Features

GREG CURNOE AND HIS MARIPOSAS
GREG CURNOE AND HIS MARIPOSAS
It was in 1974 that the celebrated artist from London, Ontario, Greg Curnoe came to our store, Bicyclesport in downtown Toronto. He was obviously very interested in cycling and very... Read more...
In Search Of Perfection
In Search Of Perfection
By Dan Bereskin. Winning Magazine  The following article was published in Winning Magazine in the early ‘80’s. It is a conversation on bicycles, art and design between Mike Brown, Mike... Read more...
Snow Ride
Snow Ride
My math homework half completed and Bob Dylan on the turntable, I looked out the window as snow began to fall. First a few scattered flakes spotted the sky but,... Read more...
Mariposa City Bicycle
Mariposa City Bicycle
A custom Mariposa city bicycle with integrated lighting SPECIFCIATIONS Frame and Fork: The frame and fork were built with Columbus tubing.  The frame was built to integrate the Rene Herse... Read more...
The Race Of Truth
The Race Of Truth
With the World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda wrapping over the weekend, Michael Barry reflects on the time trial, what makes the solo event unique and what it takes to win. ... Read more...
Ritchey Forks: The Unsung Hero of Bike Building
Ritchey Forks: The Unsung Hero of Bike Building
To the untrained eye, the fork is more than just the front end of the bike. For the craftspeople who design and build bikes, forks are a crucial ingredient in... Read more...
Michael Barry on performance and the power meter
Michael Barry on performance and the power meter
How the advances of data have helped, and hindered the sport Bike racers at every level of the sport are now breaking records in all disciplines whether the track, road... Read more...
Pinarello x Mariposa
Pinarello x Mariposa
In the early 1970’s, few bike shops in Canada were importing proper European racing bicycles and equipment. When my father, who was a passionate cyclist from England, arrived in Canada,... Read more...
Performance and the Power meter
Performance and the Power meter
How the advances of data analysis have helped…and hindered the sport Bike racers at every level of the sport are now breaking records in all disciplines whether the track, road... Read more...
Paris Roubaix and Flanders Winning Wheels and Tires
Paris Roubaix and Flanders Winning Wheels and Tires
The 2024 Paris Roubaix, Tour of Flanders and Milan San Remo were the fastest editions ever. The peloton is traveling faster due to numerous reasons: including increased carbohydrate consumption and... Read more...
In The News
In The News
Physical activity improves cognitive and mental health in all sorts of ways. Here’s why, and how to reap the benefits. How Exercise Strengthens your Brain>> Ashlin Barry had a strong... Read more...
Q & A with Canadian Hour Record Holder and Randonneur, Peter Leiss
Q & A with Canadian Hour Record Holder and Randonneur, Peter Leiss
PETER LEISS, 40.573 km (25.211 miles) recently set a new Canadian Men’s Age 70-74 record. This was Peter’s 2nd time riding the One Hour. Previously, he did 39.619 km to... Read more...
Fast Talk Femmes Podcast: Optimizing Altitude Training with Dr. Trent Stellingwerff
Fast Talk Femmes Podcast: Optimizing Altitude Training with Dr. Trent Stellingwerff
Dr. Trent Stellingwerff reviews the research and gives practical tips on how to optimize altitude training in preparation for events both at altitude or at sea level. Topics: Altitude Training... Read more...
MARIPOSA x FRETORI Bicycle with Shimano GRX LE
MARIPOSA x FRETORI Bicycle with Shimano GRX LE
In 2003, Charlie Bryer watched the UCI Road World Championships in Hamilton, Ontario. As a grade 10 hockey and soccer player, he didn't know much about cycling. However, watching Michael... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Lugano. Paris. 1950
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Lugano. Paris. 1950
In the seventies, we had a good number of regular visitors to our shop on King Street in downtown Toronto. One of the regulars was a Frenchman, named Jean, who... Read more...
Mariposa Feature: Allroad Bicycle with Dura-Ace Di2
Mariposa Feature: Allroad Bicycle with Dura-Ace Di2
A custom Allroad bicycle built with Kaisei tubing, lugged, brazed and a Ritchey WCS Gravel Carbon Fork. Specifications: Groupset: Shimano Dura-Ace R9170 Hydraulic Di2 2 x 11 speed Wheels: Shimano... Read more...
Mariposa Feature: Allroad Bicycle with Shimano Ultegra R8170 12 speed
Mariposa Feature: Allroad Bicycle with Shimano Ultegra R8170 12 speed
A custom Allroad bicycle built with Kaisai tubes, lugs and a Whisky carbon fork that accepts fenders. It was built up with a Shimano Ultegra 12 speed hydraulic groupset, ENVE... Read more...
