TEST RIDES ~ thoughts, meanderings and musings

[sandra]

I am TOTALLY in love with this bike, however it is probably overkill for me.

The Giant OCR A1W. It is a beauty.

[KatyLady]

Overkill? What's that? As DH always tells me, "If you want it go for it."

[sandra]

They both have a carbon fork and seatpost. The only real difference in this one and the OCR 1 is that this one has an aluminum and carbon frame. I just think this bike is beautiful, but for the riding I do which is mainly for fun and pleasure, I don't need this.

I was commenting on it after I got home and dear hubby said "call them and get them to order it!"

[VeloVT]

it's beautiful!

[ehirsch83]

The OCR is a great bike! It is a comfort bike, so it is actually what you want for what you do!
The mixture of carbon and aluminum also gives you a great ride, the carbon fork will dampen vibration, while the aluminum frame will give a great ride with a very responsive frame.

I say go for it if you are going to ride it! You want to be comfortable.
Also, Giant gives you a great great great product for the money, the frames come with a lifetime warranty and most shops should give you at least a year warranty on the components. The sloping top tube on it is going to put you in a comfort position, more upright then a race geometry(say the tcr), you can raise the stem up and be in a pretty vertical position, so you should not have the issues you were having on the Trek.

I say listen to the hubby and go for the OCR A1W!!!!

[sandra]

I say listen to the hubby and go for the OCR A1W!!!!

I just read this post to hubby and he said "that's exactly what I say, go for it!

But, I struggle for these reasons:
First ~ I'm frugal
Second ~ Paying that much I'd have to be 100% positive that it was THE perfect bike and THE perfect fit. I don't know if I'll ever be 100% positive on either of those.
Third ~ I wouldn't want to put it on a bike rack or use it because I wouldn't want to scratch it.
Finally ~ I'm old. I don't know if I have enough riding years left in me to get my $$$ worth! LOL, but it's true.

[sandra]

Oh, and one more reason. I haven't ridden any more bikes yet.... but when I compare the geometry of the Aurora or the Cross Check, I can't imagine how they would work.

This WS stuff is confusing!!!

[divingbiker]

Finally ~ I'm old. I don't know if I have enough riding years left in me to get my $$$ worth! LOL, but it's true.

Well, I'm about the same age as you, I think (I'm 51), and I'm planning to buy a bike that costs four times that much. It's the quality of the years left, not the quantity!

[Beane]

I'm going to tell you what I told my mom when she was debating getting her new bike: If you LOVE your bike, you will want to be out riding constantly. (so that deals with your point #1 about being frugal (and also point 4 a little))

#2: Test ride lots of bikes, have fun with it, and then make a decision. You may have second thoughts or subsequent bike envy, but everyone does at some point (I think.).. that's what accessorizing is for! With some minor tweaks you will make whatever bike you get "your own" and will love it (n.b.:this process may not be cheap but it will be fun).

#3: Bikes are meant to be ridden. And as I've been telling myself lately since my bike's sandpaper incident, you can always repaint.

#4: I don't think you're old, but seriously, you can't take it with you... so have fun and enjoy life!

[divingbiker]

I am TOTALLY in love with this bike, however it is probably overkill for me.[/IMG]

Why in the world would you say such a thing, Sandra? You know you love to ride, and you know you want a road bike that fits. It's not like you're taking a risk here...you know you'll use it.

Who's to say that if you have this bike you won't decide to do a Womantours tour, or some other road ride?

Go for it!