Test riding a bike for 2 hours
05-11-23, 10:20 AM
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"There are only about 150 bikes on campus now...Used to be a lot more bikes on campus. There was a time just after the war when the bike racks up at Lake Lag were packed every afternoon, bikes all over the place. I guess people have just quit riding". -- Fred Morse, 1955
BTW Larry, there's no way that Keith will let you test ride a new bike for two hours.
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Last edited by terrymorse; 05-11-23 at 05:14 PM.
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05-11-23, 11:16 AM
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Hey guys, I was looking at the Stanford campus bike shop and they would sell me a fuji feather single speed for $600. I want to try test riding it for ~2 hours doing a fast group ride, because if the bike cannot perform well under load I don't want it, and its hard to replicate that without a racing environment. Id need them to move the brakes to the drop bars, and I would consider buying it if i am happy with it. Is this unusual or a dick move on my part? Bit more than the customary spin. Was going to drop off the money or a more expensive bike as collateral and not bother explaining in detail where im riding it/ask the sales guy for permission because he would have to ask his manager and its just escalating for no reason.
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05-11-23, 11:42 AM
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Plenty of bikes are sold new in stores with over two hours use on 'em. Same with cars.
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05-11-23, 12:26 PM
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At this point it's not a test ride it's more of a demo ride or even a rental. See if you can talk them into a rental and if you decide to purchase, whether that rental fee can be applied towards the purchase price.
05-11-23, 05:28 PM
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A bit of family trivia. That Campus Bike Shop is currently owned by Keith, my sister's former college boyfriend, who bought it from my dad, who bought it from my grandfather. I was almost born in the shop.
"There are only about 150 bikes on campus now...Used to be a lot more bikes on campus. There was a time just after the war when the bike racks up at Lake Lag were packed every afternoon, bikes all over the place. I guess people have just quit riding". -- Fred Morse, 1955
BTW Larry, there's no way that Keith will let you test ride a new bike for two hours.
"There are only about 150 bikes on campus now...Used to be a lot more bikes on campus. There was a time just after the war when the bike racks up at Lake Lag were packed every afternoon, bikes all over the place. I guess people have just quit riding". -- Fred Morse, 1955
BTW Larry, there's no way that Keith will let you test ride a new bike for two hours.
Is buying a new single speed worth it over a used one? I have a used one with mechanical disk brakes and it’s such a headache I just want a different one. I’m paranoid of buying a new one and it still won’t run quietly and smoothly etc etc
Last edited by LarrySellerz; 05-11-23 at 05:31 PM.
05-11-23, 05:55 PM
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he’s been cool to me, but idk if he knows I’m the shirtless guy. If he knew who I was he wouldn’t mind. He would lend it to me, mark my words, I’ll give an update if I proceed.
Is buying a new single speed worth it over a used one? I have a used one with mechanical disk brakes and it’s such a headache I just want a different one. I’m paranoid of buying a new one and it still won’t run quietly and smoothly etc etc
Is buying a new single speed worth it over a used one? I have a used one with mechanical disk brakes and it’s such a headache I just want a different one. I’m paranoid of buying a new one and it still won’t run quietly and smoothly etc etc
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05-11-23, 06:47 PM
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There’s also the idea of using a single speed on the Spectrum Ride, probably the fastest group ride on the SF Peninsula.
A single speed wouldn’t be my first choice for that ride. Or second choice.
A single speed wouldn’t be my first choice for that ride. Or second choice.
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05-11-23, 07:01 PM
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A bit of family trivia. That Campus Bike Shop is currently owned by Keith, my sister's former college boyfriend, who bought it from my dad, who bought it from my grandfather. I was almost born in the shop.
"There are only about 150 bikes on campus now...Used to be a lot more bikes on campus. There was a time just after the war when the bike racks up at Lake Lag were packed every afternoon, bikes all over the place. I guess people have just quit riding". -- Fred Morse, 1955
BTW Larry, there's no way that Keith will let you test ride a new bike for two hours.
"There are only about 150 bikes on campus now...Used to be a lot more bikes on campus. There was a time just after the war when the bike racks up at Lake Lag were packed every afternoon, bikes all over the place. I guess people have just quit riding". -- Fred Morse, 1955
BTW Larry, there's no way that Keith will let you test ride a new bike for two hours.
