best shop to buy a road bike from?

[mace2]

hey, i'm looking into buying my very first road bike... it'll be entry level, so basically i just want a good good fit.

i've gone by a couple shops and wasn't too impressed, but went by Dizzy Cycles and they seemed to really care that i got the right fit. they also seemed quite knowledgable. i'm looking at an 07 specialized allez triple.

anyone have any opinions on shops to buy from? have you bought a bike somewhere and been happy with the process? did they fit you properly?

i haven't been to la bicycletta yet, but that's on the list.

any opinions appreciated, thanks

-noob who wants to make his first purchase the right one

[the flying moose]

go see kevin at BSP langley. he knows alot about road bikes and will get you fit right.

[connor]

hey, i'm looking into buying my very first road bike... it'll be entry level, so basically i just want a good good fit.

i've gone by a couple shops and wasn't too impressed, but went by Dizzy Cycles and they seemed to really care that i got the right fit. they also seemed quite knowledgable. i'm looking at an 07 specialized allez triple.

anyone have any opinions on shops to buy from? have you bought a bike somewhere and been happy with the process? did they fit you properly?

i haven't been to la bicycletta yet, but that's on the list.

any opinions appreciated, thanks

-noob who wants to make his first purchase the right one

fit is probaly the most important thing, go for a ride on the bikes they suggest for you. Most of the bikes at La Bicicletta are super high end, If you want to spend big bucks that's the place. Cannondales are super nice too, I bought one a couple years ago at BSP downtown, guys were really helpful, let me ride it around down there..

[Couch_Surfer]

I bought at Bicycletta and Tom did a great job fitting me (is he still there?). But yes, bikes here are not low end - what's your budget?

I've also heard good things about Mighty Riders.

[shorelocal]

I purchased from Obsession last year when they were still Dizzy ... happy with the purchase and the fit is okay, but I think I need to go back in for some fit adjustments.

I also have heard Mighty Riders are good if you get off on the right foot. Campione and la Bic should also know how to fit you properly seeing as how they are road bike specific.

There are some West side shops that might also be worth a shot ... The Bike Gallery or Westpoint Cycles

[sanrensho]

Here's my advice, although it's been years since I bought a complete bike from an LBS. If the salesperson doesn't ask what type of riding you'll be doing, then politely walk away and find another person or LBS.

Every bike has it's purpose, depending on your needs, style of riding and experience level.

[TylerDurden]

Any shop can sell you a McRoadbike with aluminum frame and 105 grouppo, but the better shops will have a fit system worked out. When you're ready to buy, you go in and they take all you measurements, just like a tailor would, and then check your flexibility, ask about the intended use (ie long rides, crits, hill climber, touring etc.). Based on all this they figure out the size and geometry that best suits your body type and intended use. You tell them your pricepoint/budget and it goes from there. If you're not getting this kind of attention at point of sale, you're buying from wrong shop, IMO. They all do the measuring/calculations a little differently (this is what you're paying for). Mighty has a fit machine and are very good in working the numbers, WestPoint now has a full-on Serotta fit machine, Noel (aka old irish guy) at Cloverdale cycles is a legend amongst the Marinoni loyalists, Steve at Bike Gallery has his own system and lots of experience and obviously Bicicletta and Campione have a ton of experience in this area. I went in thinking I wanted "Brand X" and it turned out that Brand X was lousy match after we worked out the fit, and I went with the Brand which had the best fit for me, at my budget.

I don't mean to make this all sound more complicated that is has to be. Road bikes are all about fit and not about ...well everything we look for in a FR bike. Good news is that in GVRD, there are still lots of experienced shops and plenty of selection at this time of year.

Good luck!

[mace2]

thanks for the posts people, especially tyler--check your PMs

couch_surfer: $800-$900 range. so i've been shown the ocr3, allez triple, and trek 1000 thus far.

[sanrensho]

For an entry-level bike, your choices are narrower but not completely limited. As Tyler suggested, fit is all-important. Don't get too hung up on components and get a bike that fits. Choose a shop that will replace the necessary parts (usually stem) to get the right fit.

Road bikes don't break down that often, so it isn't as much of a penalty to choose an LBS that is a bit far from you.

