very new at this and LOVE it!!

[j.nurse63]

hello all,
I started riding my bike this spring/April...an hour a day. That turned into wanting to leave the neighborhood and explore. Now I ride into CT on quieter roads 4-6 times a week averaging 20-23 miles. It is amazing how wonderful I feel!! Unfortunately, being an ex smoker hasn't helped, but it is 18 mo behind me...forever. The wind and lung capacity should only get better!
I push around a very old, heavy "Mom" bike. Mongoose Pro I think they call it. :) The work out is great, but I look forward to the first road bike. I am on a tight budget with college kids...help!
A friend has said that I should not "skimp" if it is to be a possible "last bike". I have been looking at the Specialized Women Specific, reading the threads on this site
My budget thinks about trying to also consider a used bike for the moment. I really want to get out there to ride and also possibly consider group rides in the area. Can't do that on my current bike.

Any thoughts would be great! I love reading through this site! I am thrilled to have a new passion! Anyone live near Western Massachusetts?

Glad I am here! Jean

[mimitabby]

Hey Jean, welcome to TE!
how awesome that you quit smoking. I expect if you keep riding your mongoose or any bike you're going to continue to improve. It has taken me YEARS to develop wind and muscles and stamina, so be patient and keep working.

I bought a used bike on Ebay. nice bike, good deal, but it didn't fit right.

Put as much $$ as you can afford into a bike new or used. If you buy new, theoretically a bike shop person is going to help fit you to your bike; that's one of the advantages of buying new.

And something that's been discussed around here; if you're looking to get started, all you put into a bike the best value for your dollar would be up to the first $1000.00.
Then after that, you start getting less value for your dollar, you know expensive components that weigh 20 grams less than the less expensive component, but reallly don't work better and YOU can't tell the difference.
So yeah, if you think you can only buy 1 more bike, spend as much as you can and remember you're going to be buying other stuff too, like a helmet, gloves, waterbottle cages, perhaps mirrors, lights.

good luck and have fun.

[j.nurse63]

I have been looking and talking with our local shop. Great folks! I am figuring out that there is a risk buying used and not having a good fit. My head know to just wait, save and buy new but my excitement wants to get out there NOW.

Again, this shop deals in Specialized, Cannondale and Trek. I rode the Dolce. It felt so different to be over the bike as opposed to sitting so upright. But...it was so light and fast! At one point I thought, "yeah Jean, but YOU are the momentum!"

What can I expect from a bike shop in terms of "test rides". To buy a bike and only ride it for 10 min. is scarey. But to take it out for 10 miles seems unrealistic to ask for.

jean

[hipersons]

Hey J. Nurse, wecome!

I'm from Southwick. Have you ridden out there yet? I used to like to bike around the lake when I was a kid.

Anyway, I think if you wanted to go for a longer ride, as long as you left something as collateral they would be okay with it as long as you were upfront about how long of a ride you wanted to take. They want you to be super happy with your purchase so you keep coming back to them over and over and send others, and getting the perfect bike is part of that.

I just got the Dolce (white and yellow) and I love it! Gorgeous bike, beautiful ride, a huge step up from my mom's 35lb mountain bike.

[MsTerra]

I grew up in Wilbraham. When I was a teenager I would ride an old three-speed into CT, Somers and thereabouts. You're in a great location for longer rides, I think, as long as all that farm land and conservation land I remember hasn't been built up.

[bambu101]

Welcome, Jean! I am in Blandford, where it is VERY hilly.

[KnottedYet]

What can I expect from a bike shop in terms of "test rides". To buy a bike and only ride it for 10 min. is scarey. But to take it out for 10 miles seems unrealistic to ask for.

jean

10 minutes is pretty unrealistic, really. My shop lets folks take bikes out for 10-15 MILE rides, as long as they leave their driver's license or other i.d. (so, about an hour) I tend to be careful to take a bike out twice (two different days) for about an hour or so each time before I buy it.

