Bike Buying Frustration

[kelownagirl]

You live in the middle of the Okanogan! So you're having trouble buying a bike. Once you do get it you'll be able to ride around through summer-vacation-land every day.

Can you head to Van + Seattle on the long weekend and spend a few days test riding?

I can't believe someone is complaining about living in the Okanogan.

LOL, yup you're SO right on that one.

Yes, I just may have to go to Vancouver. Maybe this weekend - it's a long weekend.

[kelownagirl]

And in response to the other posts.

Yes, I know it's very unrealistic to expect to find bikes in my size, in stock. Waah.

Custom: Every time I ask the LBS guys around here about custom bikes - they steer me off because they say they are too expensive. They tell me I'll have to pay at least $4500 for a custom bike. Whether that's true or not, it tells me they don't know enough about custom bikes to help me and I certainly don't know enough to do it myself.

Fitting: From what I can tell, there's no one who does professional fitting in Kelowna. They are claim they can fit me, but none are pros who charge for it. You buy the bike, and they tweak it until it fits.

Leap of Faith: When I bought my first road bike 2 years ago, I was lucky. I had no idea about what I wanted (or needed), knew nothing about frames or components or fitting. I rode it around the parking lot for 5 minutes and bought it. It felt weird because it was a road bike and I'd always ridden a mountain bike but it ended up fitting well and I love it. This time, I didn't want to go with a leap of faith. I wanted to be able to try out a number of bikes that are my size and compare them. I want to take them out on a 10km ride and see how they feel, see how they climb and how they feel on the flats, before I decide on a bike. This one is supposed to feel 'stiffer", that one has a smoother ride etc - I want to see how that feels. If I'm going to spend $3500, I want to make sure I buy the best bike for me and actually know what I'm getting, ya know?

Anyway, I have come to the realization that the combination of being a small female, in a small town, means that I can't do these things. So I'm going to go back to the Bike Barn and try the Orbea. And then I guess I'll choose between the Orbea and the Ruby because they are both here in town and I've been able to ride them both.

Thanks for your suggestions and responses. I'm mostly just whining, (but not about actually living in this gorgeous city kat_h. )

[Zen]

Another custom Canadian bicycle, the Mariposa

[NbyNW]

Maybe you should come to Seattle to shop, especially if you are thinking custom. Even here I've found it can be challenging to find something in stock to test-ride, if you're vertically challenged. But:

The exchange rate is in your favor, and

There are a number of excellent frame builders here. I just a had a great experience at R+E cycles (www.rodcycle.com). They're really great about having bikes for petite riders in stock. In fact, I could have ridden away with one the day I went in for my fitting, but I decided to go for custom paint.

I'm sure other Seattle-area TE'ers will have good ideas of places to shop, especially if you've narrowed down your ideas of what bikes you want to look at.

[LBTC]

Fitting: From what I can tell, there's no one who does professional fitting in Kelowna. They are claim they can fit me, but none are pros who charge for it. You buy the bike, and they tweak it until it fits.

Well, KG, if you want the ultimate in professional bike fit, fly to Boulder, CO, and get fit by Andy Pruit. There are varying degrees of professional fitters. There is someone in the Okanagan who recently visited Vernon and I think he is from Kelowna. He charges about $300 for a fit. I think Pika might have his name. Our guy Martin, would be on the lower end of professional fit, but he still charges and he'll fit any bike for you, not just ones you buy from him. His price is more like $40. He's still very knowledgeable, and I don't know what the difference between the $300 and the $40 fit would be. I just know that the fit Martin did the first time for us, increased our speeds by 10% right away, and eliminated discomfort.

I want to take them out on a 10km ride and see how they feel, see how they climb and how they feel on the flats, before I decide on a bike. This one is supposed to feel 'stiffer", that one has a smoother ride etc - I want to see how that feels. If I'm going to spend $3500, I want to make sure I buy the best bike for me and actually know what I'm getting, ya know?

I do understand what you're trying to do, but I'm not sure you'll be able to accomplish it, even if you have all of the bikes to test ride. The fact is, you'd have to have the same tires, the same tire pressure, the same saddle, the same bike fit (stem length, saddle position, bar size, bar position) etc, on each and every bike to compare the ride and know that the difference you feel is in the frame. Besides, those reviews you read describing things like bottom bracket flex, spongy in sprints, turning faster, etc, are written by professional cyclists who just know this stuff incredibly well. Would any of us really feel those kinds of differences? We're mere mortals, we're not that talented!

