TEST RIDES ~ thoughts, meanderings and musings

[sandra]

I bet there have been millions of threads like this over the years, especially every spring. I welcome any comments or thoughts.

I was never totally convinced that my Trek 1000 was the perfect fit for me. I bought it used so I rode it, it felt OK, the price was good, so I bought it. I never had anything really to compare it to. But, I sold it and it's gone. I think I want something with a more relaxed geometry, but am not sure what is best for my area and my riding style.

Reading and researching can be so confusing it makes my head hurt.

I started at the best LBS where they carry mostly Giant just to take some rides.

First I rode the Giant OCR 3 WS in a medium. Even though I'm not carried away with the components, I discovered that the WS felt so much more comfortable than my Trek. It rode OK but if nothing else I knew I'd done the right thing in selling my Trek. I wish I could have ridden an OCR 1 in the WS, but they didn't have one in stock.

Next, for comparison the men's OCR 1 in a small. Nice, smooth riding bike, but I felt cramped like my knees were under my chin. We raised the seat and I immediately felt like I was on my old Trek... toooooo stretched out.

In a men's medium they had the OCR 3. Again, not as comfortable. Nope, that's not it.

Finally I tried and FCR 1 in a men's medium. Not bad riding, but even though it is a flat bar, it is out there. I was leaned over and stretched out similar to a road bike. I didn't especially like the hand grips. They seemed too fat for my hands!

This bike shop can also order the Surly Cross Check for me but they don't stock it so I couldn't test ride it. He said he could take a lot of measurements and we could get it really close. I'm sure it's a great bike, but is it the bike for me? I want more comfort, but I mainly ride flat paved rails to trails for fun. I'm not convinced the lower gear ratio be good for that?

Next weekend we plan to take a road trip. I talked with a bike shop in New Orleans that has a Jamis Aurora in a 50 cm that I could try. The 50 may be too small. I'll try whatever else they have that I might be interested in.

What are the main differences in the Aurora and the Cross Check?

The WS now has me confused. I have long arms, not short so I'd never considered the WS, but the Giant WS felt so much better. I think. Oh, it's confusing! After riding all of the other ones, I should have gone back to the WS one last time.

The only thing I know for sure is that I'm glad I sold my Trek and I'm going to ride a lot of bikes before I decide. Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions? I appreciate any input.

[VeloVT]

Sandra,
it might be worthwhile (if you haven't already done so) to look up the numbers on all of the bikes/sizes you've ridden, and write them down along with your impressions, so you can easily compare them head to head. It might make it easier to narrow down other bikes that would be a good fit for you.

good luck!!!

[ehirsch83]

Hey Sanda!
I few other bikes I would look at are(if you are still considering a road bike) the Felt Women's Bikes- the F35 is a great bike for the money, so is the F40- but the components aren't as great)
If you are looking for a more upright, flat bar position I would also look at their fitness line.

The Jamis bikes are great- the Aurora is an awesome deal for the price, you get a lot for your money. Also, if you think you want to go for more of a flat bar bike, the Coda is a great bike.

The third bike I am going to suggest is a little bit more money then the others but it might be along the lines of what you are looking for(you might be able to find an '07 somewhere on closeout). Pinarello's Trevisio. It is a road bike with flat bars, so you get both worlds combined.


If I think of anything else, I will add it to this!

[sandra]

I am TOTALLY in love with this bike, however it is probably overkill for me.

The Giant OCR A1W. It is a beauty.

[KatyLady]

Overkill? What's that? As DH always tells me, "If you want it go for it."

[sandra]

They both have a carbon fork and seatpost. The only real difference in this one and the OCR 1 is that this one has an aluminum and carbon frame. I just think this bike is beautiful, but for the riding I do which is mainly for fun and pleasure, I don't need this.

I was commenting on it after I got home and dear hubby said "call them and get them to order it!"

[VeloVT]

it's beautiful!

[ehirsch83]

The OCR is a great bike! It is a comfort bike, so it is actually what you want for what you do!
The mixture of carbon and aluminum also gives you a great ride, the carbon fork will dampen vibration, while the aluminum frame will give a great ride with a very responsive frame.

I say go for it if you are going to ride it! You want to be comfortable.
Also, Giant gives you a great great great product for the money, the frames come with a lifetime warranty and most shops should give you at least a year warranty on the components. The sloping top tube on it is going to put you in a comfort position, more upright then a race geometry(say the tcr), you can raise the stem up and be in a pretty vertical position, so you should not have the issues you were having on the Trek.

I say listen to the hubby and go for the OCR A1W!!!!

[divingbiker]

I am TOTALLY in love with this bike, however it is probably overkill for me.[/IMG]

Why in the world would you say such a thing, Sandra? You know you love to ride, and you know you want a road bike that fits. It's not like you're taking a risk here...you know you'll use it.

Who's to say that if you have this bike you won't decide to do a Womantours tour, or some other road ride?

Go for it!

[sandra]

I say listen to the hubby and go for the OCR A1W!!!!

I just read this post to hubby and he said "that's exactly what I say, go for it!

But, I struggle for these reasons:
First ~ I'm frugal
Second ~ Paying that much I'd have to be 100% positive that it was THE perfect bike and THE perfect fit. I don't know if I'll ever be 100% positive on either of those.
Third ~ I wouldn't want to put it on a bike rack or use it because I wouldn't want to scratch it.
Finally ~ I'm old. I don't know if I have enough riding years left in me to get my $$$ worth! LOL, but it's true.

[sandra]

Oh, and one more reason. I haven't ridden any more bikes yet.... but when I compare the geometry of the Aurora or the Cross Check, I can't imagine how they would work.

This WS stuff is confusing!!!

[divingbiker]

Finally ~ I'm old. I don't know if I have enough riding years left in me to get my $$$ worth! LOL, but it's true.

Well, I'm about the same age as you, I think (I'm 51), and I'm planning to buy a bike that costs four times that much. It's the quality of the years left, not the quantity!

[sandra]

I am a frugal almost 53. And I don't want to feel guilty if I'm NOT out there riding constantly.

[withm]

I dunno - it comes in blue too. Go for it!

You know, it may seem like a lot of money, but as far as bikes go, it's not so bad. Look at it this way, if you smoked cigarettes, you'd be spending over $2,000/year.

And when you consider the health aspects - $2,000 for a bike vs oh I don't know, $200,000 for ER and heart attack and angioplasty? It's a no brainer.

Don't think about the cost of the bike. Buy whatever bike makes you feel good. (Yeah, they ALL make ME feel good! I love to ride my bikes).

[Beane]

I'm going to tell you what I told my mom when she was debating getting her new bike: If you LOVE your bike, you will want to be out riding constantly. (so that deals with your point #1 about being frugal (and also point 4 a little))

#2: Test ride lots of bikes, have fun with it, and then make a decision. You may have second thoughts or subsequent bike envy, but everyone does at some point (I think.).. that's what accessorizing is for! With some minor tweaks you will make whatever bike you get "your own" and will love it (n.b.:this process may not be cheap but it will be fun).

#3: Bikes are meant to be ridden. And as I've been telling myself lately since my bike's sandpaper incident, you can always repaint.

#4: I don't think you're old, but seriously, you can't take it with you... so have fun and enjoy life!