New Bike, First ride, Feeling of absoluete bliss

[MikeyOz]

Well it took about a year all up, from the time I initially decided to upgrade, but that last 4 weeks have been intensive bike searching weeks and then the Bicycling Australia show. In the past 2 weeks I had tried a Cannondale Six, LaPiere, Team Alex (inexa frames), Look 486, Colnagno Dream, Bianchi and Guru.

I had pretty much decided on a carbon frame with some stiffness and after the past 5-6 years on my trusty and great Avanti Monza, this morning I took my Guru Carbonio out for its first official ride, I was nervous, excited and tenative.

I cannot describe in the words the absoluete cycling pleasure I experienced, I think for the money I spent any bike would have been great, but when I test rode this bike I just had that feeling, Im sure I still have this goofy look on my face, but I just had to share the experience, the Wife just doesn't get it, I think she is a little jealous

I just feel so contented and cant wait for the next ride, and it has certainly instilled a new bit of extra passon for riding into me, not that I was lacking much in the first place

If anybody is toying with the idea of upgrading and has the money to spend, all I can say is, get out there test ride and buy, what a great feeling, and if any advice I can offer, dont hesitate to ask, im certainly glad the upgrade experience is over for me.

Mikey

 

[nitrous]

Awesome!!!

I'm also in the hunt, not for a replacement, but for my first roadie. Currently riding a hybrid and a few months away from upgrading. Been looking at the options around $2000 - $2500max. Giant (TCR 2, OCR 0 & 1), Trek 1200, Specialised, Avanti etc etc.

I get more confused each time I go to a different bike store and see their different stock.

Basic requirements are 40km a day, mainly on bike trail. Weekend rides with mates, current weight 100kg, looking to get closer to 90 by January.

Anyone got any suggestions?

 

[MikeyOz]

Hey Nitrous,

yeah it is very confusing, the more you look the more brands you see, but for your price, you should be able to get a great bike, my first Avanti cost me 1500 and I rode it to death for 5 years.

If you are looking at current model you will pay extra which sometimes just means different colors on the frame.

However, if you are looking at 2004 or even 2003 models you could get an awesome deal, possibly even carbon forks! I saw a 2003 bike in a shop the other day which had carbon forks for under $2000.

As much as I personally dont like them, Giant bikes are great value, my brother has 2003 Euro 2 or something like that and he says it is great, and judging by the amount you see on the road they are obviously very GOOD value for money.

My Avanti was a great ride, kind of heavy, but still a great ride, you would be able to get a better deal now.

Narrow it down to about 3 bikes, by making some firm choices, obviously I guess you are probably limited to an aluminim frame, probably 105, maybe Ultegra depending on the deal you get, build up a repore with maybe one or 2 bike shops and make it known you are very serious and are keen to buy and they should look after you.

Test ride! If a shop owner wont let you test ride, simple dont buy off them, its your money why should you spend it without trying first! That took 3 bike shops off the list for me.

let us know what ya get

 

[nitrous]

Thanks for your advice Mikey, I'm gathering more and more information every day and the more I get, the less likely I am to buy a Giant - the Avanti's look like a much better deal at the moment.... that said, I'm not sure what surprises lie around the next corner.


Still trying to find a bike store/rep that I can trust. I've had conflicting advice from that many reps that it definately seems like they only have their interests at heart and aren't listening to what I'm asking, do you have any suggestions or recommendations?

Fitzroy Cycles (Carnegie) - bagged Giants, pushed Avanti heavily.
Freedom Machine, pushed the Specialised.
SBR - Bianchi, Cannondale - bagged Giant.
Ashburton Cycles, Ciocc, Giant, bagged Avanti.

 

[MikeyOz]

Cool,

I was not sure if you were in melbourne I did not check, you should also note, basically Specialized and Avanti are brought into Australia by the same importer from New Zealand

Personally I dont like Giants, but there are a hell alot of them out there, but like I said before value for money, money is usually the deciding factor.

