My friend who said "I'll never..."

[Crankin]

First, my friend bought a Specialized Vita. She said "I'll never get clipless pedals."
Then my friend wanted her feet to stay on the pedals when climbing. She bought some Power Grips, but said, "I'll never get the clipless pedals."

She really liked the Power Grips. When I told her the motion for the pedals is the same, she bought the clipless pedals. She bought some nice Specialized bike shoes, too.

My friend has had a lot of trouble with the front derailleur on her bike. It's been in the shop on and off for the 2.5 years she's had it. She insisted though, "I will never get a road bike. My back will hurt too much." I explained that there are lots of different road bike geometries, and that there would definitely be one that wouldn't hurt her back.

On Wednesday, my friend bought a Specialized Ruby Elite Apex. DH and I tutored her through all the bs she had with LBS, (Cycle Loft), but they really weren't too bad. She ended up getting the SRAM compact double with an 11-32 rear, so she feels pretty confident she'll be able to get up the hills around here. She did test a 105 compact, but she knew, that around where we live, she couldn't do it. The guy was giving her a real bunch of crap about getting a triple; honestly, why do they do this? Not everyone cares about the weight, and frankly, I've never had one bit of trouble with my Ultegra derailleur. But, she found a good compromise. The bike will be here in about a week. I guess there's only about 8 of these left in the US.

I am so happy for her. She recently bought a house on Cape Cod and is planning to ride 3 days a week to her volunteer job at the Audubon Sanctuary this summer. While she is a "slow and steady" rider, she has become a real cyclist, in a very short time. I feel like my job is done!

[Tri Girl]

You pulled another to the "dark side" of wonderfulness! Good job, Crankin!
Congrats to your friend!!! Sounds like she has just what she wants and will be very happy!!


I don't know why shop guys do that. When I was buying parts for my steel Bianchi build, I was telling the LBS guys I wanted a triple (it was built as a touring bike) and they gave me all kinds of crap for wanting a triple. I think it's snotty- and I didn't appreciate being talked down to like I didn't know what I wanted. Grrrr... I love my LBS, but I don't like guys that talk to me like I don't know what I want or what I'm talking about. I ended up buying a triple on eBay for half price-which I didn't feel too bad about after the crap I got.

[Biciclista]

i was never going to get my feet clipped in either. who knew?

[Miranda]

You pulled another to the "dark side" of wonderfulness! Good job, Crankin!
Congrats to your friend!!! Sounds like she has just what she wants and will be very happy!!


I don't know why shop guys do that. When I was buying parts for my steel Bianchi build, I was telling the LBS guys I wanted a triple (it was built as a touring bike) and they gave me all kinds of crap for wanting a triple. I think it's snotty- and I didn't appreciate being talked down to like I didn't know what I wanted. Grrrr... I love my LBS, but I don't like guys that talk to me like I don't know what I want or what I'm talking about. I ended up buying a triple on eBay for half price-which I didn't feel too bad about after the crap I got.

Most of my lbs experiences have been like that. Grrrr... ok, stopping the rant at that.

Crankin...
that is great about your friend. I found my inspiration at the gym thru spin class. One of the instructors that was a prior team racer did it for me. I always loved my bike as a kid and had forgetton how wondering riding could be. In turn, since I'm one of the instructors now also, I've had a couple students that have told me I inspired them to ride outside. It's such a nice compliment, and a wonderful gift to share with another person!

[Crankin]

Thanks, everyone.
It was really hard for her to actually "get" the bike she wanted. There's hardly any left in the whole country.
I have to also give kudos to my DH. He spent probably 2-3 hours with her on the phone and email figuring out gear ratios, etc. Stuff that I understand, but don't want to get into the real techie stuff...
I also have to commend my friend for doing this, even though her DH is kinda a slug. He lost a great deal of weight and looks fit, but just gives up every time they go on a ride together. He's a workaholic who tends to look on the negative side of things, but he understands her need for a new bike.
Shefly, I recommended Cycle Loft because they have a larger selection of bikes for short women and we felt that we could intervene if there was a real problem, because we know some of the people there, from when Scott was racing. I know you have recommended Bikeway Source, but my other friend, who I ride with a lot, had a very bad experience there, lasting for the past 2 years. My DH eventually diagnosed and fixed her bike that she bought there.

[WindingRoad]

I enjoyed that story. I used to work at a bike shop and there must be some stupid macho thing about not having a triple! How rediculous! I just helped my brother buy a new bike, he got a Specialized Roubaix in a triple and he absolutely adores it! He lives in Austin so I am glad he wasn't too caught up in the nonsense. He's like me tho, we both grew up riding bikes, yes, riding bikes NOT cycling, LOL. We just do it cuz its fun! He decided to go clipless too and no one can even stay on his wheel now, maybe I shouldn't have pushed for that, hmmmmmm.

I had to put a pic of my brother up with his new bike cuz he just looked so darn happy and proud! It makes me smile everytime I look at it

[SheFly]

DH and I tutored her through all the bs she had with LBS, (Cycle Loft), but they really weren't too bad. She ended up getting the SRAM compact double with an 11-32 rear, so she feels pretty confident she'll be able to get up the hills around here. She did test a 105 compact, but she knew, that around where we live, she couldn't do it. The guy was giving her a real bunch of crap about getting a triple; honestly, why do they do this? Not everyone cares about the weight, and frankly, I've never had one bit of trouble with my Ultegra derailleur. But, she found a good compromise. The bike will be here in about a week. I guess there's only about 8 of these left in the US.

UGH. And that's all I will/can say about that

FWIW - the Bikeway Source in Bedford is GREAT about things like this. They don't carry Specialized/Trek, but do carry Cannondale/Giant/Felt.

SheFly

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

What a great story! Your friend is lucky to have you to help her figure things out. More power to women friends. Personally, I always feel like what does a bike shop sales guy know about my biking needs, the needs of a 57 yr old 'slow but steady' biking woman? I have no use for either a double or at the other extreme a 'comfort saddle'.
Anyway, as we here on TE all know it's totally possible to be a 'real cyclist' and have a triple, and clipless aren't strictly required either.
This morning I did my errands in town on my trusty steel Rivendell (with a triple, PowerGrip straps, a brass bell, AND (oh the horror)...a rack with bungee cords!, LOL), then I took a nice 10 mile ride with a couple of hills before heading home.
Now let me tell you, that felt really GOOD.
No salesboy in a bike shop can tell me what I need to be a 'real cyclist'.

[PamNY]

What a great story, Crankin. Being "slow but steady" myself, I really applaud what you've done for your friend.

[OakLeaf]

How cool is that? See, we do recruit.

No salesboy in a bike shop can tell me what I need to be a 'real cyclist'.

I like to think I opened some eyes the first time the guy from the LBS (who knew me from the paceline, and lives near me) saw me on my commuter, with the sagging grocery-getter panniers and the bunny-shaped horn. Wearing a skirt, probably.

[tangentgirl]

Nice!

I think your friend will be pleased with the SRAM 11-32. After a decade of riding with a triple, I switched to this, and I love it - and it actually has one more gear for the hills than the 105 I had.

However, all the snotty bike store guys who gave me crap when I asked about a triple can suck it. I ended up buying my bike from a store that was super accommodating and nice and not stuck up about my 3 ring anxiety at all. Now, this shop is at the top of one of the biggest hills in town; that could factor into their attitude.

[redrhodie]

Nice job, Crankin! Bringing another one over to the dark side. She's really lucky to have such a good friend, and mentor.

[Trek420]

I feel like my job is done!

It's not done till she's here