Am I ready for a road bike?

[jyyanks]

Muirenn - Thanks for the suggestion - I actually have a Surly dealer near me so I will go check it out

azfiddle- good to know. I'm going to try a bunch of different bikes and if I go the Ruby route, I'll have to PM you with questions. Either way,now that I'm interested in a road, I have to save a little more. I do get a bonus in Feb which is probably when I can make my big purchase

Goldfinch - I thought it was odd that he put me on a 48 though he did make a bunch of adjustments. If I go down this route, I will insist on trying out a 44 as well. I have to check my measurements - I have no idea what my inseam is but I should have them on hand. Going to see the Jamis dealer tomorrow. There is another Felt dealer nearby.

Crankin - Your post really cleared things up. I never thought I would buy a road bike because I'm not the best rider. Furthermore, I always "cheap out" and regret it later. What you said about your friend hit home, I'm not fast and I don't ride as much as others but I am committed and see myself riding for a long time.

[azfiddle]

I purchased my Ruby in March. The shop was willing to order one in my size to try and knew I might choose not to buy it, but said they would be able to sell it because it was early in the season. If you can't try the right size now, see if you can get your LBS to do this.

The other bike shops did not offer to do this, and I road-tested a 48 cm Cannondale Super Six, knowing it was too much of a stretch, but did not even try a Cannondale Synapse. I also tested a Trek 47 cm and it was also too big for me. The one shop really won me over by ordering the bike w/ no commitment to buy.

[Owlie]

Jyyanks, I have the same tendency to take the cheaper option. It makes sense in the short term, but I end up regretting it long-term. This is how I ended up with my bike. (She's a bit like AZfiddle's Fuji. Aluminum, slightly too long, low-end components...but don't tell her I said that. ) I did the "I don't need/deserve a nice bike, because I suck at this" thing...and now I want something lighter, faster, smoother...that fits better.

Specialized is expensive, but for those of us in the torso-challenged category, they're nice. I've never ridden a Ruby (shop doesn't have a floor model in my size), but I rode a Dolce and it fit like a glove.

[jusdooit]

When I got ready to make my big purchase a couple of years ago, I had no clue what I wanted. I ended up with a full carbon Fuji. While I got a great dealon the bike it was still a big investment. However, as long as the frame doesn't crack I see myself on this bike for a long time. I may have to upgrade the components, but not the frame........well worth the money in my opinion.

[Koronin]

My first road bike I bought used at a local beach bike store. They had a used Trek 2000 47cm bike. I test road it, and they fit to me the best they could. Ended up buying it for $400. I'm 5'0" so you have an idea of sizing. I just bought a Felt F5 48cm bike which I love, love, love. Like one of the others mentioned having the Trek has made me appreciate the F5 that much more. I'm actually making the Trek into more a commuter/errand type bike. The Specialized 44cm bikes also fit me. Before I choose the Felt F5 I was also looking at the Specialized Ameria (44cm) and the Trek Madone (47cm). Felt also has the ZW line if you are interested in looking at that brand.

[jyyanks]

Azfiddle - I'm going to ask the shop if they are willing to do that. They are a large local dealer with several stores in the area so I'm sure they won't have a problem moving it.

Owlie - I totally know what you mean. I always settle instead of going for what I really want and end up regretting it, or even worse, spending even more money to make whatever I bought feel like what I should have bought. Case in point is when I bought my first folding bike, it was a single speed with poor components. Within a month I was regretting my purchase. Anyway, my dear sweet DH bought me a new folder for my bday I ended up giving my new "old" one to my daughter (who loves it). That's when my bike obsession really began

Justdoit - thanks for the encouragement. Makes me even more excited to get a road bike instead of the hybrid I was considering.

Koronin - the Felt is on my list! Is the 48 considered a "small (700)" or "petite (650)". My local place has their inventory online but they don't list the sizes in cm, only by petite, small,medium or large.

[Owlie]

Owlie - I totally know what you mean. I always settle instead of going for what I really want and end up regretting it, or even worse, spending even more money to make whatever I bought feel like what I should have bought.

That's what is pretty much happening with my bike. I've done the math to upgrade to 105 + nicer wheels, and that plus the cost of the bike is...more than the cost of either of two of the bikes on my list, and probably more than half the cost of the Ruby I was looking at. Plus it still won't fit. DBF and I have been discussing whether it makes more sense to upgrade parts piecemeal or to just bite the bullet and buy another bike.

I'm learning. I managed to not do that with my computer before I went to grad school.

There's never "too much bike" (until you get to the pro-quality stuff--then it gets ridiculous), just bike that you don't know you need. If it hasn't been suggested already, take a look at Jamis. I don't know how small the bikes go (since I'm at the opposite end of the size spectrum), but they make nice bikes for the money.

[Koronin]

jyyanks. In the F5 the 48 is the smallest frame. I'm thinking you're looking at the ZW series since that one is done in petite, small, medium and tall. The 48cm F5 would be similar to the petite in the ZW although the geometry is different. For the F series the 48cm is 700 wheels. Looking on Felt's site they only list 700 wheels in the spec section of the ZW series. It looks like Felt lists the women's bikes at petite, small, ect and the men's bikes in cm.
Here's a link to Felt's website:
http://www.feltbicycles.com/USA.aspx
Hope that helps a bit.

[BC2COCyclist]

I did not know how to shift on a road bike before I got one (today.)

Also, my DH, who has been riding a road bike for years, didn't know how to shift at first, either. He rolls with a Specialized Tarmac and today, I acquired a Trek WSD Madone 3.1.