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...
Cyclocross Season Wrap-Up - Mariposa Cycling Team
Cyclocross Season Wrap-Up - Mariposa Cycling Team
Ontario had a condensed, but fun 6 week cyclocross race season which wrapped up Sunday, October 31 with the Provincial Championships, hosted by the Elm Tree Centre in Moffatt, Ontario.... Read more...
Cappellino, Cap, Casquette....
Cappellino, Cap, Casquette....
Rain tapped against the Team Sky bus window. The eight of us sat quietly in our chairs, some with their eyes closed and headphones on, others studying the race book... Read more...
Autumn (Excerpt from Le Metier: The Seasons Of A Professional Cyclist)
Autumn (Excerpt from Le Metier: The Seasons Of A Professional Cyclist)
By Michael Barry Photography by Camille McMillan Into the sixth hour of the ride, the temperature drops as I reach the top of the Pyrenean peak. Autumn is arriving on... Read more...
The Thrill of a Criterium
The Thrill of a Criterium
By Dede Barry Photography by Alan Moore Passing the barriers neatly placed on each corner, I walked with my Father and dog on a humid summer evening to the Lixx... Read more...
In The News
In The News
A collection of stories, news and information that we thought you might find interesting and relevant. Green space helps people feel less depressed and fatigued, and science is still exploring... 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...
Places to Ride: The Catalan Pyrenees
Places to Ride: The Catalan Pyrenees
Crisp mountain wind cools as we ascend through the switchback. Lost in thought, as I pedal, gazing to the peak ahead, I feel each movement, hear each sound and smell... Read more...
Mariposa Feature: Road Bicycle With Pantographed Campagnolo Athena Components
Mariposa Feature: Road Bicycle With Pantographed Campagnolo Athena Components
A road bicycle built with Columbus tubing, long point lugs, a Columbus Minimal carbon fork and Campagnolo Athena pantographed components. Specifications: Frame: Columbus tubing with long point lugs. Fork: Columbus... Read more...
DesignTO Exhibition Jan. 17 - 26: F40 / M50
DesignTO Exhibition Jan. 17 - 26: F40 / M50
The ‘F40/M50’ project is the result of a collaboration between Mariposa Bicycles, as we celebrate 50 years of building frames using traditional lugged steel construction, and Fig40, an award winning... Read more...
F40 / M50 Design Process
F40 / M50 Design Process
The F40/M50 stool is brazed and painted in the Mariposa workshop using bicycle lugs, tubing and paint. The crown/baseplates at the top of the stool were made in Toronto in... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Gardin. Canada, 1983.
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Gardin. Canada, 1983.
Joe Gardin came to Canada from Italy as a young boy. He settled in Toronto and later established successful business manufacturing material handing equipment. But Joe’s passion was cycling and... Read more...
Mariposa Cycling Team News October 30, 2019
Mariposa Cycling Team News October 30, 2019
We are well into the cyclocross season and the Mariposa youth racers have been racking up podium finishes in the Ontario Provincial Championships and the Ontario Cup race series. The... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: André Bertin "Type Special" French Racer Vintage Bicycle
Vintage Bicycle Feature: André Bertin "Type Special" French Racer Vintage Bicycle
This circa late 1940s André Bertin "Type Special" French Racer was built by André Bertin, a former professional cyclist. At Bicyclesport and Bicycle Specialties, we sold Bertin over the years... Read more...
On the bike, slogging through mud, suffering from the effort, and smiling.
On the bike, slogging through mud, suffering from the effort, and smiling.
A look back at cyclocross over the years with a selection of photos from the World Championships at Crystal Palace, in 1973. By Michael Barry. Photos by Clare Barry, Mike... Read more...
Mariposa Feature: All-Road, All-Weather Bike
Mariposa Feature: All-Road, All-Weather Bike
This all road bike, recently built in the workshop, is ready for dirt, mud, tarmac, mountains and plains. And of course, it has a frame pump. It was built with... Read more...
Growling Beaver Brevet 2019
Growling Beaver Brevet 2019
The 5th Annual Growling Beaver Brevet, a tough gravel event that supports people with Parkinson’s by raising money for Brain Canada and The Davis Phinney Foundation was September 28th. As... Read more...