[shorelocal]

This discussion got me to thinking about the used roadbike market ... why is it not dead if getting fit at an LBS is the be-all, end-all to choosing a roadbike? Surely LBS's aren't gonna measure you up if you're planning to buy used anyways, although I'm sure lots of ppl play along just to get measured up, at least for frame size. So why would someone ever buy used if they run the risk of buying a frame that isn't suited to their body?

I went in thinking I wanted "Brand X" and it turned out that Brand X was lousy match after we worked out the fit, and I went with the Brand which had the best fit for me, at my budget.

What about racers who are sponsored by bike companies? What if Brand X sponsors their team and they're obligated to ride Brand X's frames? Take Symmetrics for example ... what are the odds that the whole team, who I'm sure are all on the same frame model, are all perfectly suited to riding Norco's geometry? These guys & girls are riding thousands of miles on these bikes, so are some of them riding a bike that isn't suited for them?

Last question .... can any frame be made to suit any body with the correct choice of add-on components (stem, bars, seat, etc.)?

[the flying moose]

Last question .... can any frame be made to suit any body with the correct choice of add-on components (stem, bars, seat, etc.)?

yes. you get the frame with the basic proper size for you and then you try different stems, bars, seats, etc. to get a comfortable fit. its amazing the diff between a 90mm stem and 110mm stem and how it can affect your comfort level.

[mace2]

another question...
i was looking at the $900 range (ie sora and tiagra)

is it worth waiting and saving up for maybe a $1500 bike? (i think that's 105 components?)

as a beginner does it matter at all?
thanks

[Dantes Inferno]

Blackdog bikes, as much as i hate them, is very knowledgable with road bikes. It is their profession.

[sanrensho]

is it worth waiting and saving up for maybe a $1500 bike? (i think that's 105 components?)

as a beginner does it matter at all?


This doesn't answer your question, but consider the following.

-May through August/October are prime road riding months. Personally, if it were me, I'd want to get riding ASAP.

-Have you budgeted for accessories/clothing? At the very least, get yourself a good pair of shorts. Believe me, it makes a difference. Road helmets are generally lighter, same for road shoes and pedals.

-Consider the used market. If you can handle a measuring tape, then you can get a decent idea of your frame size using an online fit calculator (see the stickied thread).

Used entry level bike (Sora/Tiagra)=Approx. $500

Used mid-level bike w/105= Around $900 (rough guess, lots of variables)

-As a beginner, Sora and Tiagra will function exactly the same for you as 105, just heavier and not finished as nicely. (Sora uses a thumbshifter that would be a disadvantage for racing.) Regardless of the line, the Shimano stuff works.

-On the other hand, if you're the type that gets upgradeitis, then you're better off with a mid-level bike. It doesn't really make financial sense to upgrade components on an entry level bike. From a financial standpoint, you're generally better off buying a new bike than upgrading an entry level road rig.

[Rexthespeedster]

Blackdog bikes, as much as i hate them, is very knowledgable with road bikes. It is their profession.

Didn't Blackdog bikes go in to receivership, have an auctioneer sell of their stock, and is now closed?

[motion]

go for a bike with the new 105 and you'll never need another road bike in your life. You can race it and train on it all year round the only time you'll need to take it into the shop is when the chain and cogs need to be replaced. The I'm pretty sure you can go to campione to get any bike fit for you. They might charge a bit for it, but that way you wont have to pass up a great deal just because you dont know if the stem is the right length for you.

[motion]

BTW dont get a triple crank it makes you look weak

[shorelocal]

Just checked the Mighty Riders site and they will fit anyone up during a 1 hr session for $60. Seems like a good investment.

[mace2]

okay i've decided i'm gonna spend a bit more and hopefully get something i can use for a while yet, without feeling the need to upgrade

the tiagra one is $1175... the 105 one is $1500
is the extra $325 worth it?

105 one:
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=21900

tiagra one:
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=21892

thanks for all the good replies

[Robot]

the difference between tiagra and 105 is pretty substantial.

the 105 group is pretty nice this year and has been well received. cycling news review (http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2007/reviews/shimano105group). i rode around on a 105-equipped bike last week and it doesn't 'feel' // function a whole lot differently than my ultegra // dura ace setup.

if you can afford the difference, it'll save you a whackload of cash over upgrading on your own after the fact. it'd also make selling the bike easier if you absolutely hate riding on the road.

