Bike Advice

[RickaG]

I'm new here, having found the group through a Google search a couple of days ago. I'm returning to cycling after a 20 year lay off. Back in the day, I had a nice road bike and did long rides in the Santa Cruz Mountains several times a week. At 56, I can't handle the dropped bar posture anymore.

A couple of months ago, I found a nearly new Specialized Crossroads Elite on Craig's List and got it for a great price. All in all, I love the bike. It is so comfortable to ride, if a bit pokey. In conversations with my LBS, they seem to think that this bike is only suited for fairly short rides, say no more than 5-7 miles on fairly flat ground. Most of my rides are currently around 15 miles and I can see that I will be increasing my mileage substantially over time. Anticipating that, I'm looking for advice on whether I should plan on buying another bike or whether it makes sense to do some upgrades to this one, such as a "granny" gear for hills and lighter and narrower wheels.

If I do buy another bike, what would you all recommend, for up to around $1,000? I am 5'4" and my Specialized is a women's size "small", so I will need a bike that comes in a size that is small enough.

Thanks for your help!

[arielmoon]

I dont have any advice about the bike, but I would like to say "hi" and welcome to TE. Happy rides to you!

[kermit]

Have you tried any road bikes? The reason I ask is that the geometry for many road bikes has changed. There are now more comfort frames such as a Specialized roubaix that are a little more upright that a flat top tube racing style frame. Give one a try before you rule them out. You could also look into a flat bar road bike.

[RickaG]

I dont have any advice about the bike, but I would like to say "hi" and welcome to TE. Happy rides to you!

Thanks!

[RickaG]

Have you tried any road bikes? The reason I ask is that the geometry for many road bikes has changed. There are now more comfort frames such as a Specialized roubaix that are a little more upright that a flat top tube racing style frame. Give one a try before you rule them out. You could also look into a flat bar road bike.

Thanks for the suggestion. No, I haven't tried anything yet. My last road bike was a Palo Alto Cycles original "women's" bike, purchased in 1986, about the time Terry Cycles was getting started. I still have it, gathering dust in the garage. It was quite the sports car in its day. I keep threatening to clean it up and put it back on the road, but I don't think I can handle the riding position anymore. I don't have "back issues"--and I'd like to keep it that way.

What about the Trek commuter/city bikes? They sound like they are a good compromise between responsiveness and comfort. Of course, it could just be marketing hype.

[alpinerabbit]

yeah you can. at least try. 56 is no age.

[celerystalksme]

start stretching like crazy...daily. and go work out in the gym a bit to strenthen your core and back.

and get back on the road bike! get something like a specialized roubaix or a cannondale synapse. more upright riding position...very comfy ride. i HIGHLY recommend the specialized roubaix as a comfy bike worth of being raced.

[Biciclista]

We'd love to see your bike (cleaned up of course) you are the same age I am, and I ride a road bike. (not in an extreme position however)

welcome to TE

[HillSlugger]

Welcome!

You might want to look at flat bar road bikes like the Specialized Sirrus, Jamis Coda, and Trek Pilot.

I have a Jamis Coda Comp I use as a commuter bike. It's fairly quick and has mountain gearing.

[Zen]

Welcome!

You might want to look at flat bar road bikes like the Specialized Sirrus, Jamis Coda, and Trek Pilot.

I have a Jamis Coda Comp I use as a commuter bike. It's fairly quick and has mountain gearing.

The Pilot has drop bars.
The Trek FX5 (or higher) might be comparable to your Jamis, plus it has a more relaxed TT.
http://i206.photobucket.com/albums/bb14/zencentury/TrekFX5.jpg

[HillSlugger]

The Pilot has drop bars.
The Trek FX5 (or higher) might be comparable to your Jamis, plus it has a more relaxed TT.


That's right, I'm getting my bikes confused; the Pilot is comparable to my Sequoia. Both are relaxed geometry road bikes with drop bars.

[RickaG]

Thanks for all the advice, everyone. The Trek FX5 is one I had looked at online, and it just might be the ticket. In the meantime, I think I'll take my PA Cycles road bike in for a consultation and get it ready to ride again. Replacing those 20 year old tires and brake pads, at a minimum.

My family and I just returned from a 3 week trip to Germany. Although I had heard about the huge % of people who commute by bike, it still was amazing to see the streams of people on bikes going to and from work. Although German drivers are maniacally focussed on their driving, they treat bike riders with respect. If they can't safely pass with at least a meter to spare, they wait.

Thanks again!

[BarbaraAlys]

I'm kind of with those that have suggested you try it before you say you can't do it. If you have no back issues there is no reason to expect a well fitted bike to give you some.

If you are really commited to no having a road bike, have you looked at recumbents? My friend rides an ActionBent and she can make that thing fly!
Her's has under-seat stearing, so the hand position is the most ergonimically correct of any I've seen.

Barbara

[MomOnBike]

I'll second the notion that a recumbent is worth a look.

They can be very fast (rider input required) and I, at least, can spend more time riding without various parts and pieces of my body complaining.

Take one, or a dozen, for a spin. Then, at least, you will know if you like 'em.

