Even the experts can be wrong

[pardes]

So I pedal into Bikeline, ferret out Bruce (name changed to protect the misinformed fellow from being embarassed), the manager, from the mechanic area and tell him I want better tires for winter and I'm thinking I should have a second bike since I'm only biking these days for transportation.

So, Bruce, probably thinking I'm a old woman retiree with very little money, tells me that sure he'd like to sell me another bike but all I really need to do is buy a set of spare wheels to trade out for winter riding. "Cause I know how much you love this bike and have it all decked out with stuff."

I eye a $1500 Cross bike with great looking tires that would be fine for winter riding and would be a great second bike, but Bruce tells me that all Cross bikes, all mountain bikes have dropped handlebars and he knows I only want an upright sitting position.

I didn't argue. I mean really, where would you even begin to carry on a conversation with such misinformation as that. He is a great mechanic but not so good with customers, I guess. Or maybe he just can't wrap his mind around me having two bikes. Silly, isn't it?

[fastdogs]

Don't you hate it when people make assumptions about you without really knowing anything about you? It doesn't sound like he even listened to what you wanted. If you were interested in cross bikes, why can't he just show you a couple, tell you pros and cons, and let you test ride them?
vickie

[Cataboo]

I went into a bike shop the other day to test ride a specialized ruby to see what carbon felt like - the bike shop guy was quizzing me as to why I wanted a full carbon bike. I was telling him various reasons, and he just wanted me to bring my aluminum/carbon seat stay bike in so he could help fit it to me. I was telling him I wanted the stiffness, not to mention the road vibration deadening of the carbon & zertz, given that I had pretty crappy wrists... He was recommending a higher angle stem on my current bike, wider tires at lower inflation, and various things like that.

I finally asked him "Aren't you supposed to be trying to sell me this $3k bike?"

I did test ride it and decide that I was fine with my current bikes...

I did appreciate that he wasn't trying to hard sell me the specialized ruby and was being honest in saying that he didn't think I needed it.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Personally, I think it's a great idea to have a sturdy set of winter/commuter wheels that you can just slap on your bike when the season changes. One set of wheels for faster fun summer riding, one for nasty winter commuting.
It's convenient, saves a ton of money, storage space, and extra bike upkeep. If you get the whole set of wheels (as opposed to just getting winter tires) you don't even have to swap out the tires and tubes.

On the other hand, if you want another bike for a whole different riding style or purpose, then that's different. For example, if you want a light go-fast bike for group riding or competing, and then also a touring bike that will carry heavy loads and be comfortable on long distances. Touring bikes, commuter bikes, and hybrid bikes with racks and bags can all be used as errand/grocery bikes as well.

[Jiffer]

... why I wanted a full carbon bike. I was telling him various reasons, and he just wanted me to bring my aluminum/carbon seat stay bike in so he could help fit it to me. I was telling him I wanted the stiffness,

It was my understanding, based on a big carbon verses aluminum lesson dh recently gave me, that aluminum is typically a stiffer ride than carbon (depending on other factors).

Anyways, yeah, I had an LBS guy try to sell me on less expensive tires than the one's my dh had told me to go in and get. He assumed my main goal was a tire that won't go flat easily, even though that was secondary to performance, plus I think maybe he thought the expense wasn't necessary for my level of riding or something. Not sure, but it kind of felt that way. I do know he's a good guy and was simply trying to save me some money.

[Cataboo]

It was my understanding, based on a big carbon verses aluminum lesson dh recently gave me, that aluminum is typically a stiffer ride than carbon (depending on other factors).

Anyways, yeah, I had an LBS guy try to sell me on less expensive tires than the one's my dh had told me to go in and get. He assumed my main goal was a tire that won't go flat easily, even though that was secondary to performance, plus I think maybe he thought the expense wasn't necessary for my level of riding or something. Not sure, but it kind of felt that way. I do know he's a good guy and was simply trying to save me some money.

It could be how they're defining stiff?

Aluminum is stiff - it really doesn't flex all that much, it's also a bit of a harsh ride.

The major advantage of carbon (it depends on how well it's made ) is complete power transfer - you don't lose any energy to flexing, vibrations, etc. - that's what I was referring to as stiffness, but it's also as well. It also can deaden road vibrations. The ruby that I test rode had an absolutely massive bottom bracket area to ensure stiffness and power transfer.

It's nice when the bike shop guys try to save you money, it's better than when they're pushing high level sales on you.... But you should definitely buy the tires you like.


Back on topic:

Zen, buy the cross bike if that's what you want. Or at least test ride it. If you like a more upright posture (I'm not sure if the bike shop guy just assumed that or not), you can always put a higher angle stem on it. I mostly ride the hoods on my road bikes or keep my hands on the top of the bar near the stem. I'm rarely in my drops.

[Blueberry]

Get a cross bike with bar ends (or maybe a Long Haul Trucker), and convert it to albatross or mustache bars (you should be able to keep the shifters and probably the brakes). And yep - I hate assumptions. I'm heavy, but I ride a lot. And yes - I have a right to drool at the really sweet bikes.

CA

[Velobambina]

Get yourself that 'cross bike and get disc brakes (better for winter riding).