Quote Originally Posted by Geonz
when I picked my first "real" bike I went to all the bike shops - though in Richmond VA there were only four or five........I think it comes down to finding the bike shop people who will listen and help.
Had experiences like Pachyderm's, though - I recommended that Virginia shop to somebody, who went out there and got a different person who informed him that no, he did *not* want a hybrid, he wanted... YUK!
I went to another bike shop today. This one is down the street and around the corner from me--a little further than that, but pretty close. Guy was trying to sell me on a Giant Suede--or was it Specialist. It was a doofy looking comfort bike. Now, maybe that would be best for me, I don't know, the store was closing soon, I'd got there late, and didn't have time to take it for a test drive. I know the whole point is not looks, but even so. Some of those "women's" bikes look like they belong to a 12 year old girl. I'm a 46 year old woman. But I now have 2 more catalogs to look at.
I'm going back to REI tomorrow, as they are having a bike class for women. Then I am going to check out some other bike shops. I really want to get a bike in the next month. There are lots of bike shops in this area to scout out. I don't know if I said, but I live in Springfield OR, right next to Eugene, and both are quite bike friendly towns. I see cyclists all the time, and it would be weird not to see them. And there are all kinds of them. Some for the environment, some for their health, and some because they're poor and that's how they get around. I've seen a lot of homeless people with bikes. I've never lived anywhere where I saw so many adults riding bicycles. It's kewl. But I digress......I am going to do some serious bike shopping tomorrow.
Susan