[carriesn]

This may be a bit late, but you could also look at the Specialized Vita (its a step down from the Dolce, but it gives you that road bike feel with flat bars) or the Raleigh FT Cadent series (also has a WSD, called the Alyssa Cadent). Both are in the $500 range and I like both a lot. I'm selling my Specialized Crossroads because it doesn't make the cut for commuting etc- prefer a road bike with flat bars cos its just much more fun to ride! :p

[TrekTheKaty]

I guess my question is: Why does the LBS think you need to replace the Specialized Crossroads? I handed my old Crossroad hybrid down to my sister (62 years old!) and she has done 40 mile rides on it. I would like to see her upgrade to a bike with better shifters (smoother, so she would shift more often), but she loves it as it is. She put skinnier tires on it, and that gave her some extra speed.

A newer hybrid/road bike can be lighter and faster. My new road bike also shifts smoother than my older hybrid. It depends on your goals. Tires are an easy upgrade--that you can use on a new bike later (if you go that route).

[luckyfiddle]

I don't want to hijack your thread but I also have questions. I just bought an '08 Trek 4.5 Madone and I like my Trek '96 better at the moment for several reasons. I have a bad neck and I am finding the handle bars to be uncomfortable to my shoulders which in turn affects my neck and gives me migraines. I do love how smooth my bike is but I am just not getting the pleasure out of it I thought I would. I put 700 miles on my old Trek in 10 weeks so I was riding quite a bit and thought an upgrade was needed after 12 years. I don't feel that they fitted me as well as they could at the Trek store and the chain popped off the 2nd time I rode it and it clunks when it shifts and sometimes it like it gets stuck between gears and I have to play with them to basically make it pick a gear. Tonight at one point it was like it was locked up and I had almost stop before it would shift high or low. So, any words of advice.

[HillSlugger]

I don't want to hijack your thread but I also have questions. I just bought an '08 Trek 4.5 Madone and I like my Trek '96 better at the moment for several reasons. I have a bad neck and I am finding the handle bars to be uncomfortable to my shoulders which in turn affects my neck and gives me migraines. I do love how smooth my bike is but I am just not getting the pleasure out of it I thought I would. I put 700 miles on my old Trek in 10 weeks so I was riding quite a bit and thought an upgrade was needed after 12 years. I don't feel that they fitted me as well as they could at the Trek store and the chain popped off the 2nd time I rode it and it clunks when it shifts and sometimes it like it gets stuck between gears and I have to play with them to basically make it pick a gear. Tonight at one point it was like it was locked up and I had almost stop before it would shift high or low. So, any words of advice.

It definitely sounds like you need a better fitting on the Madone to address your neck issues.

As to the shifting, new bikes are subject to cable stretch with can make shifting erratic. This is normal, but you need to take the bike in so that they can adjust it to shift better again. You may have to repeat this a few times in the first few months and first few 100 miles.

[wildhawk]

Howdy! And Welcome to TE! My take on it is to consider where you want to be with your cycling - what goals do you have in mind? That will go a long way in determining what your bike will be. Also, what kind of riding do you want to do? Road? Trails? Off Trails? Etc. For me, my older Giant Innova hybrid is just the ticket. I have carpal tunnel and benign positional vertigo so upright is what I need to ride. Also, the trails I ride on have tree root cracks in the pavement and some tree debris - pine needles, pine cones, etc. which are not fun hitting with a skinny tire. So my hybrid has a wider tire and handles the terrain just fine. It is nice to know I can leave the pavement when I need to. Apparently, speed is an issue with some folks on hybrids as they want to ride faster. I wish I could sometimes, but usually I get between 13 and 14 mph which I can do comfortably on my hybrid with faster sprints of up to 20 mph on the flat. I also do some commuting/hauling groceries, etc. with my bike. She has panniers and a rear rack. So decide what you want to do with your bike, and happy hunting for your next ride! Lots of great advice on this forum in bike selection. Just wanted to give my 2 cents worth regarding hybrids.

[obesa50]

I'm 55 and just started cycling in June. Just bought a Specialized Ruby Elite a few weeks ago. Love it and wouldn't have it any other way.

[TrekTheKaty]

I don't want to hijack your thread but I also have questions. I just bought an '08 Trek 4.5 Madone and I like my Trek '96 better at the moment for several reasons. I have a bad neck and I am finding the handle bars to be uncomfortable to my shoulders which in turn affects my neck and gives me migraines. I do love how smooth my bike is but I am just not getting the pleasure out of it I thought I would. I put 700 miles on my old Trek in 10 weeks so I was riding quite a bit and thought an upgrade was needed after 12 years. I don't feel that they fitted me as well as they could at the Trek store and the chain popped off the 2nd time I rode it and it clunks when it shifts and sometimes it like it gets stuck between gears and I have to play with them to basically make it pick a gear. Tonight at one point it was like it was locked up and I had almost stop before it would shift high or low. So, any words of advice.

I have minor lower back problems and visit the chiropractor monthly. He's had to adjust my neck more since I switched to a road bike. He's always surprised it hasn't given me headaches (yet). Call the lbs and ask for the owner or manager--sometimes the kids that work in the afternoons and weekends aren't the most motivated. My original fit was done by the owner and very thorough. It took a few more visits to get the "kids" to take me seriously.