[BareFootMeshback]

I would agree with Robot, its probably worth the cash. 105 gets you to a level where everything more or less functions like ultegra/durace and its more about weight. 105 shifts great, looks good and isn't gonzo expensive. Go with 105, you will be happy and when stuff wears out replace it with ultegra. But are you sure you want a triple? Nothing wrong with them but with a wider range cassette it might not be necessary.

[mace2]

Thanks! I am going to go with the 105.

well, I haven't had a chance to test ride it yet (in either triple or a double)...

so i'm not sure how many gears i'll need. but i figure, as a beginner, i'd rather have more than less.

[old_school_n00b]

Mighty > all

Bring Kilkenny.

[TylerDurden]

For an entry-level bike, your choices are narrower but not completely limited. As Tyler suggested, fit is all-important. Don't get too hung up on components and get a bike that fits. Choose a shop that will replace the necessary parts (usually stem) to get the right fit.


In the word's of MightyEd: "Changing out a stem to make a bike fit is like palliative care".

Cockpit length, weight distribution (ie so you don't get numb hands or butt), steering characteristic etc. are all lengthy topics, and I don't want to make this thread overly complicated, but just trust me - there's more to it than stem length, and a good bike fitter will explain why.

[XXX_er]

you gotta start with the right frame size period ... you can't do it by changng the stem

I was on an old 56cm vitus which I knew was too big ,I figured I needed a 54cm but when I actualy got fitted I was on a 52cm Cannondale CAAD8 . Its good if you can go to a shop that has several sizes of the same frame so they can actualy see how you look on different sizes .

The difference is huge IMO,getting out of the saddle to sprint ,the comfort,handling , there is no comparison between the right size and a bike thats TOO BIG ... with road fit is all you got period

In order of importance I would say fit is HUGE well over 50% of the equation followed by having a stiff but comfy modern frame and last sti ...105 is plenty good IMO.

a triple crank will make your dick look small to some other roadies but I figured I wasnt getting any younger so who cares what other people think

[motion]

you gotta start with the right frame size period ... you can't do it by changng the stemThat's exactly right but once you figure out your size they are all the same. You have three contact points. The bars, the sadle and the pedals everything between is just filler. The only thing that you should ever have to change is the stem.

Dont worry about how many gears you need get a climbing cogset with a 25 tooth big cog. That will give you a huge range of gears to choose from. For some bizzare reason roadies love tiny rear cogs with tight ratios. It has never made any sense to me. Twenty five teath in the back really opens up a bike on big hills.

The triple cranks are there to make roadbikes more accessable to seniors, pregnant women, and fat old lawers who want to pretend they're lance armstrong. You're a student who likes to ride so you really dont need a third ring. Besides Vancouver doesnt really have any hills that require ultra low gears, they add weight to your bike, they make your dick look small. Sorry triple x, it's science.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Tripples are also very handy for touring.....even if you're not on the viagra side of 65.

[motion]

^ fair enough, but if that's what you're thinking just make sure the frame and fork have rack mounts.

[shorelocal]

Thanks for the sig quote motion ... I needed something fresh for the Spring :D

[motion]

Glad i could help

[TylerDurden]

The triple cranks are there to make roadbikes more accessable to seniors, pregnant women, and fat old lawers who want to pretend they're lance armstrong. You're a student who likes to ride so you really dont need a third ring. Besides Vancouver doesnt really have any hills that require ultra low gears, they add weight to your bike, they make your dick look small. Sorry triple x, it's science.

That wasn't elitist AT ALL. Thanks for coming out for the "first road bike" Q&A, eh? I'm sure more will want to sign up after that one *insert golf clap*.

[motion]

Correy, Trevor, Sorry I made you guys cry...

Mace2 you might want to look at a compact drive crankset insead of a triple. it will give you slightly shorter gears with out adding any weight. I may have sounded a bit harsh but imagine comuting in your granny gear. Would it feel awesome? Road bikes are fast, stiff, light and after a couple weeks of riding you'll realize that third ring is aobut as useful as a third niple.
BTW Dizzy cycles is a solid shop. Gordo really knows bikes and he's probably one of the best allround riders you'll ever meet. Be aware though that you may pay a bit of a premium for the serice and location.

