Road Cycling - Greetings! New member... in the process of bike-shopping =)

Hello everyone!

New user here... I'm 24 and recently moved to southwest Florida. I haven't ridden a bicycle since I got my Huffy WhiteHeat back in middle-school... whew!

About 9 months ago, my girlfriend and I packed up everything we owned and moved to Southwest Florida from Northeast Ohio... for the weather of course! Well, we're slowly getting established and getting back on our feet financially... and we're finally in the situation to pick-up a couple bicycles! Yeah!

I've been doing research on the internet for the past week or so and we finally had an opportunity to hit up several bike shops yesterday. We seen several brands of bikes yesterday, including: Specialized, Trek, Gary Fisher, Schwinn, Marin, Fuji and a couple others I cant think of...

Well, as far as what we'll be using the bikes for... We'll definately be riding the bicycles around the neighborhood... mainly paved roads... I'd like to have the possibility of commuting to work... its like a 6-8 mile drive on paved roads/sidewalks... and I've thought that maybe we could take the bikes to some bike paths/trails... however, I'm not sure we'd really do that... as we'd need to get the bikes to the paths and I dont have a bike rack or anything... so, we may or may not ride the bike paths... so anyways...

So, we hit up 5 bike shops yesterday and looked at several bikes... Unfortunately, I was unable to ride most of the bikes as I'm vertically-challenged and they didnt have many frames in my size... (I'm 5'4.5", 30" inseam, and after yesterday I think i need a ~15" frame... I did ride a 17.5" frame with the seat bottomed out, but, that top bar was a little too close for comfort...). Well, after the day was over, my girlfriend and I came home to talk about what we thought...

My girlfriend has her eye on a Specialized Crossroads (http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkFamily.jsp?sid=04Crossroads&JServSessionIdroot=rr50vs3urj.j27003) and I've got my eye on the Gary Fisher Nirvana (http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/bike_detail.asp?series=citypath&bike=Nirvana).

However, I wasn't able to ride the Nirvana... I did ride a Zebrano with a 17.5" frame... but, i'd need the 15". I was, however, able to ride a Specialized Crossroads on a 15" frame and it was nice... but, I'm kinda feeling the Zebrano over the Crossroads...

Just so everyone knows, there are 4 models in the Gary Fisher lineup under "city/path"... the best is Utopia, followed by Nirvana, Zebrano and lastly Tiburon. Well, I rode the Zebrano and it felt more nimble than the Crossroads... but, I'm not sure which is a better suit for me.

I guess I'm babbling on and on here... I'll lay out some questions...

1. If I buy a Nirvana (or Zebrano or Tiburon), am I going to wipe-out if I hit a rock or little bit of sand on the road? Or will I have any problem with riding through a yard/grass/etc.? How about bike paths?

2. Are there worthwhile differences in the Nirvana vs. the lower models (Zebrano and Tiburon)? The price is $299 for the Tirubon, $379 for the Zebrano and $499 for the Nirvana

My girlfriend really likes the Specialized Crossroads and its $290... well, I really like the Nirvana, but, its $500... It might be hard to convince her that I need the Nirvana for $500 when there are lower models for less money... ;)

I liked the Gary Fisher bikes over the specialized because they felt more nimble... and maybe just a tad quicker... and I liked the gear-shifting mechanism (trigger-fire or something) vs. the Specialized twisty-handgrip shifters.

Well, any information would be greatly appreciated, sorry for the long babbling post. ;)

I wasn't feeling the Fuji, nor the Schwinn... I did ride a Marin something or other... but, I didnt like that bike shop and the bike was too much "comfort" vs road bike... I didnt get a chance to ride any Treks... but, nothing really jumped out at me...

thanks again!
-mike =)

Hey supadupamikey, welcome to the forums and the world of cycling! Sounds like you two have got some fun cycling days ahead of you. You're doing the right thing by trying lots of bikes.




1. If I buy a Nirvana (or Zebrano or Tiburon), am I going to wipe-out if I hit a rock or little bit of sand on the road? Or will I have any problem with riding through a yard/grass/etc.? How about bike paths?

I wouldn't worry too much about any of the bikes you're testing making you wipe out. They're all pretty much capable of handling varried terrain. I ride a road bike with 23c 110psi road tires and sometimes have to ride through sand, gravel, or mud because of construction, and it still stays upright. What I would recommend though is taking the time to get very well used to YOUR bike, whichever you choose, especially since it seems you've had a pretty long cycling layoff. Also, after you get several months of riding in and find out what terrain you really like, you can always make tire changes accordingly. On my cross bike, I ended up spending 99.9% of the time on pavement so I put on a 90psi street/commuting tire and it works great!


2. Are there worthwhile differences in the Nirvana vs. the lower models (Zebrano and Tiburon)? The price is $299 for the Tirubon, $379 for the Zebrano and $499 for the Nirvana

My girlfriend really likes the Specialized Crossroads and its $290... well, I really like the Nirvana, but, its $500... It might be hard to convince her that I need the Nirvana for $500 when there are lower models for less money... ;)


If you're serious about doing a lot of cycling, and it looks like you are, I would recommend getting the best bike you can afford. In general, the components will work more smoothly for a longer period of time, you'll be more excited about the sport, and you'll just plain ride more. Anyway, just the $.02 of an avid rider. Hope you two have lots of good miles together :D !

Congrats on your move---So, you're telling me you both love the heat and HUMIDITY of Florida.

