[SIZE= 14px][COLOR= #0000ff]Hey, y'all![/COLOR][/SIZE]
[SIZE= 14px][COLOR= #0000ff]I'm copying this over from the Bike Cafe forum where I had put it, because some of my friends couldn't seem to find it. So I don't really need advice on buying the bike; I just wanna know what you think of my choice. Thanks! /img/vbsmilies/smilies/tongue.gif[/COLOR][/SIZE]
[COLOR= #0000ff]http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecsFB.aspx?Year=2010&Brand=Raleigh&Model=Calispel%20I8%20Women's&Type=bike[/COLOR][SIZE= medium] [/SIZE]
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It looks tan in the picture, but is really a warmer metallic color, kind of a pale burnished gold. It wasn't the prettiest of the bikes I tested, but it's the one that felt the best and that I didn't want to get off of, so that's what we went by. The salesman actually spent 3 literal hours with us, measuring me with this special laser thingie that measures shoulder width, pubic bone height, arm length, and height, and formulates some geometry thing that tells him which type of bike I need. He answered all my questions (and then some), and asked me so many it was like being interviewed for a big job, lol. After all the measuring and the questions and the discussing exactly what I want to do with biking, he brought out 4 different ones brands/styles for me to ride around the parking lot. [/SIZE]
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[COLOR= #0000ff][SIZE= medium]I was so impressed; he actually took each one back to the repair part of the shop and made sure the tire pressure was good and everything was trued, and then measured each one with this big thing that he had calibrated to the geometry I need, and adjusted each seat and handlebar to fit me. After riding the 4 around the parking lot, this one ended up wanting to come home with me. But the bike in the store was actually a medium and I need a large (He said he could tell by watching me ride, though the medium felt good to me), so they have to order it, and it won't be available for a week -- which means I don't get to see it until after we get back from Hawaii November 23, darn it. [/COLOR]
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[SIZE= medium]I'm already having buyer's remorse, wondering if I should have bought one of the other 4 bikes that I thought was prettier, lol. But this one really felt better under me than that one, and I'm trying to be practical for maybe the first time in my life. I don't think it's UGLY, mind you, it just doesn't make my heart go pittypat like some do. And I may like the looks better once I actually see mine fitted with its rack and fenders and basket and bell and all the pretties. It was also fairly cheap in comparison to what we were expecting to pay, coming to $570 or so with tax and shipping, so Frugal Hubby is very happy about that. [/SIZE]
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[SIZE= medium]Anyway, I bought a bike, and am glad to have the search over with. Now to get to actually riding again!![/SIZE]
[COLOR= #0000ff][SIZE= medium]Sierra[/COLOR][/SIZE]
[SIZE= 14px][COLOR= #0000ff]I'm copying this over from the Bike Cafe forum where I had put it, because some of my friends couldn't seem to find it. So I don't really need advice on buying the bike; I just wanna know what you think of my choice. Thanks! /img/vbsmilies/smilies/tongue.gif[/COLOR][/SIZE]
[COLOR= #0000ff]http://www.bikepedia.com/QuickBike/BikeSpecsFB.aspx?Year=2010&Brand=Raleigh&Model=Calispel%20I8%20Women's&Type=bike[/COLOR][SIZE= medium] [/SIZE]
[COLOR= #0000ff]
[SIZE= medium] [/COLOR]
It looks tan in the picture, but is really a warmer metallic color, kind of a pale burnished gold. It wasn't the prettiest of the bikes I tested, but it's the one that felt the best and that I didn't want to get off of, so that's what we went by. The salesman actually spent 3 literal hours with us, measuring me with this special laser thingie that measures shoulder width, pubic bone height, arm length, and height, and formulates some geometry thing that tells him which type of bike I need. He answered all my questions (and then some), and asked me so many it was like being interviewed for a big job, lol. After all the measuring and the questions and the discussing exactly what I want to do with biking, he brought out 4 different ones brands/styles for me to ride around the parking lot. [/SIZE]
[COLOR= #0000ff] [/COLOR]
[COLOR= #0000ff][SIZE= medium]I was so impressed; he actually took each one back to the repair part of the shop and made sure the tire pressure was good and everything was trued, and then measured each one with this big thing that he had calibrated to the geometry I need, and adjusted each seat and handlebar to fit me. After riding the 4 around the parking lot, this one ended up wanting to come home with me. But the bike in the store was actually a medium and I need a large (He said he could tell by watching me ride, though the medium felt good to me), so they have to order it, and it won't be available for a week -- which means I don't get to see it until after we get back from Hawaii November 23, darn it. [/COLOR]
[/SIZE]
[SIZE= medium]I'm already having buyer's remorse, wondering if I should have bought one of the other 4 bikes that I thought was prettier, lol. But this one really felt better under me than that one, and I'm trying to be practical for maybe the first time in my life. I don't think it's UGLY, mind you, it just doesn't make my heart go pittypat like some do. And I may like the looks better once I actually see mine fitted with its rack and fenders and basket and bell and all the pretties. It was also fairly cheap in comparison to what we were expecting to pay, coming to $570 or so with tax and shipping, so Frugal Hubby is very happy about that. [/SIZE]
[SIZE= medium] [/SIZE]
[SIZE= medium]Anyway, I bought a bike, and am glad to have the search over with. Now to get to actually riding again!![/SIZE]
[COLOR= #0000ff][SIZE= medium]Sierra[/COLOR][/SIZE]