Well, I spent most of the week waffling over the road bike vs. hybrid bike debate and after a lot of thinking, I realized that I really do have "a need for speed" even though I'm all timid at first. In fact, I drive fast, skate fast, ski fast, walk fast, heck, I even eat fast! No matter how scared I am in the beginning, within a couple of months, I always end up being a speed freak.
So that being said, I decided to go ahead and go for the road bike, afterall.
I checked out pretty much every bike shop in town, and there's not all that many here despite our 500,000 people population. I really had my heart set on a Trek but one Trek dealer was just flat out useless, no bikes for women at all, and the least helpful salesperson I've ever met in my life. The other Trek dealer in town was nicer, but they too had nothing I could sit on either. However, the Giant dealer was great, great people, very helpful, fit my bike to me (XS), the whole thing. Not to mention, the Giant OCR 1 had Ultegra everything (almost anyway) and was a bit cheaper with nicer components than the Trek WSD 1500. I hear the Giant OCR 1 is heavier a bit than other bikes in its class and the brakes are somewhat crummy as well as the clipless pedals that come with it from the reviews I read. But I figure I can handle that as all else seemed to be great about it.
Anyone have any complaints about their Giant OCR 1?
Also, I can get either a 2004 or a 2005 OCR 1 model as luck would have it for about $950, any preferences? The 2004 has the adjustable stem (which I hear can be creaky) and some other difference, but I can't remember what right off the bat. I do know the 2004 has a white seat and handlebars as opposed to the black seat and handlebars on the 2005. Which is the better bike, anyone know?
Now my next big dilemna is accessories - what the heck do I need anyways?! Here's what I think I need, let me know if there's something I missed and please give me any recommendations you might have. Oh and I'm pretty much a girly girl, the girlier the better. I just loved that purple Orbea someone bought on here with the pretty handlebar tape and the pink tires, Ooooooo - Ahhhhhh - Ohhhhhhh! >*sigh*<
Okay, here's what I think I need:
[INDENT]Helmet - I want to get one that matches my bike (cobalt blue) and that has a ponytail opening possibly (I've got some long thick hair that I need to put somewhere.) Suggestions? [INDENT]
Gloves - Gloves for winter, gloves for summer? Padded gloves, gel gloves? Fingerless gloves? Too many gloves!
Computer - I don't know if this is a need, but I like the way they can count your total mileage on the bike and that sort of thing. I keep hearing Cat's Eye thrown around where computers are involved, and apparently there's wireless and not wireless? How much computer do I need?
Bags - I keep seeing little bags under people's seats, and I saw that Terry bikes sold one for $80 that had some sort of little tool kit in it. Is that what those are for? What's a pannier, anyway? Do I want one of those?
Bike pump - What kind do I need? Do I need one when I'm on the bike or should I use those CO2 bottles instead? If I mount one to the bike is that going to weigh down my bike too much?
Water bottle with cage - I know what these are, do they make any cute/pretty/easy to drink out of ones? Should I get a camelback instead?
Shoes - I've never been clipless before (guess I will be now!), but I never liked being clipped in to be honest, even though it's supposed to be a good thing, makes me all nervous that I won't be able to get my foot outta there. Do shoes need to match up with your pedals or are they independent of each other? What's a good shoe? What's a good pedal for that matter.
Bike shorts - I figure I need at least one pair of padded ones, any good ones out there?
Tires and tubes - How many do I buy, how much do they cost, how often do people get flats, anyway? I never had one on my MTB, is a road bike more prone to flats?
Fun add ons - Bike tape for the handlebars, colored wheels, I feel like I'm making my Barbie Dream Bike here lol. Any other suggestions?
Okay, that's all I could think of....in the meantime, I'm going to see just how many things I can hock in the house in order to pay for all of this! Who needs electricity and food anyways? And don't worry, I've been so excited about riding, I get the feeling I'm not going to remain a partimebiker very long! I can't wait till Monday!
PT Biker - stricken by bike fever at the tender age of 33, will she live till Monday without owning her bike?