First trip to the LBS--advice?

[redrhodie]

I'm not ready to buy yet--this is kind of a fact-finding mission.

From the mouths of babes! Enjoy your new bike. Tell us all about it later

[Blueberry]

Which shop are you headed to?

There are so many different bikes and different styles of bikes - my advice would be start riding and see what works - what you like - what you don't like.

CA

[AmbitiousGirl]

Which shop are you headed to?

CA

I was planning on starting with the Bicycle Chain on Broad St. Where do you usually go?

[Blueberry]

There, actually. Talk to Chris - he knows quite a bit about bike fit and should be able to help you.

Caveat is - I haven't bought most of by bikes there. Not because I don't like them - just because I ride weird bikes (a Surly, a Bike Friday, my rd bike was used) - my Trek 520 did come from them. They've done all of the work on my bikes for quite a while. They have an awesome mechanic - Linus.

CA

[Fujichants]

Ask as many questions as you want - if they seem unwilling to give you an answer, or kind of laugh in your face, I suggest moving on. Try to test ride a couple of different bikes to see what is right for you.

I was completely clueless when I got my first bike. I just knew that I had to have one. I took it out for a 10 second test ride (I was really wobbly on the bike as well). Luckily for me, it turned out the bike was a good fit, and I had BF with me, he's been cycling for years, so that was helpful. If you know somebody who rides, I suggest you take that person along.

Good luck!

[aicabsolut]

I was planning on starting with the Bicycle Chain on Broad St. Where do you usually go?

I like that shop. Friendly staff. (I'm a former Dukie). Out towards Sanford, there are a couple good shops with other brands (Cannondale, Cervelo, etc.) that seem pretty decent. I'm blanking on the names now, but I could try to look them up...

[gingerale]

Yeah....I went on one of those "fact finding" missions last month. Came home 6 hours later with my new bike!

I took my dad with me who has become obsessed with biking the past 4 years. He was very helpful with what I needed and wanted. The LBS I ended up buying at had a machine that could measure my arm length, leg length, etc., and fitted me with the right size bike. (The first few stores just eyed me and guessed which wasn't that helpful.) The LBS where I purchased my bike were very involved in helping me find the right bike for me as well as treating me equal to all the other customers in there. I'm not your typical fit bike chick and I really felt the first 3 stores didn't take me too seriously. It all came together, though, and I bought at the final store and have been very happy with my new ride and all of their help. Good luck and can't wait to hear what you decide on.

[malkin]

It could just be a simple quest.

Ride some bikes!
Have some fun!
Learn something new!

[Running Mommy]

Sounds like you have some good shops out there.
Key things to remember...
They should be asking YOU questions, your goals, riding style, experience, etc. * If all they do is talk about themselves go elsewhere- they don't have your interest in mind.

they should always measure you to insure proper fit. If they just have you "straddle the top tube" go elsewhere.
There are many variables that go into bike fit and they really need to measure you.

Take a good long test ride. You really need to take some time to make sure the bike feels right. And try a couple so that you can feel the difference.

have fun!!

[Blueberry]

I like that shop. Friendly staff. (I'm a former Dukie). Out towards Sanford, there are a couple good shops with other brands (Cannondale, Cervelo, etc.) that seem pretty decent. I'm blanking on the names now, but I could try to look them up...

Hrm...Bicycle Chain has Cannondale and Trek. Some of their other stores have affiliated brands. Cycling Spoken Here and the Spin Cycle in Cary have lots of other road stuff - Klein, Seven, Serotta, etc, etc. Not sure about towards Sanford....

When were you at Duke?

CA

[aicabsolut]

I thought the BC had specialized and trek.... eh, it's been several months since I was last down there (late April).

I graduated in 2003.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

1) Leave your wallet in the car. That way you won't be pulling out a credit card for something you don't absolutely love!

2) Do some homework before going in. What exactly you want/don't want. Especially color. Do you want to commute with it? Make sure it's compatible with what you want to do, that is one of my downfalls.

3) IF you don't want clipless pedals, why get them now. No one should force them on you. I get tired of people pushing them on me. I have combo pedals on my commuter. If I want to use them, I do (can't right now bc of foot issues). If I don't, I don't. If you don't want to learn them right now, don't. I don't like when I go to a bike shop and they start on me about the pedals. For me, that is a big red flag if they don't like my answer-everyone is entitled to their own setup. Just my 2 cents...

And most of all...remember, you are the queen of your domain...