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05-12-23, 12:52 AM
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Yeah, we used to do fast group rides on FGSS setups. 48x16 was a good ratio, some ran 49x16 for the skid patches. But a lot of the commuters ran 48x17 for everyday duty and I think that's too low. This was in LA and the rides were mostly flat (or at least nothing with extended climbing). Never done Spectrum up here in the Bay but from what I've read there's not any extended climbing, mostly rollers. Still, now that I'm older, wiser, and have the money for proper bikes, a SS wouldn't be my first pick, and definitely not a Fuji Feather. Maybe a Langster or something.
05-12-23, 05:39 AM
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I'm sick of my bikes breaking and I need to commute in the rain etc, don't like maintenance. I want my commuter bike to be the same bike that I race on.
Separately, there are training benefits to riding single speed with fast groups. It forces you to be comfortable with a dynamic cadence and exposes inefficiencies in your pedaling style.
Separately, there are training benefits to riding single speed with fast groups. It forces you to be comfortable with a dynamic cadence and exposes inefficiencies in your pedaling style.
Commuting on a 'race bike' is not a good idea.
Being lazy and careless about maintenance is a great way to shorten the life of a bike and its parts.
I've worked in three shops for over 20 years and I've never seen anyone allowed to take a bike for a 2 hour ride. Perhaps if the shop is hard up for a sale...then maybe. It's up to you to do your homework and know what you're buying.
But I don't have any monkeys in this circus so I don't really care what you try to get away with but customers like you is the primary reason I prefer to stay in the back and just wrench...I don't miss customers like you...ugh...
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05-12-23, 10:06 AM
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Actually, the question should be, "What is the LBS restocking fee if I purchase the bike and want to return it after two hours?" Then, rather than borrowing the bike, you've bought it and understand the option cost of a put-back. And, rather than massively overcollateralizing the exchange with a much more valuable asset at risk, you have maintained "parity of exposure" to the counterparty credit. Since the question seems to revolve around "fit for purpose" rather than "the price on offer," the $600 should not be of any concern. The restocking fee would essentially be rent. In the markets, we call this a buy-sell back arrangement, where the differential of purchase versus repurchase represents an interest rate on the money.
If all sales are final, then there's your answer. You're a richard.
If all sales are final, then there's your answer. You're a richard.
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05-12-23, 10:06 AM
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Yes, Spectrum is a "big ring" ride, which certainly can be done with a SS. But a couple of the rollers are steep enough, and the downhill sections are long and fast enough, that a SS would feel too high or too low in a few spots.
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05-12-23, 10:09 AM
#41
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the only single speed bikes I owned were BMXs when I was younger. Now all my bikes have gears
05-12-23, 10:18 AM
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Hey guys, I was looking at the Stanford campus bike shop and they would sell me a fuji feather single speed for $600. I want to try test riding it for ~2 hours doing a fast group ride, because if the bike cannot perform well under load I don't want it, and its hard to replicate that without a racing environment. Id need them to move the brakes to the drop bars, and I would consider buying it if i am happy with it. Is this unusual or a dick move on my part? Bit more than the customary spin. Was going to drop off the money or a more expensive bike as collateral and not bother explaining in detail where im riding it/ask the sales guy for permission because he would have to ask his manager and its just escalating for no reason.
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05-12-23, 12:33 PM
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I wouldn't worry about the race part of the demo ride. A 48:16 will have him spit out back on first fast flat. For perspective, 30 mph will require a cadence of 130.
Also yeah, borrowing a new bike for a couple hours to lose a race is a dick move.
Also yeah, borrowing a new bike for a couple hours to lose a race is a dick move.
05-12-23, 01:04 PM
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OK to send a link to this thread to the bike shop, Larry? Or would that be a dick move?
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05-12-23, 01:48 PM
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I agree in principle, but to play devils advocate there is a good chance I would buy the bike if it fits my needs, and I can't tell if it will fit my needs with the brakes in the current position
05-12-23, 02:52 PM
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But, from the shop's perspective, there's a good chance you won't buy the bike
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05-12-23, 03:07 PM
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130 rpm is fast but maintainable. I used to do a similar but maybe 3 mph slower ride on a 42x18 and was fine on all but a long mile+ long downhill
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05-12-23, 03:52 PM
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