Bike Fit

[DeniseGoldberg]

Patty -
There definitely should be stand-over room on the bike - having little or no space between you and the bar doesn't sound like a good idea (as your instincts already told you!).

You're in the greater Boston area - I think it would be well worth a trip to one of the larger shops in the area. That should give you a reasonable selection of bikes in your size range. Have you tried Belmont Wheelworks? Just a warning though - this weekend will probably be a zoo there since it is Super Sale weekend. Of course that also means that there could be some good prices...

Keep us posted on your progress & on your new bike!

--- Denise

[PAP103]

I've been to Landry's in Danvers, CycleLoft and Seaside Cycles in Manchester. I'm going back up to CycleLoft tonight.

Who'd have thunk that buying a bike could be as difficult and humiliating as buy new jeans!

Thanks,
Patty

[DeniseGoldberg]

Who'd have thunk that buying a bike could be as difficult and humiliating as buy new jeans!

Thanks,
Patty

It shouldn't be. In fact, buying a bike should be fun.
If you are not being treated with respect - go to a different shop!

--- Denise

[Dianyla]

I'd be immediately suspicious of any salesperson who tells me that a bike is perfect for me. I'll be the judge of that, thankyouverymuch.

The two LBSs where I went bike shopping put me on about 12 bikes total between the two stores. Worked with a really good salesguy at each store, and with every bike he did a quick basic adjustment and would ask me how it felt, have me take a loop around the block, ask me again what I thought about it. Both guys just provided information, answered my questions about the different specs, and did really good questioning to get me to think about the bikes like "how would you compare bike A to bike B, and after trying C now how do you feel about A or B" to comparatively rate each bicycle. Neither guy ever tried to impose their impressions of anything on me. In the end, I feel like I got the best bike for me. The only person to tell me it was "perfect for me" was the professional bike fitter who adjusted my ergonomics after I already bought it.

When I started bike shopping I was really overwhelmed with all of the possible bikes, sizes, frame materials, prices, etc. What really worked was to just try a lot of bikes. After about 5 hours of test riding, I knew exactly which bike was perfect for me.