Need help on bike testing.

Quoted message said:

Hi!
I started riding road bikes last in summer of 2004. I have a very old
Trek 370 with seven-speed bike with friction shifters. I am planning to
buy a new bike for this summer. I went to the local IF dealer. However
I quickly found out that I just don't know enough to exactly outline my
requirements. The dealer advised me to test ride few bikes and compare
their strength/weakness. Can you guys give me pointers on things to
look for when test riding these bikes?

Adwait

Adwait: I think this was written just for you! :>😉

www.ChainReaction.com/roadbiketestrides.htm

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
www.ChainReactionBicycles.com

Adwait said:

Hi!
I started riding road bikes last in summer of 2004. I have a very old
Trek 370 with seven-speed bike with friction shifters. I am planning to
buy a new bike for this summer. I went to the local IF dealer. However
I quickly found out that I just don't know enough to exactly outline my
requirements. The dealer advised me to test ride few bikes and compare
their strength/weakness. Can you guys give me pointers on things to
look for when test riding these bikes?

Adwait

http://www.chainreactionbicycles.com/roadbiketestrides.htm

Some other questions to ask yourself-

Why do you want a new bike? What do you think it will do that your
present bike doesn't? Could you modify the present bike to get what
you want?

What kind of riding do you do? What's your present idea of a great
bike ride? Is this different than your dream of what you'd do on the
new bike? Is the new bike for rides right now, or is it pull you
forward to other kinds of rides?

How does the present bike fit? Do you want a similar fit on the new
bike, or are you looking for changes?

Test ride, say, three different styles of road bikes- a touring model,
a 'sport' model for comfortable day rides, and a racing model. Pay
some attention to frame angles, chainstay length, wheelbase, etc. This
will allow you to browse websites and catalogs and be able to 'read'
the type of bike irrespective of any marketing hype.

Thanks guys. The information is really very useful.

Adwait