Navigating the waters of buying a new bike

[velo]

I was talking to dh this past week and said in passing that I would love to have a new bike if I continue to be so re-dedicated to riding. He said, "Sure, save the money and get yourself one." It's been a long time since I bought a new bike!

So, I have a little money in the bank that is not earmarked and will save some more over the next several months/year. I will likely buy around this time next year because I'd like to have a fairly significant budget.

I'm probably going to look mostly at carbon fiber bikes, but I would consider titanium. I love my steel LeMond, so not really looking that direction. I want Campagnolo components (it's what I'm used to). Will shops be at all willing to order in bikes with a certain set up for me to test? Some of the bikes I will be looking at have campy as an option, others don't. I don't expect shops that don't carry campy to let me test a bike with it. If I find a bike I want and it doesn't have a campy build option, I assume I'd have to order just the frameset or frame and fork and have it built up like I did my Klein. Is this correct or am I off on that point?

When should I start really looking? I feel like it will take me a while to test everything I want to. Within an hour's drive, I have probably 20 shops that carry almost everything I want to test ride. I'll have to drive 2 hours to test ride a Colnago. If I find "the" bike, I'll have no problem waiting to buy it, as I'm not a "have to have it now" kind of person and we finance nothing. I'm open to layaway, though. How does that work?

What is the process these days of testing bikes? Will they switch out the seat and let you ride it with your pedals and shoes? How far will they go to adjust it to fit for testing? Although it's been 12 years, I remember buying my Klein at my very favorite (now gone) LBS and the process was really great. I knew the guys there well and it made for a good buying experience.

I have had a lot of questions churning through my brain, but can't think of them right now. At this point I'm looking for any kind of advice. I know many of you have just gone through the process and I'm looking to learn from your experience. Thanks!

[Biciclista]

I was talking to dh this past week and said in passing that I would love to have a new bike if I continue to be so re-dedicated to riding. He said, "Sure, save the money and get yourself one." It's been a long time since I bought a new bike!

So, I have a little money in the bank that is not earmarked and will save some more over the next several months/year. I will likely buy around this time next year because I'd like to have a fairly significant budget.

congrats!!

I'm probably going to look mostly at carbon fiber bikes, but I would consider titanium. I love my steel LeMond, so not really looking that direction. I want Campagnolo components (it's what I'm used to). Will shops be at all willing to order in bikes with a certain set up for me to test?


No, I don't think so. Especially if you're not a common size.


Some of the bikes I will be looking at have campy as an option, others don't. I don't expect shops that don't carry campy to let me test a bike with it. If I find a bike I want and it doesn't have a campy build option, I assume I'd have to order just the frameset or frame and fork and have it built up like I did my Klein. Is this correct or am I off on that point?
It depends on the bike. You probably will want to build the bike, especially since you want Campy.



When should I start really looking?
Now.

I feel like it will take me a while to test everything I want to. Within an hour's drive, I have probably 20 shops that carry almost everything I want to test ride. I'll have to drive 2 hours to test ride a Colnago. If I find "the" bike, I'll have no problem waiting to buy it, as I'm not a "have to have it now" kind of person and we finance nothing. I'm open to layaway, though. How does that work?
If you decide to buy a bike that is sitting in the shop you might do layaway. But if you order a top of the line something or other in size 44, they probably won't .

What is the process these days of testing bikes? Will they switch out the seat and let you ride it with your pedals and shoes?
yes!

How far will they go to adjust it to fit for testing?
They'll go as far as you want (at a good LBS) And that's the bottom line, find a shop who will work with you

[Sky King]

being married to a bike geek who owns a bike shop, he loves to talk to serious bike owners looking to be creative in their new bike. He has participated in the creation of so many bikes I have lost track, each and every one is exciting for him. Our niche is touring bikes and transport bikes, not road racing, not mt bikes, not carbon fiber bikes but he certainly enjoys campy parts.

So my recommend is go find that bike shop owner or manager - the one that gets where you are going with this bike. Start now and over the winter you and the bike shop owner/manager will be able to create the perfect bike for you. Good Luck, sounds like an awesome fun journey

[indysteel]

A lot of bikes are sold as complete bikes. You may have a few component options from which to choose, but you are otherwise more or less forced to accept the bike as is or pay extra to have certain things swapped out (shops will often work with you on this). Some bikes may be purchased as a frame only. You could then build it up as you wish. It's typically more expensive to do that, especially if you get the parts through your shop (versus online). Plus, you might end up paying a build fee of $200-$300 at your shop. But, again, you get what you want.

As for test riding, a shop will generally let you test a bike with your own pedals and saddle. As for being able to order a bike for a test ride with no obligation to purchase: I don't think it's the norm, but it depends on the shop. Find a shop with a good fitter and try your best, with their help, to figure out the geometry you need prior to ordering and then work with them to dial in the fit after you buy the bike.

[velo]

Lots of good advice. Thank you! I'm a fairly common height for a woman - 5'4", but I am about equally distributed between torso and leg length. I am not long-legged. I still have 25 pounds to lose, but it's falling off pretty quickly as I'm averaging over 150 miles per week. I am hoping that the bike shops will have a size that will fit me on the floor. I am leery about paying a lot of money for something without test riding it. Since I'm riding a lot, I'm realizing what is good and bad about my current bikes. I want to take my time and be very cautious about this purchase, as it will be one that has to last a long time. Thanks and please keep the advice coming!

[Biciclista]

Sometimes, they have another model of the same bike on the floor in your size so you can feel the fit and imagine how much better the one you want will perform. (I did that when I got one of my raleighs)

[thekarens]

Layaway at the bike shops here seems to be 3 months. As to what you put down varies widely. The shop I went with didn't care how much you put down, but I went to one that wanted 30%.

[velo]

If I can test ride something close, I think that would be OK. It sounds like layaway may not work. Especially if 3 months is standard. Thanks for the info!