A Woman's Perogative

[elk]

Q: Are first impressions, or shorter test drives, somewhat reliable indicators of how a bike will fit over the long haul?

I know there are lots of people, like me, who go back and forth while making a decision...and I always like to listen in on process...so...

FOr the last 2 days I 've been studying (obsessing anyway) over seats, fits, angles, pelvic floor pain, and revisiting that old burning feeling...while I tried to figure out a way to make one bike work over another...

Today I put my helmet on and went out on the Trek Pure and then the Trek 7000. I stayed on the flat for both rides.

The Pure is a little pokey, heavy, and it looks like a cross between a scooter and my little sister's old banana seat bike...but MAN O MAN it is so comfortable! The only aches I get on it are the ones that come from being out of shape. No wrist, arm, butt or pooty pain at all....LIke a pair of trainers....Here's what she looks like: http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/2008/bike_path/pure/purelowstep/
I have the yellow one...

I didn't realize this until I got back on the 7000, the one I have been trying to get right...and it kind of felt like squeezing my feet into high heels ...I put the pressure onto my butt only.... thankfully....but what a difference!

What am I doing?! I went in wanting a 1 speed cruiser to cruise alongside my happily trotting dog and wound up in Pure comfort on the Pure that had everything I was looking for (lower to the ground, upright relaxed body angle, ...no pooty pain...in fact it never occurred to me that pain might return until I rode the 7000) And I loved it at first sight ....Its so cute...!!! PLus the gal at the LBS said that I would REALLY appreciate having 7 over 3 or 1 speeds.

But then my DH got a 21 gear 7000 and I wanted that feeling of being up higher, of power and speed (its all relative...:D )with my coat flapping regally in the breeze...

I was going to take the Pure back today until I took that ride....and now I'm rethinking it... It would serve a purpose very well and when I get in better getting up the hill on 7 gears won't be so tough....and if I got more ambitous later on , I could get a different bike....

I DID order a B67 after a looong talk with Liz at wallbikes...and I love the way it looks so much I could put it on the Pure whether I need it or not!! (I could always transfer it to the next bike too....)

Looks like Ill take another day to decide....

Anyway. If you're here, namaste, for listening! Process Process ;-)

elk

[VeloVT]

Elk,

First of all, wow, that Trek Pure is soooo cute!!!

I guess my question is, is there any way you could possible justify to yourself and/or your husband keeping BOTH bikes?

It sounds like you looove the pure, and that will keep you loving cycling, which is a good thing. And depending on how fast your dogs trot, it might be fine for trotting on bike paths (and will definitely be great for errands and after-dinner spins around the neighborhood, etc). It looks like a bike you could keep and enjoy for a very long time.

You may find over time that you really do want to ride longer, faster, on more varied terrain, though, and the Pure is probably not the right bike for that. It may be that the other bike is not your best bet for that purpose either... I think it's likely that you might be able to make it much more comfortable with fitting and a different saddle, but it might be not only not the optimal geometry for your body, but also not the best geometry if what you really want to do is ride long or fast. If you REALLY think you might want a bike for this purpose, and if you haven't already, you might consider testing some road bikes, touring bikes or cyclocross bikes (this might actually be a really good option -- they give you a lot of options in terms of different kinds of set-ups -- wider tires, fenders, maybe racks, wider gearing, etc, and they usually have much more relaxed feel than road bikes).

So maybe I should stop right here, but I think if there's any way you can justify more than one bike, THENNNN, you need to keep the Pure, definitely, and then you should look at ALL of your other options. Test ride everything. .. see what you like, and think about what you might want in the future...

[Torrilin]

Most days, I use about 3-5 out of my 24 speeds. Today I probably used more like 10, since I had a few rollers to deal with, including my nemesis hill. The big thing for me is to get out and ride :). And I won't do that on an uncomfortable bike. Mostly, I get faster by riding, not by having a fast bike.

