Kona Honky Inc Bike. You Have One?

[RidingBuddy]

Right, i just had my regular double switched for a compact. But I already had the compact and sweet talked my favorite mechanic into switching it out for me. So I don't know the cost.

I've never ridden a kona but I've always liked them. And I live the ride of steel.

[bluebug32]

I don't know anything about this model, but I love Kona and have owned three of their bikes. They're really solid and a great company to deal with if anything goes wrong or even if you just need info. about their products.

[pll]

If you are buying the bike new, it should not be a problem for them to replace the double with the compact double. Perhaps a minor additional charge (they keep a new double, which becomes part of their stock).

[Velocivixen]

Thanks everyone for the info. I don't think I used my gear chart correctly. My DH is more versed in this sort of thing, so I'm going to review my findings with him. This will be very important. I wondered how I'll ride hills on my test ride next week, but there are no hills in the area. There is, however, a four story parking garage a couple of blocks away. I will ride my current bike up the parking garage to gauge what gears I will use, then when I test ride I can try to ride up the parking garage. My [I]only concern[U] is that, since I haven't ridden a drop bar bike in 27 years or even know how to shift the gears, going up a parking garage may not be the best idea. (it is a very quiet, calm parking garage).

[RidingBuddy]

You could ask the bike shop to put the bike in a trainer in the shop and talk you through using the gear shifters. Then give yourself a little practice time on the drop bars to get a feel for them.

[Velocivixen]

UPDATE: I spent 2 hours at the LBS that sells this bike and test rode it! The salesperson was amazing, measured my shoulders and had me try two different width handlebars, changed out 3 different stem lengths, rotated the handles from the "regular" position up a little. Shifting these 105's with the Ultegra rear derailleur was like a hot knife through butter. I got the shifting down within a minute and loved the integrated brakes/shifters!
I could buy the 49 cm frame and the stem & handlebar width would be perfect and the seat post would be up higher. OR I could get the 53 cm frame and put the shorter stem & handle bars from the smaller bike on it. The seat post wouldn't be sticking out so high. There is, of course, a length difference in the top tube length between the two sizes of bike, but not so much that I noticed much.

I went to another LBS and rode the Salsa Casseroll and the Surly Cross Check (both have Tiagra components), and the guys there wouldn't change the stems out for a test ride! They said they'd consider it if I was "seriously considering" one of the bikes. The two I test rode there required shorter stems and narrower handlebars. Despite that the Surly hand bar end shifters which I hated, and the Salsa felt like driving a station wagon.

[radacrider]

Nice, Velocivixen, sounds like you are narrowing down your search and getting a good idea of what bike and setup works for you. I am all about service as part of what I choose to buy. Sounds like you found 1 great LBS.