nOOb in nEEd!

[Diggles]

And I went back to my shop...
I'm looking at this one:

Clicky

Anyone start on or even still use this bike? I feel like a complete dope asking for help at the shop. Me: Hi, I'm a moron...sell me something I know nothing about. Them: We love people like you.

[Grog]

And I went back to my shop...
I'm looking at this one:

Clicky

Anyone start on or even still use this bike? I feel like a complete dope asking for help at the shop. Me: Hi, I'm a moron...sell me something I know nothing about. Them: We love people like you.

My first "real bike" (read: over $20) after 10 y.o. was the Trek 7100 FX. The "performance" one. I quickly got a road bike after that but I rode it once after riding my road bike for a while and was impressed at how well it rolled. Nice bike.

I'd suggest getting the "performance" instead of the "comfort" type... You'll be comfy enough on the "performance" bike and it will indeed be faster...

[Diggles]

I'd suggest getting the "performance" instead of the "comfort" type... You'll be comfy enough on the "performance" bike and it will indeed be faster...

Thanks Grog!
Is it the same model just labeled with "performance"? I'm really sorry for all the questions. Can I just ask the salesman? I'm afraid that if I don't know exactly what I want when I go in that they'll be able to talk me into more money...b/c I I hate buying the base model of anything anyway so it'd be easy to do.

[Geonz]

Nope, they're not the same. I have a 7500 FX (not my first bike :-) . I can't remember all the differences... some of 'em have suspension and others don't, tires might be different...
... but I would recommend *riding* the bikes and seeing what it feels like to *you.* While you will change some in how you sit and lean as you learn to ride more efficiently, if it feels good now, it should keep feeling good.

[farrellcollie]

If possible - I suggest going to a couple of different shops to try different brands. I started out on a hybrid - a GT I think- 10 yrs ago - road every weekend 10=25 miles on it with friends and commuted during the week. At that time I paid around $200 for it and thought I had lost my mind. then it got stolen about three yrs ago and I replaced it with another hybrid (raleigh) that had front shocks (totally unnecessary for my riding - not bad just heavy). I recently bought a road bike that I love and ride all the time now except for commute where I need my rack, fenders, lights, etc.

The shops around here all carry different brands - some have trek, some have giant, some have specialized etc - but none have more than two-three brands. Fit and feel is different in each brand I thought - so if you can ride more than one brand - you might like one over the other in the same price range. You also might find you like one shop over another - useful info when you need tuneups, your next bike etc.

[Grog]

Thanks Grog!
Is it the same model just labeled with "performance"? I'm really sorry for all the questions. Can I just ask the salesman? I'm afraid that if I don't know exactly what I want when I go in that they'll be able to talk me into more money...b/c I I hate buying the base model of anything anyway so it'd be easy to do.

Yeah that's that "official name" and the bike you are interested in probably comes in both options. The "comfort" makes you more upright, the performance is a bit more aerodynamic.

[KnottedYet]

My SO/DP/DPITA/wife has the Trek. She loves it, and has ridden it 85 miles in one day. (I tried one, and hated it. Doesn't mean it's a bad bike, just not the right one for me and the way my body likes to ride.)

She's had hers for 4 or 5 years now, and not had any troubles with it. I keep asking her if she wants a new (i.e. faster, sexier) bike and she says no. We've done big road rides and gravel/dirt path rides and group rides and just the two of us rides and she's ridden alone. She's happy with her bike.

Edit: PS. My new bike is a $400 Kona Dew www.konaworld.com

[Diggles]

And you love it? There is a cycler's cafe here that sells Kona...perhaps I'll run over there & have a look. I think I have some friends that ride, maybe I need to pester them to come with me to shop.

Y'all are going to be so happy when I finally buy a bike so I'll quit asking so many questions!

Thanks again,
D

[KnottedYet]

Yup, I love it. It's a great commuter bike for me and the way I ride. I miss my old steel bikes, and would like to get a second bike. (in the past I've always sold the old bike to buy the new) My next will be a tourer, all steel (Soma or Surly or similar), with Campy and Ritchey and Brooks.... and a whole lot more expensive than my Kona workhorse. But THIS time I intend to keep the old when I buy the new (in a year or two or three).

Don't be afraid to ask questions! We all do!