[elk]

Eliza....you make a great point...I don't want 2 bikes right now...but if I keep the pure...I can get another later...:D

T...gotcha re the gears. The part I have a little trouble with is that the Pure has a BIG 1st gear and the jump from 2 to 1 is large...so I lose ,momentum....but riding more, getting more skilled is probably the key...

I LOVED getting your responses...:) I'm going to spin 'em both again after supper
gosh its getting darker earlier faster!!!!

e

[Zen]

You like the Pure.

I like the Pure (it is a cutie)

You're comfortable on it.

You love it, I can tell.

Keep it and enjoy it until you really, really decide it's time to move on.

[MomOnBike]

Life is too short to ride a bike that doesn't make you smile. If you love the Pure and it makes you smile, go ahead and get it.

And be aware that it is OK to change your mind later and get another bike if your needs and desires change.

[KnottedYet]

Keep the Pure.

Later, you can buy a Surly Long Haul Trucker and put a 2nd Brooks B67 on it. :D

It's always best to have at least two bikes: a utility and a zoom zoom! (more bikes is better, of course, but two is good!)

Start with the one you love NOW, and add another one later!

Fit, function, and true love!

Get the bike you love now, not the one you might love later.:p

[Trekhawk]

Ooohh!!!
That is a cute bike.
I love the Trike hmm must resist the urge to look at more bikes.:D

[elk]

But what about that Bianchi Milano???!?!?!? AY AY AY!!! But it costs twice the PURE....

Juuuuuuust kidding....:p

thank you all for taking the time to chime in! you rock....

elk

[Torrilin]

I've looked at the Milano. Off the shelf, it has gears for a Tour de France winner. I am not a Tour de France winner. It is *very* cute looking, but I'd need to build up a lot more strength before it's an even sort of reasonable choice for me. There are several ways to give it more sensible gearing (customized rear cog, smaller chainring), but I don't love it enough or need a second bike enough to want to deal. Yet.

Also... no lights! *dreams of a generator hub on the front wheel*

[HillSlugger]

What about something like the Giant Suede DX (http://www.giant-bicycle.com/en-US/bikes/lifestyle/1272/29321/)? It's got the same upright geometry and flat-foot stance of the Pure, but it has a 24-speed drivetrain? With narrower tires it would probably be pretty fast. Not as cute as the Pure, but probably more versatile.

[elk]

I've looked at the Milano. Off the shelf, it has gears for a Tour de France winner. I am not a Tour de France winner. It is *very* cute looking, but I'd need to build up a lot more strength before it's an even sort of reasonable choice for me. There are several ways to give it more sensible gearing (customized rear cog, smaller chainring), but I don't love it enough or need a second bike enough to want to deal. Yet.

Also... no lights! *dreams of a generator hub on the front wheel*

The Electra Amserdam has a generator light...and thats the cutest bike of all...

[elk]

What about something like the Giant Suede DX (http://www.giant-bicycle.com/en-US/bikes/lifestyle/1272/29321/)? It's got the same upright geometry and flat-foot stance of the Pure, but it has a 24-speed drivetrain? With narrower tires it would probably be pretty fast. Not as cute as the Pure, but probably more versatile.

OMG that bike is ADORABLE!!!! I'm going to go try one right now..;-)
(fenders please...) thanks!
elk

[Trekhawk]

Yep I like the Amsterdam too. I was looking at these for awhile and then I found this one I like a little better.

http://www.breezerbikes.com/bike_details.cfm?bikeType=town&frame=d&bike=uptown

In the end though I decided that having three bikes to transport back to Aust was worry enough (I always stress that they will not get where we are going without damage). So I will look for my little errand running bike when I get home. Hmm I sure was tempted though.:D

[elk]

Yep I like the Amsterdam too. I was looking at these for awhile and then I found this one I like a little better.

http://www.breezerbikes.com/bike_details.cfm?bikeType=town&frame=d&bike=uptown

In the end though I decided that having three bikes to transport back to Aust was worry enough (I always stress that they will not get where we are going without damage). So I will look for my little errand running bike when I get home. Hmm I sure was tempted though.:D

YUM!!! but out of my price range....for now anyway!

