Features

1980s Bianchi ‘Adventure’ Mountain Bike Conversion / Restoration
1980s Bianchi ‘Adventure’ Mountain Bike Conversion / Restoration
Vintage mountain bikes can become great gravel bikes as the frame geometry is suitable, the tire clearances ample enough for large tires and mudguards and the frames resilient, comfortable and... Read more...
City Bike Restoration
City Bike Restoration
Over the years we've collected many used parts and old frames in need of restoration. Much of the old vintage equipment is ideal for building up nice city bikes as... Read more...
The beauty and the practicality of a well designed city bicycle
The beauty and the practicality of a well designed city bicycle
By Michael Barry Old bikes often come in the shop, built from the 1930’s to the 70’s, for small repairs or complete restorations. From use they have developed a patina... Read more...
In The News, July 2025
In The News, July 2025
Copenhagen, the bicycle-friendliest place on the planet, publishes a biannual Bicycle Account, and buried in its pages is a rather astonishing fact: One mile on a bike is a $.42... Read more...
The Concrete Bankings of Woodbridge
The Concrete Bankings of Woodbridge
by Michael Barry In the early 1970’s Woodbridge Ontario, a suburb of Toronto, had its own outdoor velodrome. A 254 meter concrete oval, with 45 degree bankings large enough for... 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...
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...
Restoration Feature: 1963 Jack Taylor Super Clubman
Restoration Feature: 1963 Jack Taylor Super Clubman
Jack Taylor Cycles was the idea of three brothers, all involved with cycling -- Jack, Ken, and Norman Taylor -- starting in the 1930s. They produced a wide range of... Read more...
Restoration Feature: Provenance Of A New/Old Bianchi
Restoration Feature: Provenance Of A New/Old Bianchi
I decided to get a bike to go on my smart trainer when I take my 2017 Mariposa gravel bike off to ride it outside. About 2008 or 2009, I... 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...
In The News
In The News
A collection of stories, news and information that we thought you might find interesting and relevent. An interesting new study explores how the human neural network controls a bicycle: It... Read more...
Shifting Gears: A brief history of derailleurs
Shifting Gears: A brief history of derailleurs
Multiple gears, whether they are the internal hub variety or the derailleur, are the most complex mechanisms on bicycles. An internal hub gear can be interesting enough, but to fully... Read more...
Restoration Feature: 1970s Chris Chance Road Bicycle, USA
Restoration Feature: 1970s Chris Chance Road Bicycle, USA
The Chris Chance frame we recently restored was built in the late 70's by Chris. The story goes, that he built a couple of frames and then traveled across the... Read more...
Cinelli Laser. Italy, 1984
Cinelli Laser. Italy, 1984
A short time after Antonio Colombo took over the management of the Columbus bicycle company, he introduced the Cinelli Laser, the design of which is revolutionary. Although the changes were... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: 1980s Alan Campione Del Mondo Cyclocross Bicycle
Vintage Bicycle Feature: 1980s Alan Campione Del Mondo Cyclocross Bicycle
ALAN Bicycles was founded in Italy in 1972 by Falconi Lodovico, an engineer who had worked for bicycle manufacturer Torpado. The name ALAN comes from the first two letters of... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: 1973 Eisentraut Road Bicycle. Oakland, USA.
Vintage Bicycle Feature: 1973 Eisentraut Road Bicycle. Oakland, USA.
Built for British cycling journalist and randonneur, Jock Wadley. Albert Eisentraut acquired an appreciation of hand built bicycles at the elbow of legendary Paramount maker Oscar Wastyn in Chicago, and... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Velo de Ville. 1946, France.
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Velo de Ville. 1946, France.
A typical French city bicycle of the period with 650B wheels, demi ballon tires, Alex C Singer brakes, Simplex "Tour de France" three speed derailleur, alloy fenders and chainguard, Radios... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: c1960s Cinelli Pista Track Bicycle
Vintage Bicycle Feature: c1960s Cinelli Pista Track Bicycle
  Specifications: Serial number: 3312 Size: Seat Tube: 55 cm Centre to Centre, 56.4 cm Centre to Top. Top Tube: 56 cm Centre to Centre. Finish: Black with Chrome head... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: 1938 Bates 'Volante' Track Bicycle
Vintage Bicycle Feature: 1938 Bates 'Volante' Track Bicycle
Bates is one of the most highly regarded of the English lightweight frame builders. The company became famous for its racing successes of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s but it... 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...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: c1968 Cinelli S.C.
Vintage Bicycle Feature: c1968 Cinelli S.C.
