Road Cycling - Any tips for test riding?

If you don't have any sort of relationship with a shop, how can you assess a bike by rolling around the carpark? :(

Insist on a longer ride - my LBS has a 5 mile loop. Even that is pretty short, but much better than riding around a parking lot!

Pre-arrange the test ride, let them know you're serious, not just looking to take a spin. Ask them for a good loop to try. If you're near a trail or park suggest a 5-10 mile trip. Be ready with your riding gear.

When I'm ready to buy I'm going to insist on at least a test around my usual park loop, with each of my final choices so I can compare.

easy: tell them you're going elsewhere. why give a shop business if they wont let you try something out before making a 1000$ purchase?

easy: tell them you're going elsewhere. why give a shop business if they wont let you try something out before making a 1000$ purchase?

Uh yeah, coming in with a confrontational attitude- that always works...

If you have a bike that you have your position dialed in on, take measurements (or take the bike with you). Of course a new bike isn't going to fit the same but you can get it in the ball park. Get it on a trainer with your pedals/road shoes and spin and get adjusted.

Ok, now take it out for a spin. Try a bit of everything, row through the gears, standing accelerations, seated, cornering... pay special attention to how things feel differently than your old bike.

If you have no frame of reference, you need to get fit or have a knowledgable friend come with and help get you within the ballpark with sizing. Then you need to go out and experiment with adjustments while you ride and enjoy!

I am fanatical with my bike measurements and it's all based on years of fit work. Even now, it takes a a 100 miles or so on a completely new frame to really dial it in and that's with knowing exactly where I like things down to the millimeter.

If you don't have any sort of relationship with a shop, how can you assess a bike by rolling around the carpark? :(

All of the above advice is really good. And for the best service, stop in on a rainy day or when the shop is less busy.

Uh yeah, coming in with a confrontational attitude- that always works...


haha confrontational? who's paying money to whom? here with our wonderful free market the consumers have the power...

Uh yeah, coming in with a confrontational attitude- that always works...

If you have a bike that you have your position dialed in on, take measurements (or take the bike with you). Of course a new bike isn't going to fit the same but you can get it in the ball park. Get it on a trainer with your pedals/road shoes and spin and get adjusted.

Ok, now take it out for a spin. Try a bit of everything, row through the gears, standing accelerations, seated, cornering... pay special attention to how things feel differently than your old bike.

If you have no frame of reference, you need to get fit or have a knowledgable friend come with and help get you within the ballpark with sizing. Then you need to go out and experiment with adjustments while you ride and enjoy!

I am fanatical with my bike measurements and it's all based on years of fit work. Even now, it takes a a 100 miles or so on a completely new frame to really dial it in and that's with knowing exactly where I like things down to the millimeter.

I think you need to get more aero... ;)

I was kind of wondering about this myself. Unfortunately I'm going to buy my first bike on Tuesday. I have my heart set on an Bianchi Eros 2004. I have no clue what to look for when test riding or feeling things out. :\ I'm thinking of just getting fitted and seeing if I can have a few day trial to see if things are massively uncomfortable or anything like that. The shop is pretty solid in the community and are flexible with paying and stuff like that. Hopefully they will be OK with that. Otherwise I'm just gonna have to love the bike regardless :x

G'day,

I wouldn't even consider buying a bike until i had given it a thorough test ride. My last bike cost me some serious money, (worth every cent, I might add), but I rode it for 2 hours before I committed to it. The bike shop sent their mechanic with me, (presumably so they could be sure I was gunna bring it back!), he bought his tool kit & made several adjustments along the way...all worked out very nicely. I rode it with my wheels so I had a closer comparison,

cheers,

Hitchy

What do you do when you're buying a roadbike for the first time and all the bikes you are interested to test ride already have clipless pedals but you don't own any yet? Had that experience on the weekend on a 2003 Orbea with Capag Record components that I could get for a bargain price. Ended up riding it in some joggers, slipping on the clipless pedals and almost blowing my knee out, worrying about the handlebar that wasn't tight enough and slipping, plus beuing my first ride on campag components not being familiar and in the end, I just hated the bike, which sucked because it was beautiful and a bargain. I thought there must be a better way of doing it than this. :(

What do you do when you're buying a roadbike for the first time and all the bikes you are interested to test ride already have clipless pedals but you don't own any yet? Had that experience on the weekend on a 2003 Orbea with Capag Record components that I could get for a bargain price. Ended up riding it in some joggers, slipping on the clipless pedals and almost blowing my knee out, worrying about the handlebar that wasn't tight enough and slipping, plus beuing my first ride on campag components not being familiar and in the end, I just hated the bike, which sucked because it was beautiful and a bargain. I thought there must be a better way of doing it than this. :(

I'd just get them to put on cheap pedals with toe-clips.

I'd just get them to put on cheap pedals with toe-clips.

Yeah, I guess I was being a bit soft, worrying about giving them the ****s making them change to much on it when they were basically giving it to me so cheap. But if they want the money.....