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#31
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On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 11:07:25 -0600, Pat Lamb
wrote: jj wrote: On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 16:19:24 GMT, TomP wrote: Decide the maximum you want to spend. Then take 20% from that figure. With the 80% figure, go to the L.B.S. and have them show you what they have in YOUR price range. Then buy the bike that speaks to you and fits you well. Just about anything you buy these days for a grand or more will be more than adequate for your needs. I'm curious as to where you get this 20% subtraction? Makes sense to me on two fronts. First, you probably need some other stuff -- bike shorts, gloves, jerseys, pedals and/or shoes. May as well budget for them. Second, even if you don't need that other stuff, the bike shop staff will show you what more you could get for only a little bit more, and there's a good chance the buyer will bite. Go in with a lowball! Pat Though I see the 'sense' in what you say, I don't think most people go into a bike shop and think about 'bike plus accessories'. They typically have a bike budget and try to get the best buy for that amount and then try to talk the price down fifty bucks. The 'accessories' (except maybe for pedals and shoes) are usually not figured in at all. If they're spending 2K bucks on a bike, they probably have the accessories already, don't you think? I don't pick a bike based on price except for in a very general sense. I pick a bike based on certain minimums. I want to avoid picking a bike below the price point/value point, for instance not picking Sora components (which are not upgradeable), or paying a few extra bucks for carbon fork or a lighter bike. Just found it odd that someone would recommend going with 80% of the person's probably carefully chosen budget. I don't dispute that your logic makes sense. jj |
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#32
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"jj" wrote in message
... Makes sense to me on two fronts. First, you probably need some other stuff -- bike shorts, gloves, jerseys, pedals and/or shoes. May as well budget for them. Second, even if you don't need that other stuff, the bike shop staff will show you what more you could get for only a little bit more, and there's a good chance the buyer will bite. Go in with a lowball! Pat Though I see the 'sense' in what you say, I don't think most people go into a bike shop and think about 'bike plus accessories'. They typically have a bike budget and try to get the best buy for that amount and then try to talk the price down fifty bucks. The 'accessories' (except maybe for pedals and shoes) are usually not figured in at all. If they're spending 2K bucks on a bike, they probably have the accessories already, don't you think? I don't pick a bike based on price except for in a very general sense. I pick a bike based on certain minimums. I want to avoid picking a bike below the price point/value point, for instance not picking Sora components (which are not upgradeable), or paying a few extra bucks for carbon fork or a lighter bike. I already have jerseys, shorts, shoes, pedals, gloves, a helmet, a bike computer, and a vehicle mount. I already own a hybrid and a mountain bike, but I've never owned a true road bike. Like you say, I'm not basing my decision on price. |
#33
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In article .com, Rangersfan wrote: I'm looking to buy a road bike. I've been checking out the bikes of some friends, and I have a general idea of what I want, but I'd like some more input. Here are my particulars. Presently I have a hybrid that I've been riding for a while. I ride approximately 15 miles per day about 5 days per week weather permitting. I'd like to go a bit faster in order to keep up with some of my friends who have road bikes. I'd also like to participate in some of the advanced club rides in my area. I don't mind paying what it costs for a quality bike, but I'm 38 years old and I know I'm not going to be setting any records. I'm basically looking for something that favors comfort over all out performance. My #1 candidate right now is a Lemond Sarthe, but I'm open to other suggestions. I'm 5'7" and have a long torso. From what I've read, some of the Lemond models seem to favor people with longer torsos, but this may not be true from what little I know about the subject. _ That seems like a pretty reasonable choice if it fits, the only way to know is to ride it and some other similar bikes. There are two major factors to comfort when it comes to bikes. 1. Does it fit? (i.e. can you get the handlebars high enough?) If the bike is anywhere near the right size, pretty much everything but the top tube length can be adjusted. Some how you need figure out what top tube length works for you. 2. Can you put wider tires on it? That bike comes with 25mm, but nothing adds comfort to a bike like 28mm or even the blastphemous 32mm tires. Keep money in your budget to throw away the first saddle and maybe buy one or two more, I'm not saying that you'll have to but getting the right saddle is also essentail and is one of those things that you just have to keep trying until you find the right one. _ You might also look at Trek's Pilot line, the compact geometry tends to work well for long torso'd people. _ Booker C. Bense -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBQjoKL2TWTAjn5N/lAQEpBQP9F6Qy2KljeLuW19OeB7E25rVnb4efSxGv PwKBA6PVgu58m7iTwUTiD8NsCcpCG31bqxLozeQC2e6hMDog7w 8RDN0LKPg71QoO P0PI8Au6GPtjoH1WdZBorvKBaURLw3RZpHcsV6udxsmBofL14m uKQaSHNlrQdB23 0K4ysvLi2PQ= =WZ2D -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- |
#34
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-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
In article , Rangersfan wrote: "jj" wrote in message .. . On Sat, 12 Mar 2005 16:19:24 GMT, TomP wrote: Decide the maximum you want to spend. Then take 20% from that figure. With the 80% figure, go to the L.B.S. and have them show you what they have in YOUR price range. Then buy the bike that speaks to you and fits you well. Just about anything you buy these days for a grand or more will be more than adequate for your needs. I'm curious as to where you get this 20% subtraction? I would agree that it's important to ride a number of bikes and buy the one that 'speaks to you', or makes you smile when you ride it. However it is difficult to tell just riding around in the LBS parking lot. Ride a number of different bikes. Don't be too hasty to buy. Look up the bike in the roadbikereviews.com page and the epinions.com page and check for obvious problems. That's my basic strategy right now. I'm not getting in a hurry. I'm just trying to educate myself so I can make an educated decision when the time comes. Right now the questions I'm researching a How much of a difference the different frame materials really have on ride quality. _ Religious issue and almost impossible to compare in real life, since mostly what you feel is dependent on the tire size and how they are inflated. They are different, but that doesn't neccesary mean one is better. Which aspects of frame geometry are best suited for my situation. _ Effective Top Tube length.... If you're 5'7" and have a relatively long torso, then compact geometry could work for you. A longer wheelbase and slacker angles make for a more comfortable ride as well, but if the bike doesn't feel "twitchy" to you on a test ride I wouldn't stress over it much. Which components would really make a difference in my riding experience. How does Campy Voloce stack up against Shimano Ultegra and should I even care at my level. _ I think the only real difference is in the brifters or the brake shifter units. In terms of snoot level Ultegra is probably a bit higher, but Veloce is plenty good enough. Pick the one that you feel most comfortable shifting. There is one mechanical difference in that Veloce brifters can be repaired were as Ultegra's can only be replaced. I'm not looking to buy a bike I might outgrow in a short period of time. I don't want to spend $1K on a bike that might suit my needs today, but be a real disappointment when I'm going out on some long club rides in the future. _ I would also take a close look at Lemond's Big Sky bikes. _ Booker C. Bense -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.6.2 iQCVAwUBQjoOXGTWTAjn5N/lAQFpBAP+OlKXUdebiYPHMlYoAHmkHTY8cDqTz8yk 0aUKhdu4W+VOdVzsnfgEs0yDoZyPXIdZ+rBX4SXfNJ2rGFYEEi 5mZjjEEGbso1Es nUhSfYH1g1mSJVTDq02b5ZRpTYHdSSfpUTBBwxU4kguJ6YJ9e6 yWfkAk8tmsgmek usHly/RUb+8= =Gtq8 -----END PGP SIGNATURE----- |
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