Bike Shopping- day 3- the freak out (long)

[pooks]

Go for it! (As long as you think you're going to stick with cycling.)

If you have the money it's more than worth it to be on a bike that's comfortable (and you're probably more likely to stick with it if the bike fits).

And just don't tell your friends what it costs- if they're not into cycling they probably haven't ever heard of Serotta and wouldn't have clue that a bike could cost $4000.

Exactly what I was going to say!

I'm still on a hybrid but I hope to someday ride enough and be confident enough and have reason enough to switch! Meaning, I'm not speaking from experience so take my opinion for what it's worth.

But you said it yourself -- you can afford it. Hey, that pretty much answers your question right there! Why feel guilty when you indulge in something you can afford?

And as for what will people say? None of their business. So if you want to tell them, you can, but if you don't want to, why would you? If somebody tries to pin you down, don't forget -- JUST BECAUSE SOMEBODY ASKS DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO ANSWER.

You can come up with a funny or polite or rude response in advance if it makes you feel better. Or just shrug and say, "I don't remember -- I could easily afford it so I wrote the check and rode off and haven't thought about it since."

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

You can come up with a funny or polite or rude response in advance if it makes you feel better. Or just shrug and say, "I don't remember -- I could easily afford it so I wrote the check and rode off and haven't thought about it since."

Just tell them you bought it with all the money you weren't spending on cigarettes anymore.

[Blueaegis]

$4,000 sounds like crazy money for a bike, but think about the health benefits and joy it brings you.

People spend that amount on a dining room set that they never eat on or jewlery they never wear!

Just think about the smile on your face when you finish every club ride!

[Crankin]

When someone asks me how much my Kuota costs (hasn't happened very often) I just laugh and say "a lot!" Just like someone said, if you can afford it, why feel guilty. I also felt that I didn't deserve the bike I have, sort of like a poseur, but guess what? Mostly people say "Cool bike," or something else nice. I get nice comments from really fast younger guys who normally wouldn't say anything to me as they whiz by.

[DarcyInOregon]

Hi Amy, I purchased my road bike about four months ago. I love it. I went from a hybrid to the road bike, following the same path as others before me.

I just want you to know that I have back problems too, which is arthritis in the spine and two bad disks. When I injure the back again, like in a fall, and the sciatic nerve becomes inflamed, and I have nasty pain, I can still bike. That is how good the road bike is for a bad back.

Regarding the cost, everyone on this forum is a different age and a different level of income, so would have a different perspective as to the cost of your bike. I paid about $3500 for my Trek Pilot 5.2 WSD, which was the bike plus some extras, and the LBS was happy for the cash transaction. I didn't think the bike was too expensive, not for me anyway, but yes, if I was in college or still at an age where I was paying off the mortgage, then that amount would cause me some anguish. But I am 53, with zero debts, and a solid income flow, so the bike was not expensive for me. That is how you need to look at it. And like others said, this money will be the best money you ever spent. Until you decide you want one of the $20,000 bikes.

Another thing I might mention is I had the LBS put on additional brake levers on the straight part of the bar. With my bad back, I don't have any flexibility in the spine, and in going down the long descents, having the brakes up closer gives me more control without making my spine stretch so that the hands can remain near the brakes. It makes perfect sense for me because I have no desire to race or compete or train with others. I am a rural rider and I ride solo most of the time. Additional brake levers might make sense for you too, though you are an urban club rider. There are a lot of hills where you live.

Please post a photo of the bike when you get it.

Darcy

[Geonz]

Welp, I'm going to toss aside judgements of "having too much when others don't have enough" because that's a totally different issue.

You have money to spend on yourself. The LBS has been really, really supportive, right? Getting a nice bike from them would do them good, too. There isn't a cheaper alternative that will do just as well - that's what makes a purchase unreasonable in my book. This could also -and I'm not just rationalizing - be cheaper than medical equipment/treatments you won't need later because you've got the right fitness equipment now.

I'd make sure I really *could* afford it... but then I'd do it. (I "needed" that blender, myself - *nothing* does the same thing!)

