buying a bike

I loathe shimano shifting! the brake lever moves when u shift! gross!

not entirely true! only when your front derailleur upshifts or when your rear derailleur downshifts.

still

Three bike stores today after shaking myself out on the hazlewood avenue hill. Truly not the day to be looking at bikes, its the first sunday of spring and lots of little jimmys and janes need new bikes for the summer. Also, Pittsburgh runs a little small so this meant 2 out of three stores didn't have the right bikes in the right size for me to try. First store was the best, short staffed but swamped for them being big meant I could have the pick of the closeout stuff because they have more leftovers in large sizes. Shopgirl there seemed vey keen on putting something together to beat what I could find on the internet. She sent me off on a Cannondale carbon 6 which was an instant revelation not having ridden carbon before. So sharp, so tight, I could get used to this.

Hot, tattooed shopgirl is a stan for the CAAD 9 so wants me to come back in the the week to try that and a specialized roubaix and work out what they have in closeouts.

Shop two was the felt dealer, the guy in there was a bit less helpful but he did have to deal with a mainly teenage labour force and a mother who was insitant that her 10 year old son would have a 'proper' mountain bike whatever that is and it would last 5 years. To accomodate little jimmy's growth he rode out on something with wheels nearly up to his chest and no seatpost extension. He didn't have an F5 or F4 in my size but sent me out on an X45. A combination of it being too small and it being a tiagra bike with a massive stem rise meant I was really upright so couldn't really get a feel for it but it felt all wrong. He's going to get in a big F4 for the end of the week for me to try. (Not sure if I can stretch to the F4 be he's happier to have that in stock as he sells more of them)

He sent me out on a jamis xenith comp as well, which I wasn't that into and mercifully it flatted out after 200m with a sidewall blowout.

Then on to the trek store. No Madone anything in my size so test rode a aluminium gary fisher (carbon rear stays). Softer ride at the front end, whilst still being tight at the back, didn't dislike it but didn't drive me wild. 61 may be a better fit than the 58, I think but they only had the tiagra setup in a 61 and this again comes with the high rise stem. No other trek store in pittsburgh has a madone in my size and they weren't prepared to get one in on the offchance and I don't care enoguh to pursue it.

On then to the bmc dealer, probably on tuesday. I think it will end up being a toss up between the bmcs from competitive cyclist and whatever closeouts the first store has.

Also, this years carbon 6 is black and gold (yellow). Although it shouldn't matter it is kind of cool to be in a city where everything from the nfl team to the roller derby all wear the same colours for sports.

I don't think Tiagra requires a high rise stem?

It doesn't but the bikes that fit it tend to be aimed at a more relaxed rider so they tend to come with a stem that gives a more upright position.

I'm sure you could ask them to fit a racier stem without any worries. Tiagra's a decent groupset, but even if you're not buying a Tiagra bike it'd be good to have it at least set up like a bike you might buy.

Absolutely, wasn't going to happen today though. I think on the felt it wad too small anyway. The Gary Fisher I don't care enough about.

Also, this years carbon 6 is black and gold (yellow). Although it shouldn't matter it is kind of cool to be in a city where everything from the nfl team to the roller derby all wear the same colours for sports.

― American Fear of Pranksterism (Ed), Sunday, March 21, 2010 1:14 PM (3 hours ago)

Live strong my friend, live as strong as the Allegheny steel.

I'm really hoping the BMCs ride well because they just look so so good.

What I have learnt today, 59cm is about the right top tube length for me.

hello ILTRMB, it's been a while. I'm torn between the following 3 bikes (to be bought on the cycle to work scheme, they're pretty much making the budget as I need to get pedals, shoes etc on top). I'm really racking my brains what to get, do want something slightly different, but I do need to buy through Evans thanks to work:

Fuji Roubaix 3 - not common in the UK, but looks nicely 80s, decent groupset for the price too:
http://www.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/794/de5/271/47882/product_page/fuji-roubaix-30-2010-road-bike.jpg

Genesis Aether 10, rather nice looks, but groupset is basic. Is a ridgeback tho.
http://www.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/794/de5/271/47882/product_page/fuji-roubaix-30-2010-road-bike.jpg

last up - a felt 95, looks proper, very decent setup for the price, shame about the Garmin livery
http://www.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/e9f/892/77f/47149/product_page/felt-f95-2010-road-bike.jpg

oops, that genesis ain't right

http://www.evanscycles.com/product_image/image/165/65b/9f9/47849/product_page/genesis-aether-10-2010-road-bike.jpg

So yeah - any thoughts? recommendations?

close-run thing, i'd maybe go for the felt.

this honky tonk looks like fun!

in what godforsaken world is a welded sloping top tube bike with straight blades "retro looking"? i get that its steel with a panel paint job but...

nice bike tho

btw u nice for not replying "the world where u super old" zing etc

LOL U OLD FAT MANTIS!

