Bikes We Believe In
From Downtown to Up North.
While most brands have some redundant models with their competitors, we like to take the best offerings from each brand we carry and offer a highly curated selection of the best models that they offer. We do the hard work and sweat the details so that you get a great collection of what we feel are the best bikes for riding here in SE Michigan and beyond.
Our line-up currently consists of Cannondale, Jamis, Marin, All City, Otso, Brompton, Wilde, Surly and Linus.
Our New Bike Products & Philosophy
Although Sic Transit began by refurbishing vintage bikes, we have been selling new bikes for over 12 years. Beginning small, we offered bikes from Surly, Linus and Brompton in our workshop. But, after opening our showroom in 2014, we expanded our offerings to include Bianchi and Jamis. Here in 2024 we are proud to still represent some of the best bicycle brands in the industry: Cannondale, Jamis, Marin, All City, Otso, Wilde, Brompton, Surly and Linus.
While most brands have some redundant models with their competitors, we like to take the best offerings from each brand we carry and offer a highly curated selection of the best models that they offer. We do the hard work and sweat the details so that you get a great collection of what we feel are the best bikes for riding here in SE Michigan and beyond. Of course we can order bikes from their entire catalog if we do not have them in our showroom.
Bikes are generally grouped in categories based on their use. Traditionally there were road, mountain and hybrid bicycles but over the years many sub categories have emerged and many bikes can easily cross over. In the end, they are all bikes and they can move you from one place to another. But if you have the opportunity to get a bicycle that was designed specifically for how and where you ride you will find it more enjoyable to ride further, faster and with more comfort.
At Sic Transit, we focus heavily on urban transportation. We stock the following types of bikes:
Hybrid Bikes
Knowing that bikes can be the solution for so many infrastructure, health and environmental issues, we pride ourselves on having bikes that can be used as a tool for living your life and all the accessories to support them. For this type of use, hybrid bikes are often the best tool for the job. With flat handlebars and a more upright posture, these bikes offer ample tire clearance and all the attachment points you would need to mount fenders, racks and other commuting essentials to your bike. Within this category of bikes, there are several styles of hybrids, including fitness and comfort based bikes, and traditional frames and low step versions.
Road & Gravel Bikes
Road biking on skinny tires has been a favorite of cyclists since the early 1900’s. While that is still a popular part of cycling here in Ann Arbor and SE Michigan (we have so many gorgeous paved roads) we have seen an evolution and a move towards gravel riding on gravel specific bikes. What are these exactly? Essentially an evolution of their skinny tired racing predecessors, only their frames can accommodate a larger tire and the handling is much more stable for riding on uneven surfaces. Add to that modern technologies like tubeless tires and disc brakes and the current generation of gravel bikes are the perfect tool for riding in the Ann Arbor area, whether on the dirt or paved roads. For next level fun, ride these bikes to the mountain bike trails and really make an adventure out of your riding!
Mountain Bikes
Finally, no discussion of bicycle categories would be complete without talking about the mountain bike! Really, this is the do it all bike. While a more basic mountain bike is considered an ultra durable hybrid bike and is well suited for light trails along with urban and transportation uses, as you move up the line of mountain bikes they truly became purpose built machines to send you flying through the woods and really connect with the outdoors. Broken into several categories, there are hardtails, full suspension and fat mountain bikes. The Fat bikes truly shine in the winter riding snow covered trails or riding along the sandy beaches of Northern Michigan but can be a little heavier than needed during the summer months. For this most riders choose between a hardtail or a full suspension mountain bike. While some of this comes down to preference, a lot has to do with how rugged the trails you intend to ride on and, not only your skill level, but how you want the trail riding experience to be.
All of this is just a summary of the bikes that are available these days, and what we have available in our shop. It can be overwhelming and not everybody’s situation or needs fit into one of these categories. If you are looking to get into cycling, or if you are an experienced rider looking for a new bike, we invite you to come in and talk with one of our crew. They can help answer any questions and point you in the right direction.
Examples from our selection:
