Test riding...the best way?

Nathan Hunt said:

I've received lots of advice from people that when it comes to style and
sizing, the best solution is to test-ride a bike. Here's the problem: Most
bike stores I've visited limit test rides to their parking lot, apparently
for liability reasons. I'd like a mountain bike that can also handle small
drops, going up and down 2-3 foot walls etc. So how do you test ride a bike
for drops and other riding if you're limited to the parking lot? How do you
test ride *any* bike in a parking lot really! Just wondering how other
riders have experienced "test riding", and any advice about getting the most
out of a test ride?

I had the same problem this past spring when I was deciding on a bike.
Here's what my experience was like :

The parking-lot test helped me decide what size and general feel the
bike had for me. I tested bunny-hops, wheelies (which I'm not good at),
and the parking lot behind the LBS happend to have some kind of loading
dock, so I dropped off of that (about 3 feet). Since I wanted something
that I could pedal, I also concentrated on the "bob" during pedalling,
and paid attension to any noises the bike made, and asked questions
about those noises (I hate noisy bikes).

The most important thing was that I trusted the people at the LBS.

1) I asked very specific questions regarding what I was planning on
doing with the bike. For instance, I asked if the bike could handle a
6ft drop. Since I was going to do 6ft drops, if they said "no", then
I'd scratch that bike of my list.
2) I told them (the sales people and the techs) the type of riding I was
going to do, and asked a couple of them what size would best suit me.
(I was a little torn between the Large and Medium sizes).

Also, I didn't just ask the sales guy questions. I spoke with riders
(and employees at the LBS) that rode the same style that I was planning
on riding - this I believe makes a difference.

Overall, this worked well for me, but there's one thing I would have
done differently, and that is to research the individual parts a little
more (such as Fork, shock and brakes). I was happy with the parking-lot
feel of these components, but after a month of actual trail use, I found
a few of these components didn't satisfy me 100%.

Hope that helps.

Geoff

"Nathan Hunt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've received lots of advice from people that when it comes to style and
sizing, the best solution is to test-ride a bike. Here's the problem: Most
bike stores I've visited limit test rides to their parking lot, apparently
for liability reasons. I'd like a mountain bike that can also handle small
drops, going up and down 2-3 foot walls etc. So how do you test ride a
bike
for drops and other riding if you're limited to the parking lot? How do
you
test ride *any* bike in a parking lot really! Just wondering how other
riders have experienced "test riding", and any advice about getting the
most
out of a test ride?

The best way is to go to somewhere like Snowshoe, Diablo or Whistler and
rent a bike for the day. They really have a wide variety. Also make
friends with people you meet who are riding what you are interested in
buying. Switch bikes with them for a run or two.

Geoff said:

The most important thing was that I trusted the people at the LBS.

Ditto. Here's my experience:

My LBS let me take my bike for a ~10 mile test ride on a local trail -
off-road, but still paved There is single track off it, but I
didn't ride that....no I didn't 😉. Seeing I was still uncertain about
the bike, they told me I could bring it back in a week if I didn't like
it, and just pay what a rental would have cost me (~$75 IIRC.)

gabrielle

"Nathan Hunt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've received lots of advice from people that when it comes to style and
sizing, the best solution is to test-ride a bike. Here's the problem: Most
bike stores I've visited limit test rides to their parking lot, apparently
for liability reasons. I'd like a mountain bike that can also handle small
drops, going up and down 2-3 foot walls etc. So how do you test ride a

bike

Quoted message said:

for drops and other riding if you're limited to the parking lot? How do

you

Quoted message said:

test ride *any* bike in a parking lot really! Just wondering how other
riders have experienced "test riding", and any advice about getting the

most

Quoted message said:

out of a test ride?

Get your friends with good bikes to let you ride theirs for a day.
Trek does DEMO days around the country, in which they show up at good local
trails, and let people ride for 30 minutes to an hour around the trail. I
tried a Fuel 100 and a Liquid 55 like this. More manufacturers should do
demo days, just like in snow skiing where it is commonplace.
Maybe a few other manufacturers do demo days, and if so, hopefully someone
here can point out the dates and places. Trek has not yet updated their site
for the 2005 sales year, but last year their demo in South Florida was in
late November or early December, and they ran it at both Oleta River state
park and Quiet Waters. Some people here hate Trek, but at least they are
willing to let you ride their bikes on real trails.
Dan V

Gabbie (Gabby?) says:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The most important thing was that I trusted the people at the LBS.

