shrxwin

Hi There!

I've been lurking for a few weeks while contemplating a bike purchase. Thanks so much for all the great advice you've given each other - it has put me on the correct path towards buying a bike (as well as increasing my enthusiasm for getting started riding!). I hope to make my purchase today.

a little more about me - 38 (today!), single female, I live in San Jose, CA (it's a big place - for those of you that know it, I'm between Santa Clara and Campbell). I rode a lot 20 yrs ago (hahaha who didn't!) and now that it's time to face facts I'd better get in shape and lose all this weight. Remembering biking fondly, I bought a Huffy Avenue at Target (gasp - no not that!). But like a smart impulse shopper, I let it sit in the garage for a week while doing my research (ok, aside from the one ride around the complex - wheee!!! that was fun!!). After reading about the quality and assembly problems at the mass merchants, I gave it a once over with the crappy instructions and sure enough the handlebars were installed crooked and the rear reflector was missing. I returned the bike (30 days with pretty much no questions asked - there were 3 returned bikes sitting in the customer service area!) and started reading even more here and at Mfg. websites, then started visiting the local shops. I wanted to find a truly local shop - walking or ride distance.

Nick at Calmar Cycles has been great, Noelle at Wheel Away was nice too. Couldn't even park near Summit. Not familiar with the brands at Off Ramp. Since the lower priced hybrid seems to be my bike and price range, I'll go with my favorite shop - so Nick won. He happens to carry Trek (Wheel Away would have been a Specialized Crossroads). I hope to make it in today for us to pick the right size/model. Last time I stopped by, he had both a 2004 and 2005 womens 7100 - that frame style difference is major (mentioned in another thread).

I did ride a Townie 3 at Wheel Away - it was terrible for me - hand brake for the front and back pedal braking for the back. Yuck. I'd just as soon spend $150 on a cruiser than that much more for a Townie! Also rode a Townie 21 (or was it 24? whatever). It was better, but it just didn't feel right. Def. not good enough to justify the extra $$ but it looked cool with that black matte paint

So after that long winded introduction - if anyone has any input on Trek 7x00 vs Specialized Crossroads that would send me back over to Specialized, please speak up. Or if anyone has a horror story about Calmar, that'd be helpful too! Otherwise I'm sticking with Nick!

Best Regards, Clarice

catatonic

Heyas, great to hear of yet another SJ rider

I'm not a huge fan of comfort bikes, but I have seen plenty of crossroads, most of them being used as commuters, so at the least it's a popular bike. Not sure how good they are though. They are interesting looking to say the least, with that curved top tube and all.

SteveE

Welcome aboard, shrxwin! I bought a Crossroads for my wife before she got serious about riding. Now my teenage daughter rides it --- when she can't convince her parents to cart her around in the car! Like catatonic, I'm not crazy about comfort bikes either. It's probably OK for commuting, quick trips to the store, riding around the neighborhood and paths, but it's not going to be all that great if you start riding up into the hills. It really all depends on what your riding goals are.

Sorry I can't help you with Calmar Cycles.

Steve

Jeprox

happy birthday, shrxwin! bike, then bike some more.

If in case you have not bought your bike, yet. Check out Mike's Bicycle Center in Palo Alto. They have very skilled folks in their service department.

SteveE

I just thought of another shop near you --- Calabazas. I think they carry Cannondale.

ctyler

Welcome to the forums. I used to live in Sunnyvale and did a lot of road riding up into the Los Alto hills, the loop in Palo Alto, up Highway 9 out of Saratoga to Skyline or up Old LaHonda to Skyline and down to San Gregorio. You've got a wonderful place to ride! Have fun.

ctyler

SteveE

... and back up Tunitas (aka Tendonitis) Creek and down King's Mtn. Yep, the "Coastal Classic" ride is one sweet ride!

ctyler

YES! I went up Tunitas Creek Road during a Sequoia Cenury one year in the rain. Every time I stood up to pedal, I heard "squish, squish" as the water was forced from my shoes. Love that road!

ctyler

shrxwin

Hi Steve. That's about the extent of my aspirations for now - the 3.5 miles to work, the 2 miles to the farmers market, the 4 miles to the Pruneyard to see a movie...

If it works out and I do get 'into' it, the bike can be a hand-me-down for one of my many sisters or nieces

Clarice

shrxwin

So far so good



Ah, if only they were closer! I know myself - I will never take the bike in for a checkup if it's too far away. Calmar is a mile or so from my office, so I can ride over on my lunch hour (after I start riding it to work of course!) to take advantage of the free adjustments.

Thanks for the input! Clarice

shrxwin

I saw the Cannondales at Wheel Away, a little too much $$ for now... Maybe when I'm ready to trade up!


Thanks for the tips everyone - I'm looking forward to getting started! Now if I could just get out of work and get to the shop...

shrxwin

Just me again... thought I'd post a follow up - I went the next day 8/18 and bought a 2004 Trek 7100 (women's). So far so good - in fact yesterday was my first commute! Coming home I was a little nervous on Winchester Blvd in 6PM traffic, so about 1/2 way home (after crossing 280 - not too many options there!) I moved over to a parallel street.

Going a little farther down Los Gatos Trail tomorrow, then meeting an old friend in Mt View at Stevens Creek Trail on Sunday... Eventually I'll work myself up to the rides suggested above!!

Thanks again for all the great info on all the different threads! Hopefully I'll be posting great weight loss results soon in that thread soon