Mariposa Bicycles: The Essence of What We Do
Mariposa Bicycles: The Essence of What We Do
Cinematographer, Luke McCutcheon, Jacq Antrade and team beautifully capture the essence of what we do at Mariposa Bicycles in this short film. https://youtu.be/LigpR_oUbQU Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Praderio. Gallarate, Italy. 1950
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Praderio. Gallarate, Italy. 1950
Gino Bartali's frustrations with the Italian back-peddling derailleurs encouraged him to approach the Vittoria Company, makers of the Margherita derailleur, and propose that he finance the production of a derailleur... Read more...
Mariposa Feature: Road Bicycle
Mariposa Feature: Road Bicycle
A new lugged steel rim brake road bike built with Kaisei tubes, a Ritchey WCS carbon fork with clearance for up to 700C x 30mm tires, a Shimano Ultegra 8000... Read more...
Feature: Ritchey Ascent Adventure Bikepacking Bike
Feature: Ritchey Ascent Adventure Bikepacking Bike
Bike designer, Tom Ritchey loves experiencing all sorts of bicycle adventures – especially dirt – seeking out winding dirt roads, cruising along gravel lanes, and ripping flowy singletrack. He designed... Read more...
Mariposa Feature: A Classic Road Bike
Mariposa Feature: A Classic Road Bike
This classic rim brake road bike was built with lightweight Kaisei tubing, lugged and a Carbon Ritchey road fork that accepts 700C x 30mm tires. With a Dura-Ace mechanical, rim... Read more...
Tuning Up For A New Season
Tuning Up For A New Season
As the winter lifts over Europe and the professional peloton begin their racing season, they will be testing equipment and feeling faster as they transition from their training bikes to... Read more...
Mariposa Feature: Road Disc Bicycle with Shimano Di2
Mariposa Feature: Road Disc Bicycle with Shimano Di2
A new road disc bike ready to roll with a Shimano Di2. The frame was built with Kaisei tubing, lugged and a Ritchey WCS Road Disc fork. The wheels were... Read more...
In The News
In The News
A collection of stories, news and information that we thought you might find interesting and relevant. There is a hot new fitness trend among Olympians in Tokyo: Blood flow restriction... Read more...
Bikepacking Feature: Dreams of Living on the Bike
Bikepacking Feature: Dreams of Living on the Bike
It was 1988: Wayne Gretzky had been traded to the LA Kings. We had travelled to Edmonton, the home of the Stanley Cup winning Oilers. The city was wet with... Read more...
Mariposa Feature: 29er Mountain Bike
Mariposa Feature: 29er Mountain Bike
A custom fillet brazed steel 29er mountain bike with a Shimano XT mechanical 1x groupset and handbuilt wheels with DT Swiss hubs and rims. Specifications: Frame: Columbus tubing, fillet brazed... Read more...
Restoration Feature: A Ride On My Gios
Restoration Feature: A Ride On My Gios
  In April the thoughts of the tifosi turn to the spring classics. The cobbled classic, Paris Roubaix would have been run last weekend if it hadn't been cancelled due... Read more...
Prepping for the Tokyo Olympics and Beyond
Prepping for the Tokyo Olympics and Beyond
A conversation with Ken Whelpdale, Sr. Director of Operations for USA Cycling. Ken Whelpdale has worked in cycling for 24 years. A native of Toronto, Ken worked as a mechanic... Read more...
In The News
In The News
A collection of stories, news and information that we thought you might find interesting and relevant. Although we all know that it’s easier to climb on a bike that’s lighter... Read more...
Mariposa Feature: City Bike designed and built for the Vancouver Mountains
Mariposa Feature: City Bike designed and built for the Vancouver Mountains
A new city bike off to Vancouver. Built with Kaisei tubing, a Genesis carbon fork (with carrier mounts, internal hydraulic disc brake routing and dynamo light routing), a 1x White... Read more...
The Quest To Build A Better Wheel
The Quest To Build A Better Wheel
A Conversation With Marty Crotty, Founder Of Princeton Carbonworks We visit with Marty Crotty, Founder of Princeton Carbonworks and learn about PCW's quest to build a better wheel, their background,and... Read more...
In The News
In The News
A collection of stories, news and information that we thought you might find interesting and relevant. Princeton CarbonWorks makes wheels that feature a sinusoidal rim pattern. What does that mean,... Read more...
