MORE info about compact vs. standard please.

kyperman said:

[left]....please give me the standard BS that each sales person is gonna give me to try and sell me their product.
[/left]

That's impossible.Every one of them has their own load of it. Buy the bike that fits best.That's the bottom line.

kyperman said:

[left]I know this thread is dealt with below, but could you guys give me the complete rundown on standard vs. compact. I am a new rider but I have totally become addicted to this. I am riding an OLD schwinn LeTour right now but am going to buy a bike next spring to fit me. It's gonna be either a Trek 1000, or 1200, or a Specialized Allez. The big difference is the frame, Specialized is into compact, Trek traditional, I like the look of the traditional, but I am short, 5 foot 8 with short legs.....please give me the standard BS that each sales person is gonna give me to try and sell me their product.
[/left]

I won't go into the sales BS, but I have noticed just because it's a compact frame doesn't mean the geometry is the same. Some compact frame designs are more compact than others. The Lemond bikes are compact but solely judging from the slope of the top tube, they appear to be less compact than some others.

The advice mentioned earlier is the best; buy whatever fits the best and feels the best when your riding it.

It's such a hard decision to make when you are gonne lay down a big chuck of money on a bike. You don't want to be sorry down the road ya know.

dazed&confused said:

I won't go into the sales BS, but I have noticed just because it's a compact frame doesn't mean the geometry is the same. Some compact frame designs are more compact than others. The Lemond bikes are compact but solely judging from the slope of the top tube, they appear to be less compact than some others.

The advice mentioned earlier is the best; buy whatever fits the best and feels the best when your riding it.

kyperman said:

It's such a hard decision to make when you are gonne lay down a big chuck of money on a bike. You don't want to be sorry down the road ya know.

That's the truth! If your married with kids as I am, your cycling budget may be more limited. To non-cycling people (like my wife), spending 1 or 2 grand on a bike is considered insane. To turn around in a few years and want to upgrade would not be taken well.

Around here the stores mainly carry the "big" names. If you want something else, you're going to have to order it. You may not get a chance to ride it unless they have it in stock. And the test ride would appear to be limited to a couple of turns around the parking lot. Its a tough way to make a decision.

Isn't that true. My wife does not know why I want to get a new bike, she says "You have a bike". It's a 1980 Schwinn LeTour!!!!! Anyway...you are right, there are a lot of bike shops around here, but they sell the BIG names. I am leaning toward a Specialized cause when I went in to look, they were very helpful and spent a lot of time with me. I quess I am buying the bike shop and not only the bike.

kyperman; buying the lbs as much as the bike may be the best idea you have ever had. Be that as it may still buy the bike that feels the best. I had to do a lot of fancy talking to explain the money I spent on my new bike. The wife didn't understand at all. She got over it. 😄

I also got over the mega $$ she spent on makeup & [censored] like that. Who the hell needs $6.00 hand soap & $30.00 shampoo anyway? 😠