Think about thinking about thinking about getting a road bike

jefmcg · 31 Jan 2012

I'm not a gear head, being the sort of person to stretch whatever equipment I have to whatever needs I have. eg I never owned a bike as child, so my first bike was an all steel rigid "mtb" Used it for everything, even triathlons - hey, if you're not going to win, what's the difference? and there is nothing like passing an untrained gear head with zip wheels while you are upright with mudguards and rack. Since then I have replaced it with a Kona hard tail as a commuter and 4 years ago I bought a folding bike that has become the only bike I ride. So last year it did 4700 miles including two trips to Brighton and one to Whitstable (from London). I'm using it to commute 16 miles each way. And there's the rub: I'm a cautious cyclist in traffic, but even so I think I can do better than more than 1 1/2 hours each way. Plus my cycling buddy who doesn't ride much has bought herself a Cube Axial(?), and though I hate to admit it, despite her lack of training, she's becoming harder and harder to keep up with.

So, what to do? Money isn't an issue, but I'm happier not spending too much. The Kona is a decent bike, from 2000 I think, but still in good condition. I could put slicks on that. Problem is, I've been told I can only have two bikes (I'm a bit of a pack rat, so that's fair) so if I decide I still want a road bike, the Kona has to go ... probably donated to LCC as I owe them.

Or go the road bike, but then - urk, so many hundreds of choices: where do I start? Hmm, rack mount points just in case. I'll never be a competitive racer, so not looking at that. As for geometry: I've never ridden a road bike, so it's going to be months of riding one before I know what geometry I like.

I'm attracted to the Decathlon Tribans, mostly because of price, but will they fit me? It turns out I'm slightly unusually shaped: female, 5' 6" with a 33" inside leg, and one bike fit site I visited didn't have that combination! Can I get reasonable fitting advice from Decathlon, or should I just suck it up, go to a specialist shop, and put myself in their hands?

Oh, and I'm a bit nervous about test rides: I took the Kona out a few months ago and tripped over it (twice!) while dismounting. Years without a top tube has given me some deeply ingrained movement patterns.

TL;DR - how do I move from "I might like a road bike" to owning one?

Andrew_P · 31 Jan 2012

Never ridden a Brompton, but rode a Hybrid for 2000 odd miles and switched to Road bike, the difference was huge, felt more comfort more hand positions, better in the wind. I hardly ever go down on the drops unless it is really bad headwind. It was a hard at first to ride a different style but couldn't face regular riding on a Hybrid again.

I mainly ride a Specialized Roubaix which is sold as a relaxed ride, long distance muncher. I also have a CX bike which I am not so much in love with, but cannot really articulate the reasons why.

You will not find many if any racing Road Bikes that will have mudguard & rack mounts. but you will find Tourers and CX's that have these.

bobones · 31 Jan 2012

Try this fit calculator. The most important thing to get right is reach. Your long legs can be accomodated in a smaller frame by simply raising the saddle height. You can adjust reach to a limited extent by changing/flipping stems and using spacers on the steering tube. A relaxed frame has a longer head tube so the saddle to bar drop is less than with an aggressive geometry. Decathlon bikes are good value, but not the prettiest. Many lower end road bikes from the big manufacturers (Trek, Specialized, Giant etc.) will have mudguard eyelets and possibly rack mounts.

Shadow · 31 Jan 2012

Go to your Local Bike Shop (LBS) and talk to them. If they are good, they will listen to your requirements and offer a test ride on something they consider suitable. Take it out and don't worry about tripping over it (you'll soon get used to dismounting!).

I would be surprised if you did not love it and wonder why you did not do it earlier!

Fubar · 4 Feb 2012

Hi, I've just bought a Triban 3 from Decathlon - see my previous thread "in praise of Decathlon" - I was impressed with their knowledge as the guys I spoke to were cyclists themselves. I'm 5'5'' with a 29 inch leg and the 54cm frame suited me. My first and only run out with the Triban saw me going 2mph faster than my previous run over the exact same route, and as it was first time out I wasn't going "at it". The gear changes are a bit weird (flipping the brake to change down) but I'm sure I will get used to it. Monkspeed has posted photos of his Triban 3 in the Photo Gallery, at £300 it was a good price for an alu-frame with carbon forks. Hope this helps. Mark (",)

HLaB · 4 Feb 2012

OP, you don't want a road bike, they are too much fun :bicycle:

jefmcg · 11 Feb 2012

Thanks everyone.

So, which sort of bike shop do people choose? Near me I have the quite nice LBS, Moores Cycles which I'd describe as a general/family sort of shop (actually, chain of 3 local stores). I've used them a couple of times for keeping my Mezzo on the road, and they've done well by me. Then there are the road/triathlon shops, where I'd be shopping right in the bottom of their range, bike lab, prologue (where my friend took two test rides and then they told her to take bike home for the night when she was having trouble deciding if a road bike was for her: they got the sale), plus another one that is only a few miles away that is the bike equivalent of an apple store.

