my trip to a bike shop with £2k burning in my pocket

croyde

I'd like to get your input on a recent trip I made to a bike shop with a view to buying a road sportive type bike my budget being around £2k.
I called ahead and was advised that a bike fit would be the first step as some models may not be an ideal fit based on frame geometries. Having been measured the sale assistant put my figures in a PC which defined the ideal dimensions for me. We then looked at a range of bikes which would be suitable for my sizing. I then asked if I could ride the 3 shortlisted bikes before arriving at a final decision however I was told that this would not be of any value as a 5 minute ride would give me no indication of difference in quality of bike ride, this would only be apparant after 100 or so miles. I was told as all bikes would fit me equally as well there was no need for a test ride. Is this usual ? It just seems common sense to ride a bike before buying even though we had been through a fit process ?
Having taken time out (and paid) for a bike fit I dont feel any closer to finding the right bike ?

What are your thoughts ?

solsurf

In my limited experience, you can tell if you like the feel of a bike right away, however it may take some time before you find out if it is comfortable.

You really need to take them out for a ride around the block, was it raining at the time.

Slow Downcp

Walk away, cut your losses and take the fit info somewhere else. Many places will give a full fit free if you buy from them, and a test ride to boot. Many people (myself included) recommend Epic Cycles - they'll measure you, try bikes on turbos, swap stems etc, and let you take the bike out for an hour if need be. And then if that doesn't suit, you can try something else out.

It's all well and good using measurements that a PC recommends, but everyone's different. The only way you can tell is to ride.

Evil Laugh

I'd want the option of at least 15 mins on each bike. And then second or even third runs on shortlisted bikes back to back.


If you're spending 2 grand do what's good for you and only buy when you're happy.

Take the fitting info, eg makes/bikes/sizes they recommended and use this as a base to try things somewhere else.

softlad

hate to say this, but the bloke in the shop is probably right - but it shouldn't have stopped him giving you a test ride though....especially if there was two grand in it for him....

STEFANOS4784

I expect what the problem is, is that too many folk test ride then buy online cheaper because(from what i can gather reading on here) test rides used to be much more encouraged :?

hopper1

Slow Downcp wrote:

Walk away, cut your losses and take the fit info somewhere else. Many places will give a full fit free if you buy from them, and a test ride to boot. Many people (myself included) recommend Epic Cycles - they'll measure you, try bikes on turbos, swap stems etc, and let you take the bike out for an hour if need be. And then if that doesn't suit, you can try something else out.

It's all well and good using measurements that a PC recommends, but everyone's different. The only way you can tell is to ride.

+1... If you're relatively close ( up to 200 miles away), I'd go visit them!
Best thing you'll ever do.

Slow Downcp

hopper1 wrote:

Slow Downcp wrote:

Walk away, cut your losses and take the fit info somewhere else. Many places will give a full fit free if you buy from them, and a test ride to boot. Many people (myself included) recommend Epic Cycles - they'll measure you, try bikes on turbos, swap stems etc, and let you take the bike out for an hour if need be. And then if that doesn't suit, you can try something else out.

It's all well and good using measurements that a PC recommends, but everyone's different. The only way you can tell is to ride.

+1... If you're relatively close ( up to 200 miles away), I'd go visit them!
Best thing you'll ever do.

I was a bit closer than that - only around 120 mile round trip for me.

dbb

i think he is right - you can't really tell how a bike feels after 5 minutes in the saddle.
so he should have offered you a longer test ride!

the guy clearly has no sales skills and is not understanding his customer.

giant_man

croyde wrote:

I'd like to get your input on a recent trip I made to a bike shop with a view to buying a road sportive type bike my budget being around £2k.
I called ahead and was advised that a bike fit would be the first step as some models may not be an ideal fit based on frame geometries. Having been measured the sale assistant put my figures in a PC which defined thae ideal dimensions for me. We then looked at a range of bikes which would be suitable for my sizing. I then asked if I could ride the 3 shortlisted bikes before arriving at a final decision however I was told that this would not be of any value as a 5 minute ride would give me no indication of difference in quality of bike ride, this would only be apparant after 100 or so miles. I was told as all bikes would fit me equally as well there was no need for a test ride. Is this usual ? It just seems common sense to ride a bike before buying even though we had been through a fit process ?
Having taken time out (and paid) for a bike fit I dont feel any closer to finding the right bike ?

What are your thoughts ?

Dear oh dear - the merits of some bikes shops are just laughable aren't they?

First of all, putting figures into a PC will not find your ideal size of frame, far from it. You need to go to a decent shop who will size you professionally.

And secondly, you can take a bike ten miles up the road and tell the difference between them, and EVERY bike will feel different, so a test ride of at least an hour is essential. And you're right, it is common sense to test ride a bike before potential purchase. And imo you have every right to go through different bikes on different days at different shops. You are the buying public.

2 grand is the kind of money where choice is your friend and you should take as much time as you need to get the bike that's right for YOU. Good luck with it.