Thank you for your road bike advice

[Jo-n-NY]

I also want to welcome to the forum. Like you and I am sure many others, I was lurking quite a long time before my first post. Although that was not very long ago either.

I want to wish you much luck with your new bike. I will never forget the excitement when my husband wheeled mine into the house. It was on order and was just hoping it would get to me by my birthday. But boy, don't you feel like a kid again?

Wishing you many happy pedaling miles.

~JoAnn

[SandyLS]

I picked up my new Bianchi Veloche yesterday. She is just beautiful. The bike I ordered was a 53cm The fitting was an interesting experience. On the bike (on a trainer in front of a big mirror) off the bike, on the bike , off the bike, repete. The guy doing the fitting did a lot of holding a plumb bob by my legs and used some kind of an odd shaped plastic ruler thingy. I know that the shop had a sign on the wall that said that a fitting fee was $150.00 but it was included in the price of a new bike.
I learned that I had a long femur. and narrow shoulders. I ended up with the seat quite high, narrower handle bars and a Salsa stem that placed my arms at the right angle. The shop swapped the look peddles that came with the bike for SPD ones so I could use my new Cannondale shoes. The peddles are the same beautiful celiste green as the rest of the bike, very cool! I don't know if all of this was done right, but they sure seemed to know what they were doing.
I was suprised to find when I got home and checked my bill that there was an extra charge for the stem and a $20.00 charge to install the new computer I pruchased there and had them add to the bike. I still would have purchased these items if I would have known about the charges but it seemed strange to me that these charges were not brought to my attention. I guess I just assumed that these were included in the price of my new bike.
I took my first ride this afternoon. I can't believe how much easier it is to ride this road bike than my old Trek 850 mountian bike. I was flying up hills (well, small ones) that took much more effort on the old bike. Only an eight mile ride today as the bike and I are still getting aquainted with each other. So far, so good. I felt really good after the ride, no aches and pains. I did reach 21 miles an hour at on point on the flat and really didn't feel as if I was working all that hard. Hubby and I averager 10 to 12 miles an hour last summer. It will take some time to get used to the more bent over position I'll be using on this bike as compared with my more upright mountian bike. I am still learning about the campy gearing system and I did have a little trouble finding the sweet spot to clip in, but all of that will come in time. It's too soon to tell about the saddle comfort, but it was pretty good for today's short ride. At least I didn't do something stupid like tip over or run into something. I did miss not having my mirror. Where do I mount one on a road bike?
A strange thing happened. I went to get my helmet out of my car and found one that did not belong to me, but luckily was the right size. All I can figure is the day I test rode bikes and ordered mine, I must have been so excited that I accidently left mine on the counter and picked up one from someone else. I have no idea if I got the better deal in the trade of if they did. Neither were new or fancy. I think I also left a pair of gloves with my helmet though.
I sure am looking forward to getting back on that bike tomorrow. Happy biking to all and to all a good night.

[cindysue]

I finally found a shop that worked the way I've read they are suposed too. I drove 70 miles from my home to buy from this shop . ......
but when I am thinking of spending a considerable amount of cash on a bike I don't like to be told that I don't want/need upgraded components and that I wouldn't know what wheels look cool. I guess the kid thought that I would be dead in a few years, so why should I bother with the good stuff.

I was suprised to find when I got home and checked my bill that there was an extra charge for the stem and a $20.00 charge to install the new computer I pruchased there and had them add to the bike. I still would have purchased these items if I would have known about the charges but it seemed strange to me that these charges were not brought to my attention. I guess I just assumed that these were included in the price of my new bike.

Hi Sandy - welcome to this great forum. Well at least taking part in the posting since you've been lurking for awhile.

I am sorry to hear you had to drive 70 miles to find a good bike shop. What a shame no one took you serious. Reminds me of that scene in Pretty Woman where Julia Roberts gets blown off by the snooty salesgirl - then comes back later with her hands full of shopping bags and says "you work on commission, right? Big mistake, big mistake!" I love that movie!

Having a close-by shop is so valuable. I was having some trouble with the cleat on my road-shoe and I went in today to have them look at it. They were great - and very sympathetic to my experience of not being able to clip in on a long organized ride this weekend. They fixed it (it took a good 15 minutes) and didn't even charge me. I'm so happy with the service I receive there!

As for charging you for the cyclometer installment. I think that is CRAP! It should most definitely be included in the price of the computer - not to mention you just spent a small fortune in their shop! I would write a letter to the management/owner telling them how great their service was, but for this extra charge - that you weren't even TOLD about!

Happy Riding Sandy - Best to you!

[CorsairMac]

Wooohoo Sandy congrats on the bike - may you and he/she/it have a very long and loving relationship. As for charging to install the computer?.........I can't speak for other LBS's but thats standard here in ABQ. They charge for Everything they do - even tho I just bought a bike from them. Example: I just bought a brand new bike and I wanted clipless pedals. They charged me for the new pedals and they charged me to switch them out. One of the sweetheart LBS guys (married darn it ) gave me some handlebars he had sitting in his garage coz it would fit me better and save me $30., but they charged me $10 bucks to install them on my bike!! Since I had her there for her maintaince checkup, it was just easier to have them do it....I never thought about the install charge! I'm changing out the brake levers on the Peugeot and they're charging me for the new levers and the installation. I'm praying they don't also charge me for the handlebar rewrap! It probably never occurred to them to mention that to you - they probably thought you just figured it was a given. I DO ask them for all my components tho and they now know I want everthing back that they took off the bike!

[annie]

Sandy,

Bike shops do not have much of a mark up on the bikes so in order to make money and survive, they need to charge enough on their products and their services. It would have been a nice good will gesture to have installed the computer for free ( and I DO think the price w/wo installation should be listed on the computer) but I don't think it's a common practice. It's a service - it takes time- they charge for it. As for switching out stem (or any other parts), you should only have been charged for the difference in cost between the two. Obviously, if you now have a better stem (or pedals, saddle) that costs more, they can't just give it away. So I wouldn't think too poorly of the bike shop. If it bothers you, mention to them that you didn't realize there would be an extra charge, and that you'd appreciate it, in the future, if they would be more clear about their charges.

Anyway, now that you have it, just enjoy that new bike! It sounds like a beauty!

annie

[annie]

Corsair,

Don't be surprised if they charge you for a bar-rewrap.............. Have you ever wrapped your own bars? If it's not done correctly, the tape is going to come loose, it won't look good, and they'll need to be wrapped all over again. It isn't that difficult, but it takes some time. Shops don't generally give away their time. In the shop I worked in (not there anymore) the owner was the only one who wrapped the bars. He wouldn't allow anyone else to do it because he wasn't happy with the results. The tape can't be too stretched or too loose. There's a certain way to wrap it around the brake hoods. Actually, I enjoy doing mine, getting it just right. I usually have to start over 3 or 4 times, tho', before I am satisfied. There- now I've rambled on long enough about a pretty mundane subject.

Enjoy the Puegeot!!!

annie