first road bike

im looking for my first road bike. ive been riding a kids mountain bike(way to small for me, weighs a ton..) im 5'1-2-ish. im deciding between giant ocr3, the trek 1000 and the specialized dolce. so far im leaning toward the trek.

im also considering bikes from REI, the novara carema, k2 tradewind and the c'dale synapse. i test rode the synapse and LOVED it, its like heaven on wheels(but way out of my price range). however, im not sure if id wanna buy a bike from REI, being a big chain store and all. anyone have experience with REI bikes or any of the other bikes mentioned? thanks in advance...:)


oh yeah, this bike will be my primary mode of transportation. i am near seattle wa.

I bought a Trek 1000 WSD in February and I'm very happy with it. I think you get a lot of bang for your buck with Trek. I've put 1,000 miles on it so far and I really have no complaints.

Although the 1000 is an "entry level" road bike, I'm not at all disappointed with its performance. I wasn't expecting all the bells and whistles, and the components aren't spectacular or anything, but it gets me where I want to go and (knock on wood) everything is working like it's supposed to. I did have an issue with my front brakes, but it was covered under the Trek warranty and my LBS put on a whole new set for free. I also switched to Kool Stop brake pads because evidently the stocks pads don't get along too well with the stock wheels. Other than that, it's all good!

I looked at the Novara line from REI as well, but it kind of seems like no one knows much about Novara. I was tempted, but my closest REI is almost an hour's drive and the Trek had a similar component group at a comparable price. I've really learned to appreciate my LBS...I'm so happy that I chose to buy locally. I'm sure you might get great service from REI, but since it's a chain store, I was a little leary.

Whichever bike you choose, I hope you love it!

I love my Specialized Dolce. What made it great was (in part) that my LBS really took the time to dial in the right fit. While I have bought other bikes from REI (for myself as well as my family), the fitting service made my LBS stand out head-and-shoulders over REI.

But I think the most important thing is that you fall in love with the bike when you test-ride it. If that happens to be an REI bike, by all means go for it!

My first road bike was a Giant OCR. I loved it (well, I still have it, but it sits unridden this season because I'm testing out a new tri bike). It provided me with 4000 miles of fun and good times.
I agree with Bike Dutchess- buy what feels right. Test ride as many as possible (but not so many that it's too confusing :p ) and buy the one that feels like a second skin. I don't think you can go wrong with Trek, Cannondale, Giant, Specialized or any of the other big name bikes. Even the entry level bikes provide good quality and durability. Don't know about the REI bikes, or what the quality is.

Good luck- and be sure to report back what you've decided on (with pictures, to boot!). :D

i test rode the dolce when i was having some back issues so it felt really uncomfortable. then last week i was at rei and decided to give the road bikes another try for the heck of it. i rode a few and really enjoyed it. i especially loved the synapse, but that will have to go in my someday category;) . the giant felt nice the reach for the break levers was a bit much for me(it wasnt a wsd) , the trek even better. id really like to take the 1000 and dolce out on the hills and go for at least a few miles. my palms tend to get sore, is this from my positioning or what?

another question, is it better to buy the bike with the components you want(the next level up with better components) or to buy the bike as is and upgrade components as needed? do you end up spending so much on upgrades that you may as well have just gotten the next bike up?

thanks for all your help, everyone!

I'm a member at REI and it really isn't a chain, it's a co-op. That being said, it will only be as good as the mechanics they have a particular store.

My sister has a Novara MTB, we bought it because she needed a good bike on a very limited budget and with a 20% off coupon we got a great deal, about half the cost of my very similarly equipped bike. The bike itself was a great value but the service at REI was less than stellar. We got all of her accessories at our favorite LBS, figured we'd give them that business since the prices there were comparable and we love our LBS. The mechanic got his hands on it to install lock mounts/lights/etc. and ended up tuning up the bike ("Hey, I just have to fix this thing..." he kept saying) he adjusted the brakes, both derailleurs, fixed the crooked handlebars...all this the day after the REI guy spent an hour and a half tuning it up before we brought it home. I told him that I'd go ahead and pay for a full tune up but the guy wouldn't hear of it...even though he knew we'd *just* bought the bike and not from them. Then the fit guy came by and asked if she wanted him to take a quick look.