[shorelocal]

That wasn't elitist AT ALL. Thanks for coming out for the "first road bike" Q&A, eh? I'm sure more will want to sign up after that one *insert golf clap*.

It's about as elitist as someone commenting on someone's choice of a full-on 9 inch travel DH bike for shuttling Seymour 'cause we know no one ever makes comments like that around here :rolleyes:

I wouldn't say you were harsh motion ... I found it kinda funny, esp. since one of my road riding buddies has a triple and we're just a lil competitive :D

[LeeLau]

Obsession really does know bike fit. James in particular really understands that aspect of road bikes

[motion]

Yeah James is another great allrounder too.
Hiya Lee long time no see!
I'll be moving back to town fairly soon and hopefully picking up an new ride. We should go for a spin.

[old_school_n00b]

Surely LBS's aren't gonna measure you up if you're planning to buy used anyways, although I'm sure lots of ppl play along just to get measured up, at least for frame size. So why would someone ever buy used if they run the risk of buying a frame that isn't suited to their body?

Ed Luciano at Mighty Riders took me through a fitting session and gave me a set of numbers to look for in a used bike, then helped me get set up once I'd found something suitable. "Playing along" is poor form, IMHO. It's not fair to waste the shop's time - pay up for your fitting.

There are still some outstanding bargains available in the classic road bike market, but prices are climbing fast. I had the pleasure of talking with two serious collectors a couple of weeks ago at Dream Cycle, and they can't even fathom prices these days, especially for consumables like chains/rings, brake pads/hoods, freewheels, etc. It's pricing newbies out of the hobby, and they seemed pretty sad about it.

[old_school_n00b]

Dont worry about how many gears you need get a climbing cogset with a 25 tooth big cog. That will give you a huge range of gears to choose from. For some bizzare reason roadies love tiny rear cogs with tight ratios. It has never made any sense to me. Twenty five teath in the back really opens up a bike on big hills.

The triple cranks are there to make roadbikes more accessable to seniors, pregnant women, and fat old lawers who want to pretend they're lance armstrong. You're a student who likes to ride so you really dont need a third ring. Besides Vancouver doesnt really have any hills that require ultra low gears, they add weight to your bike, they make your dick look small. Sorry triple x, it's science.

I wholeheartedly support improving accessibility to cycling and spinning light lazy gears by any means necessary. You only get one pair of knees. I run a 14-30 touring stack on the back, a regular 52-42 up front, and am strongly considering a compact crankset paired with an IRD 11-28 cassette.

Run what works for you, and don't worry about what the kids on the internet say is cool.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Ed Luciano at Mighty Riders took me through a fitting session and gave me a set of numbers to look for in a used bike, then helped me get set up once I'd found something suitable. "Playing along" is poor form, IMHO. It's not fair to waste the shop's time - pay up for your fitting.
Just an extension of this thought, but perhaps the bike shops should start charging a small fee for a complete bike fitting session. Maybe $20 incl. taxes, and refundable if you buy a bike from them in the next 30 days.

That way you don't feel guilty about getting a fitting without buying a bike (since you're paying for a service), and the shop gets a little something out of their time.

[shorelocal]

Just an extension of this thought, but perhaps the bike shops should start charging a small fee for a complete bike fitting session. Maybe $20 incl. taxes, and refundable if you buy a bike from them in the next 30 days.

That way you don't feel guilty about getting a fitting without buying a bike (since you're paying for a service), and the shop gets a little something out of their time.

Sounds like a decent idea if all shops followed suit ... plus, it might provide the consumer with a more thorough fitting session if the shop is recovering something for their time.

[sanrensho]

Unless you live and ride in a dead flat area, I highly recommend a compact (110 BCD) double. That gives you the option of going as low as a 34T in the front, with simpler shifting than a triple.

Worst case scenario, if you don't need the lower gears, you run it as a 39/52T or do a trade for a standard 135 BCD double. Compact cranks are a hot commodity, so you will have no trouble finding someone who wants to swap their standard double.

