Originally Posted by hutchla

Thanks, it's a good point you make, f4rrest. On one hand buying a bike as new with about 75 miles on it doesn't seem like a big deal (that's how it works with cars) but then I can see how a bike is likely to take more abuse than a car during a test ride depending on the rider.


Bitingduck, maybe I'll go back to Budget Pro. I really do like them although I was a little surprised at how many 2012 models (and even a few 2011s) they had on the floor. I know it's common for shops to sell older stock during the busy season but it seemed like the majority of their (visible) inventory was old. And I got the sense that they aren't looking to discount the older models too much although I could be wrong about that.


Who did you work with at Budget Pro? Maybe they rightly sensed that I wasn't ready to buy when I asked about test rides. Perhaps things are different when you have checkbook in hand?


Also, I'm sure I can get a sense of a bike with a hard, quick ride. I think a longer ride might show how well endurance features help (like Trek's Domane seat post) and if a saddle truly feels good but then maybe the saddle is a separate issue.