Visit to Harris Cycles

We finally had a lazy (i.e, getting a bit chilly to ride) Sunday, which doesn't happen too often here. Got up, ate, read the paper and I was thinking, OK, what to do? After a short core/upper body work out, I decided today was the day to start the serious research for a touring/commuter/2nd bike, built with couplers, so we can take it traveling. So off we went to Harris.
No other customers in the shop, so we had the total attention of all 3 staff, including Mr. Harris. Thanks to the education I've received at TE, I was well prepared, impressing both the staff and my DH. So, first they bring out a Surely LHT. I already knew that I probably didn't want this, but I stood over a 46 cm, which confirmed one thing... there's no way I will ever be able to use bar end shifters. The top tube also felt way too long, even though the stand over was fine. They tried to push a Brompton, to which I said no, don't want a folding bike. DH looked at several Waterfords and Surleys, mostly frames. He pretty much liked the Waterfords. OK, then they brought out a Terry. It was an Isis Sport road bike, in a a very teeny (even for me) size, with the 2 different sized wheels. I reiterated I was not looking for another road bike and I had no toe overlap issues with my road bike and 700 wheels when Mr. Harris started lecturing me about my negative reaction to the 2 sized wheels. But, I already knew the Valkyrie (touring model) has 26" wheels, which is what I want. So, I left with the knowledge that 1) they can put STI shifters on the Valkyrie for me 2)they can do the couplers after receiving the bike from Terry, and 3) even the teeny Isis bike did not have short reach brifters... I couldn't reach the brakes from the drops, although the bar was so narrow, it must have been a 36 cm. I mostly talked to a woman who was really nice. They have a new fitting system there, so next step is to go back and go through a fitting, and bring my road bike there, too. I had to explain that even with my experience, I am not so coordinated and don't want much change in the mechanics... just a nice steel bike that can be broken down, has low gearing, wider tires, and room for panniers. After I explained that while we might do short credit card tours, we don't need bikes for super loaded touring.
It was interesting, to say the least.

Cool, if I visit that area Harris Cycles is a place I'd like to see. I would have loved to meet Sheldon Brown.

As far as shops go, it doesn't seem any different than others, in terms of what it looks like. It does have an unusual selection of brands, for sure, compared to other places, although they do sell Giants. And lots of stuff for commuters. What was different was that they were nice, didn't make me feel stupid, and they listened.
We are looking at Seven next. Obviously, the factory is nearby, but you still can go to a dealer; there's a shop in a close by location that can do the fitting and place the order, which is a fairly complicated process. I think my DH is leaning toward the Seven...

Hi Crankin,
Even though I've been to Harris quite a few times and liked it, and DH and I both bought our Rivendell Ramboulliets from them, I am going to suggest to you that you go with a custom made Seven.
Why?- 1) because you are a woman, and a very petite woman at that. I know I've had too-long top tube/small hand issues, so I can can only imagine your problems in this regard must be worse than mine (i'm 5'5").
And 2) You've already had quite a lot of problems getting your bikes to fit you and be comfortable. Our husbands seem to have little trouble picking bikes off the rack that fit them...we women do not seem to have quite as much luck. So I'd say you've been through the off-the-rack frame deal with guys eagerly trying everything under the sun to make those frames fit you.

Why not start with a frame that fits you in the first place without endless tweaking? Seven will make a frame based on your measurements. I'd recommend LunaCycles to you, but Margo is taking some time off right now.
A woman friend I know who is short and in her 60's just got a custom seven and she's really comfortable after years of hating her bikes.

My two cents is I think you deserve one really good custom frame now instead of yet another stock bike that doesn't fit you quite right.
I feel you and I are at the age where we just shouldn't waste any more time being uncomfortable! :D

Thanks, Lisa. I think you are right. The Seven will cost more, but it's not unreasonable... maybe even a tad less than my road bike. Last night, DH seemed frustrated after reading a lot of stuff on the Seven site. He can probably go with the steel Halcyon and be fine, as you said, which is soooo frustrating to me. First he said we should wait until my school loans are paid off (this is not something that has to stop us from getting the bikes... just frustration speaking), to which I retorted that I would like to be able to take my bike on a vacation and not be locked in to doing supported cycling tours, which, while I like, I don't want to do every year. I want to be able to fly to see my son in San Diego and take my bike, too, in addition to using the bike for errands, some rides, and maybe some credit card touring.
While my road bike is finally tweaked for me, it's not custom and I don't want to go through that again. So, I guess I will be heading to Lexington, to visit the shop the does the Seven fittings.

You might also consider IF, another local custom framebuilder, and Peter Mooney at Belmont Wheelworks. From Peter you can actually talk to and be fitted by the person who will build your frame.

I agree with the suggestions to go custom. Not just because you are small (although this is a big issue) but also because you want s/s couplers. It is one thing to retrofit an old bike, but if you are going new, its more cost effective to have it built with couplers in the first place. Deb W is so happy with her Mooney, and he is local, so that could be a good option for you. Given your small size, the lightness of titanium is also a consideration, in which case perhaps you could consider the seven (or a local builder that works with ti).

I bought my terry titanium isis from Harris, and while they were accomodating (they sold me the size I asked for) in retrospect that bike is too small for me and I wish they encouraged me to go for the next size up. I got the sense they are not super concerned with either bike fit or bike weight, both of which are issues for smaller women (cuz you need to think of the weight of the bike as a percentage of your body weight). Yeh, it was a trip to visit Harris, if you had to go to the restroom and got to go downstairs you'll know what I mean (its like a cycling museum down there) and they were very helpful if advising me the best way to convert an older flat bar terry to drop bars, and in finding parts for another older bike, but when it comes to a light modern bike, I think there are other dealers that are better. Given you do not plan to carry a lot of weight on your bike, you probably don't need a heavy duty touring model, so again, ordering custom for your interests could really be the best way to go.

Thanks for your feedback, Deb and Trisk. I have not entirely felt like I was treated well at Belmont Wheelworks (we bought our mountain bikes there), but I do trust your opinion, Deb. I guess I was kind of afraid of how much a Peter Mooney bike would cost.
Trisk, I a not sure if going to a Ti frame would make any difference from the steel for me. The Seven Halcyon Ti bike (stock issue) is only half a pound lighter than the steel. Is that going to make a real difference? And, I do understand the reasoning for doing the couplers at the build.
Gee, I didn't use the bathroom at Harris, but I can imagine what the basement looks like. They didn't seem too happy when we told them about our road bikes,:eek:, carbon, but they knew we were serious, and when I said I also had a Jamis, the "look" softened. Seriously, I love all kinds of bikes, so I don't think it's good to be a snob about it.
The shop in Lexington (who fit/sell the Sevens) has seriously expensive bikes, along with a brand of commuters from the UK. They also have a coffee shop. We rode there in June and they were OK. We "tested" them by riding there in street clothes, on the Jamis.