LBS that let you test the bikes?

BenHur

Hi,

I live in Berkshire and want to test ride a road bike before I buy it.

I'm coming over from a mountain bike and have never tried a road bike before.

I can't really contemplate spending hundreds of pounds on a bike I've only sat on in the shop.

Does anyone know any LBS that will allow me to do this?

Thanks.

MIsterGoof

Sorry can't help with specifics but

every shop I've been into has let me test ride bikes - only around the block kind of thing, often I just need to hand over a CC for the period

Have you asked ?

oldholborn

Had the same problem myself.
Anywhere local to you hire bikes?

Mystique

AW Cycles in Caversham are very good.

markos1963

If a LBS won't let you test a bike then its not worth dealing with. I went to Fatbirds in Hunstanton and there was no problem at all. They had a suggested route to try out bikes which was long enough to get a good impression and included some hills. No CC was asked for but I supposed I looked boring enough not to ride off with a bike.

celbianchi

markos1963 wrote:

If a LBS won't let you test a bike then its not worth dealing with. I went to Fatbirds in Hunstanton and there was no problem at all. They had a suggested route to try out bikes which was long enough to get a good impression and included some hills. No CC was asked for but I supposed I looked boring enough not to ride off with a bike.

What markos1963 said.

If they won't let you, don't do business with them.

keef66

My LBS insists you test ride a bike before they'll sell it to you!

bahzob

Not sure where you are in Berks. If you are anywhere near Newbury try Banjo cycles. Mark there is very friendly and will let you try before you buy.

BenHur

I've just joined this forum today and it's great to get a response.

Thanks to you all.

Thanks especially to Mystique, Caversham is not too from me so I'll give AW a try.

I did buy my mountain bike from my LBS without riding it but a racer is a whole different ball game.

The response I got when I asked about test riding was, "try and borrow one" (from a friend).

I'm not trying to slate my LBS who have been helpful in the past but it does seem like a major flaw when your looking a Giants and Colnagos ranging from £750 - £1250.

Having done a duathlon and L2B this year it wasn't hard to see how much better a road bike would be.

c12345

+1 for AW
Although they stock alot of the top end at scarey prices...

bahzob

If you do go to AW may be worth getting a bike fitting. If you do buy a bike from them they will refund the fitting cost.

giant_man

A bike fitting and a test ride is all any potential buyer wants, but this is rare, and it always pleases when I hear of an LBS offering both of these essential pre-buy conditions.

neonwarhead

A second vote for Banjo; hoping to get a go on a Tarmac or Roubaix myself next week.

PostieJohn

I used to stroll in with my dogs, leave them and cycle off.

As they are 2 of the biggest softest shacks of censored know, the owners always quite looked sad when I came back.
Once I felt the wife with a shop in Worthing, unfortunately I wasn't that taken with the bike.

Mystique

Are you sure you meant "felt"

PostieJohn

Mystique wrote:

Are you sure you meant "felt"

Damn my early morning postie dyslexia

andy_wrx

Yeah, our postie must be equally dyslexic when he puts next door's post through our letterbox