My sister & I are training for a ride together and decided that our increasing distances warranted road bikes. We looked all around, I wanted to get the best bike for me, so again I included REI and various bike shops around town. The Novara bikes seemed like a pretty good deal but I got a much better value at my favorite LBS on last year's model. My strategy was this: I set a budget, looked around to determine the various bikes that fit that budget then went out to see and ride them. I've read that the best deal you'll get on components is with the purchase of a new bike since the manufacturers buy in bulk, so I decided that it was better to buy a bike that I thought would meet my needs for a long time rather than upgrading over time.

Test riding at REI basically consisted of riding around the parking lot. The salesperson wasn't terribly knowledgeable and there was a hiking with poles class going on that had hordes of senior citizens hiking around the store. Clank, clank, clank went the hiking sticks. Ooops, sorry. Excuse me. And meanwhile the REI guy is trying to get bikes off the ceiling. It just wasn't happening, the bikes didn't feel great, but I'd never ridden a road bike so there was a lot I didn't know, like how to shift the thing.

The next day we moved on to our favorite LBS. They let us test ride bikes on a group ride they had, gave us a complete lesson on how to ride a road bike, shifting, body positioning, etc. The leader was great about helping us and answering questions. After 20 miles I knew it wasn't the bike for me, but I also knew what qualities I was looking for. We test rode bikes for the entire day (my Garmin says it was 68 miles of test riding) and when I got on my bike I knew it was the right bike. I ended up getting a *much* nicer bike than I thought I could get and only went a little bit over my budget.

In short, I think REI's bikes are great, but their bike shop service is likely to be hit or miss, definitely a miss here. The outstanding service at my LBS made buying a bike from them a joy. I was willing to pay a little more to buy a bike from my LBS but I ended up getting the best deal there too.

Sore hands, part of that is getting used to the new position, sort of like getting used to being in the saddle when you haven't ridden in a long time. Part of it may be that you are gripping too tightly, though, or putting too much weight on your hands. Switching your hand position around helps. As I've developed new muscles and gotten more comfortable on the bike I've been a lot less sore. Also, once you buy a bike you can fine-tune the fit. I shortened my stem a little yesterday and that helped a lot.

Anne

hi.

i am a newbie - bought a cannondale synapse 4 alloy $1049 - love it... been out riding most days since i got 2 weeks ago - even managed 20 miles this week - if you knew how unfit i was, you would be amazed at this :-) i can so recommend this bike - i dont know if the synapse you were looking at was maybe carbon or something, but there is the alloy version, which i got due to price constraints and i have not been sore ANYWHERE on it - pretty incredible - i am short 5'3" and got the 47cm frame and the geometry is just perfect for me... i am so pleased with the cannondale synapse feminine 4 alloy - hope this is within your priceband-- same geometry as the synapse carbons as i understand...

If you're thinking about looking at bikes from REI, I'd suggest coming into the city and checking out the flagship store downtown. You'll probably have better luck there (with regards to knowledgeable staff) than at some of the other smaller stores in the area. I've never shopped for a bike there, but I have spent a good bit of time browsing around their bike department. (It's a great place to see a lot of different gear when you're doing comparison shopping...especially clothes.)

Besides, if you haven't been to that store yet, it's kind of worth it just to witness the sheer size of the place. A lot of my friends who come to Seattle just for a visit request a trip there as a tourist stop, which works for me since it's pretty close to my place. (I pass it every morning on my commute to work.)

Also, there's a Play It Again Sports right around the corner from it on Stewart. They usually have a good number of bikes (new and used) hanging around as well--lots of Marin bikes, if their window displays of late are any indication.

I got my bike at REI. It's a K2, not a Novara. Several friends have Novara bikes and seem pretty pleased. I didn't like how heavy the commuter, hybrid and mountain style Novaras were. In my price range, the road bikes weren't much better.

The Madison REI has one saleswoman who is quite good, but most of the rest just don't know about bikes. She wanted me to have my seat up higher (she was right, but my balance wasn't ready for it), and helped us get decent add-ons for commuting and utility use. She didn't try to convince us to do things like buy bike racks, panniers or other add-ons that we weren't sure we needed. And when REI was out of helmets in colors that suited me, and didn't have helmets big enough for my partner, she didn't try to shoehorn us into a helmet add on either.

