Originally Posted by
siGno
Any input on what I can test ride locally that will have the same components and frame style?
Most bikes in a specific price range will have the same components. Frames that are rated the same size by their manufacturers may have completely different personalities. Test riding one brand of bike to see how another brand of bike rides is worthless.
Which is why most experienced riders will tell you to buy a used bike for your first bike, since you don't even know what you really want yet, and aren't sure you will even stay with the sport.
And many experienced riders will tell you to buy your first bike from a LBS (local bike store) so you can get the assistance you need to be successful.
If you have a friend who is an experienced bike rider, take him with you to look at used bikes. If you can't get an experienced person to go with you and evaluate used bikes, then bite the bullet and buy from a LBS.
A five-fifteen year old used bike that is honestly worth $300-$400, is going to be better quality than a $600-$800 BD bike,
Buying online is best for experience riders who already know what they are looking for.
If you insist on buying a bike unseen, without a test drive, and without local support, you are setting yourself up for failure. Typically a new bike will lose 30-50% of it's new retail cost when it comes out of the box or over the curb at the LBS. A no name bike or a toy store/big box bike is at the 50% end. Look on Craigslist for BD bikes that were never really ridden, or the owner found out they were the wrong size or poor quality, or were never setup correctly when they were delivered and the new owners had a poor experience.