mercator

Back in the before times, my lbs used to have a factory demo day when a few of the big brands would show up with a trailer full of test bikes. Doing a quick test ride on several similar bikes in one day helped me zero in on the models/styles of bike I was interested in.

MoAlpha

I think the lesson here is that the human neuromuscular system is so adaptable that anything with the right approximate dimensions and mechanical properties is going to feel pretty good after a few tweaks.

Eric F

I test rode my first MTB ('91), and my first road bike ('98). The test ride didn't amount to much more than confirming that it was the right size. From then until my newest bike, I haven't purchased a complete bike. It's been an evolution of frames and parts. My newest was purchased as a complete bike, used, based only on pictures. It's everything I expected it to be.

Eric F

I've been doing it wrong.

genejockey 

I didn't necessarily intend it that way, but the list price of the Ritchey I bought in 1997 is more than any bike I've bought since, even without adjusting for inflation.

Mind you, I didn't pay list price.

genejockey 

I have been amazed how long a ride it takes to distinguish between a NEAR fit and the RIGHT fit. I had to exceed 50 mile rides before the original 'Ten Minute Bike Store Fit' on the Ritchey started to bother me.

SalsaShark

All of my bikes were purchased without a test ride

Eric F

Maybe I haven't been doing it completely wrong. My '04 Time was $2500 for just the frame. In today's dollars, that would be a lot more than the $3K I most recently spent on my Storck (complete bike with a very nice spec). There are things I like better about the Storck, and things I like better about the Time.

downhillmaster

I have never gone on a test ride before purchasing a bike.
Then again, I’m not OCD and have always made a decent living so my bike purchase was never going to make or break me.

PeteHski

Last 3 bikes I bought without a test ride. Just too much hassle (or even impossible) to arrange these days. Ideally I would want a proper test ride and I have done that in the past when it was much easier to arrange. Now I rely on distance selling regulations providing a return policy if I don't like the bike. I've never had to send one back yet!

adamrice 

Of the four bikes I currently have, I bought three without test rides.

My commuter, I bought as NOS off an ebay vendor (so obviously didn't test ride it), but when I was in the market to buy that commuter, I test rode a bunch of bikes, and it was helpful. This bike's too big, that bike's too small, I just don't like the way this other bike handles. I already had a good idea of what I wanted, but the process clarified what I didn't want. My previous commuter, I had test-ridden, and really wasn't attentive enough on the test ride to problems that were glaring once I rode it a little more.

My old racing bike has a custom-built frame, and my distance bike has a stock frame I picked out with help from a fitter, and built up myself.

SoSmellyAir

That is true! So far, it has only taken me a few rides to get used to my own component "upgrades."

Eric F

You're doing it wrong. If your bike purchase isn't putting you close to the edge of bankruptcy, you're not spending enough.

SoSmellyAir

This is no fun.

This is too dangerous.

The range I am working with is the replacement cost of my current bike (including upgrades) and what my wife has recently spent on purses.

genejockey 

Incorrect.

Eric F

In a semi-related story...

Years ago, when music was my primary hobby, my wife asked why I needed to buy another guitar. In response, I asked her why she needed to buy another pair of black shoes. She stopped asking those questions.

SoSmellyAir

I stand corrected! I had not considered older road bikes, not because I am a snob, but because I only have (slight) mechanical experience with 11 speed systems.

SoSmellyAir

My wife is happy I am modifying my bikes rather than my car.

Eric F

Happy?....Or less-unhappy?

genejockey 

And that was two bikes ago!

aliasfox

I don't think it's necessary to test ride, but I find it helpful. When I got my Bianchi back in 2005, I test rode a Felt, a Fuji, and a Specialized as well, all within a few days of each other. Sure, none of the test rides was longer than 20 minutes, but it was enough to tell me that as-set-up by the shop, the Felt was ok, the Fuji was too aggressive, and the Specialized just failed to impress. Alternatively, I bonded with my Bianchi immediately.

For riders who are building frame-up, or willing to tinker with wheels, tires, stems, and saddles - a test ride may not provide that much information. For people who aren't going to be doing all of that (ie most), getting a test ride can definitely help weed out which setup you'll like better.

urbanknight

Many times. I study the geometry to make sure it will fit, make sure it has the parts I want (or at least the ones I'm not willing to swap out), and then make the purchase. I may like the feel and performance of various frames and parts more or less, but they have always been rideable.

SoSmellyAir

From the point of view of my credit card statements, those two states are indistinguishable.

RockiesDad

Bought a new bike from the UK costing $3.2k without a test ride right before Covid hit. I was a little concerned and had buyers remorse a couple of day after my purchase. That's a good chunk of change headed halfway around the world talking to folks through the internet. Fortunately it all worked out and got a bike delivered without issues. Was rather impressed when it took only three days to ship including bike going through Customs.

Bike did fit with some minor tweaks but that's expected. Did a lot of geometry comparisons with the new bike verses what I was currently riding so I knew I was pretty close fit wise. Also asked a lot of questions before ordering.

Long story short it worked for me...

Bah Humbug

All my current bikes, come to think of it.