New Bike

Quoted message said:

How do I go about finding a bike that fits and works for what I want
to do. I understand that this is the most important part about buying
a bike, but considering I have not rode a bike in ten years... What I
would like to do is commute back and for to school. Its about 17 miles
each way or so. Ultimately I would like to do a century ride buts
lets see how I handle school and back. Any advice you bicycling
experts have would be helpful.
Thanks,
Rich

Visit a few (more than one!) "Local Bike Shops" (LBSs), look around and ask
questions. You should ANSWER a lot of questions, too, like the info above.
(Intended use, budget, experience, etc.)

Test ride a few bikes. Then a few more. Buy the one that /feels/ best and
makes you want to ride it every time you look at it.

The "vibe" you get at the LBS is almost always even more important than the
bike selection. If they don't take the time to truly help you, walk out the
door.

Good luck, and report back on how it goes!

Bill S.

PS: Get the red one 🙂

Bill Sornson said:

Quoted message said:

How do I go about finding a bike that fits and works for what I want
to do. I understand that this is the most important part about buying
a bike, but considering I have not rode a bike in ten years... What I
would like to do is commute back and for to school. Its about 17 miles
each way or so. Ultimately I would like to do a century ride buts
lets see how I handle school and back. Any advice you bicycling
experts have would be helpful.
Thanks,
Rich

Visit a few (more than one!) "Local Bike Shops" (LBSs), look around and ask
questions. You should ANSWER a lot of questions, too, like the info above.
(Intended use, budget, experience, etc.)

Test ride a few bikes. Then a few more. Buy the one that /feels/ best and
makes you want to ride it every time you look at it.

The "vibe" you get at the LBS is almost always even more important than the
bike selection. If they don't take the time to truly help you, walk out the
door.

Good luck, and report back on how it goes!

Bill S.

PS: Get the red one 🙂

How long of a ride should I go on? Well most LBS let me do this? I
am a little weary that they might feel this entitles me to buy the
bike.
Thanks for the info,
Rich

Rich said:

How long of a ride should I go on? Well most LBS let me do this? I
am a little weary that they might feel this entitles me to buy the
bike.

I think you mean "requires". If it helps, mention beforehands that you're
still looking around and not planning to buy on the spot. If they lose
interest at that point, you've avoided an awkward situation.

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

Quoted message said:

How do I go about finding a bike that fits and works for what I want
to do. I understand that this is the most important part about buying
a bike, but considering I have not rode a bike in ten years... What I
would like to do is commute back and for to school. Its about 17 miles
each way or so. Ultimately I would like to do a century ride buts
lets see how I handle school and back. Any advice you bicycling
experts have would be helpful.
Thanks,
Rich

I agree with most of the info you have already received. About test
rides, ride as many as you can, wait a week or two, then ride the same
bikes again, then let the bike choose you, this will make sense after
you ride them for the second time. About bicycle shops, some are very
helpful, some are not. Same goes for the guys that work at them. Some
shops will only let you ride around the parking lot, others will let you
ride "around the neighborhood" a bit.

Ken

In article
<[email hidden]>,

Quoted post said:

How do I go about finding a bike that fits and works for what I want
to do. I understand that this is the most important part about buying
a bike, but considering I have not rode a bike in ten years... What I
would like to do is commute back and for to school. Its about 17 miles
each way or so. Ultimately I would like to do a century ride buts
lets see how I handle school and back. Any advice you bicycling
experts have would be helpful.

What kind of hills on the commute? What kind of hills
generally in your area? For long rides you probably
should get drop bars. Fitting a bicycle is a job. As
_you_ become more fit you need to readjust the bicycle.
It is complicated. It can be done, and it is fun; but
do not expect it to be perfect initially.

Start talking to people at bicycle shops. They want to
sell you a bicycle; however some want to get you onto a
suitable bicycle as well. Good luck.

--
Michael Press

Michael Warner said:

Rich said:

How long of a ride should I go on? Well most LBS let me do this? I
am a little weary that they might feel this entitles me to buy the
bike.

I think you mean "requires". If it helps, mention beforehands that you're
still looking around and not planning to buy on the spot. If they lose
interest at that point, you've avoided an awkward situation.

Bike fit isn't about feel it's a group of measurements of body and limb
taken at different point of the stoke,when you first ride a bike that is
properly fitted to your body it might not feel quite right until you've
ridden it enough to get your body in the proper position.

wizardB said:

Bike fit isn't about feel it's a group of measurements of body and limb
taken at different point of the stoke,when you first ride a bike that is
properly fitted to your body it might not feel quite right until you've
ridden it enough to get your body in the proper position.

That's the problem for people who haven't bought a road bike before.
They don't really know what ought to feel right for them.

--
Home page: http://members.westnet.com.au/mvw

Just A User said:

Quoted message said:

How do I go about finding a bike that fits and works for what I want
to do. I understand that this is the most important part about buying
a bike, but considering I have not rode a bike in ten years... What I
would like to do is commute back and for to school. Its about 17 miles
each way or so. Ultimately I would like to do a century ride buts
lets see how I handle school and back. Any advice you bicycling
experts have would be helpful.
Thanks,
Rich

I agree with most of the info you have already received. About test
rides, ride as many as you can, wait a week or two, then ride the same
bikes again, then let the bike choose you, this will make sense after
you ride them for the second time. About bicycle shops, some are very
helpful, some are not. Same goes for the guys that work at them. Some
shops will only let you ride around the parking lot, others will let you
ride "around the neighborhood" a bit.

And some, with a credit card and driver's license, will let you ride
the bike for a couple of hours, like we do. Not many will do this but
some will. Ya just gotta ask.

Quoted message said:

Ken