afraid to pull trigger :(

[7rider]

Where would you be riding?
Would you be riding alone, or do you have a group of friends with whom you'd be riding? Do you have a group who's already committed to riding, and you'd be joining them?
Are you thinking speed? Any aspirations to race or ride distances, or would you just be noodling along a bike/multi-use path? Do you want to ride for fitness or errands?
Do you have any physical ailments or assorted aches and pains which might make the position of a road bike painful or uncomfortable?
Do you have a bike shop nearby with a few bikes in stock that you can take and try out (for more than a ride around the parking lot)?
Lastly, do you have the means (space and financial) to change your mind in several months and get a second bike, if the first one doesn't suit your style? (You'll note that many of us here have more than one bike, as sometimes, one just doesn't meet all of our cycling habits).

These are some things that you may want to consider in your search.....

[Roadtrip]

I started out on a Cruiser style (Trek Pure Sport 21sp) bike and now I am a happy owner of a FX 7.3 that I bought only a few months after outgrowing my first bike.

I do have back issues, so for me a road bike is likely out, but I'd test ride both and see what you like better if you don't have any limitations. I actually bought the FX used and saved about 50% on new bike prices and yea, it had a few scratches, but I am likely to have scratched it at some point and I placed a few stickers where the scratches were. I'd likely do it the same way again as for me (learned to ride @ 35 y/o and the Trek Pure was my first EVER bike) I needed that starter (slow/forgiving) bike to gain confidence on before stepping up to the FX.

I'm happy and surprised myself how quickly I've come to enjoy riding the FX... who KNOWS if I'll someday find myself oggling the roadies at the LBS... but for now I'm happy!!

Shannon

[Cataboo]

Try getting a used one - you can prob sell it for about what you paid if you end up outgrowing it.

[flgirl107]

used probably is the way to go but doesn't everyone say you should be fitted. Right now, the only thing I do know is that when I test rode the Trek 7.2fx that the 17 was a much more comfortable ride for me than the 15. I felt jammed...

I've looked on Craig's List...but you really need to know what you're looking for and what size...(I would say)

Can anyone offer advice on what size roadie to look for? I'm 5'3...

I will say that it seems like the Northeast has more of a used community selling bikes than in the South? Got to be population...and the bigger push to get people out of cars and on bikes...

Thanks for all the responses...I will have to take a roadie out too before I commit.

Warneral: good advice
Indysteel: not sure yet...don't have a bike yet to know. But from what I hear the 7.3fx cannot do trails where I'm located...too sandy. so sounds like road only.
7rider: pretty much road
not sure of group but sounds fun
speed is always good. I do have a competitive edge and may want
to try maybe a duathalon or try distance.
no injury to speak of, except when I run too much
I do see myself with more than one bike in my future but I would like to be satisfied for at least a yr or two before getting my second...
Roadtrip:my lbs said he thought I would be happy for what I want to do...with the 7.3fx

typical Libra...weigh things out forever...(instead of make a darn decision and sticking with it)...lol

[Cataboo]

I think fitting is slightly less of an issue with a trek fx than a road bike - just because flat bars can be a bit more forgiving with the upright position. But there's no reason you can't get a used fx and take it to your bike shop and pay for a fitting.

How thorough a fitting does the bike shop include with an fx vs. how much extra would you pay to have one done? It's possible if you had the fitting while you were paying for a new bike, they would swap on the new parts without charging you extra or much - butI guess you'd have to get the details of all of that.


If you're 5'3, you're probably looking for between a 44-49 cm road bike, but it's going to somewhat depend on whether you have long legs vs. a short torso, etc,whether or not you'll need a WSD or not.

Test ride a lot of bikes at the bike shop initially.

[Owlie]

Flgirl, I weighed the "fitness road" against an entry-level road bike for a while. I ended up going with the road bike. Part of what tipped the balance was the thought that I'd be riding with DBF and another of our friends, both of whom have road bikes, and I didn't want to be left behind. The added bonus is that the drop bars spare my wrists--useful, because both of my other hobbies are a little hard on my hands.

If you want to ride distances, the road bike may be a better choice. I say "may" because I'm sure there are people who do long distances on flat bar road bikes. My wrists would probably start hurting after about 15 miles, but YMMV.

(I will say that at first, the fitness bike felt better; the road bike felt squirrelly until I got used to it.)

[tamagojo]

When I was first considering getting a road bike I went on a day trip. I could rent a bike for the day, so I rented a road bike. It was a slow 40 k ride and it gave me a good idea how to ride a road bike without having to buy one.

I did buy a bike after that. And yes it is a road bike. Maybe there is an opportunity to do something like that?