Ever buy a bike without a test ride?
09-09-21, 11:40 AM
#76
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The TT race bike. I wrote down my existing fit coordinates, then looked up the bike's geometry chart online and made sure I had some play each way to adjust things.
It was a Pros Closet used bike, only short term complaint was either they or the prior user assembled the stack spacers wrong. There's a hidden ferrule that keeps the bolts digging further into the base bar than designed. They were missing. Caught in time when I went to make a fit update later.
Buying sight unseen is fine if you bother to measure your existing bike fits and lookup or ask for geometry of what you are buying. You can't realistically feel out "road feel" on a spin around the block.
It was a Pros Closet used bike, only short term complaint was either they or the prior user assembled the stack spacers wrong. There's a hidden ferrule that keeps the bolts digging further into the base bar than designed. They were missing. Caught in time when I went to make a fit update later.
Buying sight unseen is fine if you bother to measure your existing bike fits and lookup or ask for geometry of what you are buying. You can't realistically feel out "road feel" on a spin around the block.
09-09-21, 03:01 PM
#77
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Yep, like others have said. I usually don't but I mainly buy vintage bikes. I do fully inspect it and all but mainly I'm concerned with making sure it can be adjusted for my specific fit and then that the price fits the true value.
Grabbed this one last weekend and just gave it a good going over in the seller's driveway and checked the measurements.
Grabbed this one last weekend and just gave it a good going over in the seller's driveway and checked the measurements.
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09-10-21, 06:48 PM
#78
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Originally Posted by big john
Most of my 15ish bikes have been purchased as frames except my newest mtb, which was bought sight unseen by looking at geo charts.
I bought my main road bike used so I did test ride that one. It felt absolutely horrible but I knew I could make it work, so I got it.
It's funny how when a person asks about buying a new bike on BF, they get the advice of test ride, test ride, test ride.
Then a thread like this comes up and everyone says they never test ride.
I bought my main road bike used so I did test ride that one. It felt absolutely horrible but I knew I could make it work, so I got it.
It's funny how when a person asks about buying a new bike on BF, they get the advice of test ride, test ride, test ride.
Then a thread like this comes up and everyone says they never test ride.
09-10-21, 06:56 PM
#79
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I bought my Trek Emonda SLR without riding one. None of the local shops had one.
BUT... I had a Trek Madone 4 and it had almost the same geometry as the Emonda.
6 years later and it's still a great bike.
BUT... I had a Trek Madone 4 and it had almost the same geometry as the Emonda.
6 years later and it's still a great bike.
09-10-21, 09:02 PM
#80
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Originally Posted by Leinster
The point is being made by people who say “I know my size, I know my geometry, I know what I like.” This isn’t people asking “should I buy a Specialized Roubaix or a Trek Emonda for towing my kids to school?”
09-11-21, 12:37 PM
#81
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Yes, many times. Most recent (last year) was a new Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8.0 etap Force. Awesome bike. Also bought a Pedal Force RS2 with second generation SRAM Force. If you are due diligent and know your size as others have said, it is relatively easy. My Pedal Force has about 75,000 miles on it and still is running great.
09-11-21, 02:57 PM
#82
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Originally Posted by ThinLine
Yes, many times. Most recent (last year) was a new Canyon Ultimate CF SLX 8.0 etap Force. Awesome bike. Also bought a Pedal Force RS2 with second generation SRAM Force. If you are due diligent and know your size as others have said, it is relatively easy. My Pedal Force has about 75,000 miles on it and still is running great.
any complaints about the canyon? It’s on my list of possibilities.
09-11-21, 04:04 PM
#83
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None at all, my first intro to electronic shifting and it performs flawlessly. The bike is quick, light and agile. Shifting takes a bit of getting use to since both paddles are used for RD up and down. Good luck.
09-12-21, 08:22 AM
#84
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Many bikes purchased without a test ride.
And only choked once, buying a bike waaaay to big for my wife.
And only choked once, buying a bike waaaay to big for my wife.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
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Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
