Foo - Venturing into a whole new world.

So I decided that after a rough nite last nite and a scary appointment this morning, I deserved to do something for me.

I walked into a bike shop.

It said "BIANCHI" in big letters and next to it "BIKE SALE".

Oooooooooooooooo!! :D

As I opened the door, I am greeted by a guy named Eric, who by chance is the owner. I tell him that I have never been on a *ahem* road bike before that my experience is limited to mtb. He shows me a Cannondale - no thanks. He shows me a Seven. "Um....Sir? This is my FIRST road bike". He shows me a Specialized. Dolce Elite to be exact. Beautiful. White with purple. Zertz and carbon. Sleek lines. Ohhhhhhhhh baby.

BUT!! Over to the left of it is the BIANCHI. "Oh wait sir! What about the Bianchi?" He tells me that that is the same as the Dolce, made in Taiwan, (MADE IN TAIWAN???!!?) and that it's hard getting Bianchis because he placed an order a few months back and who knows where they are. He goes on to explain that with a road bike, I better plan on riding long distances. I told him about my back. His face dropped and then he told me that riding road is much more easier, faster - yada yada - BUT in order to get something out of it, you must ride at least 30 miles before you can benefit from it. :rolleyes: Hmmmmmmmm.

So he sits me on the Dolce. Immediately I grab for the brakes that aren't there. "Oh hey, they are up HERE." "Uhh yes ma'am. This is how road bikes are". "Is this a good size for me?" "Pick up the bike front and rear till it hits you" "What?" "Pick it up". I felt funny as he pulled the bike to make it even to the floor, making me jump a little. "Hey!" "Oh sorry. I know. It's different from mtb. Oh and this is how you work the gears." He pushed sideways on the brake levers and of course that freaked me out. "Where's the thumbshifters? There's no thumbshifters?" "Uh no ma'am. This is a road bike. Here, take it out for a spin". I sat on the bike and got dizzy just from the size of the tires against the linoleum floor. "No thanks". He looked at me funny. "But why not?"

"Well sir to be honest, I'm not sure if my back can handle riding a minimum of thirty miles in one position. I figure with an mtb I can be a little agressive, work harder, climb in the dirt, jump a little and be challenged a bit when around the rocks and roots. And I don't think I have to ride 30 miles to get a workout on a mtb. Thank you for the offer though." Silence. "Tell you what. If you buy the Dolce today, I'll knock it off $100." ;)

"Ummm. Not today. But thanks!" :)

He gave me a card, some catalogs. As I left I realized that the experience of looking at the bikes didn't do it for me like it did when I was looking at the bouncy bouncy boing boings. There was no drooling, no *thunk*. Nothing like that. Matter of fact, I sensed fear when I saw those tiny tires.

This may be premature but other than my UMB, I think I'm a fat tire girl for life. ;)

Awww too bad.

I love both my fat and skinny tires :)

but true to heart grlroadie all the way!!! :)

Egad! :eek: Find another LBS! :rolleyes: And go with a roadie who knows roadbikes. Dammit.

Skinny tires, my sweet a$$. <muttering under breath>

Sistuh, trust Vega. You'll love it, and that dude was talkin' some pompous poseur shiat about having to ride 30+ miles to get any benefit.... :mad: It all depends on what the goals are.

So, try it again, with a roadie friend, at another LBS. mmkay? :)

He's the only Bianchi dealer in my area. :(

This may be premature but other than my UMB, I think I'm a fat tire girl for life. ;)

Zzzip deserves a friend:(

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m267/Michiganderbiker/bikeforums%20pics/Trek460.jpg

Or I could wait till I get to Colorado. Then I could choose from any one of these.

http://www.vecchios.com/bikes.html


But I don't know..................:o

Or I could wait till I get to Colorado. Then I could choose from any one of these.

http://www.vecchios.com/bikes.html


But I don't know..................:o

Mooooooots!!

Seriously, Specialized does make some good road bikes, too. I've heard great things about the Dolce and the Roubaix as far as comfort goes.

Of course, for the same money if you can get the Moots.... Well, that's a no brainer!

You don't have to be in only one position for all 30 miles. Drop bars allow for a considerable number of riding positions. With my hands on the shoulders, my posture is only slightly lower on my road bike than on a mountain bike. You can also stand and pedal to give your muscles a little stretch periodically. Just make sure that the bars are not ultra-roadie, preposterously low and you should be ok.

Do yourself a favor and take one for a spin. They go fast.

Egad! :eek: Find another LBS! :rolleyes: And go with a roadie who knows roadbikes. Dammit.

Skinny tires, my sweet a$$. <muttering under breath>

Sistuh, trust Vega. You'll love it, and that dude was talkin' some pompous poseur shiat about having to ride 30+ miles to get any benefit.... :mad: It all depends on what the goals are.

