Help Pooks Find a New Bike

[pooks]

Okay --

First test ride -- I went to the LBS I like the best and walked in and said I was ready to test ride some road bikes, that I had a heavy hybrid and now that I was riding more I really wanted/needed a bike that would be better suited, plus my current bike doesn't fit me.

The guy was professional, listened to me, and was (probably) trying to size me up (needs-wise, not otherwise, fresh!).

So I first asked, "Do you have any steel bikes?"

Well, yes, but he doesn't recommend them, it's the cheapest road bike they carry, $500, which is around $300 less than their other entry-level bikes, but....

"Well, a lot of people love steel bikes."

He said, "Not this steel. This is just, STEEL." He said that people who were telling me how much they loved steel bikes were riding much more expensive bikes, yada yada ...

Well, I just wanted to "move right along" so I said, okay, show me what you've got.

This is where the "sizing up" took place. He pulled out a Specialized Allez to show me, said it was entry-level, showed me a couple of things about it, then took me to a different row to show me another kind of bike --

http://bikemart.com/itemdetails.cfm?...gId=39&id=1317

Well, first off, I love the burnt orange color (and it's also a bike I'd seen on the internet and bookmarked to check out) but when he said it was a fitness bike with a less extreme ... you know, whatever you say about standing on your head to ride a road bike -- this one is less extreme so I guess you just, oh, stand on your shoulders? ( can't recall his exact description) I said, "You know, I may end up needing that, but I'd like to try real road bikes first and see what they feel like and move backwards if I need to."

So we took the Allez to a big parking lot and he adjusted the seat, etc. and showed me carefully how to get on and off (I'm used to a step-through) and how to slip my feet into the cage on the pedal (told me I need road shoes instead of my mt. bike shoes and that if I got this bike I'd need to go clipless, yikes!) and I realize that stuff is debatable, but I'm not worried about details like that right now so that's fine, whatever.

Bottom line -- I could get used to everything about that bike but man, it bothered my shoulders. I tend to carry tension in my shoulders, anyway, and sometimes end up with headaches. If I'd ridden that bike very long I probably would have had a whopper of a headache. I told him that, and he said from watching me that I wasn't stretched to far or bunched too tight, that he thought it was the fact that it was my first time on a road bike and I was tense, and I also needed to not "slump" but work on my posture.

At this point, I'd done a few laps and figure 8s and stopped for him to give me more advice/adjustments a couple of times (and almost fell off because I forgot my foot was in a cage, naturally, but he was there to stop me from falling over) and said I'd like to come back when I had more time and ride more bikes (then proceeded to spend almost another hour inside the store, still looking/talking to him, wouldn't you know? LOL).

He showed me the Robaix and said it might be a better choice for me because the .... ooops, thing the stem sticks in? ... is longer/taller, whatever which would be more comfortable for me. He showed me the Ruby. He showed me some Treks.

I said, "I guess I need to work on upper body strength," and he said that would help but it was more about core strength.

He taught me how to say "Bianchi" and "Celeste" and a few other things I wasn't sure of (or was wrong on). He gave me the Trek and Specialized catalogs, showed me a few things in them, and after I asked about a Bianchi that was there, he showed me that catalog and told me about their steel bikes. He also said they could order from Gunnar and Surleigh (how do you spell that?) if I really wanted steel (which was nice, considering we hadn't mentioned steel again). Maybe he realized I might be open t o spending enough money to get a good steel bike?

He's only there a couple of days a week but I told him I'd come back when he's there. He said, "Anybody can help you," only not that brusque -- and I said, "Everybody has a different spin on everything, and I know nothing, and I end up confused; I need some consistency!"

He said in that case, if I wanted to come some time when he wasn't ordinarily there, I could call him and he'd come and meet me there.

Very nice guy, maybe retired, maybe not. (The fact that he could be there on different days?) Hmm. Wonder if he works at more than one location and that's the reason? Hmmm.

Anyway, I've test-ridden my first road bike.

Major concern -- is shoulder/neck issue something I will get over when I'm used to the way a road bike feels? Am I too tense? Is it that despite what he "saw," the bike was just wrong? (If that's it, riding other bikes should make that more obvious.) Am I going to need to go with a more upright bike?

I do not know. Only the Shadow knows.

To be continued....