The compact gives you the most flexibility in a double. For a bailout gear, you can couple a 34T front ring with a 11-28/30/32 mountain cassette, similar to what Old School Noob suggests. That gives you similar low gearing to a triple, but with simpler shifting.

[brian]

I run compacts on my cross bike and put them on my road bike last summer when I went to Europe. It helped on some of the longer climbs. The year before I just put the largest mountain bike cogset that would fit. I can't really see the need for triples around here unless your bike is weighted down.

Luckily we have a enough people at my office that ride that we bring in someone once a year to do fittings. One hour blocks and it works out well. plus the person doing it makes some good money for the day as it's usually a full day on sometimes 2

[XXX_er]

That's exactly right but once you figure out your size they are all the same. You have three contact points. The bars, the sadle and the pedals everything between is just filler. The only thing that you should ever have to change is the stem.

Dont worry about how many gears you need get a climbing cogset with a 25 tooth big cog. That will give you a huge range of gears to choose from. For some bizzare reason roadies love tiny rear cogs with tight ratios. It has never made any sense to me. Twenty five teath in the back really opens up a bike on big hills.

Besides Vancouver doesnt really have any hills that require ultra low gears, they add weight to your bike, they make your dick look small. Sorry triple x, it's science.

what does "all the same" mean ?If you are playing with seat front to rear/seat height/stem length I don't think its "all the same " .

A longer stem isnt gona feel the same as a short stem ,moving a seat front/back to make something fit that doesnt really will make it feel different to attack out of the saddle and you will be in a different position relative to the BB

not all brands measure a frame the same way ,its best to try the specific brand of bike on

My vitus was too closely geared ,so we went 53/39 and a larger granny cog on the 7spd cluster and ya that was enough but on the new bike I just went 27spd and I now got all the gears I will ever need till I actualy have a jammer and die while riding and they have to pry my hands from the brake hoods


BTW I don't live in vancover ,note there is a whole big world outside of the GVRD.I moved north ...something about having to sell a left or possibly both nuts in order to finance basic living let alone the possibility of property owner ship



ps:if you are playing with hardware to get enough gear inches while running a dual ring just so it doesnt look like you actualy have a small dick who is kidding whom?

if I remove my granny ring is that like instant viagra

[TylerDurden]

Luckily we have a enough people at my office that ride that we bring in someone once a year to do fittings. One hour blocks and it works out well. plus the person doing it makes some good money for the day as it's usually a full day on sometimes 2

I want to work at your office! Man, I was happy just to get free coffee....

Back to the shop fitting - as I said: "when you're ready to buy" get these experience shops to measure and fit you. Make an appointment so guys like Ed can set aside and hour for you, and bring nice bzzrs like ol schoo noob says. If you're not sure road is for you or have no budget for it, then just hold off on the whole exercise.

Once you've owned a well-fitting frame, you've got more options: you can buy used frames with confidence, or you can take you measurements to custom builder to get your dream bike. Companies like IF will ask you what you like about you current ride and what you would change, as well as its geometry numbers.

[motion]

ps:if you are playing with hardware to get enough gear inches while running a dual ring just so it doesnt look like you actualy have a small dick who is kidding whom?

if I remove my granny ring is that like instant viagra

nice one

What i meant by "all the same" is if you map out those three contact points with catresian coordinates then reproduce them exactly you will have two bikes that fit extctly the same. You can do that with any frame of equal size (with the exception of a tt frame with a super steep seat tube that can not be compensated for with sadle fore aft adjustment) If you ride them blindfolded on a trainer you would never be able to tell the difference. I realize that there may be a few minor handling differences but 90% of road riding is just pedaling in a straight line anyway. No matter what, it'll still feel like a road bike.
Remember when gary fisher came out with "genesis geometry?" or G2 for that matter. If you believe the zipper heads you might think that the geometry of those bikes makes a huge difference but if you ask me they still feel like xc racers.
BTW i think compact cranks are lame too but i'm not here to pass judgment I just want mace2 to realize that most roadies take a dim view of triples. I dont want him to be the new kid at school who tucks his shirt in.