My wife lived there for three years b4 we married..It should be against the law not to have AC in the state of Florida...Now i know why people don't come out of their homes there until 10pm--that's when the humidity drops..to 90%...:)

good luck on the bike hunt

Thanks! Its nice to be here :)


Hey supadupamikey, welcome to the forums and the world of cycling! Sounds like you two have got some fun cycling days ahead of you. You're doing the right thing by trying lots of bikes.


Well, thats very comforting ;)
The one sales guy was kinda pushing me towards more of a mountain bike with knobby tires and saying it'd be alot more stable if I hit sand or something... but, I had my heart set on more of a city/path bike... I think the Nirvana came with 35c tires anyways... quite a bit wider than your 23s ;)


I wouldn't worry too much about any of the bikes you're testing making you wipe out. They're all pretty much capable of handling varried terrain. I ride a road bike with 23c 110psi road tires and sometimes have to ride through sand, gravel, or mud because of construction, and it still stays upright.


Yeah, I figured if we stuck with it... and really enjoyed cycling (which I hope we will)... that we'd (or at least I would) end up with multiple bikes ;)


On my cross bike, I ended up spending 99.9% of the time on pavement so I put on a 90psi street/commuting tire and it works great!


I'll see what kind of convincing I can do... ;) I did notice that the MSRP was $469 on the Nirvana and they have it listed for $499... so, I figure I can get them to $469 at least... plus I found a $20 off coupon in the newspaper, so that brings it to $450...


If you're serious about doing a lot of cycling, and it looks like you are, I would recommend getting the best bike you can afford. In general, the components will work more smoothly for a longer period of time, you'll be more excited about the sport, and you'll just plain ride more. Anyway, just the $.02 of an avid rider. Hope you two have lots of good miles together :D !

Thanks for all the feedback! =)
-mike

O Heck Yeah! I absolutely LOVE it here!!!

So, you're telling me that you love the high of 37 degrees Chicago is blessed with right now? ;)

Our high is 72 today... all winter long its 70-80 and sunny here... and then the summer is a bit rough... with mid 90s everyday and 100% humidity... but, I'll take the good with the bad ;)

And about the AC... well, perhaps I'm a demented sun-worshipper... but, when I first moved here it was 90s everyday and I kept the windows and doors open with NO Air Conditioning in the apartment... and I was perfectly fine... I spent the hottest hours of the day down by the swimming pool and was comfortable the whole day... However, once I started working... and in this 65 degree air conditioned office... I froze while at work... and then almost had a heat stroke with I went outside...


Congrats on your move---So, you're telling me you both love the heat and HUMIDITY of Florida.

My wife lived there for three years b4 we married..It should be against the law not to have AC in the state of Florida...Now i know why people don't come out of their homes there until 10pm--that's when the humidity drops..to 90%...:)

Thanks!! =)


good luck on the bike hunt

LOL!

Touche'

I've determind theres too many bikes to choose from... and I give up... screw it... we dont need no stinkin bikes anyways...

hehehe, j/k!

but there are sooooo many bikes out there to choose from!!

im leaning towards the gary fisher nirvana... but, the specialized sirrus also sounds inviting...

unfortunately the shops around me dont have any in my size in stock.... no 15s that is!! haha!! dangit...

any input anyone?

the one shop told me he had a Felt SR91 in stock... and it was the closest thing he had to a Sirrus...

what to buy... oh me oh my...

So, I took advantage of having the day off Monday and I hit the local bike shop...

I rode 3 bikes...

1st - Felt SR91
http://www.feltracing.com/2004_bikes/sr91.html

2nd - Gary Fisher Zebrano
http://www.fisherbikes.com/bikes/bike_detail.asp?series=citypath&bike=Zebrano

3rd - Specialized Crossroads
http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=6006&JServSessionIdroot=e1c57efzis.j27002

and then back on the Felt SR91...

and... Wow... talk about differences. Well, the SR91 just floats! its definately a very rigid ride... and the Zebrano and Crossroads were definately comfort bikes... it was a very comfy ride... a big wide seat for my fat azz to sit on... and the imperfections in the road/parking lot felt like nothing... But, I'm not feeling them...

I'd take that rigid SR91 over the rest... that bike really floats along!

So, I think I've narrowed down the type of bike I like...

I have yet to see the Specialized Sirrus anywhere in person... but, it sounds/looks promising... or at least I think so...

The base Sirrus sells for $500... gonna be hard to scrape up that kind of dough... but, that seems to be the cheapest bike in that class... kinda like a road bike... but, with straight bars...

Well, the SR91 was selling for $580...

Its going to be hard enough to pull $500 from somewhere for the Sirrus... but, would it be the $80 difference to take home a Felt SR91?

Hows the Sirrus compare? The shop is supposed to get some in within the next couple weeks...

So, Specialized Sirrus vs. Felt SR91 (and/or any other bike comparable)

Sirrus
http://www.specialized.com/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=5997&JServSessionIdroot=e1c57efzis.j27002

SR91
http://www.feltracing.com/2004_bikes/sr91.html




the one shop told me he had a Felt SR91 in stock... and it was the closest thing he had to a Sirrus...

just got back from the bike shop...

i'm the proud owner of a Felt SR91..
http://pages.sssnet.com/mikey/ourcrib/040124%20-%20bikes/P1240004.jpg

and my girl is the proud owner of a Gary Fisher Tiburon..
http://pages.sssnet.com/mikey/ourcrib/040124%20-%20bikes/P1240003.jpg

thanks for all the help!
-mike

How bout some pics of the new family members!

i edited my last post to attach pictures... ;)


How bout some pics of the new family members!

Sweet. Nice bikes. Good choices. I'm about to sell two of my cars, so i'm also on the market. The Trek 1200 is right up my alley. They both look very clean, b ut I guess you don't have salt on the roads down there.