So, REI can be a good place to buy, but walk away if the salesperson isn't concerned about bike fit.

Hi!! I feel you on the new bike shopping. I have tried over a dozen bike stores including REI - I tried a Carema with full 105 and being 5'0 -5'1 I couldn't even fit the 41cm. It was too big - their frames must run extra big. Nice components though. AARGH.

I've tried as many road bikes as I can fit on - Specialized, Trek, Bianchi, Giant, Felt, Le Mond...I still have yet to come across a small Canondale

Kind of curious what size all the shops have been fitting you to since we're about the same height. Some shop tells me i'm fine with a 47 (although there is no standover clearance) and then some shops say I have to get a 43 or 44cm bike - but most of those come with 650c wheels. Some stores are totally against a 650c wheels...Some tell me I'm better off. May be I'll start a seperate thread about that.

Good luck!

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Originally Posted by piaadoll

Some stores are totally against a 650c wheels...Some tell me I'm better off. May be I'll start a seperate thread about that.

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Do a forum search first - this has come up many times. I have a 650c bike and love it. It's most important to ride what fits, and not what some shop says is cool or not. At your height (I'm 5'2.5") I think 650s are going to be a must for you. Even with them, you may have a little toe overlap as I do, but likely less than with 700s, and depending on your torso and arm length, you might not have any toe overlap of the front tire.

There is nothing wrong with 650c wheels except for the fact that you can't buy them in tons of pretty colors like 700c, and carrying your own tube is a MUST as very few folks on a group ride will have that size, if you get a flat. They are fast to accelerate and lighter in weight than 700c's as well. I don't want to start a big debate here, but do a forum search -- you'll see that there are a lot of us here that love our 650c bikes!

And welcome to TE!

Emily

Quote:

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Originally Posted by emily_in_nc

Do a forum search first - this has come up many times. I have a 650c bike and love it. It's most important to ride what fits, and not what some shop says is cool or not. At your height (I'm 5'2.5") I think 650s are going to be a must for you. Even with them, you may have a little toe overlap as I do, but likely less than with 700s, and depending on your torso and arm length, you might not have any toe overlap of the front tire.

There is nothing wrong with 650c wheels except for the fact that you can't buy them in tons of pretty colors like 700c, and carrying your own tube is a MUST as very few folks on a group ride will have that size, if you get a flat. They are fast to accelerate and lighter in weight than 700c's as well. I don't want to start a big debate here, but do a forum search -- you'll see that there are a lot of us here that love our 650c bikes!

And welcome to TE!

Emily

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Thanks! I did do a search before i posted..but nothing came up when I put 650c wheels in the search. I must be doing something wrong. Even tried 650 by itself. Anyways, Thanks for the input! I foresee myself riding a bike with 650c wheels in the future. Thanks for the warm welcome! :)


Ok, sorry to thread jack, carry on ladies... :)

Wow, I'm surprised some of you have had such negative experiences with REI. I don't consider them a big chain store in the pejorative sense at all, given that they're a co-op, and they're super community-minded, always arranging clean-up expeditions in our area canyons and beaches and offering free beginners' classes for various outdoor sporting skills.

I agree that you should track down a salesperson who's interested in fit and seems engaged with your needs as a customer, and I can't imagine that they would forbid you from taking a test ride beyond the parking lot.

Novaras, btw, are made in the same factory that makes Giants, so no worries about them being shoddy bikes.

The thing I love most about REI is that you can take back anything anytime for any reason and get a replacement or refund. You don't even need a receipt if you're a member, because they keep computer records of your purchases. When my Minoura trainer bonked earlier this year—after a year and a half of use—I brought it in to see if it could be fixed. Instead they issued its full $200 purchase price toward a spanky new CycleOps trainer. I've patronized three different REI stores in my area, and each one has stood firmly behind their satisfaction guarantees when I've needed to exchange or return something. So if you buy a bike and decide it's not right, even 6 months later, you're not stranded with it.

I'm not a stockholder in REI, just a satisfied member. :)

I don't live near a REI store, so I've had to research bikes online.

My first bike was a Terry Symmetry and although the stand-over heighth was right, the top tube was a little short for my long torso. Although I would raise the seat and try other adjustments, I never could get it to fit right.