None of my bikes was over $1,000. My most expensive bike ($930) was major love at first ride, but I still made myself wait and test ride a second time before I bought it. (Surly Cross Check, gloss black... oooh sexy! http://www.surlybikes.com/crosscheck_comp.html ) My second test ride was very long, and I told the LBS I'd be gone a while. They knew I was in love with it and was gonna buy it, so no problem!

[mimitabby]

Yes, What KNot said. 10 minutes isn't near long enough for a test ride. And yes, be up front with them. Tell them how long you think you'll be out.

[j.nurse63]

Hey J. Nurse, wecome!

I'm from Southwick. Have you ridden out there yet? I used to like to bike around the lake when I was a kid.

Anyway, I think if you wanted to go for a longer ride, as long as you left something as collateral they would be okay with it as long as you were upfront about how long of a ride you wanted to take. They want you to be super happy with your purchase so you keep coming back to them over and over and send others, and getting the perfect bike is part of that.

I just got the Dolce (white and yellow) and I love it! Gorgeous bike, beautiful ride, a huge step up from my mom's 35lb mountain bike.

Hipersons...Great to know that their are women close by. I drove over the bridge and started around Agawam and Suffield. It was a fun ride. I am still venturing and being a transplant to New England I am still learning the back country roads. Funny, you find that all the years of driving a car generally taking the most direct route. Now, I look for the quietest way to get to the same place on a bike. Let me know if you have any good rides in the area. I'll check out the lake!

I have been serious about the Dolce. Still unsure about the model...what I really need. The Ruby and the Dolce seem like two very different animals and the price reflects the carbon frame. This is a big learning curve. I talked to the shop and they will be happy to fit for a longer ride. Where did you shop?

[j.nurse63]

10 minutes is pretty unrealistic, really. My shop lets folks take bikes out for 10-15 MILE rides, as long as they leave their driver's license or other i.d. (so, about an hour) I tend to be careful to take a bike out twice (two different days) for about an hour or so each time before I buy it.

None of my bikes was over $1,000. My most expensive bike ($930) was major love at first ride, but I still made myself wait and test ride a second time before I bought it. (Surly Cross Check, gloss black... oooh sexy! http://www.surlybikes.com/crosscheck_comp.html ) My second test ride was very long, and I told the LBS I'd be gone a while. They knew I was in love with it and was gonna buy it, so no problem!

yup...they were very helpful. I plan to get over to the shop next week. I am struggling with the issue of "too much bike". What I need... starting with the frame.

I am soooo hooked here. What wonderful information from some incredible ladies! Glad I am involved! A wealth of knowledge for someone like me who is so new.

[Torrilin]

Test ride different bikes. Even if you really really like one, you will get useful stuff out of other test rides. My last batch meant I got to try every major handlebar style out there, a Brooks, almost every standard wheel size (missed 16" and the various sizes of 650x). It was a lot of fun, and very useful. I took fliers on all kinds of stuff that I didn't expect to like. Turns out I don't particularly like brifters but a lot of other stuff was fun.

I also learned that I can peg a basically good fit on a very short test ride. I can't always verbalize what's wrong, but if it's bad, I won't feel right.

[hipersons]

I guess I should have specified that I grew up in Southwick. I actually live out near Boston now and did my shopping out here too.

I highly recommend picking up your regional bike map (http://www.bikemaps.com/regmaps.htm), your LBS should have them. They're about $7, and super helpful. I'll need to do that when I visit my parents, as I have an idea of what roads might be nice to ride on, but no good 'routes'. There are some nice farm roads through Enfield, Suffield and into Southwick that are really nice rolling hills, though I can't remember the names of the roads.

