Road Cycling - Tha's fine.....BUT????

Trying to learn enough to buy my first raod bike. I know that fit matters above all, so I have been fit by two different LBS's (both took almost two hours). Both gave me the same basic list of what I should look for in a bike dimensioned for my body type.

So...I've been riding bikes of different manufacturers / materials / frame types to decide what is best for me. They all say..."Try lots of bikes until you find one that feels the best".

Not having any experience with road bikes, I do notice slight differences in the various bikes, but have no idea what I'm looking for wrt "feels the best". They all seem to fit ok, but I am confused as to how I'm to pick the right one. What criteria should I be using to judge the bikes? I am not looking for a bike recommendation; I'm looking for how I know what feels right if I don't have any experience with road bikes!!

Well a lot depends on what type of riding do you want to do. Are you interested in just tooling around or do you want a really fast race style bike? Or are you interested in something in-between?

Bike fit can be very subjective as you are finding out. Once initially fitted to bike, and you have your seat height set, you need to be concerned with the reach.

Ride around in the drops (lower portion of the handlebars) and with your hands on the tops of the hoods. Then with your hands on the top part of the bars. Try all three positions at various times throughout your test ride.

You want to find a bike where the reach doesn't make you feel like you're reaching out to the bars, but at the same time where you don't feel like you're hitting your knees. Some manuf. have longer top tubes and the bike will feel like you're reaching.

Do some turns back and forth. Some bikes will steer slower or faster. Some will feel too twitchy or too lethargic.

It's really just a comfort thing. It's that subjective.

Good Luck!

L8R

And don't forget, fit may be everything, but go for the one you like best. Don't buy an 'ugly' bike in the wrong color with a badge you don't like (if you like badges) just because it fits slightly better than the sexy little number next to it that you really love the look of. And you may find that the stem and bars are not to your liking after a while (I know I did). These are easily replaced, unlike a frame.

I think there is more criterial than tooling around or going racing...

* Tooling around
* Racing
* Supported touring
* Heavy touring
* Audax/brevet
* Cyclocross
* XC and various ATB stuff...


I don't think a 300k brevet is in-between tooling around and road racing :)

I think there is more criterial than tooling around or going racing...

* Tooling around
* Racing
* Supported touring
* Heavy touring
* Audax/brevet
* Cyclocross
* XC and various ATB stuff...

I don't think a 300k brevet is in-between tooling around and road racing :)

:eek: You mean there's more than two ways to ride a road bike? ;)

If more then one bike feels "right", then you should consider price and value.

My opinion is that your first bike will be a bit of a guess as you don't have a lot of experience to base a judgement on. I would go for a reliable and comfortable bike that is marketed toward the riding you want to do. I would suggest getting one with rack and fender mounts, unless you know right off the bat that you'll be a hammerhead. Don't spend a ton , because, as you get some road miles and hopefully take spins on other peoples bikes you'll develop better feel for what you want. You can then buy that bike and turn your old bike into a commuter or turn someone else onto road biking with it.

-s

SinGate:

Oops... Yea your right... There is only two ways. :)

What criteria should I be using to judge the bikes? I am not looking for a bike recommendation; I'm looking for how I know what feels right if I don't have any experience with road bikes!!

I was exactly where you are now back in June when I bought my first road bike. These forums were helpful and I found the same advice here that you're finding. I did ride a lot of different road bikes in several price ranges. After I had gone to several (many) bike shops, asked lots of questions and rode some bikes it soon became pretty obvious which shops had employees that knew what they were talking about and which didn't. It was also pretty easy to see which of them was interested in helping me find a bike that would make my experience a good one, as opposed to those that just wanted to sell a bike. That narrowed thiings down quite a lot.

The thing that helped me the most to tell the difference between bikes, and find out what I liked, was having the opportunity to ride several different bikes on the same route. I chose a short road loop (about 9-10 miles) that included a couple of medium sized, long hills. I rode steel, aluminum, standard geometry and compact geometry, and racing bikes and touring bikes. It was very apparent to me that within the same price category, the steel bikes were my preference on the road, especially on some of the rougher chip and seal roads we have around here. I enjoyed the response and the agility of the road bikes more than the tourers, and (although a small thing) I liked a real quiet rear hub!

Anyway, I enjoyed shopping, learned a lot, found a very good local bike shop with a great mechanic (that rides!), and spent about $1800. I bought a new frame from Gunnar and had my local guy build it up for me. I've been very happy. That was about 700 miles ago. I've got a trainer coming for Christmas (I hope) and look forward to spring. so my advice is to find a good shop with good people to help you, and find a way to ride different bikes on the same route. Oh... and plan to spend more than you intended!