Ive learn't that bike stores basically have to push what bikes they have in store, I would consider SBR a higher end bike shop, even though they do have lower price bikes.

The guys at swim bike run have always looked after me very well and Justin at SBR looked after me pretty good with the purchase of my GURU

Ivanhoe cycles is a good shop as well, Greg, there let me try whatever I wanted and they had a good range.

Freedom machine is where I bought my original Avanti from, I would have had no problems with buying a bike from them, they looked after me very well.

BikeNow have a lot of Giants they also have scott, cannondale and orbea, I get al my service done there because I live across the road from them. They do great services.

Test ride, Test ride, Test ride, keep hassling them until they are commited to sell you a bike on a good deal.

Every shop if you buy a bike should offer unlimited little tweaks and tune ups, especially in the first couple of months and at least 1 free service.

For that price i think you should be considering a Specialized, Giant, Avanti, Lower end Cannondale (but not good value for money), Trek

 

[mattjones82]

I recently purchased my first bike (a hybrid, Shogun Metro SE) and was very impressed by the customer service at Bikes Direct, in Dandenong Rd Carnegie (About 100 meters from Fitzroy Cycles actually). I eneded up paying a little more, but the customer service was second to none.

Matt

 

[nitrous]

Well, I finally bought it!!!!!!

http://www.giant-bicycle.com/au/030.000.000/030.000.000.asp?model=9883

Was a little over my initial price range of $2500. Lawrencia Cycles in Hawthorn Melb had an amazing deal at $3299 + $500 to spend on anything else in store. So I got shoes, pedals, lights, computer, cages, bag, pump and tubes thrown in. Retail is $3799 + extras.

Amazing deal I thought, so was happy to spend a little extra $$$$ for a bike that was far and away better than anything else $500-$800 cheaper.

Was really excited to get out on it this morning but Melbourne's stormy weather talked me out of it. Wasn't game to have my first ride in clipless and thin tyres in the rain. Not to mention making my brand new bike dirty!!!!

 

[Bikesoiler]

Will we see you (&new bike) on the BR? A weekly trip though the eastern hills of Melbourne.

Keep an eye on aus.bicycle for details.

 

[nitrous]

Will we see you (&new bike) on the BR? A weekly trip though the eastern hills of Melbourne.

Keep an eye on aus.bicycle for details.

Pardon my ignorance.... what's the BR? What day do you hit the hills?

 

[Bikesoiler]

Pardon my ignorance.... what's the BR? What day do you hit the hills?

Sunday, 07:20, Doncaster.

"Bunch Ride (x)" - Meet 7:20am every Sunday at Doncaster Shoppingtown corner (Doncaster and Tram/Williamsons). Map here: BR(x) Map. 60-70k roundtrip. 25kph'ish average, catering for all speeds with faster guys waiting at various hill tops. See www.cyclingforums.com or the newsgroup aus.bicycle for weekly details.

 

[nitrous]

Sunday, 07:20, Doncaster.

"Bunch Ride (x)" - Meet 7:20am every Sunday at Doncaster Shoppingtown corner (Doncaster and Tram/Williamsons). Map here: BR(x) Map. 60-70k roundtrip. 25kph'ish average, catering for all speeds with faster guys waiting at various hill tops. See www.cyclingforums.com or the newsgroup aus.bicycle for weekly details.

Unfortunately a bit late for me. I have a young family and it is important to me to be able to spend weekends with them. I would like to be on the road by 6am so I can be home to enjoy the rest of the day by 9 or 10 at the latest.

However, I may rock up one week if possible.

Enjoy.

 

[nitrous]

So, now it's time for me to return this thread to it's original title after my hijack.

Had my first ride on the new bike today. It really was beautiful and yes it was a feeling of bliss!!

I had to keep double checking the speedo as I couldn't believe the speeds I was doing, 35k up hill into a wind!! Previously, I would have been happy doing 35k going down the hill.

Only thing I can compare it to is jumping out of an old volkswagen and into a new porsche.

I feel that my cycling is about to take on a whole new level of fun!

FANTASTIC!!!!!!