Hi, Anthony ~
No, you are not boring me! Quite and absolutely the opposite! Thank you so much for spending time helping me and possibly others who are reading this exchange. You are very generous to do so, and I appreciate it.
avmanansala said:
Jane, most of the information I posted came straight from web pages printed from Mike's Bikes (
www.mikesbikes.com) where I purchased my bike, from the sales person who helped me who very patiently answered my noobie questions and from the Cannondale 2006 catalog. The new 2007 Cannondale catalog is out and that there are a few changes for next year beyond paint in the RW line.
I stopped by one of my LBSs last night and picked up a copy of the 2007 Cannondale catalog so now I have that resource.
I also took a test ride on a medium RW400. Previously, I had ridden a small at one of their other locations. It turns out that I am right on the edge between a small and a medium size in the Cannondale RW series, and I can't do a sequential test of the small and then the medium because none of my LBSs has both! From memory, though, when I rode the small I didn't feel uncomfortable or cramped, and when I rode the medium I didn't feel uncomfortable or too stretched.
One of the guys at the shop where I rode the small said that the fit of the small looked fine; only when I saw the small next to the larger Trek 7.3fx that I had tested did I ask him whether I might be better off with a medium RW (because I didn't feel too stretched on the Trek), and his response was that I could try it but that he felt that the fit of the small was fine because he didn't have to raise the seat too far out of the post to accommodate me. One of the guys at the shop where I rode the medium said that I could probably get away with either size equally as well in terms of fit, and the other said that, as a rule, when a person is on the edge they should always go with the larger bike because that way they'll have "more control". Since, as you wrote, "fit is everything" - just thinking logically, I would certainly expect discomfort and frustration to result from a poor fit - and since there is ambiguity, I am not sure what to do...
...BECAUSE...there is a slightly used Cannondale RW 700 Headshok that I have the opportunity to buy that I think has everything that I want for a good price and is only barely used (has 14 miles on it), only it's a small, not a medium. Now, if I were sure that it would be a good fit, I would buy it! But since I'm not sure, I am hesitating to make the decision. Hmmm. Any advice?
avmanansala said:
Coming from a photography background and moderating at one probably the biggest private Nikon user group on the net (
www.nikonians.org) I know that getting started on a new interest can be daunting but the friendly sharing of information and experience can result in an enthusiast for life. The best thing to do is ask a question, get information, and test the answers from several sources. There are no dumb questions!
Thank you for that!
avmanansala said:
Back to your post,
and I have a question of clarification here. So, given what you get in
stepping up from the 800 to the 1000, what is the advantage of that? A
lighter bike and therefore a faster bike?
I'm going to say yes.
Jumping from the low to mid-line product to an upper line product will yield a significant advantage vs. cost. However, the performance increase from an upper-line product to the top of the line product may be significantly more expensive but the rewards/benefit, marginal.
That's fine, but would you also get a better feeling ride of the long haul out of that?
I'm going to say, maybe. Here's why: From what I have read and been told about Flat Bar bikes is that the hands can get numb due to the limited hand positions vs. a Drop Bar. Bar ends help by adding a little more variation to the bike. Trekking Bars are even better for longer rides. My hypothesis is that the more upright sitting posture and the additional hand positions should help give a better feeling. However (and this is big) I haven't done any distance riding yet, hence it is still a hypothesis.
Okay, this is really great information. So, the Trekking Bars on the 800 (and I'll add the the better vibration absorption of the 800) sound like good things. I have read about the hand numbness issue, too. Now I am also thinking about what Rick wrote about the Specialized Sequoia being an "extremely relaxed drop bar road bike." That sounds interesting, too...of course, if I could be sure that the fit would be okay, I could always add Trekking Bars to the slightly used RW 700 Headshok if I were to buy it, right? The reason that I am so obsessed with that bike right now is that it is an RW with all of the advantages of that with respect to geometry, and it's an upper-end RW with all of the advantages of that with respect to componentry, durability and weight, AND it has a Headshok frame and fork, which, as I understand it, means shock absorption in front and in the suspension seat...and in the front it's shock absorption that can be "turned off" by twisting a dial. They don't make this model any more (this is a 2003 model), but it sounds great to me, like just what I'm looking for - I'm just worried about it being a small and me being on the edge between a small and a medium. I want the bike, but I don't want to make a big mistake which leaves me having to sell it myself in a short while!
avmanansala said:
Don't forget, the entire bike, including rider, is a system and systems integration can be a fragile thing. Making one seemingly small change can result in a significant performance gain or loss: clipless pedals vs. clipped; soft tires vs. puncture resistant tires, etc. I have read many a post where commuters have reduced their commute time or seen an increase in average speed merely by changing from one brand tire to another.
Fragile seems like a good word to describe this. There's surely a science to it to some degree, but perhaps there is more art than science because of the important personal preference/comfort factor...makes this even more complex...
avmanansala said:
I'll give it a go
At the very least, you'll be able to say "nah, this isn't for me." Test ride, ask questions, test ride some more. Make sure the bike fits you; fit is everything, right? (If you have a library nearby, check out Bicycling magazine, April 2004 Buyer's Guide; I think the April issues are the Buyer's Guides so you should be able to see similar articles.)
I'll check out Bicycling magazine. That's a great idea!
Thanks again for your help. I can't say that enough! Before this exchange started, I was feeling quite alone in this decision. None of my friends or family are really into cycling save one...and she has fallen off the wagon after having trained hard and really enjoyed a cycling trip in Vermont three or four years ago. For that, she bought a Raleigh hybrid and has been thinking about upgrading to a road bike. I am going to try to convince her to do that or at least to get back on her current bike once in a while for rides! I'm sure I'll like riding alone, too...this brings up another think I have been considering...I wonder if she'll have trouble keeping up with me if she keeps her Raleigh and I am zipping along on a RW of some description.
At any rate, any more insights that you have will be greatly appreciated. I am especially torn about the RW 700 opportunity. What do you think about that?
Happy Saturday! Soon you'll have your bike and so you can take a nice, long ride on a day like this! Me, too, hopefully!
Jane