So, try it again, with a roadie friend, at another LBS. mmkay? :)
Agreed, wholeheartedly, Siu! This guy was trying to steer you to the line that has the bigger markup from bottom line, first!

Second, a short ride is as fun as a long one

:p

Also, I have a Specialized Dolce Elite.

LOVE IT!!! :)

I've "gotten" plenty out of rides that were 3 or 4 miles long. Heck, I rarely ride over 30 miles. I'm even entering a TT this season that's only 5 miles long (granted, it's pretty much straight uphill.)

Find another LBS. And don't give up. Road bikes are a TOTALLY different world than mountain bikes, it's gonna take plenty of adjustment. But the cool thing is, you can do it at your own pace.

Bullsh!t... "30 miles for any benefit" Poppycock!

I'm diggin' my bike from the first push over on the crank.

Have you looked at cyclocross bikes? They'll usually have more relaxed geometry than your regular road bike and they'll have a slightly more up-right riding position, too. Plus you can fit 35 to 40 sized tires depending on the model (the bike you were on was probably around a 23). There's also the ability to do some light offroad. Hard pack trails, fire roads, etc. If you're set on Bianchi, the Volpe is their entry-level geared CX bike. If you want to go SS, then there's the San Jose. It's worth a look.

TURN AND RUN OUT THE DOOR. FIND A NEW SHOP! The guy was full of what he thought was knowledge. I agree you might take a look at a cyclocross bike. Redline makes a nice bike, the Conquest (http://www.redlinebicycles.com/adultbikes/conquest.html).

http://www.redlinebicycles.com/adultbikes/bikes/images/Conquest.jpg

Play around with the UMB. I think you'll end up liking it and think more seriously about a roadie.

Play around with the UMB. I think you'll end up liking it and think more seriously about a roadie.
Agreed! Siu, you might also look at a touring bike or the Cyclocross bike mentioned above and Bianchi makes a cross bike.

Siu, if you can, amke teh ride to San Jose...there is a guy who has a almost inpossible to find shop just north of the Safeway on San Carlos....the crossroad might be Race St (sounds about right).

The place looked more like a Dentist's office than a bike shop...it tripped me out....no signs or nothing.

Have you looked at cyclocross bikes?
I was looking at those in the first place but maybe I should reconsider.



TURN AND RUN OUT THE DOOR. FIND A NEW SHOP! The guy was full of what he thought was knowledge.
What's funny is, I asked him if he rode mtb or road and he said he doesn't ride. ???:eek: ???



Play around with the UMB. I think you'll end up liking it and think more seriously about a roadie.
I plan on trying to use the UMB as my primary bike this spring. I won't jump into anything too fast. But I really am wanting to do something other than mtb.

Siu, if you can, amke teh ride to San Jose...there is a guy who has a almost inpossible to find shop just north of the Safeway on San Carlos....the crossroad might be Race St (sounds about right).

The place looked more like a Dentist's office than a bike shop...it tripped me out....no signs or nothing.

sounds like a great reason to go...

This is what I was looking at before the Bianchi.

http://www.konaworld.com/bikes/2k7/JAKETHESNAKE/index.html

I plan on trying to use the UMB as my primary bike this spring. I won't jump into anything too fast. But I really am wanting to do something other than mtb.

I know EXACTLY what you mean. I got a taste of it last year on the old moto. It will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings...

That Jake the Snake is HOT!

I still have this strange desire for a cross bike...since it seems you and Jon are both XC nuts, that might be a good compromise...a bike that can do both road and dirt with reasonable ease.

That is what I was thinking, Cat - a long time ago. Even before Mich sent the UMB...

And if I do the Jake the Snake, Jon will probably go for the Jake. It's what we were both looking at before anyway.

Well, since everyone else is throwing in their two cents, here's mine: get a true road bike. It will be the yin to your bouncy-bouncy-boing-boing yang. You can already ride on dirt. Now it's time to fly.

Sui, dont let him turn ya off to road bikes. You've seen my fine stable of mt bikes, and i rarely ride em anymore. Too busy enjoying the roadie. I am actually more comfortable on the road bike with my back problem then the mt bike. Miles also rack up alot faster on a road bike since it rolls much faster and with less resistance. Keep looking around, try Mikes Bikes and look for some 06 models and you can save a few bucks. I dont think they carry Bianchi though.

My Bianchi Veloce might actually fit you Siu. It's a 48 cm which is one size too small for me. Anyways, it sounds like that bike guy didn't know what he was talking about. The shifting's different for sure, but you have something like five different hand positions to stretch you out or ride upright. If you want to be more upright, use a shorter stem and use some spacers to raise the bars up. As for cross bikes, I have a fixed gear cross and it's the funnest bike I got. Smooth, quiet and pure fun.

