hello world!

[katiejo326]

I'm new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself. I'm a 24 year old graphic designer born and raised in the beautiful state of Oregon. But more importantly - I've recently caught the biking bug! I've always owned a bike (as a kid, as a college student, etc.) but that bike from college just wasn't cutting it anymore. Last May I decided to buy a bike to ride for a bit of exercise and that I could ride around town on. Little did I know that when I bought my Trek 7.2 FX WSD, I'd quickly catch the bug. I rode it for the rest of the summer and then stored it in our shed during the Oregon rainy months. This summer I brought the bike back out and have been on it non-stop. My rides started getting longer and longer and now I'm itching to get a road bike.

I'll be honest though - I have NO IDEA where to even begin looking for a road bike. My biggest complaint about the 7.2fx is that I'm sitting so upright and I only have one position for my hands. I love the bike when I'm simply riding down to the brewery a few miles away - it's a very comfortable and light weight bike. It's riding a 30 mile ride on the back roads that really makes me want a road bike.

Any advice as I begin my search? Is buying a used bike a bad idea?


Thank you! Looking forward to learning from you all!

[Grits]

We can all understand how you came to be bitten by the cycling bug! Since you have the Trek 7.2, why don't you start out by going to the store where you got that and try out some road bikes that are in your price range. That can give you an idea of sizing and handling. Go to some other bike shops if they are available and try some other brands. Once you get a better idea of what you like and what size you need, then you can start searching for a used one if you want to go that route. If you look around on this forum, you will find lots of advice on choosing a bike. Good luck!

[katiejo326]

Thanks Grits!

Lucky for me - there's no shortage of bike shops around here!