorcher.

Stone and Metal Bench


Stone and Metal Bench, originally uploaded by SaddleUpBike.
Meet Don Dickson. He is creating a sculpture along the bike path behind the Pumphouse Theatre. 

The last piece Don made was in 2006 before his wife was diagnosed with ALS. This is his first sculpture since her death and it is dedicated to her memory. 

When he is finished, we will be left with a beautiful piece of art that will remind me of him every time I stop to rest or simply pass by. 

He finishes today.  You still have a chance to stop by and see him work.