Suggestion: Go find a CX bike to take on a test ride. Something with 35c tires or wider, not near as narrow as a full on road bike, but set up simular to give you an idea of the position and the ride. Then once you get the feel for that see if the shop has something with a 25c or 28c tire for you to try that has less rolling resistance than the CX. Basically, make the transition from MB to Road in a few steps. If the bike is properly sized, even with the bigger wheel, it shouldn't feel big. I'll admit that riding slow on a road bike is harder to do than a mountain, but I rarely stay at that low of a speed for very long. One or two revolutions on the cranks and I'm up to speed and its such smooth sailing.

Sales dude had many issues, most have already been covered. Don't lock yourself into Bianchi, while they are nice bikes, many are now made in Tawain. Best thing you can do is take some test rides, starting closer to a mtb, and move towards a full roadie. Ride as many brands as you can and find that one that makes you go WOW. :) Good luck. You know you can always get good advise here, but you've also got to go experience as well.

Consider a flat bar skinny tired bike with a nice set of bar ends.

The sales guy doesn't ride???? :eek: Not that I'm prejudiced; after all, I don't ride, but I'm hanging out in Foo, not trying to sell bikes to people!

I think I'm a fat tire girl for life. ;)

Yeah! :beer:

That's what I like to hear! :D

Give it another go Siu. Find another bike shop where you can take one for a ride. If possible, go with someone who knows road bikes. Don't dismiss the Bianchi dream just yet. :)

The sales guy doesn't ride???? :eek: Not that I'm prejudiced; after all, I don't ride, but I'm hanging out in Foo, not trying to sell bikes to people!
But you called me seeing if I would buy the Flyte? Oh, dang, that was just between you and I wasn't it. OOPPPSSSSIE!

"Pick up the bike front and rear till it hits you"

I seriously want to find a shop that will try to determine frame size by doing this to me!!!

What a tool.

He said it was the old school way of measuring. He said it was off the ground two inches so it's about my size.

I'm used to checking standover on a mtb: feet apart slightly and about a 1 min or 3 max clearance. But then you need that much for an mtb due to the rough terrain.

Wish Vega had been witch ya sistuh. I'd have done some old-school measurements in his crotch. With my foot. :mad:

What an a$$hat.

He said it was the old school way of measuring. He said it was off the ground two inches so it's about my size.

Run very far from this place and never return. I can't believe people like him still exist. I'll fly out there and fit you myself while accounting for your back problems. It'll give me an excuse to go back to California. I sorely miss it.

And I promise I won't try to shove a bike in your crotch. Man, what a tool!!!

Gosh I feel so dumb...:(

Gosh I feel so dumb...:(

It's not your fault. You didn't know better, but HE should have. Someone selling road bikes should, at the bare minimum, be able to determine a ballpark frame size by just looking at you (and maybe asking your height).

Or I could wait till I get to Colorado. Then I could choose from any one of these.

http://www.vecchios.com/bikes.html


But I don't know..................:o

That's a wicked cool shop, and it's just a little bit away from that other shop I told you about in Boulder. My LBS here in Greeley is the Bianchi dealer in the area and the owner (Steve) is the nicest guy in the world. You've got options :).

Yeah but the guys at this shop are awesome! :)

Have you been there or did you just see the link? Do you like the place?

Yeah but the guys at this shop are awesome! :)

Have you been there or did you just see the link? Do you like the place?

Yup, I've been in there. I've never actually BOUGHT anything from them (though they have some C-Record hubs in their case that I wouldn't mind having :) ) but the guys I've talked to seem nice enough. And call me a dope, but it never even occured to me to look for their website :).

[SELF INDULGENCE] Also, the bike you can see hanging up through the window on their home page is an Atala with Campy suicide shifters. I'm totally in love with it. [/SELF INDULGENCE]

Yo, Siu:
You will not - repeat, *not* - go into another Bay Area bike shop looking at road bikes unless (a) I am with you or (b) I or another honest-to-gosh road-bike-riding Fooster have personally vouched for the shop. As far as the "pick the bike up 'til it hits you," that is an okay rule of thumb for seeing if the bike is worth considering, but it is not even close to definitive for sizing. (In any event, the real test isn't to lift it until it hits you, it's until the top tube hits bone - i.e., when it is beyond merely touching you. Your proper road bike size will be significantly bigger than your MTB size unless you are talking about one those new mini-frame road bikes.)

30 miles before you get a benefit? Wrong, unless fun and aerobic exercise aren't benefits.