[mimitabby]

You are following exactly in my shoes. (except i was already used to the cages)
the neck and shoulders was my problem too. the weak core as well (now
i do 3x a week lots of crunches)
After the bike was fitted to me, (3 times, i'm just like you really!)
gradually some of these things got better. the bike you tried out,
what was higher the seat or the handlebars?
the guy sounds nice, but you don't have to get road bike shoes, most
of my road bike friends use MTB shoes including me.
a lot of that stuff is going to go away because you are nervous. but
keep trying bikes,
some are going to feel different. that trek was really pretty.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The road bike position does feel VERY weird at first if you are used to a hybrid. Taht's normal. Your body will get new muscles that will make that position feel more normal over time. First, the basic frame size, and then the REACH is what is going to be a major factor concerning the fit.
Everyone told me I "looked good" fit-wise, on my new bike, when in reality the stem was too long but I wouldnt have known because I was new to road bikes and didn't know how I was SUPPOSED to feel. I felt so high up and awkward!

Whatever bike you get you need to make sure they do a good fitting and still you may need to make more parts adjustments/changes as you get used to it. I took me a couple of months for it to become obvious to me that I reallu needed a shorter stem. Then I put a TOO short stem on and it took another 4 months for me too realize that it was too short. Just put on a third stem, in between size, and the difference is obvious and dramatic- it feels really just right now. My bike which originally felt so weird and awkward and high and scary...now feels smooth and wonderful and natural to me.
If you feel good with that salesman and he is patient, then yeah I'd stick with him (though it won't hurt you to ride a few other bikes in other places too)
The more bikes you test ride, the more you will know what's right for you and what isn't. If you want a road bike, there is no reason to think you "can't" get used to riding one. If it fits right, you will quickly adapt and love it and will wonder why you ever doubted your ability to ride one.

[Wahine]

Pooks - I'm looking for a new bike too right now. Maybe we should start a support group. I'm an experienced rider and I still find it all confusing.

[HillSlugger]

When I test rode my first road bike and the salesman asked "how does that feel?" I had to answer "Not sure" since I was completely not used to the new body position. I didn't know if I was too stretched or too bunched up because I didn't know how it was supposed to feel.

You are likely going to be leaning over a lot more, needing to hold up your head at a different angle. This will require training some new muscles. It will take a while to get used to it and for it to really feel comfortable. I needed to trust the salespeople that the fit was basically right and could be dialed-in later.

It sounds like you talked about riding more upright and about head tube length. These pretty much go together: a longer head tube (the thing the stem fits into) generally places the handlebars higher. I say "generally" because there are other factors like stem angle and spacer rings that also affect handlebar height.

I ended up with a Specialized Sequoia. It's got a longer head tube, more upright position, and more "relaxed" geometry. Together, that all means that you don't need to lean over so far and "stand on your head" like you said (my handlebars and seat are at almost identical height).

I love my bike. You can get a "base" Sequoia for $770. The Trek Pilot is supposed to have similar geometry and riding position. I never got around to test riding one because I fell in love with the Sequoia.

BTW I've always ridden in MTB shoes, both in cages and clipless; I really like the idea of a shoe that you can walk in.

[indysteel]

Pooks, it does take some time to get used to the geometry of a road bike. You will notice some neck/shoulder pain your first few rides, but as those muscles strengthen, you'll get used to being in that position. Try to stay lose and keep your shoulders "out of your ears." Keep in mind, too, that men's bikes have wider bars than WSD bikes. Even if you end up getting a men's bike because it otherwise fits, you might consider swapping out the bars to something narrower. The width of your shoulders is a good guide as to how wide you want your bars to be. The beauty of a road bike's drop bars over the flat bars of a hybrid is that you can move your hands around. That helps you remain comfortable for longer.

The Roubaix's headtube is higher, which means that the geometry of the bike isn't as "aggressive" as other race road bikes. Same holds true for Trek's Pilot line. You may find that you like that geometry as it doesn't require as much flexibility and isn't as hard on the low back. Even if you don't buy one of those bikes, however, you can make the geometry of any bike less aggressive by getting a stem with some rise to it. That essentially raises your bars and puts you in a more upright position.

Regarding his comments about steel. He's right that not all steel tubing is created equal. However, I don't think you need to spend an arm and a leg to get a decent steel road bike. Bianchi has some decently priced steel bikes and Gunnar is also pretty reasonable. I'm partial to the Eros Donna an an entry level steel road bike (that's what I have). Give the color a chance!

Regarding core strength. It's an important factor on being strong and comfortable on a bike. Unfortunately, cycling itself will not help you build it. You might consider adding pilates or yoga classes into your exercise routine.