Mariposa Feature: A Classic Cyclocross Race Bike
Mariposa Feature: A Classic Cyclocross Race Bike
A classic cyclocross bike with Paul Component Cantilever brakes, FMB tubular tires, built with Columbus tubing and a tri-colour blue fade paint scheme. Specifications: Frame: Columbus tubing Fork: Ritchey WCS... Read more...
Soigneur: Racing The Worlds
Soigneur: Racing The Worlds
As the World Championships unfolds in Yorkshire this week, here is a reflection, by Michael Barry, on the unique aspects of the race and on competing for Canada . Published... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: 1982 Mariposa Child's Road Bicycle
Vintage Bicycle Feature: 1982 Mariposa Child's Road Bicycle
By Michael Barry A good steel frame can be used repeatedly, for decades. It can be ridden, crashed, fixed and adapted. In the shop, old bikes come in constantly that... Read more...
Team Mariposa News: Canadian National Mountain Bike Championships
Team Mariposa News: Canadian National Mountain Bike Championships
Hardwood Hills hosted the Canadian National Mountain Bike Championships July 20-21, 2019. Team Mariposa had several riders competing: Cameron Jette in the elite race, Jack Ciotlos in the U-19 Category,... Read more...
Team Mariposa News: July 17, 2019
Team Mariposa News: July 17, 2019
Jack Ciotlos, Cameron Jette, Bas Stroomberg, Connor Ciotlos and Ashlin Barry have been training and racing hard the past month in preparation for the Horseshoe Canada Cup - Ontario Cup... Read more...
Mariposa Feature: All-Road Dura-Ace Hydraulic Di2 Bicycle
Mariposa Feature: All-Road Dura-Ace Hydraulic Di2 Bicycle
A lightweight bike built for the roads of Northern Ontario. Specifications: Frame: Columbus tubing with long point lugs Fork: Ritchey WCS Carbon Gravel Thru-Axle Paint: Mariposa Stripes Front Derailleur: Shimano... Read more...
Creemore Springs Turas Mor 2019
Creemore Springs Turas Mor 2019
By Dede Barry Photography by Jody Wilson Rain, dirt, mud, gravel, sun, quiet country roads, spring flowers, good food and camaraderie will make for a good bike ride with memorable... Read more...
Mariposa All-Road Ultegra Di2
Mariposa All-Road Ultegra Di2
An all-road bicycle with a Whisky Parts Co. disc fork that accepts fenders and Shimano Ultegra Di2 (electric) hydraulic group. Specifications: Frame: Columbus tubing with long point lugs Fork: Whisky... Read more...
Team Mariposa News: May 31, 2019
Team Mariposa News: May 31, 2019
Team Mariposa has had a great Spring mountain bike season with Jack Ciotlos recently winning the Long Socks CX Marathon and the Albion Hills Enduro O-Cup, his brother Connor winning... Read more...
Book Launch June 11, 2019: Amsterdam Brewery
Book Launch June 11, 2019: Amsterdam Brewery
Please join us June 11, 2019 for a book launch party hosted by Ian Austen of the New York Times. Ian, Michael Barry Jr. and Walter Lai will discuss the... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: c1988 Kirk Precision Magnesium Bicycle
Vintage Bicycle Feature: c1988 Kirk Precision Magnesium Bicycle
Frank Kirk thought up this remarkable bike while working as a designer at the Ford plant in Dagenham, England. The frame is made of cast magnesium, and was a dramatically... Read more...
Mariposa Number One. 1969
Mariposa Number One. 1969
Photography by Walter Lai Mariposa Bicycles is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2019. As part of the celebration, we will be featuring several bicycles from throughout its history, starting with... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Legnano. 1948
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Legnano. 1948
This Legnano Bicycle was made in Italy in 1948 and it is very similar to the bike that Italian bicycle racer, Gino Bartali used to win the 1948 Tour de... Read more...
Mike Barry 1938 - 2018
Mike Barry 1938 - 2018
Michael John Barry, father, grandfather, husband and a pillar of Canada’s cycling community, died on Dec. 29 at Mount Sinai Hospital. He was 80. Born in Wimbledon, England in 1938... Read more...
Cycling to school
Cycling to school
By Michael Barry Each morning we are out the door, on our bikes taking the kids to school and going to work. For the kids, like us, it is a... Read more...
Favourite Rides: A Snowy Adventure From Boulder to Eldora Ski Station
Favourite Rides: A Snowy Adventure From Boulder to Eldora Ski Station
By Michael Barry A novel adventure turns any ride into a good ride. Quite often, the greatest rides are when the adventure is shared with others. The Rocky Mountains outside... Read more...