If you have a good idea of your size buy something relatively inexpensive off of eBay. Ride for a while (couple of thousand miles) and then decide what "feels good" to you and buy accordingly. You can never have too many bikes and you'll want a beater anyway.

Everyone: thanks for the help so far. I think it will come down to which bike shop is the most helpful. Regardless of the particular bike, having a shop that can assist mein growing into road riding is probably more important than the exact bike i get.Since I'm shopping at the lower end of the market, there isn't as great a differentiation between the bikes.

My opinion is that your first bike will be a bit of a guess as you don't have a lot of experience to base a judgement on.


This was the case for me. Bike #1 was fit by a shop with the Fit-Kit. The frame was too big by 1.5 cm but length was perfect (I have short legs). What did I know... I listened to the shop. By Bike #3, I had my preferred bike geometry dialed in.

Also if you're new to road bikes then it's tough to know what to look for in handling and comfort. Again it wasn't until bike #3 that I found that. I'm a nervous cornerer (at high speed). Bike #3 was a Serotta that almost steered itself through corners (I leaned and the bike did the rest - heaven). By that point I realized that Bike #1 was too twitchy and Bike #2 was OK but not great.

I think it will come down to which bike shop is the most helpful.

Good choice. In my opinion, both shops have been quite helpful already if they've both spent 2 hrs with you.

Regarding fit, I think you're stressing too much. You won't really know 'til you've gotten a fair amount of saddle time. So go with the general bike shop suggestions, and go for the one that appeals to you. In the long run, a good relationship with the bike shop can provide significant benefits.

Good choice. In my opinion, both shops have been quite helpful already if they've both spent 2 hrs with you.

Regarding fit, I think you're stressing too much. You won't really know 'til you've gotten a fair amount of saddle time. So go with the general bike shop suggestions, and go for the one that appeals to you. In the long run, a good relationship with the bike shop can provide significant benefits.

I agree!!

Some of you have responded that it takes a "few" bikes to get the proper geometry that you like. How long does this take and how did you know what was right for you? Depending on my learning curve, am I looking at changing bikes every year or so? This isn't a vanity thing for me where I have to have a new bike each year to impress someone with how much I can spend. I can afford to go to upper end of the price scale with carbon this and Campy that, but am very leary at this point; not knowing what really fits me or what I like.

My plan (at least now) is to buy at the lower end of the market and learn from there. I can always use it as a commuter bike, assuming I learn enough about myself as a cyclist to know what attributes I would like/need at some later time.

How do you know what does or doesn't fit/work once you've ridden for some time? Is it aches and pains? Do you modify stems/seats/bars as you gain experience and strength? Am I just over-analyzing the situation and worrying about nothing?

All about comfort. If you are comfortable and can ride the way you want to ride then you have the right size. But a good idea to know where to start. A bunch of threads on here about figuring out your correct size.

But, I would buy used (eBay is my favorite source) to start with. You can get the best gear for less than 1/2 of new. New bikes are like new cars. Drive them off the lot and they are suddenly worth 75% or less of what you just paid. If, as you say, you are not after the "gee-whiz" factor of impressing your friends with the newest of the new, then used will get you a $3K bike for under $1.5K. And the basic parts of a bike don't wear out. And if you get Campy, when something gets worn, it can be repaired. And me? I'd buy steel. I like to be very comfortable. Have fun!

Everythig you said, aches pain and experience will tell you. I have found when test riding bikes two situations 1) you ride the bike and say oh that sucks 2) you say yea this one is ok I guess? Don't get one that sucks but all the others are good. But they in time will need mods, perhaps a new stem or seat post and on lower end bikes almost certainly a new seat! So take the LBS suggestions and go from there what else can you do? ride it for at least 500 miles and if you need to make an adjustment do it very slowely dont lower or raise a saddle dramatically ie more than 1cm or you risk injury.

I think your plan sounds like a good one, don't go too cheap though. A 2003 model around 600 USD on sale is good enough to race and get used too. Then if you nail down your demensions well you can buy from more sources...

Very good advice being passed along here.
I think that going lower end of the lines may not be in
your best interest. I'd say either take ParamountScapin's advice and go e-bay, or go for a midrange bike from LBS. Personally for a new rider I'd recommend the LBS, they can be very helpful and will work with you at getting the bike dialed in correctly for you. With e-bay you're on your own.
my take on bike choice is nothing that I can specifically put my finger
on, but more a "feel" of the bike. like F1-Fan stated bout the Serotta, it
almost steers by itself, it just feels right like a pair of old faded jeans
its comfortable from the get go.
One member once stated in a similiar thread "get the bike that sings to you".
its something like that.