[DarcyInOregon]

Another thing, use this forum to meet other ladies for bike outings. It is a lot of fun. However, it is normal to not have any biking friends. None of my friends bike at all, except for the friends I made on TE. My spouse doesn't bike because he is an invalid with brain damage due to a massive stroke some years ago; he never biked anyway. That is the wonderful thing about having a bicycle, and that is you can get on it and go. You don't have to be with anyone in order to enjoy yourself thoroughly.

Also, I love the event rides. Go to this url and see how many event rides you can participate in this summer:

http://www.bikeride.com/calendar/events.asp

I like the event rides so much I am going to travel to some, like the Daffodil Ride in La Conner, Washington, in April.

Darcy

[ace]

Thanks, Darcy, and everyone else. I feel much better.

I would love to meet some of you wonderful women. I've seen info about a couple of NoCal rides posted, but I was afraid I was too slow.

I rode with my local bike club, the Oakland Yellowjackets, last summer and fall (and will do so again when the season starts in April) and am currently training for the Cinderella with the Fremont Freewheeler's training series (and I got into the Cindy). Then in May I have a 3 week vacation in Italy planned, a week of which is a supported bike trip in Tuscany. So I definitely have some biking planned.

But I'd still like to bike with the women from this board, as long as the rides aren't too tough. But now they all know I'm getting a $4000 bike!!

Just kidding.

[mimitabby]

But I'd still like to bike with the women from this board, as long as the rides aren't too tough. But now they all know I'm getting a $4000 bike!!

Just kidding.

I love what Pooks said; if anyone asks you how much it cost, just blow them off; you forgot already.

Ace, all I can say is; you're not alone!
and Trekhawk, how WONDERFUL that you got a Colnago instead of a stupid diamond ring!! I'm glad your DH understood and got you something that would improve your life instead of .. well, whatever it is that diamonds do.

[Bad JuJu]

Good for you, Ace! Like many of us here, I've also felt that twinge of buyer's remorse after slapping down a wad of hard-earned bucks for a snappy new bike. And at least once, my fears were confirmed--but that was my first adult bike, which, as it turns out, was too big for me and the salesman either didn't know or didn't care. OTOH, I sold it easily after only riding it for a few months and my next bike purchase was a Terry Symmetry, bought from another shop, of course, and after checking all the measurements and taking a good long test ride.

It sounds like you're doing this right--getting fitted, dealing with an LBS that you've built an honest relationship with. I can't speak to the diff between a hybrid and a road bike since I didn't start out on a hybrid. But I will say that the difference between the too-big road bike and the just-right Terry was vast, and too some getting used to simply because it was so much more responsive. So when you start riding your new bike, give yourself plenty of time to get used to it.

I've been eyeing those custom steel Serottas myself--is the Coeur d'Acier that you're getting? Yummy! We want pix, as soon as you get her home!

[melissam]

But I'd still like to bike with the women from this board, as long as the rides aren't too tough. But now they all know I'm getting a $4000 bike!!

Just kidding.

Amy,

I spend a fair bit of time up in your neck of the woods and would be happy to ride with you. $4k bike or hybrid -- doesn't matter to me!

I have a Trek 5200 WSD -- a nice little carbon bike that I bought because it fit me well, has a triple chainring and nice Ultegra components. Oh, and I could afford it. I aspire to be half as good of a rider as my bike is a bike. Sometimes I think that even kids on their Schwinns could pass me. Thank goodness I have a nice bike, or I'd be even SLOWER!!!

-- Melissa

PS I hope I'm not too slow for you!

[ace]

Well, Melissa, if you're too slow for me, just take me up a hill and I'll eat your dust!

Definitely send me a message if you're going to be up my way....I will almost never say no to a bike ride.

-Amy

[emily_in_nc]

$4,000 sounds like crazy money for a bike, but think about the health benefits and joy it brings you.

And think about how much less it is than a new car. That's what I tell my co-workers when their jaws drop over the price of my bikes. I tell them that all four of my bikes, including my $3500 Aegis Swift, all add up to less than one stinkmobile!

Emily