Canadian Cyclocross Nationals 2018
Canadian Cyclocross Nationals 2018
The Canadian National Cyclocross Championships were held November 10, 2018 in Peterborough, Ontario on a well designed, fun course in Canadian conditions. The riders battled snow, mud and wind. It... Read more...
Priorat Cycling Wine Tour
Priorat Cycling Wine Tour
A lifetime spent on bicycles traveling the world has allowed us to visit some fantastic areas with phenomenal riding. One of our favorites is Priorat, a region just south of... Read more...
Team Mariposa News: November 6, 2018
Team Mariposa News: November 6, 2018
Photography by Walter Lai Team Mariposa has had a great start to the 'Cross season. Pary Bell on the grass run-up in the CXTO race at Centennial Park in Toronto.... Read more...
Davis Phinney Foundation Auctions Mariposa Bicycles
Davis Phinney Foundation Auctions Mariposa Bicycles
By Dede Barry and Celestia Howe. Photography by The Pro's Closet Check out the Mariposa Bike auction: - 2018 Mariposa Cyclocross / Gravel Racing Bike 56cm - 2018 Mariposa All-Road... Read more...
Favourite Rides: Rides Under 50K
Favourite Rides: Rides Under 50K
We each have a spot or two where we ride that we consider magical. These are the kind of places where we feel at peace, where we feel free on... Read more...
Restoration Feature: A 1971 Mariposa Randonneur
Restoration Feature: A 1971 Mariposa Randonneur
This Mariposa frame and fork was built in 1971 with Nervex lugs and Reynolds 531 tubing. The bike was one of the first out of the shop at 175 King... Read more...
Favourite Rides: Gates Gully and the Doris McCarthy Trail
Favourite Rides: Gates Gully and the Doris McCarthy Trail
We each have a spot or two where we ride that we consider magical. These are the kind of places where we feel at peace, where we feel free on... Read more...
Team Mariposa News: July 2018
Team Mariposa News: July 2018
Congratulations to Jack Ciotlos, who has had a solid month of July on the Ontario mountain bike circuit with four podium finishes: 2nd at O-Cup # 5 3rd at O-Cup... Read more...
Favourite Rides: Don Valley Trails
Favourite Rides: Don Valley Trails
By Michael Barry Photography by Walter Lai and Michael Barry Out on a bicycle, we discover. We find little nooks of the countryside or the city that become our own... Read more...
Mariposa Feature: All-Road Ultegra Di2
Mariposa Feature: All-Road Ultegra Di2
Custom graphics Chris King Mango Components     Specifications: Frame: Columbus tubing with long point lugs Fork: Ritchey WCS Carbon Cross Paint: Smokey Blue and Orange Front Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra... Read more...
Bike City: How industry, advocacy & infrastructure shaped Toronto's cycling culture
Bike City: How industry, advocacy & infrastructure shaped Toronto's cycling culture
Today, the bicycle is a mainstream mode of transportation for almost a million cyclists in Toronto, yet sharing the road has been a challenge for city builders and city users... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Bianchi Campione del Mondo. Italy, 1953
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Bianchi Campione del Mondo. Italy, 1953
When the shop quieted down in the winter months, Mike Barry Sr. worked on custom Mariposa Bicycle orders and restored vintage bicycles.  If he had the time, he would also restore some of the bicycles... Read more...
Mariposa Feature: 650B All-Road Touring Bicycle
Mariposa Feature: 650B All-Road Touring Bicycle
Frame: Columbus tubing with long point lugs Fork: Whisky Carbon with fender mounts Paint: Metallic grape and pearlescent yellow Rear Derailleur: Shimano Ultegra Di2 Front Derailleur: Shimano Dura-Ace Di2 Chainwheel:... Read more...
Team Mariposa News April 20, 2018
Team Mariposa News April 20, 2018
The gravel racing season is underway and Team Mariposa riders have had a solid start with Sjaan Gerth finishing 2nd place in the Ossian Mudslinger Gravel Series Race in New... Read more...
L'Eroica California 2018
L'Eroica California 2018
Toronto (Cabbagetown) cyclist, Paul Kaminski rode his 1980s Mariposa, which he restored himself in the L'Eroica California April 14-15, 2018. Read more...