Great Lakes - Bike Shopping Weekend HELP!

Hello everyone,

I have been riding my MTB for a year now and I am up to about 30 miles twice on the weekends. I am new to this forum and a clyde. I read just about every posting asking and giving advice on buying a road bike. I am tired of researching online, checking eBay and craigslist. I am determined to go out and visit a few LBS in the Chicago and near suburbs area and buy my first bike. If you have read this far then here is my question: What LBS do you recommend I visit? I am looking for a 2005, 2006 entry level road bike and figured I spend about $600.

Thank you for your help and hope to see you in the road!!

-Sergio

The 2005 and 2006 requirement might be tough finding but a 2007 should be doable at that price range for an entry level road bike. I believe component wise they will all be similar, I think more important would be to find an lbs that can fit you properly. Where are you located?
Kenal0

The 2005 and 2006 requirement might be tough finding but a 2007 should be doable at that price range for an entry level road bike. I believe component wise they will all be similar, I think more important would be to find an lbs that can fit you properly. Where are you located?
Kenal0

Hi Kenal,

I live in Oak Park, work in Hoffman Estates and bike around Westchester and LSD bike path. I wanted to get the most bike for my $$ and I have seen that going with an older model might get you a little bump in quality. I finally figured that for "me" there is no real value with buying a bike online. I don't know how to work on them just yet but I will.

I appreciate your response!

You might have some better luck looking for a 2007 as the 2008 models are starting to come out. The 2005 and 2006's will probably be an odd sized frame if their are any left. At that price range you will be at entry level component range Shimano Tiagra and Sora. Nothing wrong with it, works fine. It would probably take a couple hundred more to get you to the Shimano 105 components. I think that is the main diff between the entry level and the 2nd tier bikes. The frames are not going to vary a whole lot. At that price, it will be Aluminium. A knowlegable smaller lbs might be a little more expensive than a Performance or Kozy where you might get a little more bike for the money but you might not get the attentive service that the smaller LBS will provide.
Find a few bikes in your range and test ride them as much as you can. A few extra minutes now will assure hours of comfortable riding later.
Kenal0

I second the remarks about Kozy/Performance/Villlage Cyclery. They are fine if you know what you want and they may be able to get you a better deal, but for newbies they may not be the best choice, since they may not be willing to spend the time with you that you need.

Also make sure you ask about the return policy, (free) checkups and upgrades. Some LBS may give you free labor for a year on upgrades.
Good Luck, Duppie

I think at your price range, all you're going to find brand new is a Giant OCR3. It's a great bike. I ride one myself. Even the Trek 1000 and Specialized Allez are over $700. I've been to 2 Kozy's, Village Cycle, 2 Performance Bikes, and 4 mom&pop type lbs' when I was shopping around. The Kozy's on Erie (Not too far from the LSD path you ride) was where I ended up buying from. They never ignored me, rushed me, pressured me, or bs'd me. They all sized me up by eyeballing me, and I picked the one that I was most comfortable on. I've spent a lot of time tweaking things to fit me as I've become more flexible so a first fitting shouldn't make or break a deal as long as you get the right 'general' size. Good luck with your hunt.

http://www.rapidtransitcycles.com/

Ask For Debb.

While I havent actualy been in the shop (I live in NW IN), When I get the $ to get a Surly, this is the shop I will use. I spent 1/2 hr on the phone with Debb, and she cheerfully answerd any and all of my questions. That alone is a Huge selling point for me...

I'll spend an extra $50 to support a good LBS.

Billy

villagecyclesport.com is my LBS and I love it. Vince is a great guy.

I hardly ever make it into the city, but I have been into one of the Kozys. Nice shop. I would highly recommend them to anyone. One of the bettter LBSs out there.

As for villagecyclesport - noticed that they had an ad in the Tribun about a week or so ago saying they had some big discounts on 2007 bikes becuas ethey were already receiving the 2008. Might be worth looking into...Looks like a Trek shop so bring your wallet.

...and Swiss bank account numbers...

There are two bike shops I know in Oak Park, Oak Park Cyclery and Bikes R Cool. You need not go far to check out their line and get fitted. I know at my LBS, they have few at the price range you indicated.

Giant OCR 3 is in your price range, and it's quite a bit of bike for the money. Worth a test ride, anyway.

I do not recommend Oak Park Cyclery. I bought my mountain bike there.

Kozy's is expensive as hell and I heard the owner is kind of a prick. His son is a good guy, though. They have a somewhat high turnover rate for sales people/mechanics, so don't expect to get to know someone all very well and get discounts for being a regular customer.

Village deals treks, raleigh, felt, lemond -- that's from memory. Felt is a great deal for the money, but choose a bike you want and then the best bike shop that stocks it.

I went to Uptown Bikes in my old neighborhood and found a fantastic deal on a 2007 Raleigh Sport. I changed the pedals, got a pump, flat kit, and added a cateye computer. I took it for a spin and right away felt the MTB VS Road bike rush. After it was all said and done, I walked out of there with a great bike and a few add-on components and was still under my budget. Here is what I did on my first ride on the LSD path (keep in mind it was Saturday around 1PM and tons of people).

36 miles
2 hours and 15 minutes
Average speed 15 mph
Top Speed 28 mph

Need to give my butt a break but I am going out again Thursday and Sunday. I want to log 50 miles twice a week before fall.

Thank you all and see you in the road.

-Sergio

I went to Uptown Bikes in my old neighborhood and found a fantastic deal on a 2007 Raleigh Sport. I changed the pedals, got a pump, flat kit, and added a cateye computer. I took it for a spin and right away felt the MTB VS Road bike rush. After it was all said and done, I walked out of there with a great bike and a few add-on components and was still under my budget. Here is what I did on my first ride on the LSD path (keep in mind it was Saturday around 1PM and tons of people).

36 miles
2 hours and 15 minutes
Average speed 15 mph
Top Speed 28 mph

Need to give my butt a break but I am going out again Thursday and Sunday. I want to log 50 miles twice a week before fall.

Thank you all and see you in the road.

-Sergio


100 miles a week is a noble goal. Good luck! Congrats on the bike.

Riding the LSD path at 1:00PM on a Saturday is even more nobler.
I get crazy just riding it during the week at 7:00 am!