Help with bike choice
 

I know this is probably the newbiest of newbie questions but if you'd indulge a newcomer, I'd really appreciate it.

I'm hoping to get a little more into long distance riding, having completed my first century. I've been riding a converted hardtail mountain bike with road slicks and I'm looking for a more proper Rando bike. I figure I have about $1,000 that I could come up with if I sell my car, wife and first born, so I'll have to keep it to about that price.

I'm also about 5'6'', and I have no idea what size road bike that translates to, but I've got about a 30'' inseam. All help and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Keith.

There is no such thing as a "proper" rando bike. What I would suggest is that do keep your mtn bike for a while and participate in some brevets. See what's out there and what you think might work for you. Take some notes and make you're purchase accordingly. There is no guarantee that what anyone of us thinks is a "proper" rando bike will make you happy. Trial and error is the best teacher. We can give you suggestions that might help fine tune your ride. There is lots of great experience on this board.
As far as your fit goes, that is one of the biggest factors for being successful. Don't mess around with that. If you don't know how to do it you need to do some research and find a fitter that knows the issues of long distance riders. You are better off spending money on a good fitter than an expensive bike. Nobody here is going to be able to fit you properly over the internet...

My first 200k was on a Worksman cruiser. I think Machka said she did her first few brevets on a mountain bike. I'm currently riding a Raleigh Sojourn. I just got back from a ride with one of the rando crew who rides a recumbent. We have several of our local Rando crew on Seven-brand titanium bikes (don't think they're $1,000 bikes, though). So they vary all over.

On a 600k back in the spring, I tried to take pictures of all the bike there. I missed a couple of fast guys, I think, but the rest are here:
http://s192.photobucket.com/albums/z...00kRandoBikes/

There are regional differences. Very few people around here use fenders, and the handlebar bags are not very popular, traveling light is the thing. In other parts of the country, it's just about required to have fenders and a big bag to tote your clothing.

Summary: You can ride just about anything. It would be informative to show up at a local ride and see what other people are using.

On the budgeting, you can spend $xxxx on a bike, but when you start buying good lights and cold/wet weather gear and proper bike shorts and shoes and all that stuff, you'll spend as much as you did on your bike.

I guess you would shop all the big brands - Giant, Trek, Specialized. However, the bad news is that the really nice stuff starts at about $2,000.

Thanks for the advice, guys. i am planning on riding my '93 Bridgestone for the foreseeable future, because I'm not in a huge rush to buy a new bike for the sake of buying a new bike. I've come to discover that fit is a huge deal, having been through three bikes -- all of which were markedly more expensive and arguably far better looking -- that did not fit, before finally outfitting my Bridgestone.

There are things I would like a lot, 700c wheels come to mind right away, but my current rig is comfortable, if unsightly. I can ride it while looking for something else.

But let me ask you, with the limited stock that bike shops seem to have - at least where I am -- how do you find your bikes? I'm thinking specifially that I really like the looks and the geometry of the Velo Orange Rando, but how would you ever know if it was good for you without ever straddling it? Seems like there's a whole lot of guesswork and faith in buying a specific bike, unless you live in, say, NYC, where every bike manufacturer known has several shops around for you to test ride all the good stuff.

Thoughts?

A starting point is knowing you measurements - and then knowing what you are buying.

It is true that getting to a shop that has what you want in "test ride" mode is a challenge.

Still, I see many people happy with mail order bikes as well - you just have to know what product materials and frame geometry should produce.

I had to buy mine sight-unseen. (I had seen the smaller frame sizes at a different store.) That's not that uncommon.

I was going to say that you probably want to buy a smaller bike than your inseam would suggest. However, many people like a more upright position for LD riding. In any event, I suggest that it is fairly important for you to know your measurements and to be sure that any bike you buy can be made to accommodate your position. If the bike shop's notion of fitting is to stand you over the top tube and make sure you don't squeal like a pig, you should move on or at least be sure that the bike can be made to fit. Velo Orange has a storefront, but I have no idea if they have their bikes available for trials. They also have dealers.

Sound advice. Thanks.

I was just using VO as an example, although I do think that Rando is pretty. You mentioned something about standover height, though, that I thought was interesting. Since my experience is with mountain bikes, I'm at a loss as to the correct height for a road bike. I'm told I look at bikes too small, which could be the case, since I guess mountain bikes are supposed to be smaller. I'm 5'6'' with a 30'' inseam. Should I be looking at road bikes in the 50cm range?

If you just want to get in "ball park" for your proper frame size you can start with the Lemond method where you take your inseam (measured with no shoes against a wall) and multiply by .67. This number will give you a frame size measured from the center of the bottom bracket to the top of the seat tube. Remember, this is just a starting point and the Lemond method tends to give too small of frame sizes for taller riders and some frame designs. Also different manufacturers use different points to measure their frames so you need to know that you are comparing apples to apples. You don't want to get caught out buying a bike with a sloping top tub thinking it's a 56cm when in reality it's measures closer to a standard 58cm frame. There is lots to think about!

If you don't know what you are doing you really need to find someone who can do this for you. Find a shop that utilizes a "fit" bike or at the minimum takes lots of measurements and is willing to guarantee their work. Most fittings for long distance riders take a couple visits to fine tune things. The other option is to become really educated, really fast.

I'm considering a Sala Casseroll as a "proper" Rando and from what I've read it seems like a good choice. I've got a Novara Randonnee and although it's a good touring bike, it's a bit heavy (for me) for regular Rando riding.

Funny. I was *just* reading about those. The 2011s are handsome bikes, for certain. Almost too handsome. I also was looking at the Surly Pacer, which is far less flashy, an aesthetic that pleases me. I won't be able to ride either to test, since no one around me carries them, so its almost moot, but I can't help but look at stuff. I also am in lust with the Soma Stanyan, but from what I can tell with my barely legal sizing knowledge, their smallest one would be too big for me. Again, I'd never be able to ride one to test, but ohmygod them's pretty.

I like the Soma ES. Looks like it could make a nice 650B.

I saw that one as well. Looks like a nice bike. Probably I'd like that a lot better had I not seen the Stanyan first. But the 650b thing: is the advantage there just to run bigger tires or am I missing something important there?