> I think test riding bikes for newbies is confusing to them and serves no real good purpose. In our
> shop, no-one gets to test ride the bike they're buying, and everyone I've sold a bike to has been
> happy with the way their new bike rides. That's why I recommend finding a good shop and not
getting
> caught up in all the test riding.
Doesn't work for me. I want to get the customer as familiar as possible with gears & brakes, not to
mention field questions on comfort issues, before they hit the road. A lot of people are easily
discouraged by little things, and embarrassed to admit to them. So they get their new bike, try it
around the block and discover they don't quite understand the gears. And they're reluctant to bring
it back to the shop because they figure it will make them look stupid because it's probably
something really simple. So what happens? The bike sits in the garage forever.
Before they go out on a real test ride, I take them out to the parking lot and watch them ride
around for a minute or two... even people who claim they know what they're doing. Amazing how many
don't actually understand the real mechanics of shifting (especially for the front derailleur, which
requires that you actually hold the lever in place for a moment when shifting from a smaller
chainring to a larger one).
As far as everyone being happy, that's everyone that you know of. The ones that worry me are the
ones you never hear from. How many people buy things that have problems, and, instead of returning
them, figure it's something wrong with them, not the product, and figure it was just a very
expensive lesson to them (that they shouldn't have bought a bike in the first place)?
--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
http://www.ChainReactionBicycles.com
"Robin Hubert" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "Mike Jacoubowsky" <
[email protected]> wrote in message
>
news:[email protected]...
> > > I am planning to purchase my first road bike after several years riding MTB and Hybrid on the
> > > street. I have test driven the Raliegh Competition, all Ultrega and aluminum, carbon fork for
> > > $1600. Specialized Allez Elite Cro-Mo, with 105 and carbon fork $1300. Also tried The Trek
> > > 2300, 2002 for $1600.00 and want to test ride a similar Cannondale. The Raliegh looks and
> > > feels great and seems to give the most for the money. They all handled similar, however a bit
> > > hard to get used to the road posture from a hybrid. Any buying advice to a newbie on these
> > > brands/Models would be appreciated.
> >
> > One of the biggest differences you'll find will be between the expertise
> of
> > one dealer and another in terms of setting the bikes up for you. If, so far, you've just been
> > tossed a bike with someone saying "Let's have you stand over this and see how it fits" and
> > sending you out the door, you
do
> > *not* know how any of those bikes actually ride.
> >
> > You should check out this article on our website-
> >
> >
http://www.ChainReaction.com/roadbiketestrides.htm
> >
> > It's one of the few on our site that's both brand & material neutral; it simply tells you how a
> > bike should be set up for the test ride (which
> helps
> > you to evaluate the dealer as well) and what you ought to look for as
you
> > ride.
> >
> > One last note- you should narrow your search as quickly as possible; otherwise, you'll never be
> > happy with what you've found. Too many
options
> > can turn you into a professional searcher, and there will *always* be something else you haven't
> > tried yet. You need to get past that and get into riding!
> >
>
> I think test riding bikes for newbies is confusing to them and serves no real good purpose. In our
> shop, no-one gets to test ride the bike they're buying, and everyone I've sold a bike to has been
> happy with the way their new bike rides. That's why I recommend finding a good shop and not
getting
> caught up in all the test riding.
>
>
> --
> Robin Hubert <
[email protected]>