first road bike

[dex]

If you're thinking about looking at bikes from REI, I'd suggest coming into the city and checking out the flagship store downtown. You'll probably have better luck there (with regards to knowledgeable staff) than at some of the other smaller stores in the area. I've never shopped for a bike there, but I have spent a good bit of time browsing around their bike department. (It's a great place to see a lot of different gear when you're doing comparison shopping...especially clothes.)

Besides, if you haven't been to that store yet, it's kind of worth it just to witness the sheer size of the place. A lot of my friends who come to Seattle just for a visit request a trip there as a tourist stop, which works for me since it's pretty close to my place. (I pass it every morning on my commute to work.)

Also, there's a Play It Again Sports right around the corner from it on Stewart. They usually have a good number of bikes (new and used) hanging around as well--lots of Marin bikes, if their window displays of late are any indication.

[Torrilin]

I got my bike at REI. It's a K2, not a Novara. Several friends have Novara bikes and seem pretty pleased. I didn't like how heavy the commuter, hybrid and mountain style Novaras were. In my price range, the road bikes weren't much better.

The Madison REI has one saleswoman who is quite good, but most of the rest just don't know about bikes. She wanted me to have my seat up higher (she was right, but my balance wasn't ready for it), and helped us get decent add-ons for commuting and utility use. She didn't try to convince us to do things like buy bike racks, panniers or other add-ons that we weren't sure we needed. And when REI was out of helmets in colors that suited me, and didn't have helmets big enough for my partner, she didn't try to shoehorn us into a helmet add on either.

So, REI can be a good place to buy, but walk away if the salesperson isn't concerned about bike fit.

[piaadoll]

Hi!! I feel you on the new bike shopping. I have tried over a dozen bike stores including REI - I tried a Carema with full 105 and being 5'0 -5'1 I couldn't even fit the 41cm. It was too big - their frames must run extra big. Nice components though. AARGH.

I've tried as many road bikes as I can fit on - Specialized, Trek, Bianchi, Giant, Felt, Le Mond...I still have yet to come across a small Canondale

Kind of curious what size all the shops have been fitting you to since we're about the same height. Some shop tells me i'm fine with a 47 (although there is no standover clearance) and then some shops say I have to get a 43 or 44cm bike - but most of those come with 650c wheels. Some stores are totally against a 650c wheels...Some tell me I'm better off. May be I'll start a seperate thread about that.

Good luck!

[emily_in_nc]

Some stores are totally against a 650c wheels...Some tell me I'm better off. May be I'll start a seperate thread about that.

Do a forum search first - this has come up many times. I have a 650c bike and love it. It's most important to ride what fits, and not what some shop says is cool or not. At your height (I'm 5'2.5") I think 650s are going to be a must for you. Even with them, you may have a little toe overlap as I do, but likely less than with 700s, and depending on your torso and arm length, you might not have any toe overlap of the front tire.

There is nothing wrong with 650c wheels except for the fact that you can't buy them in tons of pretty colors like 700c, and carrying your own tube is a MUST as very few folks on a group ride will have that size, if you get a flat. They are fast to accelerate and lighter in weight than 700c's as well. I don't want to start a big debate here, but do a forum search -- you'll see that there are a lot of us here that love our 650c bikes!

And welcome to TE!

Emily

[piaadoll]

Do a forum search first - this has come up many times. I have a 650c bike and love it. It's most important to ride what fits, and not what some shop says is cool or not. At your height (I'm 5'2.5") I think 650s are going to be a must for you. Even with them, you may have a little toe overlap as I do, but likely less than with 700s, and depending on your torso and arm length, you might not have any toe overlap of the front tire.

There is nothing wrong with 650c wheels except for the fact that you can't buy them in tons of pretty colors like 700c, and carrying your own tube is a MUST as very few folks on a group ride will have that size, if you get a flat. They are fast to accelerate and lighter in weight than 700c's as well. I don't want to start a big debate here, but do a forum search -- you'll see that there are a lot of us here that love our 650c bikes!

And welcome to TE!

Emily

Thanks! I did do a search before i posted..but nothing came up when I put 650c wheels in the search. I must be doing something wrong. Even tried 650 by itself. Anyways, Thanks for the input! I foresee myself riding a bike with 650c wheels in the future. Thanks for the warm welcome!


Ok, sorry to thread jack, carry on ladies...

[rapid cycler]

Wow, I'm surprised some of you have had such negative experiences with REI. I don't consider them a big chain store in the pejorative sense at all, given that they're a co-op, and they're super community-minded, always arranging clean-up expeditions in our area canyons and beaches and offering free beginners' classes for various outdoor sporting skills.

I agree that you should track down a salesperson who's interested in fit and seems engaged with your needs as a customer, and I can't imagine that they would forbid you from taking a test ride beyond the parking lot.

Novaras, btw, are made in the same factory that makes Giants, so no worries about them being shoddy bikes.

The thing I love most about REI is that you can take back anything anytime for any reason and get a replacement or refund. You don't even need a receipt if you're a member, because they keep computer records of your purchases. When my Minoura trainer bonked earlier this year—after a year and a half of use—I brought it in to see if it could be fixed. Instead they issued its full $200 purchase price toward a spanky new CycleOps trainer. I've patronized three different REI stores in my area, and each one has stood firmly behind their satisfaction guarantees when I've needed to exchange or return something. So if you buy a bike and decide it's not right, even 6 months later, you're not stranded with it.

I'm not a stockholder in REI, just a satisfied member.

[sundial]

I don't live near a REI store, so I've had to research bikes online.

My first bike was a Terry Symmetry and although the stand-over heighth was right, the top tube was a little short for my long torso. Although I would raise the seat and try other adjustments, I never could get it to fit right.

My second bike is a Specialized Sequoia. What helped me was talking with the guys at the bike shop to really work with me on fine tuning the saddle heighth, stem, and pedals. It really does make a difference to work with someone who is knowledgeable about bike fit and who can communicate with you what your needs are. If you can find a bike outfitter that you feel comfortable with, that should help you in your bike search. There are many good bikes out there that won't cost you $$$$. And by working with a reputable dealer they should stand behind their product should anything need repair or adjustment.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I second everything Emily said about 650 tires. Especially for a 5'2" women- it might make a better fitting bike for you and it won't be any slower than 700 tires. Be sure to look at Terry bikes for women.

[abvnx]

wow, thanks everyone for all your help. i have had the overlap issues with some of the bikes(trek 1000 and some others). i havnt really had it with the dolce. i found the c'dale synapse in a 47cm at REI and it fit me perfectly. the dolce fit me well and i can actually afford that one. also alot of the REI staff seem hell bent on selling novara. no matter what you ask novara is the best, even if it didnt feel quite right for me.

at the LBS that carried trek, the guy said that the wsd trek 1000 that came in my size would only have the 650's. he said i wouldnt get as much speed.