Cinelli Bicycles was founded in 1948 by Cino Cinelli, (born in Montespertoli, Italy, 9 February 1916, died 20 April 2001), a former professional road racer and president of the Italian... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: CCM Flyers
Vintage Bicycle Feature: CCM Flyers
An excerpt from A Life With Bicycles by Mike Barry. Photography by Walter Lai The Canadian Cycle and Motor Company was formed in 1898 through the amalgamation of several smaller... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Griffon Paris Mixte Touring. France 1948
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Griffon Paris Mixte Touring. France 1948
This Griffon is an example of a 1950s French mixte bicycle. The term mixte indicates that it is suitable for both sexes but outside of France, the mixte type frame... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: 1965 Hetchins, England
Vintage Bicycle Feature: 1965 Hetchins, England
This frame is an excellent example of the ornate lugged Hetchins. The Hetchins "Vibrant" stays were claimed to make the bike more comfortable and resilient. Campagnolo Record derailleurs, hubs and... 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...
Building Bicycles
Building Bicycles
By Michael Barry for Soigneur Photography by Ian Patterson The rising sun breaks through the trees, as we thrash across the open fields. Beneath us, our bikes absorb the undulations... 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...
A Life With Bicycles Book Launch Party Photo Gallery
A Life With Bicycles Book Launch Party Photo Gallery
Photography by Timothy Austen Thank you to everyone who attended “A Life With Bicycles” book launch party last week at Amsterdam Brewery. It was a wonderful tribute to Mike Barry... 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...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: c1950 Torpado Track Bicycle
Vintage Bicycle Feature: c1950 Torpado Track Bicycle
Made in Italy. Restored in the Mariposa Bicycles - Bicycle Specialties Ltd. workshop in January 2019 Serial Number: 9924 Size: Seat Tube: 55 cm Centre to Centre, 58 cm Centre... 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 "Paris-Roubaix" 1972
Mariposa "Paris-Roubaix" 1972
Mariposa Bicycles is celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2019. As part of the celebration, we featured several bicycles from throughout its history, starting with the history and development of Mariposa... 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...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Bob Jackson Tricycle
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Bob Jackson Tricycle
Bob Jackson, J.R. (John Robert) Jackson, first opened shop in Leeds in 1935 as J.R.J. Cycles using money borrowed from his mother. He built bikes until WWII when all production... 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...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Moulton Bicycles
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Moulton Bicycles
By Mike Barry Sr. Photography by Walter Lai Since 1885 when Starley introduced the Rover Safety bike, there have been many efforts to improve on his design. Most of those... Read more...
Restoration Feature: Late 1980s Mariposa Touring Frame
Restoration Feature: Late 1980s Mariposa Touring Frame
This touring frame was built in the late 1980s in the Mariposa workshop. It was repainted in the Mariposa workshop in December 2018. Frame includes a Campagnolo Nuovo Record headset,... 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...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: c1963 Ideor. Savona, Italy.
Vintage Bicycle Feature: c1963 Ideor. Savona, Italy.
The Ideor bicycle company was one of the most highly respected bike companies in Italy. Established in the early part of the twentieth century in Savona, Ideor produced a complete... 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...
Turas Mor 2018
Turas Mor 2018
By Dede Barry Last weekend’s Turas Mor gravel event / vintage cycling celebration was a great way to kick off summer in Ontario. The event was created by Creemore Springs... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: c1958 Cinelli Model B
Vintage Bicycle Feature: c1958 Cinelli Model B
As a young teenager in the fifties I spent most of my spare time riding my bike, hanging around the local bike shop or visiting as many as I could... 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...
Mercier, France. 1975
Mercier, France. 1975
By Mike Barry Sr. Photography by Walter Lai   The Mercier Company was established in St. Etienne, France in the early part of the Twentieth Century. They produced a large... Read more...
Vintage Mariposa Feature: David Harris' 1988 Road Bicycle
Vintage Mariposa Feature: David Harris' 1988 Road Bicycle
This Mariposa was built for David Harris in 1988 and painted for him by an artist friend from Toronto Island. David was a filmmaker and a world class hang-glider (he... Read more...
Restoration Feature: Cyclocross to Commuter Bike Conversion
Restoration Feature: Cyclocross to Commuter Bike Conversion
We took a beat up 1990s Desmarais Cyclocross frame, that was ridden by two time provincial road champ Joe Guilliano, stripped it, sand blasted it, built a new fork (the... Read more...
Unpainted Stock Frames
Unpainted Stock Frames
In the workshop we have unpainted stock sized frames for sale that can be customized with paint. Components and wheels are sold separately. Specifications are available below. Prices include a... Read more...
The Colourful And Enduring Life Of A Bicycle
The Colourful And Enduring Life Of A Bicycle
By Michael Barry Photography by Ian Austen A bicycle remains one of the simplest and most efficient forms of human transportation. Its design is so good it is hard to... Read more...
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Mariposa Randonneur, 1981: Raid Pyrenean Bicycle
Vintage Bicycle Feature: Mariposa Randonneur, 1981: Raid Pyrenean Bicycle
By Mike Barry Sr. Photography By Walter Lai In 1981, my ex business partner, Mike Brown and I decided to attempt the Raid Pryenean, a 750 kilometer journey across the... Read more...