(well, that was no help :D )

and no, you don't have to upgrade every year. A good fitting well dialed
in bike will "sing" to you.

Marty

So much good input! Thanks! I feel very strongly about not having enough experience in road bikes to buy one from ebay. I agree that an LBS is the way to go.

During the nice weather we had during Xmas I had the opportunity to try more bikes. So far I have ridden many of the major brands and some minor ones. I have tried to keep the component group the same each time in an attempt to concentrate on the "feel and fit" part of the ride. I can tell some differences between the bikes (I guess due to frame/fork materials and designs). I don't know if these differences are good or bad for me in each case (or just different!). I would like to know that what I'm choosing is correct and that I'm not just at the mercy of the LBS to choose correctly for me. The more bikes I ride, the more variations I see and feel and the less sure I am of what constitutes the right set-up for me. (OK...stop whining!)

Is it simply a matter of buying a bike that is close to correct (whatever that means) and correcting your mistakes later? Hey....sounds like everything else in life.

When you get down to 2 or three,ride them all in the same day as close together as possible,even a couple of times,that will really keep it fresh in your head how they compare instead of trying to remember.

With modern bikes there may be many correct bikes for you. Is one better than the other or just different? In the modern era, I think most of it is just different. I have 3 road bikes and each is different...and do I want another? Yes, but will it be better than the others or just different.

Comfort is the most important, then comes durability and performance. I put performace last because if it breaks, everything goes out the window. If the stem is too low, your neck will hurt or your hands will get numb. But if you ride with others, you will notice performance. If you're running heavy wheels and tires, you may not really notice it until you're trying to keep up with your buddies on a hill.

Components are another important part of the equation. Most bikes in the same price range will have similar components, but not always. I personally prefer Campagnolo drivetrains over Shimano, but I had to ride bikes with both brands to find that out. Different wheelsets will make a difference as well. I know I just complicated things a little more, but if you are dead set on waiting until you find just the right bike, make sure you include all the variables.

Again, everyone, thanks for the input and comments. I've reached the point of frustration on this and have decided that I need to put myself in the hands of the LBS and have them decide what I should be riding wrt geometry. I have no idea know how to effectively test ride bikes. They all feel a little different, but they would also feel different again with changes to stems / seats / etc. How can a bike out of a box be right for me? And if I do buy a stock bike, how do I know what needs to be changed? I am only becoming increasingly confused and frustrated with every bike I ride.

I think it's better to let the shop decide and not look for a specific brand and/or model. I will bow at the feet of the "God of Fit" and let whatever bike squirts out the other end be the one (within budget). Ebay and used are out of the question; not enough experience on my part.

Sorry for the paranoia! I just want to do it as right as I can from the start.

Again, everyone, thanks for the input and comments. I've reached the point of frustration on this and have decided that I need to put myself in the hands of the LBS and have them decide what I should be riding wrt geometry. I have no idea know how to effectively test ride bikes. They all feel a little different, but they would also feel different again with changes to stems / seats / etc. How can a bike out of a box be right for me? And if I do buy a stock bike, how do I know what needs to be changed? I am only becoming increasingly confused and frustrated with every bike I ride.

I think it's better to let the shop decide and not look for a specific brand and/or model. I will bow at the feet of the "God of Fit" and let whatever bike squirts out the other end be the one (within budget). Ebay and used are out of the question; not enough experience on my part.

Sorry for the paranoia! I just want to do it as right as I can from the start.

It's not just about the feel of the fit. It's how the bike feels while you're riding it. Which frame material or geometry gives you the nicest feel when you're riding on less than smooth pavement? Each bike will feel different to you, but one might be better. I owned a Trek 1000, and test rode a Trek 2300. The 2300 felt just like riding the 1000, to me. I then got on a Lemond Zurich and the ride was totally different. When I turned a corner on the 2300 and accelerated hard, it went just like my 1000, but when I came around the corner and hit it hard on the Zurich, it felt like it was trying to jump out from under me. The opposite feeling could be true for others riding the same bikes. That what people mean by how the bike "feels" when you ride it. So it's not just fit, but how you perceive the bike to glide along underneath you. If you're pedaling along with almost no effort and forget the bike is under you, pay attention to that one.

When you get down to 2 or three,ride them all in the same day as close together as possible,even a couple of times,that will really keep it fresh in your head how they compare instead of trying to remember.
Got to ride each one as close together as possible so its fresh in your head how each feels.

I understand the concept of fitting; I've been "fitted" twice. It's the "feel" thing I'm missing here. I must be an idiot. I ride these bikes and still don't know what the right "feel" is supposed to "feel" like! Do I need to test ride bikes for years before it sinks in? Maybe I should just go ride my mtb and give up on the idea of getting a road bike.