OMG! Tried a bike..Fanbloodytastic!!!!(longish)

[GraysonKelly]

Okay,
Now I know, that ya'll know that I really want a Surly. But, seeing as how I have never in my lifetime ridden a bike with drop handle bars (unless you count my trying out my cousin's 10 speed when I 11) I decided to go get an idea about these "critters" (as Knot calls them) and went to the LBS. The first one I rode was a Bianchi something or other that was lime green and tiny! I told the guy that I didn't think it would fit me and he disagreed saying that a 50cm was plenty big enough for me. I tried it. Went maybe a mile, came back and told him that I felt like I was bending over to tie my shoes when I held the handle bars. Then I tried a Giant OCR, same basic problem and I was really wobbly...again too small. Then Andy came out. Talked to me. Listened to me. Gave me a 52 inch Cannondale T800 to ride. I stayed out for about 5 miles. Came back and LOVED IT!!!!! OMG!!! Now I have a standard to compare other bikes to but oh this was so sweet!!! It's got almost the same kind of gearing as my mountain bike (incidentally I don't know what you call those shifters that are built into the break lever but that took some getting used to), it's black and gray (very pretty) steel fork (not sure about the rest of the bike he told me but I forgot), very very nice. And, since it's an '07 and they've had it forever he quoted me a sale price that was almost $500 less than the listed price. Holy cow!!!!! What a sweet, sweet bike! I wanted to try a Bianch Volpe since several of you have mentioned it but they didn't have that. I never considere a cannondale because of cost. But this might actually be possible. Wow! What a great ride. When he first brought it out it looked huge and I said, "I can't ride that!!!" He told me jsut to try. Goodness me! I'm so excited I can barely type.
So, what you do ya'll think? I'm still new and need lots of advice.
Gray

[Blueberry]

Unless they've changed, it's an aluminum frame with a steel fork. I had one, and liked it relatively well. However, I found the ride to be pretty harsh (at least for me). Since it's built for a load (and Cannondale has a reputation for being stiff anyway), it was *really* stiff. So much so that it wasn't comfortable *to me*. There's a lady here who does all sorts of club rides on her T2000 (same frame, better components). She loves it.

CA

[Smilie]

I love my Canondale Synapse! Glad you found a bike that you love!

[Aggie_Ama]

I have the Synapse and I love it, but CA is right Cannondales are stiff. you may love this or not, I personally love it now that I have rode a bike that is not stiff. What are your goals with this bike? Mine is stiff but also built for a little more comfort (and carbon) while my husband has a R5000 (alum) pure race machine and some long rides can be a little more harsh for him. He doesn't mind but I would not enjoy 60+ milers on aluminum, it can be such a harsh ride. Of course I am comparing it to my lower end, poorer fitting aluminum commuter so it isn't apples to apples.

You can always put a carbon seat post and probably get a relatively supple ride even with the harsher ride of aluminum. And let me clarify nothing wrong with aluminum but it is different ride from steel, carbon, titanium. I am assuming at your price point (guessing by this bike) most things you are looking at will be aluminum.

Can he let you take it for a slightly longer ride? Maybe somewhere with rougher roads? Cannondales are fabulous bikes, good quality and I have heard they stand behind them for warranty issues if they arise so the bike itself would not be a bad investment, just make sure it is compatible with your goals.

[GraysonKelly]

Amanda,
Actually, I was looking at a steel bike. Specifically I was looking at the Surly Cross Check because of everything everyone on this forum and other sites have said about steel. Price is a big factor. I didn't go very long today but I can understand why people say the bike is stiff. I think. I don't know if i'll be able to take it further or not, but I guess I can ask. I was just going out today to get an idea about how a road type bike would feel. As I said, I've never ridden one before. So now I have an idea. I'm still probably going to go with the surly. I just wanted to get an idea of what I was looking for. It was just easier for me to test ride something here in town before I make the rounds of bike shops 1-3 hours away to look at surlys.
Thanks for the tips.
I've said before that weight is not a huge concern for me. I know that if I go from riding something like a surly to eventually riding something lighter I'll know the difference, but i'll also know the difference between my mountain bike (which I do all of my riding on right now) and a surly. So weight doesn't bother me. the shifters, brakes, sturdiness, safety, and gears are what concern me.
Gray

[Blueberry]

Can you try a Trek 520? That's what I replaced my T800 with. It's a hard decision whether to ride that or my Cross Check on any given day

CA