No matter which carbon fiber bike you choose, you will instantly find it smoother than your aluminum frame! It's just that, in a case like this, you can't go wrong! Any of the bikes you've mentioned, you are going to love.

Listen to the advice you're getting, from here and from the shops that know what they are talking about (Fresh Air, Bike Barn, Kelowna Cycle, Spoke in Motion) and choose something before you miss out for another season!!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[kelownagirl]

I do understand what you're trying to do, but I'm not sure you'll be able to accomplish it, even if you have all of the bikes to test ride. The fact is, you'd have to have the same tires, the same tire pressure, the same saddle, the same bike fit (stem length, saddle position, bar size, bar position) etc, on each and every bike to compare the ride and know that the difference you feel is in the frame. Besides, those reviews you read describing things like bottom bracket flex, spongy in sprints, turning faster, etc, are written by professional cyclists who just know this stuff incredibly well. Would any of us really feel those kinds of differences? We're mere mortals, we're not that talented!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

I guess the reason I keep thinking I need to try out a bike before I buy it is because that's the advice I've been hearing here at TE for the last 2 years. Everyone says the most important thing is the fit. If a bike fits you well and you can ride it comfortably, then that's the bike you should buy, regardless of whether it's a Trek or a Specialized or whatever. Now that I'm actually attempting to do that, I'm being stymied. But that's ok. I appreciate all the advice and suggestions. I WILL find a bike. I will just have to skip a few of the possibly good ones because I can try them out.




And wouldn't that be nice to be able to fly to Boulder and get a pro fit! but uh, no, don't gots the money for that.

[silver]

hey KG, a friend of mine is getting a Valdora bike. They are custom carbon. I was checking it out and happened to notice that they have a dealer in Vancouver.....Bad Boyz bicycles. The price is amazing.....carbon with ultegra sl for $3,000 US (I suppose) (Oops...I see this is Vancouver, WA not BC, sorry!)

Anyhow, you oughta check them out.

http://www.valdoracycles.com/valdora...components.asp

I looked at Guru and it doesn't look like you could get one for less then $4,000.

[Wahine]

I guess the reason I keep thinking I need to try out a bike before I buy it is because that's the advice I've been hearing here at TE for the last 2 years. Everyone says the most important thing is the fit. If a bike fits you well and you can ride it comfortably, then that's the bike you should buy, regardless of whether it's a Trek or a Specialized or whatever.

It is always best to ride a bike first if you can. That is what works. But what you're telling us is that it's not possible for the most part where you are. So the next best option is to get measured up, decide on your frame material and components and start searching for a frame with the best possible geometry for you - online, check out the specs on geometry. Then once you find it, read the reviews, see if you can locate one to try and if you can't... you might have to take a leap of faith.

I cheked online and I haven't found someone who does a ground up fit in Vancouver yet.

BTW - I did a bike fit this afternoon for someone, I determined that she needed less reach. Out of curiosity we put her numbers into the wrench science to see what it came up with and it predicted her reach almost exactly at what I thought it should be based on my observations of her on her bike. So I would again encourage you to put your numbers into wrench science, it will at least allow you to narrow down your search.

[spindizzy]

KG:

If you want custom, get a Guru. http://www.gurubikes.com/enCA/

Aluminum, carbon, titanium. Made in Canada.

I bought my Cannondale because it was built in North America, but I am sold on the Guru technology. I'm going to have to save a lot of pennies to get one, but it will be worth it!

[kelownagirl]

OK thanks Wahine - I'll do that.

Spindizzy - I was looking at the Guru bikes. Very nice! The ones I liked were a tad too expensive though ($4500+). I'm wondering how they do the fit if you don't live in Montreal. Do you just send in your measurements?

[dex]

BTW - I did a bike fit this afternoon for someone, I determined that she needed less reach. Out of curiosity we put her numbers into the wrench science to see what it came up with and it predicted her reach almost exactly at what I thought it should be based on my observations of her on her bike. So I would again encourage you to put your numbers into wrench science, it will at least allow you to narrow down your search.

Just out of curiosity, I went and plugged my numbers into the Wrench Science tool. It told me the two things I already suspected:

1. Wider bars wouldn't hurt--44cm vs. the 42cm I have now.
2. My saddle could stand being raised a couple of centimeters.

Otherwise, the numbers matched up with my bike almost spot on. Very cool. I've never actually had a bike fit, but then again, I've never had many complaints about the way my bike fits--other than the small hand issue that I solved by replacing the brifters--so it was neat to see that I got so close despite my ignorance when bike shopping. Heh.