Clipless pedals and shoes. I like using clipless pedals on my road bike, but I agree with Lisa that you don't necessarily need road shoes. You can use SPD pedals if you'd prefer to use MTB shoes (the recessed cleats allow you to walk normally). I further agree that it's a detail you can put aside for the moment.

Since it sounds like you're likely to get--based on your budget--either a steel or an aluminum bike, I will tell you that while AL is often criticized for having a harsh, stiff ride, not all AL is created equal either. The design and tubing used can greatly affect the ride. Remember, too, that you can lessen the feel of stiff bike by upgrading your tires (or if you have some money to burn) the wheels. So, I would definitely keep an open mind about frame material at this point and just test ride as much as you can. You'll likely to find a bike or two that just feels right.

Have fun bike shopping!

[Kano]

Pooks,

Maybe you remember, I've just gone through what you're doing now. You say you rode the Allez, and talked with the dealer about the Roubaix a bit. I rode the Allez too, after test riding the Dolce (women specific) and liked the feel of it better than the feel of the Dolce, where I felt a definite scrunching. It is a new sensation, leaning forward more, and does take some getting used to, and like Mimi said, making myself do those crunches!

For me, though, living in a mountainous region of the country, I felt that the Triple chainring would be important to me. (and yes, I use every one of those gears!) That's when my bike dude said, well, let's look at this other model and we started talking about the Roubaix. He was about to show me this year's model, when we discovered the one I bought -- a year or two old, with better components than what I would have gotten on this year's model. The ride is similar, but more comfortable than what I experienced on the Allez.

We took the bike home pretty much unmodified, which was what my guy suggested, since I'm changing bike style so drastically. He said give it a couple of hundred miles before we make any changes, since it's so foreign -- I'm capable of doing seat adjustments, and I think I've got that situated pretty well now, at least until we start in on some "more drastic" adjustments. I think some changes are needed in the handlebars, but I'm impressed with how quickly I feel mighty darned comfy on this bike without any real fittings so far!

So, like I say, give that Roubaix a try!!!!!

Karen in Boise

[pooks]

Well, I see I have several things I need to do.

I need to start doing crunches. (Looking at apple-belly and wondering if it will bend.)

I need to do some shoulder/neck exercises.

I might even rent a road bike for a day and just work with it.

Oh, and keep test riding!

And I will be going to different bike stores because I want to try different bikes, no prob there.

I actually found a store in the Dallas/Fort Worth area that has a Bleriot! Be still my heart! It's a little distance away from me, so I think I'll work on core strength and test ride some more/get used to the new position before I go check it out.

You know, I hate to admit it, but there I was in that store full of bikes and I wasn't seeing any bikes that I thought looked wonderful. Modern bikes just don't hold a lot of visual appeal for me. And I wasn't in love with the colors.

One exception was that burnt orange fitness cycle. And another was a gorgeous green Electra Townie. But those aren't bikes I want.

I'll be going to a store that carries Konas, just because they seem to have some cool colors.

[mimitabby]

Don't feel too shallow about your color preferences. See the thread started by Meg entitled "Dear Bike company"

[pooks]

How's this for shallow?

I find the color Celeste very pretty now that I know it's pronounced, "cheh-lest-eh."

Go figger.

[pooks]

Oh, also -- I was on a 52 Allez. For some reason that sounds small to me, but I guess not. My legs seemed to fit.

[mimitabby]

ps your ability to do crunches does not depend on the outward shape of your abdomen. the muscles of your core are deep deep inside.
start with crunches, how many can you do? do a few more the next day!
if you are not in front of an entire gymnasium, you can do what you like.
I found i could slowly build a few more a day..

I can do more than DH!!

[SouthernBelle]

How tall are you, Pooks? In general, 52cm is prob about right for 5'5-7" without taking specifics into consideration.

[pooks]

I'm between 5'7" and 5'8" somewhere.

You know, this kind of boggles my mind. I think of "crunches" as something I would do to lose weight, improve my body. I used to think of cycling as something I would do to lose weight, improve my health.

Now I'm blithely planning to do crunches so that I can bike so that I can then lose weight, improve my health.

This is getting complicated.

But actually I'm just going to do crunches so that my cycling will improve because it's fun.

[mimitabby]

Yes, Pooks, me too. Doing crunches so that I can ride my bike better,
riding my bike gives me more stamina to do the other stuff in the gym.
Suddenly, my body is changing and i LIKE it.