Need help deciding on a bike

[pinkbeekeeper]

Ok. So I have been looking into getting a new bike. As with many people, the cyclocross bike seems to fit the bill. I am a clyde so having a "road bike" that is beefed up has its perks. I want something that i can abuse and use without feeling bad if something happenes to it. So I have been looking at the Gravity liberty Cxd from BD.
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/...iberty_cxd.htm
My main concerns are the sizing and geometry. I want something that i can be a bit more upright on and comfortable yet get down in the drops and be more aero for long distances. Will this work? Also i dont know alot about sisc brakes and wondering if those components are good? The no name crank is a bit worrying but i like the teeth ratio. Please give me some feedback!! Thanks!


Ps. With the disc brakes i would plan on riding it in rhe winter.

[Spld cyclist]

I'm not familiar with that bike, but many cross bikes have similar geometry. Check the geometry chart and try to find a match with a cross bike that is available locally. (Hopefully there is something available locally....) Test ride that one to decide on size. For example, I recently bought a Fantom CXX from BD. I had previously ridden a Surly Cross Check and decided that 56 cm was right for me. When I saw that the Fantom CXX geometry was identical to the Cross Check, I was confident in ordering.

I also recently got a Fantom CX frame and transferred components from another bike onto it. I'm really happy with both bikes and the service I got from BD/Bike Island.

[Fat Boy]

I'm not familiar with that bike, but many cross bikes have similar geometry. Check the geometry chart and try to find a match with a cross bike that is available locally. (Hopefully there is something available locally....) Test ride that one to decide on size. For example, I recently bought a Fantom CXX from BD. I had previously ridden a Surly Cross Check and decided that 56 cm was right for me.

Generally speaking, this is a pretty frowned upon way to operate. If you're going to go to a local shop and use them for their help, then buy a bike from them. If you want to be up front with them and throw them $20 or something for their help sizing a bike, then you're much more likely to maintain a good relationship with them.

[fietsbob]

Piles of 700c commuter bikes , if you are not racing on it.
Surly cross check and, The Belgian Ridley are out of QBP distribution.

Lots of Bike shops stock amain line or several + have a QBP account.

Some brands offer Credit for inventory in summer.. QBP does not,
so that influences what sits on the floor waiting .

[eddubal]

There are several fit calculators on the interweb that you can use to get a general frame size. If you want a more upright position, get a frame on the higher size of the range. You will be able to get into a more aero position even with a larger frame by getting in the drops and bending your elbows. Nothing to worry about there. You might need to work your core to be able to do this comfortably, but it won't be a problem.

Other fit options can be changed with stem swaps, etc. Remember CX bikes are really just road bikes with some modifications for wider tires, and different brakes.

With the bike you're showing, it's an entry level bike, and has older-style / cheaper components, but should do the job. You can always save up for upgrades after your purchase.

[Spld cyclist]

Generally speaking, this is a pretty frowned upon way to operate. If you're going to go to a local shop and use them for their help, then buy a bike from them. If you want to be up front with them and throw them $20 or something for their help sizing a bike, then you're much more likely to maintain a good relationship with them.

I don't agree that this is a problem. For one thing, the OP may well fall in love with whatever he test rides at the bike shop. Sometimes bike shops are price-competitive with BD if it's a prior-year model or whatever. It could result in a sale. Also, it's been my experience that test rides often involve very little staff time, unless the buyer is really serious about buying that particular bike. People come in and do test rides all the time and then don't buy a bike, so I just don't see that there is a customer-shop relationship issue. This interaction may even cause a good relationship to develop, if the OP didn't have a reason to go to the bike shop before.

That said, if the bike shop really spends a lot of time with the OP, and is helpful, it would certainly be nice to pay them a little something for their time.

In my case, I went to the bike shop with the intention of buying the cross check if I liked it. I didn't quite get to the point of pulling the trigger. Then six months later I saw the Fantom CXX on BD.

[Fat Boy]

I don't agree that this is a problem....

That said, if the bike shop really spends a lot of time with the OP, and is helpful, it would certainly be nice to pay them a little something for their time.

Ya think? Look, if you go into a shop and mill around, look at stuff and then go home and buy it off the web, I understand. Often you can get small stuff much, much cheaper than in a local store and it's really not that big of a deal. If you actually have the shop put you on a bike and ride it around with your only intention is to use their knowledge for fit/sizing and then go somewhere else to buy a bike, then it's a crappy way to be. Whether you agree with me or not, it's crappy.

I own a BD mountain bike, but I didn't expect a local shop to do my homework for me before ordering it.

In my case, I went to the bike shop with the intention of buying the cross check if I liked it. I didn't quite get to the point of pulling the trigger. Then six months later I saw the Fantom CXX on BD.

That's not the same thing.

[Spld cyclist]

Fat Boy,

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one.