[elk]

OMG that bike is ADORABLE!!!! I'm going to go try one right now..;-)
(fenders please...) thanks!
elk

Do the fatter tires on the Pure mean it might do better on more varied surfaces?

[aicabsolut]

The Pure is fine for just cruising around. But if the roadie bug is biting, don't think you have to be stuck with the 7000. There are TONS of bikes and saddles out there, and surely you can be comfortable on one of them. Test ride lots of stuff. Don't think you just have to pick slow, cute bike over painful fast bike.

[elk]

The Pure is fine for just cruising around. But if the roadie bug is biting, don't think you have to be stuck with the 7000. There are TONS of bikes and saddles out there, and surely you can be comfortable on one of them. Test ride lots of stuff. Don't think you just have to pick slow, cute bike over painful fast bike.

Thanks to you all and your SUPERB advice, I'm taking the 7000 back today.
I'm gonna stop on my way over & have a spin on the Suede DX (24 speeds!!!) and stick with the Pure or that for now.... (The Pure comes in a 21 speed..in a cloying pink ONLY...who the hell makes these decisions?!?!?!? I like pink as much as the next girl, but not THAT pink, and NOT on my ride!!!)

And I'll ease myself back into the world of bicycles----pain free I might add:D :D ---until I figure out what ELSE I might want to do on 2 wheels.

I was also thinking about how there must be lots of women in my position, with super sensitive bodies, who gave up riding....and how the foot forward technology can be a cure---its like a 2 wheel recumbant (sp?).
Yes...its target market is the new or returning rider who might like the confidence of being closer to the ground..but its real value is in its body geometry.... Granted it's pokey ...but its still a ride...

[MomOnBike]

If it's crank forward bikes you need, look here:

http://www.ransbikes.com/default.htm

for some more options.

Look in the Sport series. I'm partial to the Cruz, but I've also heard good (as in zoom-zoom) things about the Zenetik. Or maybe the Dynamik for some (mild) off-road stuff.

Of course, if you want to go full-blown recumbent, RANS has them too. And BTW, not all 'bents are trikes. William (my 'bent) would be incensed to hear you say that. He has 2 wheels, thankyouverymuch.

Standard disclaimer, no financial interest, blah, blah, blah. Heck, I don't even ride a RANS, I'm just impressed with the company, and I've seen a lot on the road.

[farrellcollie]

The brooks saddle will look great on any of the bikes listed on this thread.

[elk]

Okydokey...

I rode the Suede and I really liked it...it actually has beefier tires and a ? suspension? fork (If that's the right name)and it felt bouncy and solid....but agile.

Then I drove down the street & returned the Trek7000. Now the new Trek catalog has the 08 Pure with 21 gears in silver (not just pink...) but its not here yet...

So I'm going to go look at that site "ransbikes" but I think I don't want to complicate matters too much more!!

Do I get the 24 gear Suede
Wait for the 21 gear Pure
or keep the 7 gear Pure............hmmmm

Part of me just wants to say OK! Its over and just ride....but I might really miss those extra gears.

collies!!! yay!!!

elk

[Torrilin]

Stick with the Pure for now. In a few months, you'll have a much solider idea of what you (and it!) are capable of. You'll also have a clearer idea of how you *really* use the bike. Then, if there are things you want to do that the Pure can't do, you'll have a good idea of what to change. Plus, as you get in better shape, what you can do with the Pure will change :D.

[elk]

Stick with the Pure for now. In a few months, you'll have a much solider idea of what you (and it!) are capable of. You'll also have a clearer idea of how you *really* use the bike. Then, if there are things you want to do that the Pure can't do, you'll have a good idea of what to change. Plus, as you get in better shape, what you can do with the Pure will change :D.

You give SOLID advice, T!!! thank you.