Allied Feature: All-Road with SRAM Force AXS
Allied Feature: All-Road with SRAM Force AXS
The Allied All-Road is an incredibly versatile bike. It is fast enough for racing on the road, yet with clearance for 700C x 35mm tires, it is fully dialed for... Read more...
The Compounding Benefits Of Micro-Commutes
The Compounding Benefits Of Micro-Commutes
As the ​Dutch riders dominated all of the Cyclo Cross World Championships categories​ last weekend, I kept imagining them riding around on their big Dutch city bikes as kids in... Read more...
Allied Feature: Rapha RCC x Allied Able
Allied Feature: Rapha RCC x Allied Able
In 2020, Rapha began a partnership with Allied bicycles to make unique limited edition ABLE frames for Rapha Cycle Club (RCC) members. The unique paint scheme is identical to that... Read more...
A Case For Handbuilt Wheels
A Case For Handbuilt Wheels
Bicycle wheels make an enormous difference in the way a bike rides and feels on the road or trail. Aside from your frame fit and set-up, wheels and tires are... Read more...
Gravel Tips with Colin Strickland
Gravel Tips with Colin Strickland
My rides on gravel roads tend to be long. This is because the gravel roads near my home in Austin TX are not actually that “near” at all. If you... Read more...
Allied Cycleworks Factory Video Tour
Allied Cycleworks Factory Video Tour
[embed]https://youtu.be/Hz7RGO0swM0[/embed] Read more...
Mariposa Feature: 650B All-Road Bicycle
Mariposa Feature: 650B All-Road Bicycle
A 650B All-Road bicycle built with Kaisei tubing, fillet brazed with a Whisky carbon disc fork, a combination of Shimano GRX and Dura-Ace components, and two sets of handbuilt wheels... Read more...
Tips For Winter Cycling
Tips For Winter Cycling
Winter riding can be an enjoyable adventure and a whole lot better than riding the trainer if you are well prepared for the conditions. Unprepared, it can be a miserable... Read more...
Ice-cycle: Schwalbe Winter Marathon Tires Review
Ice-cycle: Schwalbe Winter Marathon Tires Review
Modifications to cycling equipment are interesting and exciting: we see frames, wheels, clothing, and components being updated and improved yearly. However, major changes to the riding experience because of these... Read more...
In the news
In the news
A collection of stories, news and information that we thought you might find interesting and relevant. The 2020 Giro d'Italia had one of the most exciting finales in Grand Tour... Read more...
THE RISE OF GRAVEL AND ITS GEAR
THE RISE OF GRAVEL AND ITS GEAR
With a lifetime of riding bikes, and a father who brought muddy riding to Canada, a bike maker looks at how equipment has changed where and how we ride. By... Read more...
Mariposa Feature: 29er Hardtail
Mariposa Feature: 29er Hardtail
A 29er Hardtail cross country bike with SRAM GX Eagle components, DT Swiss X1700 wheels, Rene Herse Fleecer Pass 29" Endurance tires, a Rockshox SID Suspension fork, a Chris King... Read more...
RAPHA RCC X ALLIED ABLE
RAPHA RCC X ALLIED ABLE
In 2020, Rapha began a partnership with Allied bicycles to make unique limited edition ABLE frames for Rapha Cycle Club (RCC) members. The unique paint scheme is identical to that... Read more...
Product Review: Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge Tires
Product Review: Rene Herse Fleecer Ridge Tires
By Ashlin Barry Tire selection has become a hot topic in recent years as we are now beginning to understand how important grip, casing, pressure and tread pattern are to... Read more...
Allied Able with GRX 1x Di2
Allied Able with GRX 1x Di2
The Allied Able was designed for versatility. Not many bikes perform well on a wide range of the terrain. The Able is dialed for sprinting for a city limits signs... Read more...
Mariposa Feature: All-Road Bicycle with Shimano Ultegra Di2 Hydraulic
Mariposa Feature: All-Road Bicycle with Shimano Ultegra Di2 Hydraulic
All-Road bicycle built with Japanese Kaisei tubing, long point lugs and a Ritchey WCS Carbon Disc Fork. With a Shimano Ultegra Di2 hydraulic groupset, ENVE 3.4 AR disc wheels and... Read more...
Allied Cycle Works: A Factory Tour In Photos
Allied Cycle Works: A Factory Tour In Photos
Allied Cycleworks moved into their new factory in Bentonville, Arkansas in the month of March and they are finally settled in. "Design, market, sell." Normally, this is the holy trinity... Read more...