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New Road Bike Thoughts


catherine123

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Posted

Kranswurm, did you read his reply? He was referring to checking the Frame size, not doing a full final Bike Fit.

 

I'm with Chris on this one, you can get a very good check of whether the Frame Size could work for you with normal Flats.

 

Although, what I would advise Catherine, is to find a BikeFitter that has one of those Retul setups where he can dial in your Bikefit to the millimeter and then record those values, to be transferred to the bike you eventually buy. Tell him your story upfront. Those guys usually have a bunch of pedals and saddles to get you sorted in detail of what you would need. He will check your flexibility in your hamstrings and other areas and will set you up for how comfortable or how aero you want to ride. Make a package deal with him to do your full fit on the Retul and to then transfer those measurement to the bike you will eventually buy, be it new or 2nd-hand. It should be in the region of R1500 for the entire deal, might even be less. The measurements you will go shop with is REACH and STACK, and he will explain to you how to measure prospective bikes to ensure that he can get you fitted to it with the minimum replacement of parts like stems etc.

 

Good luck

 

BikeHub classifieds is a treasure trove of good deals if you know what you need to buy.

Yes I did read his reply

I dont agree with you

Whenever I have gone to try a bike I have always taken my shoes with and if necc my pedals

Pretty much what one takes to a spinning class

Posted

Yes I did read his reply

I dont agree with you

Whenever I have gone to try a bike I have always taken my shoes with and if necc my pedals

Pretty much what one takes to a spinning class

Cool, just checking.

 

Think we are talking past each other:

-Chris is saying it is possible to check the frame size by just hopping on it with flats and tekkies. I agree :thumbup: 

-You are saying that you personally will always take your cycling shoes along. Which I agree is better, but it doesn't make Chris wrong, even if your solution is the better solution.  :thumbup:

Posted

Goeie klap required. [emoji85]

 

But the manufacturer's online sizing guides have always worked for me. So far, anyway. In my case, Trek.

 

It was a TREK ...  :whistling:

 

And going by their size chart I would have bought the correct bike .... never thought the OWNER of the shop would sell me a bike that is undersized ....  :oops:   :eek:

 

 

school fees paid .... 

Posted

It was a TREK ...  :whistling:

 

And going by their size chart I would have bought the correct bike .... never thought the OWNER of the shop would sell me a bike that is undersized ....  :oops:   :eek:

 

 

school fees paid .... 

 

 

Ek hoop jy het die wetter so sleg gese dat hele see hom nooit weer skoon kry nie...

Posted

I have a slightly different perspective. I ordered a Trek Bike last week. Their size chart put me into the 58" category. Before ordering, the dealer had me come in to be measured. He had a sort of a jig set up like a bike with all of the measurements etc relating to the 58. He did some measurements of angles etc and then set the bike up as if it were a 60", and measured again. The 60 immediately felt better and he showed me how my back etc was at a better angle than on the 58 and talked through how I may be less supple over the next 5-10 years and how much less bent over I was on the 60. I may have the technicalities wrong but the fitting showed that a 60 was a better fit than the 58 for me, my body shape, my age etc etc.

 

He also insists on doing a full retule bike fit once my bike arrives before it leaves the store, at no extra cost, to ensure that the fit is perfect. 

 

That to me is why buying from an LBS always beats buying from the internet. 

Posted

Hahaha, all the comments. Thanks for your input everyone. Found a superb place that has a Retul measurer and everything! Most incredible place I have seen in a long time, but my heart sort of sank when I saw the prices.... So I went with the next best option, and I think they are doing their best for me :) 

One day when I am a famous cyclist, Ill get the full treatment ferrari of road bikes  :P

Posted

Hahaha, all the comments. Thanks for your input everyone. Found a superb place that has a Retul measurer and everything! Most incredible place I have seen in a long time, but my heart sort of sank when I saw the prices.... So I went with the next best option, and I think they are doing their best for me :)

One day when I am a famous cyclist, Ill get the full treatment ferrari of road bikes  :P

 

Glad you found something that you like - BUT:

 

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Posted

 Well, Ill wait and see what they say. I also wanted a Scott. But no one has the roadies I want :(

He certainly has merit in his statements ....

 

BUT, any decent bikeshop should assist you with with a "basic fit" before you buy.

 

fitting a pair of flat pedals to a bike takes seconds.  Checking the critical fitment dimensions takes a few more seconds ....

 

 

By now you know if you need to buy a "51cm" frame (which is closer to a 1,76 person).

 

 

Having chosen the bike and frame size the real fitment is done, and ideally by a specialist

 

 

 

PS - when I bought my first dual suspension bike the owner of the shop sold me a bike where the frame was too small for me, more to the point, he sold the stock he had on the floor rather than advising me properly and ordering the correct size .... by the time I got longer rides and got aches and pains form the wrong frame I had to sell that bike, and go buy another bike ..... So please make sure you get the correct size.

 

PPS - left the other brand, and now also riding SCOTT  :clap:

Posted

Honestly... before you spend anything.... go to a bike shop. Ask them what size frame is right for you (road bike frame sizing is really pretty standardized - more so than mountain bikes). They'll tell you Xcm. Then come look at the road bike ads here. See what's available at what prices in that size. Ask some questions here about specific bikes. Use google a bit. You'll start to get an idea of things and what's what. Take a bit of time about it. Eventually the bits of the puzzle will come together and you'll find something that's right. Even if you decide to buy new, you'll understand more about what you're looking for. If you decide to go for used, you should find some pretty good bargains, especially amongst some of the older bikes (some of them are still pretty good, even by today's standards and some of them have pretty top end bits and pieces on them).

 

Otherwise find a friend who knows a fair bit about road bikes and ask them to help you. If you reach out to one of your local cycling clubs, you'll probably find a few people willing to help you as well.

 

Just don't let anybody sell you anything until you are pretty clear in your own mind about things.

Posted

Too true, take your time...research, ask questions, even borrow a bike to two..and hopefully by month end you can buy a Black Friday special...

I bought my bikes and rode them for a couple of years before I had a professional bike fit done...I wasn't having any problems with them...but after it was done the bikes suddenly fitted like a glove!

Good luck...

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