WSD vs Men's Bikes

[Trek420]

However, this test ride thing. When I test rode bikes before, nobody offered to let me go off for a few miles; it was just a matter of riding around the parking lot. Is that something they don't offer unless you ask?

Depends on the shop.

I always say you are shopping for two things; the bike AND a shop.

While signing a release or waver is to be expected, and or maybe leave them a copy of your id being limited to the parking lot is not. Sometimes though that's all it takes to know "wrong bike" or "wrong shop".

My LBS has a small very small "fleet" of loaner bikes, he's loaned me a road bike when my baby's in for a while, and I know if I wanted to test ride anything I'd be able to take it for a spin up the hill but then as Chris says "I know where you live".

Another shop I go to will special order in my size (tiny) in any bike even if I just wanted to test ride. They know they'll sell it, large base of women cyclists. Since there's no parking lot....I'd have to take it out.

These two shops I have a relationship with so they would let me ride.

When Knott and I did a pilgrimage to Rivendell they offered a test ride right off the bat. Again there's no lot so you could really ride. They had I think it was a Legolas in my size....and favorite color....I feared for my REI Visa.

[pooks]

Where is Rivendell?

I'm excited about looking for a new bike. My goal is to drag this process out. Research, test ride, then research some more. I now know the frustration of getting the wrong size bike. I don't want that to happen again!

[Fredwina]

Rivendell is in Northern California. as fasr test riding , as trek says, that really depends on the shop. (test)Ride lots!

[pooks]

Well, fortunately I can't afford the Rivendell I'd love to have -- I believe to get the Coleman green you have to get a custom. So I won't be fretting over the fact that Northern California is so far away from Dallas.

I've seen several that I like the looks of. Right now my fave in my price range (from appearance only, which I realize doesn't count) is the Bianchi Giro. I love the yellow, but isn't it illegal or immoral not to get Celeste?

[pooks]

Oh yeah, I also like this one:

http://wheelsinmotiontexas.com/itemd...gId=39&id=1059

I'm really jonesing for a yellow bike.

[KnottedYet]

Back when Diamondback was a good bike and mtb was just starting (uh, like 20 years ago! Geez, that was a long time! I feel old!!!) I had a beautiful bright yellow Diamondback. People stopped me in the street to ask me what kind of bike it was.

Yellow bikes are cool.

One of my coworkers has that Cannondale. She loves it.

[SJCzar]

My current bike is a "regular" Trek 2100. The first season I rode it everything felt fine. Last year I rode double the miles of the year before and started having alot of neck and shoulder pain by the end of the summer.

I took a Trek Madone for an eighty mile test ride one of the days that I did a week long tour last summer. Great bike, but didn't feel a big enough comfort difference to think much about changing. In the fall I attended a WSD demo day at my LBS. I tried a WSD Madone, after having a quick fitting on it. It was a cold and rainy ride but I was so in love with that bike. They were starting to get worried about me because I didn't come back for almost an hour. My upper body felt much more comfortable.

I'm 5"4". 30" Inseam. Not sure about arm length.

[anakiwa]

Just want to put in another plug for looking at the WSD bikes.

I've spent a lot of time riding on unisex bikes with neck pain and/or inability to effectively reach the drops.

I must have relatively long legs. I don't think my arms are short, but I obviously need a shorter reach.

I'm now riding a custom bike, and the difference is amazing. If I were to buy another stock (non-custom) bike I'd be extremely wary of anything that's not WSD.

Good luck! (And don't let anyone talk you into thinking you should stretch out over a bike with the wrong proportions.)

[northstar]

I just got my first road bike, and thank goodness I found a great LBS. I had never test ridden a bike beyond the parking lot, so I checked out the area and looked for a good route. Then, before I took the first one out for a spin, I asked the sales guy where he would recommend I take it out. You want to try it out on more than just side streets and flat terrain. They were really helpful. If you are in a good shop, you should feel comfortable asking. They want to help get you on the right bike.

Try all kinds of bikes. I went in thinking I was going to be comfortably fine on a men's bike, and I happened to come home with a WSD. And I'm 5'8". It totally depends on the person and how they feel most comfortable.

Good luck, and have fun! It's exciting!

(Edited for spelling!)

[East Hill]

Many standard road bikes today have sloping top tubes but not enough to be called a mixte.

The sloping top tube is not enough to make such a bike into a mixte. A true mixte has DOUBLE top tubes.

(Like most of my bikes... )

East Hill

[short cut sally]

Pooks, Fuji makes a yellow bike called the Roubaix..Its not a WSD though if thats what you're looking for..am getting mine fitted right now. Waiting on a comfortable saddle before I take her out..

[SadieKate]

The sloping top tube is not enough to make such a bike into a mixte. A true mixte has DOUBLE top tubes.

(Like most of my bikes... )

East Hill

Yes . I just didn't want to get into all the details and design issues and confusion. Xeney's current single speed project is a good example.

[pooks]

Now that I know a step-through isn't automatically a WSD I'm not sure about mine.

When I went to the LBS for a fitting last week ($20) the plum bob showed that my foot wasn't quite where it should be -- close but not quite, and they couldn't get it adjusted any closer. When I put my elbow at the end of the seat and stretched my fingers out to the (what is it, stem post?) my hand was a knuckle and a half too long, and again, they adjusted everything as best they could but ultimately said the bike is too small.

I know I just need to get into a bike shop and start trying them out.

Are the handlebars with twist gears (which is what I have) a real weenie kind of thing? Do I really need to learn how to shift gears, but how do I test ride bikes when I don't even know how to shift gears?

This learning curve is going to be long.

(Let's don't even discuss clipless.)

[mimitabby]

Well, Pooks, I left you alone (well, alone with friends) for a few days and you've already focussed in on some interesting looking bikes. A yellow bianchi!
(my bianchi is bright yellow and dark navy blue)

get thee to some bike shops and have fun!

[pooks]

Somebody who doesn't have a celeste bianchi!

Of course I'm not at all sure I will like riding with my shoulders so low, so it's just window shopping. But it's fun.