My second bike is a Specialized Sequoia. What helped me was talking with the guys at the bike shop to really work with me on fine tuning the saddle heighth, stem, and pedals. It really does make a difference to work with someone who is knowledgeable about bike fit and who can communicate with you what your needs are. If you can find a bike outfitter that you feel comfortable with, that should help you in your bike search. There are many good bikes out there that won't cost you $$$$. And by working with a reputable dealer they should stand behind their product should anything need repair or adjustment.

I second everything Emily said about 650 tires. Especially for a 5'2" women- it might make a better fitting bike for you and it won't be any slower than 700 tires. Be sure to look at Terry bikes for women.

wow, thanks everyone for all your help. i have had the overlap issues with some of the bikes(trek 1000 and some others). i havnt really had it with the dolce. i found the c'dale synapse in a 47cm at REI and it fit me perfectly. the dolce fit me well and i can actually afford that one. also alot of the REI staff seem hell bent on selling novara. no matter what you ask novara is the best, even if it didnt feel quite right for me.

at the LBS that carried trek, the guy said that the wsd trek 1000 that came in my size would only have the 650's. he said i wouldnt get as much speed.

I am 5' 1" and I have had bikes with both 650 and 700 wheels. There is not a major difference in speed! The only reason I noticed a slight increase in my speed when I went from the 650s to 700s was a decrease in the weight of the bike and an increase in my ability! I had no toe overlap with either of them. If the bike is fit correctly, it won't happen. These 2 bikes were very different sizes and they both fit me. Differences in other parts of the geometry account for this.

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Originally Posted by abvnx

at the LBS that carried trek, the guy said that the wsd trek 1000 that came in my size would only have the 650's. he said i wouldnt get as much speed.

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He doesn't know nothin'. :rolleyes:
Yes, a 6 foot tall man on a bike with 700 wheels will "probably" go faster than a 5 foot tall woman on a bike with 650 wheels. But she wouldn't be able to catch up to him if she got 700 wheels anyhow. ;)
The wheels should be proportionate to the bike, and the bike should be proportionate to the rider.

I can't even BEGIN to remember all the dumb things I've heard LBS guys say...especially when it comes to what a woman rider needs. ;)

i am not having overlap issues with cannondale synapse fem 4 with 700cc wheels on 47cm frame (small)-- i guess i could force it to cause a problem, but only by turning the handlebars right backwards and not in a turn--

the c'dale 47cm synapse fem frames is a perfect fit-- up to 30 miles since got bike 30 weeks ago and not a bit of soreness, jarring, pain, NOTHING - and if you knew how until i am, you would know how much this is cos of the synapse and not cos of me-- it was only $50 more at my LBS than the specialized dolce elite...

i couldnt afford the bike i bought either - my budget was for $700 and ending up spending $1049 (oops!) but sooooo made the right decision - i wanted a bike i would enjoy to ride, not something i wasnt happy with that i would not have looked fwd to getting out on... my advice, humbly suggested, is see if you can do the c'dale somehow-- nice 1 step up from basic but not into the big money... especially as it fit you like a dream - so many of the posts on here seem to be poor bike fot related, so if you have found THE ONE that fits, it might be worth stretching a little if you can...

look fwd to hearing more, whichever way you decide...
batsheva

3 weeks NOT 30 weeks!

[the c'dale 47cm synapse fem frames is a perfect fit-- up to 30 miles since got bike 3 weeks ago and not a bit of soreness, jarring, pain, NOTHING -
ibatsheva[/QUOTE]

I second the 47 cm c'dale synapse 4 for fit and comfort. I didn't end up buying one, but it was a close second. I bought a Felt FW3 (over my budget) but one reason was that the geometry was almost identical to the Synapse. I was amazed at how different various brands feel. I was dreaming about a Lemond, but it definitely did not fit me. Also tested a Novara Carema (41cm) and hated it. It just didn't feel right. I think they make decent bikes, but as others have said, in-store service can vary. It helps not to go on a weekend! The shop where I rode the Synapse spent time fitting me and helped steer me in the right direction.

I live in atlanta and started shopping for a new road bike-any suggestions on stores that are helpful? I am thinking trek, althhough I am partial to cannondales ( previous road bike).

anyone want to ride with someone just getting back into it?