Shopping for commuter...(A little bit long)

[Red Rock]

Well, I'm back looking at bikes again. It was quite the afternoon.

My DH and I went into our usual shop and had a bit of a bizarre customer experience. We have gone to the shop on a variety of occasions, find one of the owners, or a wrench to speak to them about whatever was important for that particular visit. It has always seemed to me that they are diverted to other people that have come into the shop and stop talking to me and or my husband. As a net result, why we came ends up taking longer than was planned.

This time it really bothered me. The owner was on the phone or on the phone and outside the shop. There were maybe two other people in the back working on bikes. I said to the wrench what I thought I was interested in and he let me take a bike for a spin. Of course, I asked them about a fit and no one had a response to that question I was a bit taken a back by that. Since they pride themselves on being the "high end shop" in town. I just remember when I purchased my Look how much out of the way the owner and the wrench made sure everything was correct. It was not happening here. (I do not know if it was because I knew my sizes on my different bikes?) The way they treated it was take the bike for a spin and tell me how you feel situation. There was no measuring of knee angles or anything else. We did end up taking to one of the other owners and he actually helped us out with full attention to my needs. I took another bike for a spin too.

I rode in the parking lot a GIANT Seek 3 and GIANT FCX. I liked the Seek because it was the mountain geometry and had heavier looking tubes.

Tomarrow, DH and I are going to the local TREK dealer to look at the Valencias if they have any. It will be intresting to see how they approach a customer. I have been in there looking at and making tire and pump purchases. They are really the "commuter" store out of those that are in town.

Does anyone else have ideas, comments on these bikes as commuters? Other recommendations? (I would love a Surly LHT but I do not think it is in the cards.)

Thank you for all of your help.
Red Rock

[Reesha]

I highly recommend Kona's Dew series! I almost bought one on the spot but decided to continue to commute on my road bike. The Dew Deluxe was a great ride-- fast, nimble, but felt really sturdy and safe the way a mountain bike would. Also most of them have disc brakes!

I also recently went with a friend where she test road Giant hybrids. She ended up with a $950 Giant FCR that she simply loves. I rode it too and it was pretty sweet!

[Ana]

Geez, you might want to take a quick look at craigslist. It might be less expensive and it sounds like you would get about the same level of customer service

Are there any other shops in the area that you like? Perhaps you could go at a time when the owner/shop manager is there. Perhaps the employees are enjoying their unsupervised time...

[tulip]

I used Jamis would be great. They are steel, which is so much more comfy than aluminum in my book.

Go to a different shop if this one doesn't treat you right.

[Red Rock]

Sorry for the late response here. Just got back from the Trek dealer and road their hybrids and FX series. I liked the FX series. I spoke to them about the Valencia also. They were much more helpful. I was even helped by a female!! I asked her if they do fits and she said yes. The whole experience was like night and day. It was nice to have a good experience. It actually does happen.

This is a case of DH wanting to get me another bike ??!! I bought my hartail, that I really like, off of Craigslist. I told him it was not a big deal, but to him it is.

I guess I have ridden my carbon frame so much that I am used to feeling everything. Has anyone used these "lower" components? I'm used to the Ultegras that have a snap to their shifting. Are they really bad? How long do they last?I just have no experience with them. Can you all help me out on the component department, please.

I like the look of the Valencia because it has the mountain geometry. It also can have racks, plus the disk brakes. I would feel the road on it also. I was looking at the Specialized site at the San Francisco 1 under the Globe heading. I think it and the Valencia are comparable rides.

I will be back with more info after visiting the Specialized shop.

Red Rock

[Red Rock]

Well, I found and bought the bike that will do the job for me. I went to the Specialized dealer in town and told them I was looking for a commuter. He showed me the Crosstrail bikes and was explaining them to me. Then I took it for a spin. Wow! Basically it is a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike together. Aluminum frame, semi road/mountain tires and totally awsome.

I had them put on clips and a rear rack. I also picked up some casual riding shoes that will work too. I was just so happy. I am glad that I had gone to all of the shops in town. (By coinsidence, I worked with the owners wife a while ago. She knows how much of a bike nut I am.) This shop had more equipment, things (Like spoklights) that I thought I would never find in this town. It was everything I can find here on TE and other places. I was stoked.

Then I came home changed clothes and went for a two hour ride around town. I needed it anyway because of all of the adrenaline going through my system. I was so happy plugging along and enjoying life.

Here is a picture. No name yet.

[shootingstar]

Your tires look like my tires but maybe not same brand. I have Marathon tires.

Hope you love your commutes even more now!

[Biciclista]

congrats on the new bike! it's so great when you finally get THAT BIKE

[Red Rock]

Sorry on the late reply all...We thought our internet was down over the weekend but it really was not, oh well. I think I need to get longer seatstay extensions for the rack because right now it sits almost directly under the seat. I will have to go back to them and have them fix that problem.

I really have not been out that much on the bike yet. The temps are around 100 degrees and hostile to bike riding except only in the mornings-but I am working then. What to do?

Also, members of my family do not understand why someone would WANT more than one bike (I think have 4 now). At least my brother who rides understands. It is amazing how similar in intrests he and I are. Right now he is breaking in his GF to the outdoors and cycling. She just picked up a Specialized Roubaix. So far she likes it. He has to send me a picutre.

Anyway, that is it for now.

Red Rock