New and getting a new bike

Hello all,

I used to ride alot when I was a teenager and had a nice bike - Bianchi Forza, but then I went to college and became a lot more sedentary and stopped riding. So two years ago I pulled out my old Bianchi and went for a ride with my husband, and I was completely uncomfortable. The reach was too far, and the saddle was really uncomfortable. The whole activity felt awkward. I guess my 30-year-old body was a bit more sensitive than my 16-year-old one! I went on a few more rides and things did not improve. So this year my husband and I are both getting new bikes and I'm really excited to get a good fitting bike and get back out there, plus I'm hoping to do a century ride next year for charity. I've only been to two bike shops but I've fallen in love with a Bianchi 1885 Veloce, which costs $1000 more than I wanted to spend. I did a mini test run and was afraid of the bike (what if something happened to it while I was test riding it?) but even in the few minutes I was on it I was more comfortable than on my Forza. So today I'm going back to test ride again. My questions here are - am I crazy for wanting to spend $2000 when I'm not currently a heavy rider? Is it better to get what I want up front or to work up to a good bike? Is it way too much equipment for me - will I look like an idiot to more seasoned bikers? I do intend to do a lot of riding this summer...

Thanks in advance for the advice!

LOL You're asking the wrong people since we are all very like-minded when it comes to finding the right bike. It looks like you have found it even if it is $1000 more than you had originally wanted to spend. You know you want to ride a century next year. It sounds like you are someone who has their mind made up that they will be riding pretty darned often. Won't you ride more on a bike you absolutely love?

When I started off again like you did over a year ago I ended up trying to save money and buying a hybrid that ended up being too small for me. Lucky for me I was able to sell it but I still lost money. When I went shopping for a new bike I really liked the Bianchi Volpe but my husband balked at its $1000 price tag. Thankfully, the shop had an older Kona Sutra in just my size that they sold me for 50% off its original price which was $250 less than the new Volpe. So in the end I got a better bike that had everything I was looking for in a better price range. Don't buy the wrong bike just to save yourself a few bucks.

Also, don't NOT buy a bike because you are worried what other people will say or think about you. Buy the bike because it's going to make you want to ride it lots and lots and lots. You don't seem to be waffling about how much you are going to want to ride like I did when I first set out on this journey. You have goals that have you riding pretty regularly it sounds like so as long as you can afford it I say go for it. I'm sure you won't regret it one bit!

Buy the bike! The guilt factor of spending more than you wanted to is a good motivator to ride a lot!

So I bought the bike, and thanks to all the posts that I read here today about determining proper saddle fit I knew to swap out the saddle right away and I'm MUCH happier with the new one (the shop did an even exchange for me).

New bike! Woo Hoo!! :)

Sad to say I was a bit winded from the 2 mile ride home from the shop - looks like I've got my work cut out for me, but that's just more reason to get on the bike every day to do a short ride and build up my endurance.

Well that was a fast turn around. It took me at least a week to become convinced to spend double what I had planned. Congrats, and welcome to TE! We'd all love to see pictures...

Welcome, and congrats on the new bike. Please post some pictures!

Congrats and welcome to the Bianchi club :)
Of course we want to see pictures...

Congrats on the new bike and welcome to the board. If you plan on riding a lot, you won't regret spending that money. why buy a bike, ride it and decide later on you want/need a better bike..better off doing it now and getting it out of the way. Saves time and deliberation later when you could be out riding:D

Finally got a pic - my DH took a good shot of it:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2235/...fbff8aa827.jpg

I took it out for a spin this weekend for the first time since I rode it home from the shop (We had rain all week afterwards - what a bummer). It felt great - I'm really enjoying it so far. No long rides yet - still breaking in my butt to the saddle and vice versa - but I'm definitely looking forward to getting some miles in.