Felt makes an F95 w/o the team colors…

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01409/mantis_1409722f.jpg

dude on my club is selling this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Garneau-Sonix-6-4-Pro-2009_W0QQitemZ140393176900QQcmdZViewItemQQptZRoad_Bikes?hash=item20b015df44#ht_943wt_1072

for $1950... too bad it's a M, think may be too small for you Ed.

I think it would have to be an XL for me, but that looks sweet.

Rain has slowed this process down. Tried to try some BMCs on saturday but the local store has almost zero stock as BMC is "between distributors", which is presumably why competitive cyclist has a bunch of '09 stock cheap. I did their fit calculator on saturday and I'm leaning towards a 59cm SLT01, although I'm reluctant to buy without having ridden. However payday approaches and I kind of want to place the order then.

one of the dutch dudes i ride with is looking for what appears to be a super-limited Rabobank team edition of a Giant frame in XL, so if anyone happens to run across one in their shop visits, kindly let me know!

picking up my Felt tomorrow, 58cm frame, getting the stem flipped to lift me up a little.

paid for the Kona steel machine $2.1k delivered to aus, could not resist :|

I went for the BMC SLT in the end. waiting for delivery.

Good looking bike Ed!

lots of nice bikes itt.

If i enjoy the Kona HAOLE, think I might move on purchasing a Kona UNIT for dicking around on..

http://i39.tinypic.com/67t62o.jpg

Any thoughts on this thing?

the unit looks all burly, like a pub bike, I like it. Up the top of crystal palace hill? I would die returning home.....

Look though, I'm all felt up and that:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4493212082_77dfe746b2_b.jpg

bike here, putting together. Experience with competitive cyclist has been very good. They even threw in an extra stem as there was a little discussion over 10mm of stem length in the fit which was an unexpected surprise.

7.90kg before I put pedals, bottle cages and computer on

throw us a freakin bone with a pic or 12 to drool over imo

yeah jesus get the lead out

the steal bike I've got coming (v excited) is allegedly 8.00kg. ish.

I love how Kona's single speed bike is called the "Band Wagon" :)

This is what *might* be mine if I decide to pull the trigger:

http://s.wiggle.co.uk/images/focus-blk-for-exp-2010-med.jpg

Renting a Bike: What to look out for?

My cousin is getting married in Santa Rosa, CA in June, and I was thinking of renting a (road) bike and making cycling vacation out of it. I guess I just bring my pedals, helmet, and kit and that's it? What's the regular pricing I'm looking at? Anybody know of a good bay area / north bay place to rent from?

I rent a Specialized Allez Sport (w/ 105) 2x a year in Hawai'i for $200/week. I bring everything you list plus bottles and shoes.

No idea about rental situation up north but I can ask around in SF if you'd like? What are your expectations?

I ride a Giant TCR with 105 gear, so anything around that level would be fine. Extra points for a shop that has BMCs. My local shop just started to carry them, and I'm thinking of getting one, but they don't have any testers built up yet.

finally got the Merlin today! I am unpacking it right now & will hence attempt to attach pedals & bars (hopefully one doesn't need to be a rocket scientist to do this..). Can I just say that this thing is LIGHT. I'm half scared it is just going to buckle & bend when I finally get to sitting on it.

pics!!!!! :)

ah, you posted one upthread; hot damn, that's gorgeous
http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/8797/thebike02.jpg

thanks. it is v v nice, tho I can't ride it yet b/c the pedals I bought won't work w/ the cranks! Curses! Tomorrow I will buy different pedals & get it fitted & then it is going to be a beautiful summer.

btw, if anyone is interested in a pair of Shimano SPD-M540 clipless pedals, new in box w/ cleats - they're yours for $50 + s/h (or lets just say $55). I'll prob list them on Ebay before the end of the week.

I'll post a pic or two of my own once I swap out the bar tape.

What makes the pedals not work with the cranks?

these particular cranks (they are Cook Bros.) do not have a double sided-hole for the pedal stem (plz forgive the makeshift tech jargon) to be threaded through & tightened at end w/ an allen wrench, which is what these pedals require. I need something which can be tightened on one side, using only a 15mm wrench. I'm just going to trade down for the M520s, which supposedly will work.

This is my first clipless set-up & I'll prob switch up to road shoes & pedals next year, so I just need something reasonably functional & reliable for the time being.

here is a closeup of the crank, in case yr interested

http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/6886/photo42o.jpg

want to reiterate how ridic that bike is. kudos.

yeah it reminds me a bit of the psychlo-x which I totally covet

so I want to get some cheap, cheap bikes for me and my gf - but if I buy one on cl for less than $100, it's prolly gonna be something that was stolen, right?

iatee, depending on the market where u live, u should be able to find decent 70s-80s era road bikes going for $80-150. Just make sure the components have been well kept, b/c otherwise you'll likely find yourself spending at least that amount on parts & labor to get it up and running.

live in nyc and there def seem to be a lot out there when I glance at cl. just want bikes w/ working brakes, basically.