Questions BEFORE the LBS trip...

[aicabsolut]

uh, do they compete in collegiate racing? if so, then grads are definitely allowed. i think you're supposed to be full time, technically, at least to go to nationals, but if you're a newbie, no one will care. oh wait, if you're in MD, which school..? you'd be in my conference ACCC. i'm a grad student. i didn't get into racing until i was a grad student.

[lunacycles]

I don't want to make the issue more complex, but I will, for the sake of clarity.

Yes, spend hundreds more and you will get a "lighter" frame, be it aluminum or carbon fiber or whatever. Spend more than that and you will get lighter components that work a tiny bit better.

Be aware, however, that frame weight is "static weight." This means that it has very little effect on how well it will actually perform (except, possibly, psychologically).

You are a new rider but someone interested in fitness? Then get the best FITTING bike in your price range and don't worry so much about the rest. Best "fitting" means you feel comfortable on the bike, the bike feels comfortable holding you, you find it easy to control and aren't incurring pain to control it or ride it. You should feel comfortable riding it, bottom line.

If, after time, you become serious about racing, weight, etc., then worry about that then. Honestly, frame weight is relatively unimportant. More important, if you are considering weight, are the things you turn over and over and over again (i.e., "rotating weight") with each pedal stroke. This is the weight you actually feel as you ride and what can have an overall effect on your performance, speed-wise. this means wheels, cranks, and bottom bracket (the bearings which support your cranks). The best investment you can make to reduce weight and make the bike ride lighter are a sweet set of LIGHT wheels.

I know a lot of experienced framebuilders, including myself, who feel that losing 5 lbs off your body has a much more profound effect on your ability to ride quickly than a pound or two off frame/fork weight. They are pretty much the same thing in the sense that each is "static" weight that you carry with you every pedal stroke.

Anyway, I think this thread has made you think more than you intended and need to. best advice from someone who manufactures and sells bikes for a living is: find a shop where you feel comfortable and are treated respectably. Let them guide you. Trust your body as far as fit goes. When a bike feels good, you will know it. It may take a few weeks or months to determine that given your newness, but a good shop will support you along that path, and make changes as you discover what works for you.

[Kelly728]

aicabsolut- PM'd you

Luna- I appreciate that other side of the coin, sticking in my price range. I feel like right now, that really would be in my best interest. Not blowing all my money on the bike so I don't have to scrimp on the extras!

Guess I'll just see what happens. I didn't get a chance to make it out to one of the shops today, things are still holiday crazy. Hopefully friday, saturday, or some day next week will work much better.

[lunacycles]

I'm not talking about scrimping. I am talking about priorities. If you have a price range, and you implied you do, than fit (not bells and whistles) and finding a shop that will be there for you as you evolve as a cyclist should be your priorities. Good luck whatever route you go.

[Kelly728]

luna,
it was not my intention to come off snarky. sorry if i did. I meant that if i did go above my price range i would have to tighten my budget on anything else I may need to purchase with the bike.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Getting a frame that fits is in my opinion the very most important thing. All the other things on a bike can be swapped and changed to fit your changing needs and your changing budget over time. But if the frame itself is a poor fit you will likely get discouraged and be uncomfortable. You will want to ride less, not more.
Some people start out on a heavy hybrid or a cheap mountain bike and ride on the roads when a road bike might have been a smarter first choice. But if that bike fits them well and they are comfortable on that bike, they ride it more and more and begin to really love biking- that's when they later figure out what they really need and maybe sell the old bike and get a new better suited one. (Some of these people have happily ridden centuries on their heavy hybrids. )
Another person might start out with the same hybrid but that fits them badly and makes their back hurt, etc. That person might just give up on biking after a couple of months, disgusted with the whole unpleasant ordeal.
Getting a bike that fits comfortably makes bike riding a joy. When riding is a joy, all other obstacles seem to become less daunting.

[lunacycles]

it was not my intention to come off snarky.

No, not at all. I hope I didn't either. From your reply, it just sounded like I made my point vaguely, if at all, so I wanted to try again.

[Kelly728]

Made it out to two shops today.

LBS #1: Really not going to waste my time here. I told them my range of around $1000 and he walked me over to the sale bikes saying this is all I could really get. Ok fine. He pulled out one bike and said this probably would be ok. He tested the stand over height and didn't look at anything else...*awkward silence* I decided to leave at that point.

LBS #2: The sales guy really took his time with me explaining the components of each bike and what I would really be getting for my money. This shop mostly sells Treks so that is where we focused. He pulled out a 52cm (WSD) due to my giant legs of doom and after a test on the trainer, it was a bit too big. We went down to a 50cm Trek 2.1 WSD which felt pretty good on the trainer. I still have to reach a bit, but he said we can try to see where we get with adjustments. I'm going back tomorrow during daylight hours for a test ride.

I'm going to try to make it out to two more shops as well tomorrow. I'm excited but scared about the test ride!

[vinbek]

I agree with all the comments so far. I started off with a 52 cm used cannonale as a recreational cyclist. I ended up with a 48cm criterium frame cannondale and raced for many years. It was an evolution for me. I was a runner and basically wore my knees out and my doctor urged me to cycle instead. The frame fit is crucial to begin with - you can upgrade your components as you go along. One thing to consider, if you are going to participate in tris - you will want tri bars on your bike when training and competing for time. This will stretch you out even more. You will use these bars only when riding alone - they are not good for group riding. This might be too much info for now, but its something to think about for the future. Good luck. Bekki