General Cycling Discussion - ARRRGH Bike shopping frustration.....

OK I know I do this to myself because I'm an cronic overshopper.

I want to get a bike, to get into better shape rided to the beach and do some hilly road riding too. Mind you this is all theory cuz I don't have a bike cept my college out of service beach cruiser.

So I start at MTB cuz I like the upright style and everybody else seems to be riding them.

I come to grips with the reality that I won't be riding in the mountains pretty much at all so I move to the hybrid concept.

I hit the LBS and hone in on the Trek 7500 cuz it seems more in tune for my purposes or so I think.

While out shopping this weekend I go to a LBS my neighbor (who does sprint racing and road work) recommends and I talk to a guy there (whom I liked and listened to what I was saying) say the hybrid will be too heavy for my and the perfect bike for me would be the Kona Dr. Dew or for less money one of the Fuji's

OK great being the thorough (compulsive) shopper I am I want to check these out but I most of the shops around here don't seem to "stock" these bikes so I would have to order and buy sight unseen.

Then I call a shop listed as a Fuji dealer. "We don't carry those anymore. Why would you want that. We have a 2001 Sirrus Comp closeout a $1000 bike for $425" that is a much better bike.

So here I sit confused :confused: and frustrated :cry:

Too many choices: Trek 7500,7500fx, Spec Sirrus, Fuji, Kona...

Don't want to overbuy a yuppie garage ornament don't want to underbuy and be dissatisfied right out of the gate.

ACK!

OK I'm better now :D


Sorry for my newbie vent

You may go back to you regularly scheduled knowledgable bike talk.
:p

Don't know about knowledgeable :) but I just picked up my Trek 7300 today and I'm quite happy with it (well, of course I am, wouldn't have bought it otherwise, duh).

As for the comment about a hybrid being heavy I think that's kind of out of line. Even with a suspension fork the 7300 is a lot lighter than the steel Schwinn I rode years ago. If you do much beach riding on a superlight frame, even one with fairly wide tires, I suspect you'll come to regret it.

Most of all, don't let some salesman sell you what he wants to get rid of thinking you'll get a good deal. If it's not the bike you want, if it's not suitable for the riding you want to do, it's not a good deal.

John

Sirrus is a hell of a deal for that price,pretty good bike to,i would really look into it if its a good fit.

I am definitely going to try to check it out this weekend. If nothing I am a resilient shopper.

I would not make any decisions to you test ride a few of the bikes, see what feels best to you. Don't take someone else's word for it, everyone is a bit different and has different preferences.

You know the ironic thing for me is that I'm not necessarily worried about getting the best deal. If I KNEW a particular bike was going to be just right for me I'd pull the trigger.

One of the upsides to my compulsive need to research and shop is that my wife gets so frustrated with she ultimately says JUST by SOMETHING. I don't care how much it costs. :p

Originally posted by shokhead
Sirrus is a hell of a deal for that price, pretty good bike to, i would really look into it if its a good fit.
FIT is the most important thing about buying a bike. Regardless of the type or brand bike you get, if it doesn't fit you won't like it!!



Originally posted by HalfHearted
If it's not the bike you want, if it's not suitable for the riding you want to do, it's not a good deal.
TRUE!

We have been going through a somewhat similar process, at least with regards to some choices. You might want to check out the recent and evolving thread that I started last night.

In addition to doing Quick Searches on this site, some of the feedback I directly received has been eye-opening!

Good luck in your venture

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?threadid=21314

Originally posted by Rats13
One of the upsides to my compulsive need to research and shop is that my wife gets so frustrated with she ultimately says JUST by SOMETHING. I don't care how much it costs. :p

Sounds like me shopping with my wife! Which I rarely do anymore because the frustration isn't good for my blood pressure. She honest to goodness spends five hours doing the weekly grocery shopping. If she doesn't touch everything in the store and read all the labels she hasn't done her job, even though she buys pretty much the same thing every week!

:D

John

As a new rider myself I can definatly say without test riding the bikes you wont get want you want. I had the bike shop build a cannondale to my specs out the box I am glad I test rode a few more ended up buying a bike I hadn't even thought of.