Buying a bike for a new rider

[deb922]

Hi, I just joined this forum and I have some questions about buying a bike. I'm new to riding and having a great time. I actually look forward to the time when I can get on my bike and go! I haven't felt this way about any type of exercise before.

Right now I'm riding my son's old mountain bike. I'm 5'1" and about 105 pounds. His bike is a nice older 14.5" mountain bike. It fits okay but I swear it weights 300 pounds. I also feel that I am the slowest biker out there which I am convinced that part of it is that bike. It has very small, very treaded tires and it just hard to haul around.

I'm riding trails and roads, riding for about 1 1/2 hours at a time. I'm not going very far, about 8-10 miles. I'd like to increase my mileage and my time on the bike.

I'm having a devil of a time with the bike shops and the bikes they have where I am. First of all, the bike shops want to sell me a "comfort" bike. I really don't want a comfort bike, I'm not an old lady and that's what I feel like on a comfort bike. Also the bikes weight about the same as the bike I'm on already and I think considering my size, I think that I would be happier in a lighter bike.

The other problem is that there are no bikes in my size! I have been to 5 or 6 bike shops and I have been able to try out one bike. It's crazy to look at bikes and not know what they ride like. Anyways I've talked to the bike shop people and I've have a couple of ideas of what I might like.

1) A Specialized Sirrus. This is the only bike that I was able to test ride. It felt great.

2) A Trek 1000c WSD. Looks like a great bike but 1, it's quite a bit more money than the sirrus and 2, they are sold out of this bike and can't even get anymore until at least Sept. That's not a problem but...

3) A Giant FCR 4. Looks like a nice bike but I've only seen pictures. They didn't have any FCR's in the bike shop. This is the cheapest bike, cheaper than the trek by almost $200.

Any comments on these bikes. Any suggestions about other bikes that I could look at. I'm not in a big hurry to buy a bike, I want to take my time and get the bike that will be best for me.

Also, has anyone bought a bike on ebay? I could get a much nicer bike on ebay than what I can buy new. It seems that people buy bikes or husband's buy bikes that people end up not riding. Also my H thinks that people my size won't put as much wear and tear on a bike as someone his size, so a used bike wouldn't be beat up.

I haven't received much customer service from the bike shops around here. It's fustrating.

Thanks for any help.
DEB

[drplasma64]

I'm just re-entered biking after a LONG hiatus, and here's my advice for what its worth. Since it is your first bike, I would buy from a LBS and make sure you test ride everything first and get it fit properly even before the test ride to give the bike a fair chance. I think once you have more experience, and you know what kind of bike geometry fits you, if you want to buy off ebay it could be a great way to get a deal.

I'm 5'2" and bike fit is tricky for people of our stature, some of the geometries get messed up and you have wheels that are essentially to big for the bike, and you can have interference between your feet and the front wheel. I've heard that Trek is good for short people, and I noticed that they do size the wheels and crank lengths down on the small frames.

Do you have a strong feeling about drop bars vs. straight bars?

One thing to look at in the bikes you mention is differerent gearing...the sirrus front chainrings are different sizes than the FCR4 and the Trek 1000C WSD. I just got a trek hybrid (7200FX) that has gearing similar to the sirrus, and I wish I had some bigger gears on the flats and going down inclines. My old road bike had 52/42 up front, and I never got to the top gear, but with the 48/38/28 front on my new bike I do (rear cassettes are similar). But I live in a very flat town!

Also on the sirrus, something I noticed was that it has the shimano Sora rear derailleur. I haven't heard many good things about that particular one, which probably is why (speculation) some of the others in the same price range use the SRAM one. Shimano Tiagra is one step up from Sora, and from what I've heard it's a lot better.

If the Sirrus really felt good to you, you could watch ebay and try to get a higher model Sirrus in the size you tested (since you know that's a good fit), and thus avoid the Sora derailleur.

For other bike ideas, check this discussion about road bikes for $700 or less:
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=69273

Have fun!!