Re: drop bars - the beauty of drop bars is that they allow you a bunch of hand positions. Many, many more than with flat bars, even flat bars with bar-ends. As for back issues with drop bars, if your back can stand riding your moutain bikes, there is no reason why a drop-bar road bike can not be at least as comfortable on your back - again, it's a matter of fit, primarily getting the bars up so the flat part of the handlebar is about level with the height of the saddle. (Note - that is not the set-up you will see in photos of Lance Armstrong or other racers, because they ride the most aerodynamic position they can tolerate - comfort is a luxery they cannot afford.)

I am not a particular fan of modern Trek bikes (nothing wroing with them, I'm just more of a lugged steel kind of guy), but they do make reasonably priced road bikes that are designed and built specifically for women (who have proportionally longer legs and shorter torsos than men, on average) and also - finally - road bikes designed with the idea of getting the handlebars up to the level of the saddle,where they belong for the vast majority of folks. Wow, road bikes designed for normal people to ride, not just uber-fit pro racers. What a concept! :rolleyes:

In any event, add me to the list of folks suggesting that you don't give up on the road machine yet. First, let's get the UMB up and running and see how you like that. Then, if you are willing to go a few miles afield from your normal stomping grounds, I know your fellow Bay Area Foosters can get you to a couple of shops that will treat you right. In fact, I'm thinking of a shop right now that would be perfect for you in Livermore . . . .

Sounds like my first experiance with an LBS when I first bought my Hardrock. Definately find another LBS to fit you and such. If you really want the Bianchi, head back once you know what size you're looking for.

Don't let the road bike position deter you. When I started riding my road bike, I had terrible lower back pain and sciatica causing numbness that would extend down to my ankle. After riding on the road for about a month, my sciatica was GONE and my back pain only flared up when I slept crooked.

I'll admit, I was skeptical about skinny tires at first. The first time I rode a road bike, I'm sure I looked like a fawn trying to walk for the first time. Try it though. It's not difficult after a couple minutes.

Thank you everyone, Bikingshearer. I have a lot to learn here I appreciate it. And yes, I'll call you and maybe when time permits we can go check out shops. After my UMB gets built up. I really should use that for a while till I get to know what my needs are. And if *ahem* road bikes are really for me.

I guess I just feel secure with my trustly mtbs..........

Yes, I'd do a trial with your "UMB." Try it and see how it goes. If you like it, the experience will give you a better idea of what to look for if you decide to buy another bike.

As I already told Siu it sounds like this guy is an idiot and definitely she shouldn't bother going back there. He said a specialized bike was virtually the same as the bianchi, obviously because he's a specialized fanboy. Anyone who pushes their personal preferences obviously doesn't have the customer at heart, and isn't trying to fit the bike to their personal needs and/or wants. Plus the guy admitted to not even riding!! If I was that guy I would never have admitted that. But whatever.

Next week hopefully we'll go to that kona place. If they have any jakes we're gunna test ride em. :D Maybe I'll have my bonds cashed by then. :rolleyes: If I get a roadie I gotta keep it too the roots, CX bike all the way.

I think it'd be funny if siu and/or me end up with a jake, because that's what we originally liked to begin with.

well, im not good at road bike at all but brands that I heard commonly are Bianchi, Trek, and Giant, Specialized sometimes only

Yes Wheelhot I think those are the most common here. You hit it on the nose! :)

Oh, and Siu, here's your pointer list:


Shimano STI:

Inner lever shifts to the smaller cogs/chainrings, brake lever shifts to bigger cogs/chainrings.

Campagnolo ergoshift: Thumb shifts to bigger cogs/chainrings, inner lever shifts to smaller cogs/chainrings. "Old" Ergopower allows multiple ****s either direction, QS (QuickShift) Ergopower lacks this, but is supposedly much nicer to use (I won't try it, since one of the two reaons I went campy was for the bi-directional gear dumping feature).

Chainrings are a more drasti change in gearing, while the cogs are a more subtle change in gearing. This is quite different from a mountain bike, where the cogs are tighter gearing in the top end, but wider in the low end. For example, my cassette is practically 1t apart with the exception of the last two cogs. You will want to start with a 12-25 cassette or something of the likes...I've only hit 11t once....period.

And if you go to a touring or recreational road bike, you can have your upright stance. Another option is to get a bike that uses threaded stems. This will allow you to buy a taller stem later on if you need it.....actually your UMB should be threaded...so you can experiment on it until you find your perfect fit.

Thanks to UCI rules, there hasn't been much innovation in the general design of the road bike....that is a good thing, since you can experiment to find what fits you best without spending big bucks (Used Cinelli stems can be had for very little for example).

Oh, and learn to spin....the far higher gear ratios on a roadbike can easily tear up your knees if you are not careful.....60rpm, it's the roadie's bible....if you can't do it, you are most likely running too high a gear.