[mace2]

nice one

What i meant by "all the same" is if you map out those three contact points with catresian coordinates then reproduce them exactly you will have two bikes that fit extctly the same. You can do that with any frame of equal size (with the exception of a tt frame with a super steep seat tube that can not be compensated for with sadle fore aft adjustment) If you ride them blindfolded on a trainer you would never be able to tell the difference. I realize that there may be a few minor handling differences but 90% of road riding is just pedaling in a straight line anyway. No matter what, it'll still feel like a road bike.
Remember when gary fisher came out with "genesis geometry?" or G2 for that matter. If you believe the zipper heads you might think that the geometry of those bikes makes a huge difference but if you ask me they still feel like xc racers.
BTW i think compact cranks are lame too but i'm not here to pass judgment I just want mace2 to realize that most roadies take a dim view of triples. I dont want him to be the new kid at school who tucks his shirt in.

:agree: am i gonna get beat up?

really though, thanks guys for the comments.. i'm going to try out both setups and talk to the guys at the shop to determine whether to go triple or double.

excuse my ignorance, but what is a "compact" crank? versus a normal one?

[motion]

It's a crank with slightly smaller chainrings. They give you shorter gears but they limit your top speed.
BTW triple x I live up north too and right about now I would give both my nuts to be back on the coast

[sanrensho]

excuse my ignorance, but what is a "compact" crank? versus a normal one?

Compact (110 BCD) crank: Smallest chainring is 34T. Usually comes stock with 34/50T or 36/50T ring combo. But you can run a 39/52 combo.

Standard (135 BCD) road crank: Smallest chainring is 38T. Usually stock with 39/52 ring combo.

[Couch_Surfer]

This 3 vs 2 up front debate is even lamer then the shaving your legs debate.

[sanrensho]

This 3 vs 2 up front debate is even lamer then the shaving your legs debate.

I heard this rumor that you're not supposed to wear gonch beneath lycra shorts. They can't be serious, can they?

[Couch_Surfer]

I heard this rumor that you're not supposed to wear gonch beneath lycra shorts. They can't be serious, can they?

that's such propaganda - next thing someone will tell me I shouldn't tuck my t-shirt into my lycra.

[sanrensho]

that's such propaganda

Been wondering this for awhile.

How high do I shave? Up to navel? De-carpet everything in between?

[Couch_Surfer]

Been wondering this for awhile.

How high do I shave? Up to navel? De-carpet everything in between?

Depends if you want to earn the nickname "Hair Shorts" or not...

[motion]

hair shorts or baboon ass...
the choce is yours

[XXX_er]

BTW triple x I live up north too and right about now I would give both my nuts to be back on the coast

so now who's got the limp dick ?

if I was back on the coast I would have to work instead of being a hippyscum dirtbag ski/paddle/kayak bum with no visable means of support

[the flying moose]

I heard this rumor that you're not supposed to wear gonch beneath lycra shorts. They can't be serious, can they?

i actually witnessed someone doing that last year. the had their tighty whiteys hanging out the top of their lycra.

[the flying moose]

Been wondering this for awhile.

How high do I shave? Up to navel? De-carpet everything in between?

knee to nipple and everything in between.

[brian]

thong under bibs. only way to roll.

[motion]

so now who's got the limp dick ?

Easy now!
I never implied anybody has a limp dick.
I just said yours looks small.
Big difference.

[sanrensho]

had their tighty whiteys hanging out the top of their lycra.

Sh*t.

So that's why they keep laughing at me during the group ride. And I thought it was the Sora/Tiagra-level components on my rain bike.

Or my triple.

[brian]

I want to work at your office! Man, I was happy just to get free coffee....

yeah we get a few perks. washrooms have showers and lockers for the bike commuters, one of the backrooms has an area that's set-up for roller workouts and we just finished this bouldering cave for the climbers.

[Ninja]

Easy now!
I never implied anybody has a limp dick.
I just said yours looks small.
Big difference.He just came out of the pool.

[ChunkyMonkey]

yeah we get a few perks. washrooms have showers and lockers for the bike commuters, one of the backrooms has an area that's set-up for roller workouts and we just finished this bouldering cave for the climbers.
:damn:
Whom would one have to blow to get a job there?

[hooli]

Been wondering this for awhile.

How high do I shave? Up to navel? De-carpet everything in between?

start at the mono-brow and head south