Major disappointment while bike shopping
So I finally got a chance to stop at an LBS to look at some bikes today (fully recovered from my 2-week bout with chickenpox...yay!). The shop I went to is a Cannondale, Giant, Specialized dealer...so I already knew what I was looking for before we arrived - Cannondale Synapse Carbon Fem 3, Giant Avail Advanced 1, Specialized Ruby Expert. They had NONE of the bikes I wanted, but did have a lower-end Synapse and Giant Avail, that I was able to sit on for sizing. The Giant was a size small, which is supposedly where I fall based on the Giant Women's sizing chart...yet I felt stretched out (hubby said I looked stretched out). They had an extra small, but it felt like a little kid's bike when I straddled it...just not for me. So...not sure at this point, if a Giant will work for me. They didn't have any Specialized bikes in my size for me to even sit on, so no luck there. On to the Cannondales...they did have a lower-end aluminum Synapse in a 51cm. It felt great, and my hubby said I looked comfortable on it..not stretched, elbows weren't locked. The salesguy said it looked like a "perfect fit", so he went to his computer to check on availability of the Synapse Carbon Fem 3....NONE! With no chance of ordering one for 2010...Cannondale is done with production for the 2010 model year. ACK! I am SO bummed. Never did I think that production of high-end bikes would be finished before the riding season even starts!!! :confused: And I'm hearing the same story with many other manufacturers, too. It's so frustrating to go bike shopping only to find that every shop you go to has no bikes in stock, and can't even order the one you want! This dealer was even nice enough to call up a nearby competitor, to see if they had my bike in stock...still no luck.
The only "bright side" to all of this, is that according to the dealer...the 2011 Cannondales are due to start arriving at his shop sometime in June or July. So if I can wait, I'll have first dibs on a 2011 model. I figure, at this point...I might as well continue to ride my old too-big-for-me Trek for a few more months until the 2011's come in and I can get what I really want. So I suppose in the end, it will all work out...but I feel a little better now that I've had a chance to whine. :D
Linda
Maojor disappointment while bike shopping
It definitely has been a difficult season for everyone. What started all of this is the abundence of bikes leftover from last season. The direct result of that is lots of bike shops either didn't write preseason orders OR wrote very small ones. With that in mind, bike manufacturers made fewer bikes. Now that is coupled with Shimano and everyone else making less inventory as well. Needless to say, after 18 years in the bike business, I can honestly say that this was the worst season for getting anything!
I feel your pain about not being able to get what you want, my bike didn't come in either. And it's been very difficult to buy LOTS of items for the shop this season.The other side of that coin is that most of the older inventory will be flushed out, and perhaps they'll be more a level playing field next season. And with a spark that people want to buy again, perhaps the manufacturers will up the anty a bit.:o
Being a women in a men's dominated sport sucks!
I had the same problem and had to drive all over Southern Cali to try out different models. Finally settled on the Specialized Ruby Pro. I just got her back from the bike hospital after a terrible accident. I T-boned a car (his fault) doing about 17mph and Ruby came out much better than I did. No cracks in her frame and the Roval wheels didn't even bend. The bike mechanic couldn't believe it. He actually dismantled her on two different occasions convinced he had missed a crack in the carbon. I did have to replace the crankset and shifters but the frame and wheels are amazing. I have unfortunately witnessed many bike-to-bike and bike-to-car accidents and their bikes looked like they had been run over by a mack truck. Not my Ruby, she's as solid as they come. So I can attest that the Ruby is a well built machine. Do try to find a Ruby and give her a test spin. It is a good chunk of change so you better LOVE what you buy.
Safe riding