[j.nurse63]

Welcome, Jean! I am in Blandford, where it is VERY hilly.

ever ride flats/rolling in the area?? :) I learned to ski at Blanford. What a beautiful area! You are lucky to live in such a spot.

still checking out so many posts...not sure what to do about my first road bike, so I will keep reading and looking. I LOVE being out there, even on my "Mom" bike. I figure every mile I log on it makes me that much stronger. I do hope to get on something that will take me farther...nothing like the road, good weather and the next ice cream shop for mental health! :p

jean

[j.nurse63]

Test ride different bikes. Even if you really really like one, you will get useful stuff out of other test rides. My last batch meant I got to try every major handlebar style out there, a Brooks, almost every standard wheel size (missed 16" and the various sizes of 650x). It was a lot of fun, and very useful. I took fliers on all kinds of stuff that I didn't expect to like. Turns out I don't particularly like brifters but a lot of other stuff was fun.

I also learned that I can peg a basically good fit on a very short test ride. I can't always verbalize what's wrong, but if it's bad, I won't feel right.

Thanks Torrilin...

OK...getting back into this alone can be SCAREY!! I feel like I will never know what is the best fit...the right bike...saddle, shorts...I have never done this before! I have tested the Specialized but now know I need a much longer ride to feel the bike. I keep reading the posts...looking on line...knowing that I have a $1000.00 budget. And of course...I keep riding. :)

Can anyone help me to narrow the search for the best entry level bike? I typically ride 60-80 mi/ week. I would LOVE the social aspect of group rides/charity rides. (frankly, I need to discover the friendships out there...long marriage, divorce 2 years ago and now empty nesting of my wonderful boys!! YIKES...I am alone!)
But I love riding...just getting lost out there. And as I mentioned...finding the dairy farms for ice cream is a real treat! :p

Any help would be appreciated. Too many items on the menu for me. :confused:

thanks!!

[aicabsolut]

If you feel so upright on a Dolce, are you sure you need a WSD bike? Have you tried the Tarmac or Roubaix? Cannondale CAAD9? (Great bang for buck--don't let the lack of carbon fiber here make you think it's not as good as carbon unless you're interested in being an upper level racer). With something like the CAAD9, you can put more of your budget into quality components. Of course, I love my Specialized. I recently did a drastic frame upgrade, and it is sooo much better. A lot of that is weight, though. Still, I think a enormous upgrade in frame is a tiny bit better than the jump from, say, 105 components to DuraAce. However, if you want it to be your last bike, don't skimp on components either. 105 is pretty durable. Ultegra gives you durability with better performance (better braking on hills, smoother shifting). So, with Specialized, you'd be looking at a $2k+ bike, unless you find one on sale, if you're going with carbon.

The Dolce is very entry level, and it's a fine bike for sure. It's heavier on those hills, and it's not going to make the group rides as easy as the carbon bikes, if for no other reason the geometry differences.

If you're really getting into road biking and want to spend a LOT of time on the bike, then you will likely be bitten by the upgrade bug at some point. So, again, get the best quality frame and components you can afford now, and then you won't be making that many changes down the road, as tempting as they might be.

Another thing to consider with your budget about Cannondales is that they have a great crash replacement policy. I believe $400 gets you a new frame. Period. Specialized will offer you a discount on a frame or new bike, but it's going to be a lot more than $400. A crappy thing about Cannondale is that they use proprietary cranksets, so if you trash the bike but have useable components, you're going to be buying another Cannondale so that you don't have to shell out a couple hundred bucks on a new crankset. BTW, Cannondale also has WSD bikes if you think that geometry is really what you need. Don't assume it is, though.

Pretty soon the 08s are going to be on sale, so keep that in mind. If your shop has any 07s hanging around, you might want to look at those for some good deals, but sizing will probably be limited.

[OakLeaf]

Pretty soon the 08s are going to be on sale, so keep that in mind. If your shop has any 07s hanging around, you might want to look at those for some good deals, but sizing will probably be limited.

OTOH, as RM pointed out, prices are going way up, and the trend recently has been for componentry to go down in quality from year to year within model names in mid- and lower-priced bikes. So unlike a car, a leftover '07 (or earlier) may be a very good deal.

[aicabsolut]

OTOH, as RM pointed out, prices are going way up, and the trend recently has been for componentry to go down in quality from year to year within model names in mid- and lower-priced bikes. So unlike a car, a leftover '07 (or earlier) may be a very good deal.

