buying a bike

[stella]

i am just getting into cycling, and i need help finding a bike. i will be using it for commuting, and i want to be able to go for fairly long distances.

i have gone to two bike shops, and at the first i was recommended a townie (a nice bike, but sooo far away from what i'm looking for) and at the second a catalogue was thrust in my direction and i was left to fend for myself.

weight is important, because i end up carrying my bike a lot (i am small, 5'0", 90 lbs). comfort is also an issue. i can spend about $500.

i'm very clueless about everything, so any help would greatly appreciated.

if you want to commute--and go long distances, the specialized sirrus is great.
for $500.00 the shop will be able to get you into: (1) an entry level road bike (the key thing that brings up the price on a road bike, to keep it simple, is the components: brakes, shifters, cranks, derallieurs (sp?). or (2) a hybrid/comfort bike of some sort.
the road bike will be lighter than the hybrid/comfort bike.

what major city are you near in CA?
I know around here there are a few shops that have used bikes in excellent shape. would you consider going w/used? sometimes you can get a good frame with decent components on the bike used. if you do want to look at used--best to buy from a bike shop.

IMO: the bike shop that left you to fend for yourself--don't bother with them. take your money elsewhere.

[rij73]

I just bought this bike: http://ibexbikes.com/Bikes/COR-CT-Details.html

I did lots of shopping around for a bike around $500 that would be light and somewhat comfortable. The specifications on this bike are a dream for its $370 pricetag. Only a couple of sizes available, though...

It's arriving tomorrow, so I can't say anything about it yet. But, I have read many excellent reviews of their bikes on the net, and their customer service was wonderful. I had lots of questions for them that got answered very promptly.

[mountainchick]

Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Thousand Oaks have great bike shops if you're willing to drive. My ex lives near TO and is a roadie, showed me some good shops.

Its a good area for bike shops, a lot of ppl cycle in that area.

Good luck! Let me know if you need any help, I baught my mtn bike at a shop in TO. I also spent a lot of time in the area.

Cheers!

[lacyliz]

The Giant FCRw is a great commuter bike - and it rides a lot like a road bike. It's fast, pretty light (about 22 lbs.), has a triple in the front and a 1--28 in the rear- so good on hilld, too. Check it out at the Giant web site (Also Consumer Reports rated it as one of the best commuter bikes last year). You can get it brand new for $500.00. It was my second bike - I still have it and love it (I use it especially when the roads are not as clear-when I don't want to use my road bike). The tires are 28s, so they are beefy enough for rougher roads and trails, but slim enough for pavement. It's a women specific bike so you can get one to fit you. Plus it comes in a fun red color. Let us know how you make out- welcome to the most fun you'll have in a sport!

[KnottedYet]

My commuter is a Kona Dew. (I also rode it in a triathlon)

I know another TE'er rides a Kona Smoke as her commuter.

both are under $400, and as my LBS says, "they are bombproof"

www.konaworld.com/bikes/2k7/DEW/index.html

www.konaworld.com/bikes/2k7/SMOKE/index.html

[whateveronfire]

Foothill--

The Ventura Trek shop is nice and they'll have a Trek 1000 WSD and probably a Lemond Etape. I've also seen them with some older model WSD bikes on special. I've not bought a bike from them, but took a friend there and he was really happy with his experience. They're a Trek concept store, so only carry Trek products.

http://trekbikesofventura.com/

There are some good shops in Santa Barbara, too.

I agree that you should try to find a shop that sells Specialized, and you might also look at the Giant OCR3w.

The Ibex suggestion is a good one. I bought a lower-end bike from them and am very impressed with it's quality. Jack, the owner, can talk you through the process. Given your hieght, you might be too small for their bikes, but the price on the Corrida CT (which is a flat bar road bike) is hard to beat. It's worth calling Jack to find out.

Good luck.