Three questions about bike shopping

[ny biker]

I chose a shop first, and went from there.

I went into a few shops and told them what I wanted -- a road bike for doing long rides, so it had to fit me well, with a specific budget in mind. I chose the shop that gave the answer I liked best, which was that they would first measure me using their fit kit, then would recommend a couple of bikes in my budget range. At the time, that shop sold Treks and Giants, and I wound up with a Trek. We've made many adjustments in the fit since then (this was in 2002) but overall I've been happy with the bike. Most important, I'm very happy with their service.

[Grog]

What kind of bike are you shopping for? A fast road bike? A hybrid commuter? A mountain bike to go downhilling?

[PamNY]

What kind of bike are you shopping for? A fast road bike? A hybrid commuter? A mountain bike to go downhilling?

I'm not sure. Figuring that out will be part of the shopping process, I guess. I've had a hybrid (a heavy one) for two years and ride a good bit. I should know by now exactly what bike I need, but I don't. I thought reading this forum would help me clarify, but it's had the opposite effect. I'm just more confused.

I'm trying to focus on what I want to do with the bike and go from there. Mostly I ride in the city, but I want to do some suburban/country trips of 30-40 miles. I don't have a car so that means train travel and stairs, which is why I'm focusing on weight right now.

[Grog]

I'm trying to focus on what I want to do with the bike and go from there. Mostly I ride in the city, but I want to do some suburban/country trips of 30-40 miles. I don't have a car so that means train travel and stairs, which is why I'm focusing on weight right now.

You are right, that's the most important question: what do you want to do with it. And, importantly: do you want to carry stuff on your bike? How much?

I assume from what you say that you will ride mostly roads and perhaps dirt/gravel trails, but nothing too exotic.

And then there is the budget thing...

If it was me, the answers to these questions would narrow down the bikes I would potentially be interested in quite a bit. Then it's a matter of choosing a shop to deal with. In my experience, which is limited as far as buying bikes goes (alas!), you don't get fitted into thin air. You need to actually sit on potential bikes and try them outside, just roughly adjusting things (saddle height mainly, trying one size and then a size up or down). Once you find one or two or three that feel about right, then you explore in greater depth with (hopefully) qualified staff if the fit can be dialed in for you. So, answering the question from your initial post, I don't think it really makes sense to go to a fitter first (unless you're about to drop $5K on a custom bike).

As for bike choice, here's my two cents: my guess based on what you've said so far is that you'll either want a sportsy hybrid (like the Trek fx series, available in a broad range of price and components) or a light-touring bike (drop bars). That's assuming you want to carry things (and also add fenders). If you don't want to carry anything on your bike aside from whatever goes in your saddle bag, then you're in the realm of total road bikes. The touring or road bikes are likely to be quite a bit lighter than the hybrid bikes, but they ride quite differently. You need to try both.

I hope these thoughts, however disorganized, help a little bit.

[PamNY]

I hope these thoughts, however disorganized, help a little bit.

Yes, it helps a lot. I was just about to delve into the difference in road and touring bikes, but I carry quite a bit on the bike for my birdwatching trips, and I might do credit card touring -- so researching touring bikes is on my agenda now. Thanks very much for your reply.

[Grog]

Yes, it helps a lot. I was just about to delve into the difference in road and touring bikes, but I carry quite a bit on the bike for my birdwatching trips, and I might do credit card touring -- so researching touring bikes is on my agenda now. Thanks very much for your reply.

Some further notes:

Hybrid bikes
Loosely refers to bikes with flat bars, although there are subtleties regarding frame geometry that are beyond me. 700c wheels is typical. Can be more upright ("comfort") or more sporty riding position.
Usually running bigger tires for easier handling on gravel trails.
Usually easy to fit a rear rack on. I never saw one with a front rack but I guess it can be done.
Some models have disk brakes.
Some models can be very heavy due to added suspension at the fork and seat, which I personally see as useless and cumbersome, but to each their own. Others are quite lean with carbon fork and lighter tubing.
You can sort of tell what kind of buyer the manufacturer had in mind when you look at the saddle...
Typically aluminum but there are other options.
Typically in the $300 to $1200 range.

Road bikes
This could be hotly debated I'm sure, but commonly refers to bikes with drop bars, a somewhat lighter frame, 700 or 650 wheels. Tire size varies depending on the bike's purpose: generally speaking, racing bikes will take very small tires (700X23) while touring bikes will accommodate 700X35 (for all-terrain riding and comfort) with fenders, rack, etc.
Can be of many varieties, the vocabulary of which is not agreed on: racing (focused on speed, handling, and efficiency), club (similar to racing but more relaxed and comfortable), touring (longer wheel base to accommodate the cargo), (cyclo)cross (higher bottom bracker to go over obstacles more easily), etc.
Made of steel, aluminum, carbon, titanium, bamboo (not kidding!)... sky's the limit, depending on your budget.

This being said...
I do my credit-card, not-too-long-distance touring on my hybrid bike (Trek 7.2fx) because it's my only bike with a rack, and it's comfortable enough for up to 2-hour rides, as long as I don't do that every day. It's probably about 10 pounds heavier than my road bike, but once I'm loaded with full panniers who cares? It's reasonably good quality, so when I pedal it actually transfers my energy to the wheels and I go forward. I am currently working on getting a steel bike for light touring, but it's really a luxury more than a necessity considering what's in my stable... although it will be very nice to have the drop bars for long-distance riding.

Some members of my club go touring on heavy mountain bikes. They don't seem to be phased by it. (However, they probably don't go up and down stairs as often as you do.)

Folding bikes - which also come in many varieties - are also an option and some can be light weight.

Be aware that weight is very relative. My husband's racing Cervélo bike is about 15 pounds, but also more expensive than all of our other bikes together (and we have quite a few). Some people pay big $$$ to shave just grams off their bike. At 25-30 lbs, including accessories but not panniers, you have a very reasonable hybrid. For reference, a typical Walmart bike would be over 40 lbs. Weight matters a lot on hills, but I think the big difference from one bike to another is efficiency of energy transmission. I have a cheap aluminum hybrid that just eats up all of the power I put through the pedals. It's maddening! On my road bike with high-grade components and wheels, I just think about going forward and it's already gone!

Just go out there and try some bikes, both hybrid and road, both within your budget and beyond. See what happens!

Have fun! Bike shopping can be fun.

[PamNY]

Very helpful! Thank you, Grog.

[Catrin]

Yes, it helps a lot. I was just about to delve into the difference in road and touring bikes, but I carry quite a bit on the bike for my birdwatching trips, and I might do credit card touring -- so researching touring bikes is on my agenda now. Thanks very much for your reply.

Also not that touring bikes do not have to have road bars. I switched out the road bars on my Surly Long Haul Trucker for riser mountain bars and am very happy with it. We will see how my hands feel after a long day's riding - but so far so good - though I've yet to exceed 3.5 hours on the bike.

A lot of us love the Surly LHT, the Jamis Aurora and the Trek 420(?). The smaller sizes aren't that heavy, they are steel and ride beautifully. I think Cannondale makes an aluminum touring bike? It might be lighter in weight over the steel.

For light/credit-card touring you might want to consider a cross-bike. I considered this when I started looking for a touring bike as they will take rear racks.