[frances]

hi deb,

i just bought my new bike in June. but i was able to test-ride several bikes at different shops just to compare.

if you are not in a rush, i'd recommend waiting just a little bit longer for 2006 models to come into the shops. you may have more choices then since a lot of shops now cannot order certain bikes anymore (out of sizes, colors, etc).

however, i can comment on the Trek 1000 -- i test-rode the WSD not the "c" model. and i thought it was fine but, the shifting was a little rough.

my heart was originally set on a Specialized Dolce Elite which is a WSD and also something i'd recommend you try out. you might be able to get a good deal now on a 05 bike if you are able to find one.

i am a little taller than you -- 5'6". so i was able to ride a regular bike but, i had everyone trying to sell me a WSD bike at every shop. and i really didn't need it. i ended up buying a Specialized Allez Elite. (a word of caution : on the Treks, i was able to ride a 54 but on the Specialized, i needed a 52 for the Allez. that's why it's important to test-ride the bike before you buy.)

as for the Sirrus, my husband tried it and felt it was ok. he also tried the Sequoia but, he ended up buying a road bike (Trek 1500).

my advice is that if you think you want to ride a while and a bike to last a while, try to buy one with the Shimano 105 component set. everyone told me that and i resisted for a while but, then when you compare the shifting to the lower group (Tiagra/Sora), it is so much smoother.

this will put you in a higher $$ range (closer to $1000).
if you can't, then buy the best you can afford. and don't let them talk you into anything you haven't ridden yet!! i would never buy anything i could not test-ride!

as for e-bay, it is ok for some but, i like having the warranty and support of my LBS. my husband is no wrench by any means and does not understand all the workings of a bike. so if you need mechanical support, if you buy it used, you are on your own (cost-wise). if you buy it new from a shop, they usually give you at least 3 months of free service plus at least one tune-up on the bike.

so in short, if i had someone at home who knew how to service bikes, i think that'd be fine to buy it used. otherwise, i'd think twice.

hope this helps! and i hope you find a great bike soon!

frances

[Melodylynn]

I have a Trek 1000 WSD and love it BUT I went to another LBS where DH bought his new bike and I fell in love with a Felt. Much smaller and faster then my trek. Also it runs about $500 more then the trek. But for now it is my dream bike! I am 5'1 and weigh 160. Short legs and long body. I feel your pain!

[Dogmama]

Double ditto on staying away from e-bay. You need the support of an LBS. Sometimes it is hard to make them understand that our money is just a green as the male-2%-body-fat crowd, but be persistent!

You say "trails & road." So, you're looking at a hybrid. My advice would be to stay reasonable in terms of price. You may decide that you love the road & want a serious road bike, or ditto the trails. Your hybrid might become your "around the town" bike that you'd outfit with a rack, baskets, etc. (maybe a horn, streamers...OK...just kidding.)

When I was looking seriously (11 years ago, carbon fiber was just being introduced!) I found NO bikes that fit & ended up with custom road bike. I absolutely love it - but before I spent the $$$, I made sure that cycling WAS my passion.

[deb922]

You say "trails & road." So, you're looking at a hybrid. My advice would be to stay reasonable in terms of price. You may decide that you love the road & want a serious road bike, or ditto the trails. Your hybrid might become your "around the town" bike that you'd outfit with a rack, baskets, etc. (maybe a horn, streamers...OK...just kidding.)

Yea, love the idea of the basket and streamers! LOL!

To clarify, when I said trails and roads, I meant paved trails, rail trails. I have a mountain bike, I can use that. I think that I want a road bike, I'm scared that I won't like skinny tires but I really want something lighter.

Thanks for all the good ideas. I think that I'm not getting any respect from the bike shops. They just want to put me in a nice little comfort bike, it's so much easier for them than to try to fit someone my size.

I think that I am going to wait for awhile. Wait for the 2006's to come out and see if I can find any bikes to test drive. I think that I liked the Sirrus because it is the only bike that is close to what I want. I don't know much about the different gears, but I agree that I need to buy the best bike I can afford.

[BIKEAWAY]

I have a Raleigh c500 and that is a great bike for both trail and road for begining...I bought it this spring and now need a better road bike but since I do both every week I will have a specific trail and a roadie. Also for going around town I like it..
I dont know about your height as I am 5'10" but I know there are 3 or 4 sizes and I have the tallest. It really is a great duel bike for the begining and the tires are halfway- not big but not the thinnest so you get use to the preasurized tires...

[ladyjai]

I've been riding around on a hybrid, and just picked up my first road bike. It took a little getting used to, but now I'm in love (and i still have more to learn, but that is part of cycling!). i feel like I'm gliding, even when I'm not going full speed. It's beautiful... just beautiful.