A Woman's Perogative

[elk]

Q: Are first impressions, or shorter test drives, somewhat reliable indicators of how a bike will fit over the long haul?

I know there are lots of people, like me, who go back and forth while making a decision...and I always like to listen in on process...so...

FOr the last 2 days I 've been studying (obsessing anyway) over seats, fits, angles, pelvic floor pain, and revisiting that old burning feeling...while I tried to figure out a way to make one bike work over another...

Today I put my helmet on and went out on the Trek Pure and then the Trek 7000. I stayed on the flat for both rides.

The Pure is a little pokey, heavy, and it looks like a cross between a scooter and my little sister's old banana seat bike...but MAN O MAN it is so comfortable! The only aches I get on it are the ones that come from being out of shape. No wrist, arm, butt or pooty pain at all....LIke a pair of trainers....Here's what she looks like: http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...e/purelowstep/
I have the yellow one...

I didn't realize this until I got back on the 7000, the one I have been trying to get right...and it kind of felt like squeezing my feet into high heels ...I put the pressure onto my butt only.... thankfully....but what a difference!

What am I doing?! I went in wanting a 1 speed cruiser to cruise alongside my happily trotting dog and wound up in Pure comfort on the Pure that had everything I was looking for (lower to the ground, upright relaxed body angle, ...no pooty pain...in fact it never occurred to me that pain might return until I rode the 7000) And I loved it at first sight ....Its so cute...!!! PLus the gal at the LBS said that I would REALLY appreciate having 7 over 3 or 1 speeds.

But then my DH got a 21 gear 7000 and I wanted that feeling of being up higher, of power and speed (its all relative... )with my coat flapping regally in the breeze...

I was going to take the Pure back today until I took that ride....and now I'm rethinking it... It would serve a purpose very well and when I get in better getting up the hill on 7 gears won't be so tough....and if I got more ambitous later on , I could get a different bike....

I DID order a B67 after a looong talk with Liz at wallbikes...and I love the way it looks so much I could put it on the Pure whether I need it or not!! (I could always transfer it to the next bike too....)

Looks like Ill take another day to decide....

Anyway. If you're here, namaste, for listening! Process Process ;-)

elk