Gotta get me a road bike!!!

[ski diva]

I've been riding for years on a hybrid (translation -- not good for anything) bike. So a friend of mine loaned me a road bike, and holy moley, I have seen the light! What a difference! Instead of killing myself huffing and puffing up the hills, I absolutely flew (well, comparatively, anyway).

Just want I need -- jonesing for another toy . And it's not even skis!

 

[tradygirl]

Road bikes are a lot more fun than you would ever think. I bought mine after years of mountain biking because I was getting into triathlons. The first couple rides on my road bike got me hooked and I didn't touch my mountain bike for two years!! Now I'm back on my mountain bike, but I still love getting out on the road for after-work rides and late fall/early spring workouts (when the trails are wet and there's no snow yet!)

Have you been looking at bikes yet? What's your budget like?

 

[ski diva]

Nope, haven't started looking. Sadly, I won't be able to get one for a while.

But I am soooooo ready!

Any suggestions for when I do start looking?

 

[Little Lightning]

Fit is the #1 most important thing about buying a road bike. Go to a shop that has knowledgeable fitters. Depending on where you are if your short 5'3' or shorter it's going to be more difficult to get a good fit. Buy a bike that fits your body do not make your body fit the bike.

Decide what frame materials, do you want alumimum, steel, ti or carbon fiber.

A higher priced bike will buy better frame and components.

Like skis, the more you demo the more you will learn about bikes.

Check out the forum at Team Estrogen.com. There is lots of information for newbies on buying bikes.

Have fun shopping.

Kathi

 

[abc]

Get a used one.

If the owner is about your height, chances are good you can get the bike to fit.

If you wear the same length of pants, even better. ;)

 

[Ski Spirit]

Hopefully you can get the word on the really good bike shops in your area. I joined a cycling club and went through their road riding course (100KM, 4000 feet of climbing) and we weren't allowed to get a new bike until we had finished the course. So, I did it on my Trek hybrid. Then I bought a Bianchi Eros and it was really a lot easier. I was very happy with the bike shop that I dealt with and I found out about them through word of mouth from people in the cycling club. Best of luck finding a road bike!

 

[SnowHot]

I demoed several bikes a few years ago when I was thinking of a road bike.
There's a lot more to fit on a road bike than you may think.

Giant has some economical options in a carbon bike. take a look.

 

[abc]

I joined a cycling club and went through their road riding course (100KM, 4000 feet of climbing) and we weren't allowed to get a new bike until we had finished the course.

I wonder what's the rational there though.

My feeling is the exact opposite. The sooner one gets a road bike, the better. The fit on a hybrid or mountain bike is so very different than on a road bike, it's no help keep riding them. The longer one delays getting a road bike, the more one gets frustrated.

Most people's first road bike tend to be too upright, which is exactly the result of coming from mountain/hybrid background (plus lack of flexibility in the "bike specific" area). As a result, most people's tend to trade out of their first road bike rather soon. That's why I suggest a used one.

Unless, you go through a fit specialist. But you better be sure you're going to ride a lot and ride hard...

 

[Ski Spirit]

Buying a road bike

I wonder what's the rational there though.

My feeling is the exact opposite. The sooner one gets a road bike, the better....

In the case of the cycling club course that I took, they wanted you to have enough knowledge about cycling directly to know what was important to you in order to make the best selection. Once I got the road bike, it was obvious how much easier it was.........but I did feel like I knew a lot more about what mattered to me at that point..

For me, the choice of the shop was a huge factor in selecting a road bike I ended up being overjoyed with. It was expensive but I had acknowledged experts helping me. Of the bikes I demoed, the one I chose was an obvious fit for me and I had people helping me who ensured that everything was set up to my needs.

I think it would be optimal to find a shop where the people know what they're doing and are happy to help you. Those kind of shops would give you advice about what to look for and help guide you through the process optimally. I was so happy with the shop I worked with; they were so helpful and it was as though they were actually mentoring me.........

 

[abc]

What's the club/shop?

(I used to live in south bay, still have friends there.)

 

[Ski Spirit]

It's Shaw's in Santa Clara (Terry Shaw and his son) and I can't remember the name of the other guy who works in the shop but he is also an incredible fountain of knowledge. All were involved in helping me w/my bike --the son did most of the work and was most personable about tips/guidance. Terry blessed everything. It's one of those places that is very small; they only sell Italian bikes and it can seem a little "elitest" but they treated me so well, that four out of six people in my cycling group (the group that practiced together to get through the course) got their new bikes there...and all were very happy! I highly recommend Shaw's Cycles!!!

 

[Ski Spirit]

Cycling club - Almaden Cycle and Touring Club

 

[volklgirl]

Funny you should say that.

I just got back on my road bike for the first time in 2 years. I'd forgotten how easy it makes doing big mileage at high speeds. It was quite nice.

Still......
Mountain biking is WAAAAAAY more fun!!!! :D :D :D

 

[first lift last call]

Just rode home on my fabulous new road bike. LOVE IT soooo much. Am so excited, I can't wait for it to be morning so I can get up really early and go for a ride before work.

 

[ski diva]

What'd you get???

Tell us more!!!!

 

[first lift last call]

Cannondale Synapse. Sort of went for a bit of a fudge - to get frame I wanted, had to go for the tiagra model, but upgraded most of the kit to ultegra. Have been commuting on a C-dale Bad Boy, wicked fun, but the synapse is, unsurprisingly, rather more exciting. Rapid too. Now just got to get a new mountain bike to complete the quiver...

 

[tradygirl]

Funny you should say that.

I just got back on my road bike for the first time in 2 years. I'd forgotten how easy it makes doing big mileage at high speeds. It was quite nice.

Still......
Mountain biking is WAAAAAAY more fun!!!! :D :D :D

So true.

I got my road bike "out of storage" a few weeks ago since it's getting dark a little too early to mountain bike as much. Road biking is so much easier to do after work. You change your clothes, grab your bike, and you're out the door!

 

[volklgirl]

Cannondale Synapse. Have been commuting on a C-dale Bad Boy, wicked fun, but the synapse is, unsurprisingly, rather more exciting. Rapid too. Now just got to get a new mountain bike to complete the quiver...

I'm so glad hubby hasn't seen this. He'd be drooling.....the Synapse is his dream bike .

If you're loving the fit of the C-dale, look into the Rush or Prophet. I'm on a 2001 Jekyll and have had no issues with it what so ever (If I can con hubby into it, my next ride will be the Carbon Rush )

Plus ya gotta love the whole for real Made in USA!!!

 

[first lift last call]

oooh dangerous. I'm definitely going to have a look at those two! Can't beat Cannondale for me - seem to fit and work just the way I like. FYI, before your hubby gets too jealous, I must confess, I didn't get the full carbon frame, just couldn't justify dropping quite that much money. Living in London, it would probably only get stolen or crunched by a car!

 

[schudz]

I'd been riding my mountain bike for the last few years very happily, then my husband started looking into road bikes. We ended up getting a tandem road bike - what a blast. It'a great fun for mountain touring. Although the uphills are a more challenging than on a single, the downhills and flats are incredible!