New and Full of Questions

[sarahspins]

Wavering back and forth on women's versus men's. LBS closest to my house really pushing me to men's bike (in their case a Trek 7.5fx). Based on looking at me and my height, but no true fitting. I suspect it is more of a what we keep in stock versus what I need.

Maybe, maybe not.. I tried out both WSD models and men's models, and I ended up with a Men's 7.2fx. The geometry is really very similar in the fx line for the comparable sizes... for some bikes the only major difference between the men's and women's version is the paint.

I did change out my bars about 2 months after getting my bike (to 490mm Soma Sparrows) mainly to give me a more comfortable hand position, as well as the ability to move my hands on the bars to find a more comfortable spot/angle if I wanted to... I am really happy with the change, and it was inexpensive ($45ish, including bar tape) since I didn't need to swap out any components, just the bars.

That said, I know now that if I had just gone with a road bike when I was shopping I would have been happier - but I just wasn't sure what I wanted when I was shopping, nor was I sure about spending a lot at the time. Now I have a MUCH better idea of what I want and what I want to spend when I upgrade (will probably be a while still), and I'll definitely be keeping my 7.2fx

[kimikaw]

That said, I know now that if I had just gone with a road bike when I was shopping I would have been happier - but I just wasn't sure what I wanted when I was shopping, nor was I sure about spending a lot at the time. Now I have a MUCH better idea of what I want and what I want to spend when I upgrade (will probably be a while still), and I'll definitely be keeping my 7.2fx

I've seen similar thoughts from several people across a couple of forums. I suspect that will happen regardless of how expensive of a hybrid I buy, so seriously leaning towards Dolce as a road bike from the start.

Funny, three months ago I was thinking a $300 full upright, step through "commuter" bike. Not so much anymore. As I've ridden more and more, I've not only changed the types of bike I am considering, inched my budget up. I've learned more, have a better sense to what I need. (well, inched may be an understatement ...started at $300, went to $500 and now is in the $800-900 range). I just don't want to spend $400-500 now and by next June or July be thinking, damn, now I want a new bike.

Of course, I have hard core biker friends trying to push me even higher. I think this range should be fine for quite a while....esp. because I still will have to go down the whole gear path...shoes, tool kits, better computer, , tubes, under seat gear bag for those tubes, tools.....the list goes on and on.

[aeiea]

Funny, three months ago I was thinking a $300 full upright, step through "commuter" bike. Not so much anymore. As I've ridden more and more, I've not only changed the types of bike I am considering, inched my budget up. I've learned more, have a better sense to what I need. (well, inched may be an understatement ...started at $300, went to $500 and now is in the $800-900 range). I just don't want to spend $400-500 now and by next June or July be thinking, damn, now I want a new bike.

Of course, I have hard core biker friends trying to push me even higher. I think this range should be fine for quite a while....esp. because I still will have to go down the whole gear path...shoes, tool kits, better computer, , tubes, under seat gear bag for those tubes, tools.....the list goes on and on.

Any reason to not go road bike?

Yeah... I was thinking "Oh, I'll spend $600 on a new bike; it'll be awesome!" My intent was to get a hybrid touring bike. Did some research... talked to my friends (most of whom were Bianchi fanatics)... and $1800 later...

Whatever, I'm in love!!!!

But if I had more time (ok, patience), and if I were taller, I would have stalked craigslist for a good used road bike first.

Actually... nah...

[kimikaw]

Any reason to not go road bike?

I'm guessing that's a rhetorical question, but yeah, the reason is I'm a little afraid of them. The skinny tires are a huge change from what I have...worried they'll be squirrley and that at 49 I'm getting too old to be that hunched over. First LBS, the one close to home that was trying to get me in the men's Trek more or less told me that. Like seeing this:

you can get fit to a road bike so that you ride it in a more upright touring style - you don't have to be all leaned over.

Also a bit of am I still too big (I'm 65lbs and a bout a year into a journey to go from sedentary, obese to fit and lose 100lbs, still have 35lbs to goal. I'm currently 185 at 5'8"). Maybe a bit of still imagining myself big, big, too big for a road bike.

But having said that, I suspect just testing one will change that. A friend suggested if I'm really worried about a 23 tire, to ask the LBS if the wheel will accomodate a 32 (or 30) and have that swapped out up front.

