New purchase

Dave S said:

I need help. I am wanting to buy a new comfort bike. I have looked at Giant, Specialized, and
Trek. I rode the Trek 200 and 300. I have yet to test the other two. Most of my rides will be
around 30 minutes on a paved bike trail. I have never bought a bike shop bike before. Any advise
would really be appreciated. Thanks.

You have chosen good brands to try. It's good, also, that you are buying from an LBS (local
bike shop).

General advice:
- Fit and comfort is the most important issue. If it's not properly fit and comfortable, you won't
ride it. Not riding it is, of course, no good. Make sure the shop fits it to you properly before
you purchase it; this may require them to change out some components to reposition the handlebar
or saddle; it may require different gearing if you will be on extremely flat or very hilly land.

- Second, is attractiveness -- for any given bike, look at it and see if it makes you want to ride.
If it doesn't, you probably won't ride it.

- You must also consider service. A shop where you can never get an employee's attention is very
bad. One that can help you soon after you walk in, and is patient and educational with you, is
good. If the technicians are not the salespeople, make sure that the technicians are easily
accessible.

I'm sure other people will have more to say.

Most of all, enjoy!

--
Rick Onanian

[email hidden] (Dave S) wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I need help. I am wanting to buy a new comfort bike. I have looked at Giant, Specialized, and
Trek. I rode the Trek 200 and 300. I have yet to test the other two. Most of my rides will be
around 30 minutes on a paved bike trail. I have never bought a bike shop bike before. Any advise
would really be appreciated. Thanks.

My parents purchased Cannondale comfort bikes for just that kind of riding. They're very pleased.

Rick has it exactly right. I agree completely with his assertions. I would add that you should be
flexible on price to get the bike you really want. Think of how cheap *any* bike is compared to most
of what life hands you: Car payments, mortgage, medical bills, taxes, etc. When you weigh the health
benefits of riding a bike, it's very easy to justify the purchase of *any* bike, no matter how
exotic. You're directly investing in your health and happiness, which is priceless.

-Barry

"Rick Onanian" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dave S said:

I need help. I am wanting to buy a new comfort bike. I have looked at Giant, Specialized, and
Trek. I rode the Trek 200 and 300. I have yet to test the other two. Most of my rides will be
around 30 minutes on a paved bike trail. I have never bought a bike shop bike before. Any advise
would really be appreciated. Thanks.

You have chosen good brands to try. It's good, also, that you are buying from an LBS (local
bike shop).

General advice:
- Fit and comfort is the most important issue. If it's not properly fit and comfortable, you
won't ride it. Not riding it is, of course, no good. Make sure the shop fits it to you properly
before you purchase it; this may require them to change out some components to reposition the
handlebar or saddle; it may require different gearing if you will be on extremely flat or very
hilly land.

- Second, is attractiveness -- for any given bike, look at it and see if it makes you want to
ride. If it doesn't, you probably won't ride it.

- You must also consider service. A shop where you can never get an employee's attention is very
bad. One that can help you soon after you walk in, and is patient and educational with you, is
good. If the technicians are not the salespeople, make sure that the technicians are easily
accessible.

I'm sure other people will have more to say.

Most of all, enjoy!

--
Rick Onanian

x-no-archive:yes

This is a good time of year to buy. Local Bike Shops are marking down the 2003 bikes like crazy! You
ought to find a whopper of a deal.

Pat in TX