Bike buying and test riding.

[Nigel-YZ1]

I had a test ride on the Jamis. It's a tall bike and things are still a little awkward on top of learning new gears, changer positions and bar width.
But I'm a big believer in first impressions lasting, and it felt good from the first few yards.

 

[biggs682]

Buying bikes without testing them is not a problem as long as you know what you are looking for to begin with.

Very true

 

[Crackle]

I would need to really test a cycle for a couple of hours to see if I liked it

See I don't think you do. Maybe if it's close between two bikes an extended test ride would be the only way to tell which one but I imagine by that time you've gone through most of the choices to get to where you're at.

A few times I've only needed to spend a few minutes on a bike to know it wasn't right. I remember going on a Trek Pilote, it took seconds to know the ride was harsh, the toe overlap an arse, even though the position was right. A mtn bike I rode felt heavy and unresponsive, another just all wrong, front too high and too close. Reading the reviews would have told me none of those things. Sure you may know the style of bike you like and be confident enough to know it'll be right but if you ever step out of those parameters, it's a risk.

My current Audax, as soon as I rode it down the road I knew it was right and I've changed very little on it, compact bars and the gearing slightly and different tyres and seat. I actually waited until I had another reason to travel and drove 200 miles to test ride that bike.

I accept you can order sight unseen but I still believe it's a risk.

 

[the snail]

See I don't think you do.

I agree. When I bought my tourer, I was right between two sizes according to the sizing guide, 5 mins on each was enough to know the smaller one was right. 5 years on it's still spot on with no alteration. If I'd gone with the shop's suggestion or my instinct, I'd have made the wrong choice.

 

[fossyant]

I suppose most of mine were bought without a test ride, but two were built up by me, one of which had a hand built frame to my size. This was used as a base when buying other bikes. My newest bike is 6 years old and that's a fixed, and was spec'ed based upon my existing measurements, so it was a case of get on and ride - didn't feel any real difference to the other bikes.

I'm looking at a full suspension MTB in the next couple of years and I think I'll need to test a few as suspension is new to me and I'm well aware the varying geometries can hugely affect the bike handling on MTB's. I'll be looking at more XC based bike that can climb. Doesn't have to be a big hit or jump capable as I won't be doing any of that.

 

[Crackle]

I suppose most of mine were bought without a test ride, but two were built up by me, one of which had a hand built frame to my size. This was used as a base when buying other bikes. My newest bike is 6 years old and that's a fixed, and was spec'ed based upon my existing measurements, so it was a case of get on and ride - didn't feel any real difference to the other bikes.

I'm looking at a full suspension MTB in the next couple of years and I think I'll need to test a few as suspension is new to me and I'm well aware the varying geometries can hugely affect the bike handling on MTB's. I'll be looking at more XC based bike that can climb. Doesn't have to be a big hit or jump capable as I won't be doing any of that.

Keep an eye out for demo days at places like Llandegla.

 

[biking_fox]

Both.
I tried a Co-Op SS that they'd ordered in my size, and just didn't get on with it. LBS then made one for me, but while I got to try a similar one I was buying it unridden. Ditto my tourer. I had a ride on a Rohloff bike to see how I got on with the gears, but the frame was built to measure, and bought unridden. I've tweaked the set-up a bit on both and am happy with them. Previous bikes were bought from LBS, and tried first. However it's annoying and time consuming to attempt to find somewhere that has your bike in stock and ready to test.

 

[amasidlover]

When I bought my last bike I pondered buying without a test ride; but as soon as I'd done a couple of test rides I found that within a few hundred meters I had decided whether I liked a bike or not. I was also surprised by how much very similarly marketed bikes (I was looking for a drop-bar commuter) varied in 'feel' even with similar geometries.

It was frustrating as it ruled out some potentially interesting options (Kinesis for one) who I couldn't find to test ride reasonably locally.

 

[mjr]

A few times I've only needed to spend a few minutes on a bike to know it wasn't right. I remember going on a Trek Pilote, it took seconds to know the ride was harsh, the toe overlap an arse, even though the position was right.

I feel it's also useful information if a dealer won't even let you test-ride (not then, not ever), like a Trek dealer did the last time I went bike-shopping with someone. Compared to the excellent Chris Bikes (Giant, Dawes and VSF dealer IIRC) and Townsends (Light Blue, Bianchi, Scott, Genesis, maybe others).

 

[vickster]

I didn't test ride any of my current bikes in their actual spec. I did try out a stock Genesis which confirmed the frame size but also that I didn't want shimano. The Pearson I sat on a comparable bike on a turbo to confirm frame size, then they built a new on with the right spec

If wanting a stock bike, I'd prefer to try out just for peace of mind.

The Planet X was bought online and fairly quickly stripped of its parts and converted to flats. The SS was bought in here but knew that the frame size would be right. Had to get a new fork as the steerer had been cut at some point in the past and was way too slammed for me

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I never test rode any of my bikes.

 

[Funkweasel]

I didn't test ride my CAAD10 and it's not very comfortable for the kind of riding I do. I did test ride an Aeris before I bought one. Didn't test ride anything else I've ever owned, just sort of sat on it in a shop or pedalled it about 100m round a car park.
I know when a bike is completely wrong for me but not when it could be better without a decent test ride.
I've taken a Roubaix on a 1 hour ride (all I had time for) and I'm going to take a Synapse out for a couple of days/as long as they'll let me have it. I have to pay for the latter, though, but I don't mind. I just want the next bike I buy to be properly comfortable as I intend to spend a lot of time on it.

 

[mustang1]

So far I've always test ridden before buying and will continue to. I also don't test ride several bikes before purchasing: I find a bike I like the look of, check out the geo charts, ensure the price is right and thengo for a test ride. Once I've test ridden, I usually go ahead with a purchase.

But for my next bike, I will test ride several and take my time about it. I will also ensure I tell the sales guy as I dislike anyone thinking I am wasting their time.

Edit: typo

 

[Jenkins]

Not test ridden any, but in most cases I've had a sit on to confirm the size was right or to order the next size up. A couple have been purchased blind (MTB & Planet X) but the size guides were spot on.

 

[Arrowfoot]

I was lucky as a newbie that I ended up at Decathlon for my entry level bike. No sales pressure as is their business model, lots of genres, models and sizes to try out. Helpful staff and a workshop to set things right.

But that dream of a brick and mortar bike shop/store evaporated when it came to higher models and performance bikes. Limited model, sizes and options. And the staff telling me that the particular size and model suits me when they do not. And this notion of building and maintaining a relationship with your LBS is rather misplaced in this day and age. I stopped having relationships with my butcher, fishmonger, baker etc a long time ago. The World has changed.

I then discovered that online stores that offer loads of options and many also offer free trials and ready returns. And amazingly they are cheaper and delivered the very next day if ordered the morning before.

So now with my desired geometry for the bike and the base specs, I do a spreadsheet of options that are on offer online. A decent comparison can be automatically calculated for geometry deviations and the costs.

There is still a place for stores. Giant and Specialised are probably the models for the future of brick and mortar stores. Great service, lots of sizes, quality products, warranty integrity albeit limited to their brand. The other are high end servicing bike shops to handle the difficult diagnostic, fixes and custom jobs. No cheap but money well spent. And then you have hypermarkets vendors like Decathlon who serve the masses well with great choice for entry and intermediate grades.