thekarens
10-07-2012, 02:59 PM
We started off this journey with NO CLUE what we might like/want, but had pretty much decided we would spend a couple grand on two very entry level bikes. So, we went to all the bike shops of the various manufactures and started test riding.
To make a long story short it ended up with my partner ordering a 2013 Trek Madone 4.5 and I ordered a Jamis Quest. Her bike had to be ordered because she loved a different Madone, but had decided she wanted a carbon bike after riding a few other carbon bikes. I loved the Quest, but I wanted to blue one, which is the men's version. I don't care for red (which is the women's version.) The shop owner has assured me that he will make sure I am completely pleased or I can walk out. I'm really not worried. He seems pretty confident that he can compensate for the different geometries between the men's and women's and I also road another men's bike with the same geometry as the one I'm getting.
Anyway, I'm excited because who doesn't love a new bike?!? I'm nervous because it's a freaking lot of money and a real investment for us. I'm also nervous because I'm just getting comfortable on my MTB and a road bike is a whole new ball game.
I also wanted to commend the Jamis dealer, Lone Star Bicycles. The manager was fantastic. He did a fitting on the bikes before we did our test rides. Put it on the machine and adjusted everything before sending us out to ride. He went the extra mile even though we had told him we weren't buying that day. That was one more plus for that shop. The Trek shop was very good as well, my partner fell in love with the bike and we get a 5% discount since we are a member of the local bike club.
To make a long story short it ended up with my partner ordering a 2013 Trek Madone 4.5 and I ordered a Jamis Quest. Her bike had to be ordered because she loved a different Madone, but had decided she wanted a carbon bike after riding a few other carbon bikes. I loved the Quest, but I wanted to blue one, which is the men's version. I don't care for red (which is the women's version.) The shop owner has assured me that he will make sure I am completely pleased or I can walk out. I'm really not worried. He seems pretty confident that he can compensate for the different geometries between the men's and women's and I also road another men's bike with the same geometry as the one I'm getting.
Anyway, I'm excited because who doesn't love a new bike?!? I'm nervous because it's a freaking lot of money and a real investment for us. I'm also nervous because I'm just getting comfortable on my MTB and a road bike is a whole new ball game.
I also wanted to commend the Jamis dealer, Lone Star Bicycles. The manager was fantastic. He did a fitting on the bikes before we did our test rides. Put it on the machine and adjusted everything before sending us out to ride. He went the extra mile even though we had told him we weren't buying that day. That was one more plus for that shop. The Trek shop was very good as well, my partner fell in love with the bike and we get a 5% discount since we are a member of the local bike club.