Oh, and my commute takes me across London, so pretty well any store that lies nearish to the river is accessible, though if I have problems that require returning it to the store, something closer to home makes sense.

vickster · 12 Feb 2012

Are you in W London?

Try Pearsons in Sheen, although they are quite high end (good coffee by all accounts in store) http://www.pearsoncycles.co.uk/store/content/66/Pearson-Performance/

I think Prologue were there and closed down? I think there is an Action Bikes in Sheen too - however, if anything like Wimbledon shop, they only do Trek

What's the max budget?

jefmcg · 12 Feb 2012

Thanks Vickster.

There really is no maximum. I don't run a car, so on that basis I could reasonably spend £5000, which is the price of a decent 4 year old small car. I'm not going to do that, of course. It's a commuter vehicle. It's going to live in a shed - which is dry, but obviously exposes it to much higher risk of theft. If I can get away with £300, so much the better. If it comes to £1000, I'd reluctantly live with that. If it was more than that, I'd probably opt for a bike friday (love me a folding bike :-) )

Prologue is still there. It's a block away from Pearson's, I overshot when I was meeting my friend and Prologue.

I'm in Twickenham, btw, but these are in reasonable reach from my place.

jefmcg · 15 Feb 2012

OK, I popped into decathlon yesterday, just for a poke around. As was clear from checking availability on their website, the stock is running quite low. I spoke to a staff member, and he told me they hadn't had a delivery in a month, and were awaiting the 2012 stock.
Before that, he was trying to steer me towards flat bar road bikes, even though I specifically said triban 3 or 5. I was wearing a dress and generally not looking like a cyclist but still: is there any reason to point someone towards flat bars when they are looking at drops? I thought flat bars were gateway bikes if you were scared of drops. Surely riding on the hoods is similar to flat bars?
Looks like if I go the decathlon way, I'll be on my own in terms of fit. Still, the savings are enough that I could afford to have a fit done later (assuming I get the right frame) and still be ahead.
So I still haven't actually been on a road bike, but leant over the one triban 5 they had on a turbo, and dicked with the Sora gears. I found it hard to change the gears from the drops (I know you have to be on the hoods to press the button), my fingers were only just long enough to do it. Is this something that can be adjusted, or that I'll just have to get used to if I buy Sora?
btw, I advanced from "thinking about thinking about" to plain "thinking about". I'll probably make the purchase as soon as the risk of ice has gone.

400bhp · 15 Feb 2012

I wonder if it's worth you going for an audax style bike as they have a slightly more relaxed position?

MattHB · 15 Feb 2012

I have big hands and I find it extremely hard to change gear from the drops. I have tiagra shifters which have the 2nd leaver and I still find it hard.

vickster · 15 Feb 2012

Given your budget, I'd be looking at Tiagra or 105 or even SRAM Apex double tap. The Decathlon bike gets many plaudits, but if you are like me, you'll want the reassurance of buying from a local shop in terms of service

I don't personally think riding on the hoods is like flat bars at all in terms of hand comfort and braking - I haven't done many miles on my road bike so I am sure it may be a matter of getting used. I would not feel comfortable commuting on the road bike - clipless, carbon, skinny tyres! I feel less confident in braking on the road bike, again may be down to hand size (although the bike was built to me, narrower bars, shorter stem), just don't feel I can squeeze the brakes as tightly

I have never actually been on the drops, still need more confidence and probably a smaller belly :whistle:

Andrew_P · 15 Feb 2012

Jefmcg, I have seen the miles you do, it would be silly to scrimp on a bike. Bike values between £400-1500 you do ultimately get what you pay for although it diminishes with each leap of cash. I would be wanting 105 but would settle for Tiagra for the right bike.

I would pay an independent a visit before you press the buy button and tell them exactly what you are looking for in the bike, do you want full mudguards? do you want to be able to fit a rack? do you want "proper" road layout or the more sportive/audax/tourer set up. These are the important questions as it will determine how much you enjoy/use the bike! Frame material and fork will effect how much of the road you feel.

Really, honestly do not rely on sitting over the bike on a turbo or riding round the car park.

Andrew_P · 15 Feb 2012

Cross posted with Vickster, I forgot about the Women specfic bikes worth a rideout.

Just to counter Vickster I went from a Sit Up and Beg Marin Hybrid commuting, and went to the Speciialized Roubaix there is no way I would even consider going back to a Hybrid, I find it way more comfortable on the hoods and easier to get my shoulder looks in, plus it is such a more comfortable ride on my body. IMO Doing 150-200 miles a month the bike makes less difference, doing 400 - 600 the bike makes a lot difference.

Now that is all fine and dandy but I cannot run 25mm tyres and fit any mudguards, which makes the bike less than perfect for commuting or long touring.

I get really, and I mean really wet and cold in the winter rain, even taking this into account I bought CX for winter and it has only done 50% of my winter miles because it feels such a drag to ride!

Think about thinking about thinking about getting a road bike

jefmcg

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Andrew_P

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bobones

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Shadow

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Fubar

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HLaB

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jefmcg

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vickster

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jefmcg

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jefmcg

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400bhp

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Andrew_P

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