That's definitely true, but size availability for 07s and before can be pretty slim picking right now. I'd look there first, and then look at what a comparable model is component-wise for an 08.

Also keep in mind that while components sometimes go down each year at a given price point, frame quality goes up! They tend to make the highest end frame better and better, so the quality will trickle down. Example: Now that we've got an S-works Tarmac SL2 at 11r carbon, the Pro tarmac SL2 is 10r, which used to be S-works level (regular Pro level is 8r). I wouldn't be surprised to see the comp level jump up to 8r (from 6r) in 2009-2010.

[j.nurse63]

I continue my quest for my first road bike. :) Gonna chat at the LBS re: Cannondale...best value. From the advise I have received here, I will check out non WS geometry to see about the fit. I now know I can ride further for the test and have been doing so.
What is the difference in wheels/tires?? 650c vs 700c? What should I be considering? (Honestly, I have ordered a few of the books from TE to help with my learning curve.)
Still need to measure my sit bone structure to help with the best saddle.

I continue to ride daily and feel so much stronger. Sometimes it is only for 10 miles and other days 25...LOVE it! My elbows are sore a lot and now my tailbone is too. I remind myself not to lock my elbows and I am constantly shifting on my big seat...trying to get off my tailbone.

I am excited to possibly particpate in a local woman's group ride by the end of June. Typically, I ride 10-15 mph...unless the wind is pushing me backwards:eek: If these women describe their ride as "a comfortable & laid back 30 miles" , do you think I can keep up? I have been riding the typical route I think they take. Rolling hills in CT and MA with great scenery. I have read a lot of the threads about group rides here. Great info.

thanks for the help!!

[mimitabby]

unless you are really really small, the regular 700c wheels ought to be fine.

You haven't told us how tall you are.

[j.nurse63]

Oh yeah...I am 5' 4" with a 30" inseam.
so are the wheel size related to height? are certain ones more common that others? are the 700c wider?
hope my questions are not too annoying :o

[aicabsolut]

700c refers to circumference. The other measurement you'd see on tires refers to the width: e.g., 700x23

650s are generally only available on very small road frames. You *shouldn't* have to worry about that based on your inseam. Get 700c wheels if there's an option.

If your tailbone hurts, you're in the wrong saddle. It is probably too big and not ergonomically shaped in the back. Elbow pain is a sign of incorrect fit more than improper form IMO, unless you have some really bad habits. I have known a person to give herself tennis elbow on her road bike, but again, the problem stemmed from her fit mostly.

[j.nurse63]

I don't play tennis...but I know what it feels like! I have it. They are sore. Chatted with my LBS today. We talked "fit" for almost an hour. I know that this seat is NOT what I should be riding on. It ididn't bother me for the first part of the spring, but now...bottom line, my Mongoose needs to be limited to the grocery store. It is not enough and way too heavy for the riding I am enjoying now.

So...I drop the credit card sooner than later?? LBS is going to take a Ruby they have from last year and build it for Saturday. I will test for a long ride. He will do a basic fit and then I'll give it a try. It felt great on my short 20 min test but I wanted to spend more time on it to be sure.
It is a lot of $$ and I hope I am moving in the right direction with this. It is exciting and scarey! I'll keep working those extra shifts! :)

Thanks for explaining the wheels.

[aicabsolut]

If you're in a significant amount of pain such that you don't like riding your bike, then yeah, getting the right bike and components for you is definitely worth the $$.

[j.nurse63]

I am soooo excited!! I went to my LBS to test the Ruby Elite again. Went out for about 1.5 hrs on some of my same roads. It was a great fit...although I know my saddle may be an issue. I will ride a few times and measure my butt! They have an open saddle policy to be sure what I have is the best it can feel.

You guys have helped so much!! Thanks for all the advice...things to ask about...ways to test...bikes to consider.
my biggest fear was buying too much bike. But, I flew today and the hills that usually leave me out of breath were not the killers while on my wide tired Mongoose!

:D A very happy chic!! Jean :)