Choosing an LBS

[Trekhawk]

Colnago
Diamondback
DK
Felt
Gary Fisher
Hoffman
Lemond
Look
Raleigh
Redline
Sun
Torker
Trailmate

(That's a lot of brands. They don't seem to have that many in their shop. Maybe I'm wrong about their stock, though.)

LOL that is a lot of bikes. Being a Colnago owner and lover I would have to put a big plug in for them but Im not sure that its the type of bike you are after. Felt got some really good reviews in either this year or last years Bicyclling mag buyers guide. Some of the girls here ride Lemond so maybe they can give you some feedback on them. Oh so many great bikes to consider.

Have fun.

[indysteel]

ETA: Just as Indy's friend thinks she's getting good service at that horrid shop. When you first start out, you simply don't know. It's possible that I've found an LBS I can trust -- the one that likes my Brooks and told me my bike is too small, which I've "known" for a long time but nobody had actually told me that, so I figured I was wrong.

Pooks, that's why I go back to my original comment--that it pays to have some independent knowledge. While I love my friend to death and think she's a strong cyclist, she doesn't know a whole lot about bikes. In her defense, she is in school full time and works part-time. She likely doesn't have as much time on her hands as I do. But the fact remains that she has not put herself in a very good position to make an educated decision about the quality of the shop.

I agree with the comments, too, that it takes time to develop a relationship with a shop, but you'll be able to figure out relatively easily whether a particular LBS is even interested in developing a relationship with you. Ironically, I loved the guy I bought my bike from. He spent a lot of time with me finding a good bike and in tweaking it so it was speced to my liking. Unfortunately, however, I have found it difficult to develop any rapport with the store's maintenance staff and I don't particularly like the owner. So, while I stop in every once in a while to say hi, I don't bring my bike there for repairs and, consquently, I don't buy much gear there either. I don't feel obligated to shop there just because it's where I bought my bike.

Instead, I have a better relationship with two other shops--one of which is where I had my fitting. Great guys; great atmosphere. The other shop is where I bought my hybrid. I've since gotten to know the manager and maintenance guys. While I can't commend them for their fitting and sales, I do like them for repairs.

I know some people are so loyal that they only go to and buy from one shop. However, I have found it more helpful to be a self-described "bike shop flirt."

[mimitabby]

Indy, yeah, I like that term. bike shop flirt. i have a "relationship" with about 6 different shops. and I like to keep 'em guessing....


but this doesn't help Pooks.


Pooks, you have to buy stuff, try stuff out and see how they react.

[pooks]

Well, I've been buying stuff and trying stuff. I think I need to get a bike that fits then I'll have a point to start from.

Also, I never ride with anybody but my husband, and him only rarely. I'm guessing that if I ever rode in a group, people would have spotted my problems and given me advice. As it is, I'd ride around a parking lot a couple of times, trying to show them what was bothering me, then they'd raise or lower or whatever, and it never seemed to do the job.

[spazzdog]

I mentioned somewhere else on the board that I'm about to be "re-fitted" on my current bike.

I use the same LBS as Trek420 (she introduced me) even though it's a drive to get there (there are 2 LBS literally around the corner from me). I go to the further one because from the day I met the owner he was generous with his time and very open to discussing a variety of options. He is the only "wrench" that will ever touch my bike as long as I live here and his will be the shop I purchase a new bike from when the time comes.

The fit... he's not gonna have me come in and do a "look see" at how I ride; not yet. First he has me filling out a questionaire about ride style, goals, etc. Then we'll measure me... then he'll start tinkering with the bike setup. He does this with folks ordering expensive custom bikes, and he does it for customers that already have bikes.

I LOVE this guy!

spazz

[pooks]

That is so great, spazzdog. I hope to find somebody approaching that kind of coolness.

[spazzdog]

I'm lucky... and , admittedly, a gear-a-holic when I'm really into something. I love to talk about the stuff and Chris (bless his heart) is afflicted much the same way, except he REALLY knows what he's talking about.

I think part of finding a good LBS is being patient... you can't be in a big hurry to "get" whatever you're shopping for. The "sharks" will smell the blood and be all over you, convincing you that you "really need" such-or-so.

[withm]

Pooks

You are looking at a lot of different bikes and as you say, you are still sort of new to riding. I'm afraid you are going to have way too much information at your disposal and not have near enough experience to evaluate any of it fairly.

I think you need to ride a few different bikes, for a couple weeks at a time. Is there anyone you can borrow an older road bike from for a couple of weeks to try it out? Then maybe rent a bike from another shop and start to compare them. You need to sort out what features actually make sense to you and that you like/want/need, and to discover the things that won't work at all (poor fit notwithstanding). This will give you a head start - even if you can just ride a couple bikes, and will help you to put all these other opinions in perspective. Fit is so subjective that you will probably be fine tuning your bike for months before you declare it perfect. Then you'll go and lose 10 pounds, and have to do it all over again.

I was in very near your shoes a couple years ago but racking up the miles on a road bike that was way too small for me. When I started test riding bikes, I spent a couple months doing it and did not really worry about fine tuning the fit. If I could stand over it safely, extend my leg on the down-stroke, and reach the handlebars it was good enough for me. I needed to ride them for a couple hours to see if they were still as comfortable as they were in the first mile or two. Many of them were not. Big surprise. My bike shop was very accomodating in my taking longer test rides - and seems to me they even let me keep one overnight so I didn't have to return it before they closed (since it didn't get dark for a couple hours later).

When I narrowed my choice down to two models, I went back and rode each of them again and again, and still threw in another model too just to keep me on my toes. I'm sure the bike shop had had enough of me but they still worked with me, and suggested adjustments that might make the lesser (and much cheaper) one more compatible for me.

In the end I selected a bike that I still love. Now after 1-1/2 years on it, I have been playing with fine tuning the seat adjustment, but not really because it needs it, but my own curiosity wondering if I can make it better.
The point is that it can take some time on the bike to even know what you might want to change.

Since you are coming from a heavier, hybrid style bike, the transition to a road bike will really be dramatic. And the first few rides you may not even feel as though you are in control of the bike. There are many reasons for this, fit being among them. But don't get me wrong, I am not trying to belittle your experience. I went on a 2 week bike trip last fall on a hybrid, adnd when I came home and got on my own bike - oh my! It took a couple days to get used to the road bike again! I was so wobbly! I would never have believed the transition would be so pronounced after only 2 weeks if I hadn't experienced it myself.

Any road bike is going to be so much different from your bike that I think if you tried a few for extended periods it would really help you to focus on what you want.

They all feel good for 5 miles. After all, they are BIKES . But after 25 miles that is when you really become aware of a bike's shortcomings (if there are any).

Good luck and happy shopping!
Martha