Buying a Bike in Three Weeks--Suggestions

[backinthesaddle]

I will be purchasing my first road bike in just a few short weeks. I haven't ridden for any real length of time since I was a child. A few years back i purchased a toys r us right off the rack bicycle. It wasn't worth much then, and is worth even less to me now. Its been sitting on my balcony for the better part of 3 years untouched. Its completly rusted. I have settled on the Trek 2.3 WSD as my first entry.

My research has led me to a host of websites. I am pretty stuck on the 2.3 however, mostly because of name I think. I mean after explaining to the shop employee my desires and aspiration list,(get in shape, have some quality me time, lose weight, possibly enter some charity rides and/or complete a centtury someday) he suggested the 7.3. Since my goal is to maybe someday enjoy a few distance rides, I would prefer drop handle bars. This of course is when my insanity began. I have been online nearly everyday researching bikes or should i say trek bikes. i have been quite biased.

Any suggestions on bikes to consider or am i making the right choice with the 2.3?

[Cataboo]

Honestly, you need to test ride and find a bike that will fit you... If it happens to be a trek, that's good... But there's a lot of other great brands of bikes out there. They're the giants, specialized, etc. And... you're not going to ride a bike if it doesn't fit you well.

So test ride as much as possible...

Shimano 105's a good drive train source - shifts well and will last. I think you might want to test ride some aluminum frames with carbon fiber seat stays to compare with the straight aluminum frame of the 2.3. You might also want to test ride a steel bike (look at the jamis bikes). I find aluminum a harsh ride even with a carbon fiber fork - if you've got a lot of chipseal around you, you may not want aluminum... and if you're talking about doing a century than maybe you want something a bit more comfortable...

[lph]

I have very little experience with road bikes, but I bought a used road bike based on it fitting me fairly well, it had a reasonable price and decent components (105). (And it was red, let's not forget I got a good position after switching the saddle and stem, but I'll admit that the aluminium is a harsh ride, even with a carbon fork. My road bike is a blast to ride, but the frame is def. more unforgiving than both my steel and my aluminium mtb.

[Biciclista]

Good luck on your bike search. I am fairly confident that you can find a Trek to fit you. they make so many different models. And it's tough to ride them at the shop and figure out what really feels right because at first NOTHING feels "right" i mean, what's right, right?
take it slow. find a shop that will work with you!

[Trek420]

find a shop that will work with you!

+1. You are shopping for a bike shop as well as a bike. Find the shop that suits you best, test ride lots of bikes.

[TsPoet]

Honestly, you need to test ride and find a bike that will fit you... If it happens to be a trek, that's good... But there's a lot of other great brands of bikes out there. They're the giants, specialized, etc. And... you're not going to ride a bike if it doesn't fit you well.

+1
Trek is a good brand, but all bikes are different. I cannot ride Trek bikes, my heal strikes the chainstay, on all of them.
If the store will let you, try to get more than just a quick ride around the parkinglot. But, don't be discouraged if you feel a little achy after longer test rides - if you haven't ridden you may find some awkward spots on your body, but nothing too strong, that's what tells you it isn't the bike for you.

[Cataboo]

I have very little experience with road bikes, but I bought a used road bike based on it fitting me fairly well, it had a reasonable price and decent components (105). (And it was red, let's not forget I got a good position after switching the saddle and stem, but I'll admit that the aluminium is a harsh ride, even with a carbon fork. My road bike is a blast to ride, but the frame is def. more unforgiving than both my steel and my aluminium mtb.

It may be that my core just wasn't strong enough, but my wrists just went numb and hurt on aluminum with carbon fiber fork only... carbon seatstays helped a lot, carbon handlebars, also a lot... building up the core helped, but so did no longer riding aluminum bikes. ti or carbon or steel for me now.

[Ritamarie]

Test ride your bike before buying. Most good bike shops will let you go for a real ride, not just around the parking lot. My LBS let me take each bike I was considering out for a 10 mile ride. I rode the same loop on all. I chose a hilly loop since I wanted a good climbing bike. I test rode a $1200 bike that beat out the $4000 bike hands down. It just suited me and my riding style. I ended up buying the upgraded version of that $1200 bike.... a Cannondale Synapse Fem 1, which by the way, from your description is a bike you should try (not necessarily the Fem 1).

By the way, I have a friend that has that bike that I didn't like, and she's crazy fast on it. It suits her style.

Another LBS that I went to when I was looking for my Surly, told me "Be back by 7:00 PM; that's when we close." (It was 11:00 AM.)

Bring a friend with a bike equipped with a bike computer and go for a ride.

Also, a piece of advice my father gave me when I was breaking out in a cold sweat over the thought of spending so much money on a bike. "You'll never regret buying quality". He was right.

[mirliluck]

I agree with the others about test riding as many bikes as possible, and take them out for longer than just a spin around the block.

Before I bought my new bike, I, like you, had zeroed in on a particular model (for me it was a Specialized) - based on online reviews and LBS recommendation. But when I actually went out to test ride the Specialized, and others, it was just ok. Then I tried the bike I ended up buying (an Orbea) just on a whim and it was like WOAH!!! this bike and I were meant to be TOGETHER!!!

So yeah, you may be surprised that one bike speaks to you more than another during your search.

[schnitzle]

I agree with the others about test riding as many bikes as possible, and take them out for longer than just a spin around the block.

Before I bought my new bike, I, like you, had zeroed in on a particular model (for me it was a Specialized) - based on online reviews and LBS recommendation. But when I actually went out to test ride the Specialized, and others, it was just ok. Then I tried the bike I ended up buying (an Orbea) just on a whim and it was like WOAH!!! this bike and I were meant to be TOGETHER!!!

So yeah, you may be surprised that one bike speaks to you more than another during your search.

The same type of thing happened to me! I just bought a bike a week ago. Try out a few, it's the only way

[TxDoc]

Any suggestions on bikes to consider or am i making the right choice with the 2.3?

Did you test ride it???
I do not mean to sound unpolite - but it is very hard to buy a bicycle without trying to ride it first. In order to do that, you would need to know exactly what your ideal geometry is - what features you need in a frame, what components you like... it is possible, yes, after a couple of decades of cycling (and if you are lucky enough to fit on stock models like me) you may be able to pick out of the catalog and make a good choice.

But, from what you are saying in your post - your riding experience is very limited. It seems unthinkable that you may already know your measurements and riding style so well that you can pick the right bike out of a catalog or a website.

My suggestion is that you visit several shops and ride many bikes. Learn what works and what doesn't. Find out what you like and what you don't care about. Find your needs, and find the right people to work with. At some point, you will find the right shop and the right bike - and that's what you should buy. It may happen tomorrow, or take the three weeks you gave yourself, or take more time. But if you buy a bike that fits you and suits your needs - you will ride it and be happy.
Good luck!

[LizzyBee]

I see this thread has been going for awhile but thought I'd throw my two cents in. I just bought my road bike almost a month ago. I was wary of road bikes for so long because I tried a friend's bike out years ago, a "men's frame" (although there were no women's specific frames, WSF, then....) and it was really uncomfortable. Fast forward to last month, ready to buy my first roadie. I test rode some WSF and loved them. I finally settled on a Fuji model from last year, got a great deal and have already put almost 300 miles on it. There are now a lot of companies that make WSF, so like everyone else has been saying, test a few out. Good luck!!