Questions BEFORE the LBS trip...

[Kelly728]

LBS.. that's what I need to start calling it around here right?

I'm a newb, a "runner" who is making the switch to cycling (but I hope a tri will be in my future).. anyway, yes I'm a newb. I'm planning on heading into two or three LBS within the next month or so but I am the type of person who wants to be completely informed before I walk in blindly.

I have a pretty small budget, can't spend over $1k total and would much rather not even go that high since I decided to make myself a student again!
I have a very competitive side, so I hope some sort of racing will happen once I see if I'm any good at this cycling thing. I don't plan on commuting to work at all on my bike since that would equal a really bad idea. Where do I start?!

I'm 5'3 (and a bit) and a 31" inseam, so super short torso. From the research I have done, I understand I may run into difficulties with the reach due to my short torso. I know I won't have much money to make any sort of adjustments to the bike.

Thanks,
signed Really-confused-but-doesn't-want-to-be-clueless

[kermit]

Go into the bike shops and try everything. Even bikes out of your budget. You'll start to get a feel of what you like and what fits. The cool thing is with the ecenomy the way it is, you might find an 07 or 08 sitting that wants to be sold. You also have options in the used bike world. Once you get a feel for size and the kind of components you want, check craigslist or ebay. www.roadbikereview.com has a great classified section and forums as well. With your size, reach can be fitted with shorter stems. Check out some of the women-specific frames if you are worried about reach. Good luck.

[breezy]

I'm the same size as you and could not find an LBS that had more than one bike in stick that fit me. If I had bike shopping to do all over again I would:

Drive further to go to larger shops
Ask them to determine what size bike I needed before we started talking about what model/features

Shops may offer to order a bike for you to try with no obligation to buy it so there may be some delay in your shopping.

Probably the most important thing for me was that I knew what I wanted in a bike. This ensured that I got what I wanted, not just what they had to sell me.

Happy shopping.

[lunacycles]

I would tend to agree with Breezy that you won't have a lot of bikes to choose from, given your size and short torso. I'd recommend you find a shop that sells women-specific models and see how those work. You have the body type--long legs/short torso--for which they were designed.

Also, if you do need a stem swap or other parts swapped to make the bike fit, a shop *should* do that for free as long as it is done at the time you purchase the bike, or very shortly thereafter.

Given your long inseam, be careful about what bike they tell is your size initially. If they go with the "standover approach"(where they determine whether a bike fits based on your crotch clearance when you stand over the bike), don't be convinced that the bike fits just because they tell you it does. This method is not a great one. Because your torso is short relative to your legs, a slightly smaller bike (one which gives you more standover clearance) might fit better. Test ride whatever you can for as long as you can, and pay attention to how far you are reaching from the saddle to the handlebar, and make sure you aren't feeling too stretched out.
If you are feeling a little stretched out, but the bike otherwise works for you, ask if they can put a shorter stem on the bike to bring the handlebars back a bit and reduce your reach. This is very easy for them to do and they should do it gratis in order to secure the sale, or to keep you as a happy customer (if you decide this a few weeks down the road).

That's a lot of info but hope it helps.

[lunacycles]

I forgot to mention: I noticed you are in Maryland. If you are near College Park, check out Proteus Bicycles. It is woman-owned, and the owner Jill has done a lot of bike fitting. She used to be connected with a team I sponsored out there, and I think she would be helpful, or have staff that is helpful and sensitive to your small size. If you see her, tell her I sent you

[Kelly728]

Thanks for the advice thus far, it is a bit to take in but it is extremely helpful! I guess my long legs came in handy until now... they've always allowed me to buy "regular" pants even though I am short. Now they seem to be a bit more of a curse.

I'm lucky that where I live, I have 3 decent (from what I have heard) bike shops within 10 miles and probably 4 more if I need to drive a bit further. From peeking at their sites, they all seem to vary extremely in brands they care so that should give me a chance to see everything.

Any other useful hints are very much appreciated but at least you all have got my head spinning!

ETA: Bleecker, I guess that would be a great place to start, haha. Yes, I got the road bike part so we'll say I'm 98% clueless instead.

ETA: Too many people posting while I'm typing! Luna, I'm actually quite a distance from College Park but if necessary I'll get out there!

[sfa]

You may also want to make a trip to Bella Bikes in Ellicott City. It's a women's-only cycling store so they are likely to have sizes in stock that fit you so you can try out several bikes. I've never done more than walk through the shop, though, so I can't speak to their service at all. The store is attached to a Race Pace shop with a wider selection and a repair shop

Sarah

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I have a very competitive side, so I hope some sort of racing will happen once I see if I'm any good at this cycling thing. I don't plan on commuting to work at all on my bike since that would equal a really bad idea. Where do I start?!

Maybe you know this and maybe you don't, but you start by asking to see a "road bike". If you don't plan on commuting or riding rough gravel roads, and you do hope to perhaps race and compete, then you will not be wanting a "hybrid" bike, or a mountain bike, or a "comfort/cruiser" bike. Ask for a 'road bike'....those are lightweight racing type bikes with (usually) thin tires, made for going fast on paved surfaces.