Ditto. Here's my experience:

<snip experience>

It sounds like there's another side to this "trust the LBS" thing - the LBS has
to trust you, too. ;-)

Steve

Dan Volker said:

"Nathan Hunt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've received lots of advice from people that when it comes to style
and sizing, the best solution is to test-ride a bike. Here's the
problem: Most bike stores I've visited limit test rides to their
parking lot, apparently for liability reasons. I'd like a mountain
bike that can also handle small drops, going up and down 2-3 foot
walls etc. So how do you test ride a bike for drops and other riding
if you're limited to the parking lot? How do you test ride *any*
bike in a parking lot really! Just wondering how other riders have
experienced "test riding", and any advice about getting the most out
of a test ride?

Get your friends with good bikes to let you ride theirs for a day.
Trek does DEMO days around the country, in which they show up at good
local trails, and let people ride for 30 minutes to an hour around
the trail. I tried a Fuel 100 and a Liquid 55 like this.

this only works if a) friends have bikes in about the size you would use,
and b) demo bikes are in a size that you would use.

Penny S

Nathan Hunt said:

I've received lots of advice from people that when it comes to style
and sizing, the best solution is to test-ride a bike. Here's the
problem: Most bike stores I've visited limit test rides to their
parking lot, apparently for liability reasons.

Yeah, people like me have wrecks in parking lots and break their arms test
riding. Yes I did.

Penny

"Dan Volker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Trek has not yet updated their site
for the 2005 sales year,

Surely you don't mean that the 2005 bikes are not online yet?
http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2005/index_preview.jsp

"Shane Dryden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Dan Volker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Trek has not yet updated their site
for the 2005 sales year,

Surely you don't mean that the 2005 bikes are not online yet?
http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2005/index_preview.jsp

Last time I was at the website, the demo info was still for 2004, and
already over with. I imagine it will be updated soon.

Dan Volker said:

"Shane Dryden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Dan Volker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Trek has not yet updated their site
for the 2005 sales year,

Surely you don't mean that the 2005 bikes are not online yet?
http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2005/index_preview.jsp

Last time I was at the website, the demo info was still for 2004, and
already over with. I imagine it will be updated soon.

Dan,

You just plain crack me up. Check the link he posted....hmmmm the 2005's
appear to already be posted.

Here's to you getting a clue one day.

Tom

"Nathan Hunt" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Just wondering how other
riders have experienced "test riding", and any advice about getting the most
out of a test ride?

Some bike festivals have reputable bike companies on hand with demo
bikes for riding on real trails. FFTF usually features Titus, Strong,
RM and Marin.

JD

"Dan Vo2lker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Trek does DEMO days around the country, in which they show up at good local
trails

Too bad if you don't have good local trails...like florida.

Quoted message said:

Some people here hate Trek, but at least they are
willing to let you ride their bikes on real trails.

Let's see, a 30 minute to an hour ride on a POS. That does not tell
anyone how well this bike that has been tuned and checked after every
ride of its short life will last under real conditions and use. All
those lameo demo days are is a sales pitch to barneys who don't know
any better. Why doesn't trek use the money they waste on that
"program" and build some good bikes for a change? The bottom line is
that the consumer PAYS for that "program", either through cut corners,
or an increase in price.

JD

"Shane Dryden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"Dan Volker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Trek has not yet updated their site
for the 2005 sales year,

Surely you don't mean that the 2005 bikes are not online yet?
http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2005/index_preview.jsp

You might want to Google the source of that notion, Shane. He tries
to put on that he knows it all, yet obviously doesn't know much at all
in a psychotic sort of way.

JD

"tcmedara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:ZOxad.780$HG3.255@lakeread04...

Quoted message said:

Dan Volker said:

"Shane Dryden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Dan Volker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> Trek has not yet updated their site
> for the 2005 sales year,

Surely you don't mean that the 2005 bikes are not online yet?
http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2005/index_preview.jsp

Last time I was at the website, the demo info was still for 2004, and
already over with. I imagine it will be updated soon.

Dan,

You just plain crack me up. Check the link he posted....hmmmm the 2005's
appear to already be posted.

Here's to you getting a clue one day.

Tom

Tom,
its kind of sad that you post without thinking or checking on things--I had
checked the site, and the only demo dates listed were from past dates--no
new ones were up yet, and several of the new mountain bikes that trek has in
their 2005 offerings do not yet show up on the site.
Get some clues yourself ;-)
Dan V

Dan Volker said:

"tcmedara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:ZOxad.780$HG3.255@lakeread04...

Quoted message said:

Dan Volker said:

"Shane Dryden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> "Dan Volker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
> news:[email hidden]...
>> Trek has not yet updated their site
>> for the 2005 sales year,
>
> Surely you don't mean that the 2005 bikes are not online yet?
> http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2005/index_preview.jsp
>

Last time I was at the website, the demo info was still for 2004,
and already over with. I imagine it will be updated soon.