So....first goal find a LBS I like trust, and does real fittings. Not just have me stand over, and say, yep that's the one. (at the time I had work clothes and 2 1/2- 3" heels on). Been getting lots of good hints in the fitting thread. Really glad to have found you guys. Thanks for the answers!

[Cataboo]

If you're worried about weight - maybe consider like a steel touring/road bike... A surly pacer or one of the other surlys (crosscheck?). Something that you can put fatter tires on. And when you get more comfortable you can switch it to narrow tires if you want.

jamis aurora's another.

[OakLeaf]

Shame on that first LBS.

You weigh less than most of the men they probably fit on road bikes. And a smaller frame is automatically more rigid. You're not even close to being "too big," if there even is such a thing.

And, if you're properly fit to your bike, you won't be "hunched over." In fact, it's pretty rare for a woman to be "hunched over" on a road bike, because our upper bodies tend to be so much shorter in proportion to our lower bodies than men's. It's much more common that a woman will be excessively stretched out.

If you don't have good core strength - which is the only thing that your age might possibly have to do with anything at all - you can improve that. As we get older, everyone (male or female) loses muscle mass if we don't do strength training, and the first things to go are the abdominal wall and the glutes. So if you're not doing them already, lots of planks and bird-dogs and variations of those will help your stability - not only on the bike, but in everyday life.

Other than that, being 49 has nothin' to do with nothin'. Except if you're lucky like me, you don't have to worry about bloodstains on your shorts any more.


PS - if you want wider tires than 23s, think about 25s, or possibly 28s. 30s and 32s are (1) very, very wide and heavy and (2) almost certain not to fit on a road frame. Also, if you're thinking about putting different sized tires on, the wider one should go in the back, not the front.

[Kalidurga]

kimikaw, if you would really feel more comfortable with wider tires, you could also consider a cyclocross bike. They work perfectly well on the road, often have sturdier tubing than road bikes, and can fit tires up to 32. I've got a Specialized Tri-Cross that's been adjusted to have a touring-type fit and it makes for a very comfortable, sturdy road ride.

And Oakleaf's right. Bicycling Magazine frequently runs articles about folks weighing 300+ pounds getting into cycling. You're a feather compared to that, so definitely don't worry about your weight. I would think that the two most important things to consider are the type of riding you plan to do and whether the bike's geometry can be adjusted for your comfort.

[sarahspins]

I still will have to go down the whole gear path...shoes, tool kits, better computer, , tubes, under seat gear bag for those tubes, tools.....the list goes on and on.

Yes, it is a slippery slope!

The reason I say I'll be keeping my hybrid is so that DH can ride it if he wants to (with a couple of adjustments he fits my bike - he's only a tiny bit taller than me, and I have longer legs, or we probably wouldn't be able to pull that one off), plus I'd like to have it for relaxed rides with the kids.. so I don't regret the purchase

However, for riding on my own, or with a group, I definitely want a road bike, I'm just not sure when that will happen.

Like you though, when I got the thought in my head last may "I think I want a bike" I thought I'd spend about $250 or so.. then I decided to google bike fit and opened up a can of worms! My budget immediately doubled and I had all these visions of all the other "goodies" I would need. I've probably spent just as much on gear at this point as I did on my bike... but it's been slow, I didn't do it all at once. I started with a helmet (a Giro Skyla - $40), a decent pair of shorts, and ONE jersey. Soon after I added a saddle bag (with some tools) another pair of shorts, and two more jerseys. I bought a $15 bike computer at walmart so I could see how far/fast I was going and to keep track of the time (I don't wear a watch). Then I bought a sugoi jacket because it was on sale, even though I didn't need it (still haven't used it, but I have it, so that's one less thing to worry about as the weather gets cooler) After 5 months I'm finally moving up to clipless pedals and shoes (bought the pedals, still waiting to get shoes this weekend).

Next on my list is a better computer (I really want HR and cadence), and then maybe some knickers or pants as the weather gets cooler.

[Cataboo]

Kimikaw - it does sound like you'd be happier with a road bike, but you can get fit to a road bike so that you ride it in a more upright touring style - you don't have to be all leaned over. It also does sound like your body type would benefit from a WSD...

But go out & test ride some bikes to see what you like.