Dan,

You just plain crack me up. Check the link he posted....hmmmm the
2005's appear to already be posted.

Here's to you getting a clue one day.

Tom

Tom,
its kind of sad that you post without thinking or checking on
things--I had checked the site, and the only demo dates listed were
from past dates--no new ones were up yet, and several of the new
mountain bikes that trek has in their 2005 offerings do not yet show
up on the site.
Get some clues yourself ;-)
Dan V

Dan,

Is this like your infamous "smoke you anytime" comment? You said that Trek
hadn't "updated their site for the 2005 sales year." If you were talking
about "demos" then you weren't very clear. Shane corrected you by posting
the link with the updated 2005 sales previews. You apparently "chose" to
ignore his point and pressed ahead. Just another data point in a growing
"history" of AMB cluelessness.

Thanks for "another" laugh

"Tom"

"tcmedara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:u3Bad.41968$R43.26120@fed1read01...

Quoted message said:

Dan Volker said:

"tcmedara" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:ZOxad.780$HG3.255@lakeread04...

Quoted message said:

Dan Volker <[email hidden]> wrote:
> "Shane Dryden" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
> news:[email hidden]...
>> "Dan Volker" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
>> news:[email hidden]...
>>> Trek has not yet updated their site
>>> for the 2005 sales year,
>>
>> Surely you don't mean that the 2005 bikes are not online yet?
>> http://www.trekbikes.com/bikes/2005/index_preview.jsp
>>
>
> Last time I was at the website, the demo info was still for 2004,
> and already over with. I imagine it will be updated soon.

Dan,

You just plain crack me up. Check the link he posted....hmmmm the
2005's appear to already be posted.

Here's to you getting a clue one day.

Tom

Tom,
its kind of sad that you post without thinking or checking on
things--I had checked the site, and the only demo dates listed were
from past dates--no new ones were up yet, and several of the new
mountain bikes that trek has in their 2005 offerings do not yet show
up on the site.
Get some clues yourself ;-)
Dan V

Dan,

Is this like your infamous "smoke you anytime" comment? You said that

Trek

Quoted message said:

hadn't "updated their site for the 2005 sales year." If you were talking
about "demos" then you weren't very clear. Shane corrected you by posting
the link with the updated 2005 sales previews. You apparently "chose" to
ignore his point and pressed ahead. Just another data point in a growing
"history" of AMB cluelessness.

Thanks for "another" laugh

"Tom"

[censored] off insect.
I was clear enough that the demos were not updated yet on the site. Now go
back to sticking your head up JD's [censored] where it belongs.
And now that I think of it, every time you laugh it should appear as though
JD is passing gas :-)

Dan V

Quoted message said:

Dan V says (to tcmedara):

Quoted message said:

[censored] off insect.

Charming!

Quoted message said:

Now go
back to sticking your head up JD's [censored] where it belongs.

Why is it that every time someone disagrees with you, you comment on their head
and JD's nether regions? It's getting boring. A few more choice insults are
not hard to come up with, and don't need to contain language that my kids laugh
at, either. I mean, really, "[censored] off, insect?" ROFLMAO...

Steve

Dan Volker said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[censored] off insect.
I was clear enough that the demos were not updated yet on the site.
Now go back to sticking your head up JD's [censored] where it belongs.
And now that I think of it, every time you laugh it should appear as
though JD is passing gas :-)

Dan V

Hehehe.

Doesn't matter how many times you do it, setting the hook is just as easy
the 20th time as it is the first.....or like fake throw trick with the dog ,
they fall for it every time.

And what does JD have to do with this? Seems to me like you've got an
unhealthy obsession going on here. Seems like anytime you don't like what
someone says in this NG you seem to feel that JD is at the heart of it --
all one big conspiricy, I guess? I'm guessing you've got pictures of him
posted around your desktop and are crafting plans to steal his underwear.

.....or it's just more evidence of your cluelessness.

Keep 'em coming, Dannyboy. It's strangely complelling watching you
self-destruct in every thread you post to. Kinda like watching a train
wreck in slow motion.

Tom

tcmedara said:

Dan Vo2lker said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[censored] off insect.
I was clear enough that the demos were not updated yet on the site.
Now go back to sticking your head up JD's [censored] where it belongs.
And now that I think of it, every time you laugh it should appear as
though JD is passing gas :-)

Dan V

Hehehe.

Doesn't matter how many times you do it, setting the hook is just as easy
the 20th time as it is the first.....or like fake throw trick with the dog ,
they fall for it every time.

And what does JD have to do with this?

Nothing with that particular post, though Vo2lker is doing that old
dog trick of sitting at a distance and humping the air while staring
at me. His obsession with my gluteal region is becoming unsettling.

JD