Buying a new bike

Primus84
Primus84 Posts: 109
edited October 2013 in Road buying advice
This is going to sound very basic but bear with me!

I bought a hybrid last year on the cycle to work scheme, since this is now paid for and I've been hooked on cycling I want to buy a road bike. I had an initial browse round a local shop and they were very low pressure and keen to let me try several possible bikes. I'm happy to take them up on their suggestion but I just wanted to check - I am expected to turn up with some basic kit aren't I - shorts & jersey, shoes, helmet etc - don't want to look like a prat without kit but equally don't want to look massively over prepared!

They're a Giant dealer and they said my height (about 5 feet 10) falls between either M or M/L and they suggested I might be more comfortable on the M/L due to the small seat to bars drop and me being about 100Kg - although I'm steadily losing the kilos! - does this sound right, I know people on here usually say if you're not sure go for the smaller size but is that going to cause me some issue with flexibility and my beer gut getting in the way?!

Comments

  • domgears
    domgears Posts: 135
    I am 5'11, I also was in excess of 100kg, 107 to be exact (got down to 92 in 3 months).

    I had a Giant TCR Advanced 3, it was size M and fitted well, I took the liberty of checking the official sizing chart and it advises size m all the way for your height (unless your inside leg is shorter than 29" or longer than 33").

    Inside Leg length; 29" / 73.7cm 30" / 76.2cm 31" / 78.7cm 32" / 81.3cm 33" / 83.8cm
    Height 5'10" ; M / M / M / M / M

    However, that said, test ride both sizes and go for which ever feels more comfortable.
  • jds_1981
    jds_1981 Posts: 1,858
    What advantage does turning up in 'kit' give you?
    With regards to shoes, I suspect they will have flat pedals on the bikes by default so probably trainers.
    FCN 9 || FCN 5
  • Primus84 wrote:
    I bought a hybrid last year on the cycle to work scheme, since this is now paid for and I've been hooked on cycling I want to buy a road bike. I had an initial browse round a local shop and they were very low pressure and keen to let me try several possible bikes. I'm happy to take them up on their suggestion but I just wanted to check - I am expected to turn up with some basic kit aren't I - shorts & jersey, shoes, helmet etc - don't want to look like a prat without kit but equally don't want to look massively over prepared!

    So you're done with the browsing stage and are specifically turning up for pre-arranged test rides? Well there's nothing wrong with turning up in a cycle shop dressed for cycling! It's not like you're fully togged up in order to go and buy some loo rolls from Tesco. So wear whatever you normally wear for cycling. They'll likely fit your bike with flat pedals if it isn't already. Most bikes <£1,000 tend to come with flats. Most bikes >£1,000 tend to not have pedals.
  • lc1981
    lc1981 Posts: 820
    jds_1981 wrote:
    What advantage does turning up in 'kit' give you?

    Depends what the alternative is. Have you ever tried to sit on a road bike in jeans? Pretty difficult!
  • jds_1981
    jds_1981 Posts: 1,858
    lc1981 wrote:
    jds_1981 wrote:
    What advantage does turning up in 'kit' give you?

    Depends what the alternative is. Have you ever tried to sit on a road bike in jeans? Pretty difficult!

    Ridden my road bike fixie in jeans plenty of times (& my road bike to the local shops) so hadn't crossed my mind, although I guess some people could have more difficulty than others.
    FCN 9 || FCN 5
  • lc1981
    lc1981 Posts: 820
    jds_1981 wrote:
    Ridden my road bike fixie in jeans plenty of times (& my road bike to the local shops) so hadn't crossed my mind, although I guess some people could have more difficulty than others.

    Probably depends on how tight the jeans are. Some don't let you swing a leg over the bike.
  • jds_1981
    jds_1981 Posts: 1,858
    lc1981 wrote:
    jds_1981 wrote:
    Ridden my road bike fixie in jeans plenty of times (& my road bike to the local shops) so hadn't crossed my mind, although I guess some people could have more difficulty than others.

    Probably depends on how tight the jeans are. Some don't let you swing a leg over the bike.

    We're cyclists, almost all jeans are tight :wink:
    FCN 9 || FCN 5
  • More to the point you'll be testing the idea of riding the bike in jeans, rather than testing the bike...
  • kajjal
    kajjal Posts: 3,380
    Don't worry about the seat to bars drop adjustment, just make sure it is the right drop for you. They can flip the stem into the upright position to reduce the drop or move the spacers or change the stem. I am over 6ft6 and ride a 62cm Trek , with the stem flipped upright the drop is under an inch. Just make sure the bike fits you properly for drop, reach, saddle height and saddle forwards / backwards position which they can easily adjust on a test ride. It is much easier to adjust a bike that is slightly too small , there is little you can do if the bike is too big.

    Try to wear something that allows you to test ride bikes without getting in the way e.g, too bulky, jeans catching in the gears etc. Flat soled trainers or similar will be fine.
  • antfly
    antfly Posts: 3,276
    But flipped stems look horrible...
    Smarter than the average bear.
  • Flipped stems look horrible? And 5 spacers under the stem looks so good as well?

    What an absurd comment to make. And one that does the OP no good at all.

    Better a good fit and efficient riding, regardless of the orientation of the stem than trying to fit in with the effete and fastidious aesthetic of some random poster.

    Not to mention safety. Zinn's road bike maintenance guide recommends a flipped stem over a high steerer stack height due to leverage on the steerer.
  • kajjal
    kajjal Posts: 3,380
    antfly wrote:
    But flipped stems look horrible...

    My priority at over 6ft6 is a bike that fits and rides well.
  • Primus84
    Primus84 Posts: 109
    You see, I thought I was going to get a set of replies that said of course mate, cycling clothes for cycling.... Now I'm genuinely concerned that if I turn up with my kit I'll look a prat and vice versa.
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    Just wear some loose strides or loose fitting jeans to try the bike.
  • Primus84
    Primus84 Posts: 109
    Well, after some pretty negative experiences with local bike shops I've ordered online. I've gone with the M rather than the M/L as that's what the Giant size guide says for my height and people slightly taller and all the advice I've seen here is to play it safe in terms of size and if not sure go smaller rather than larger.

    I'm excited about my new Defy 1 arriving!
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,473
    I've done rather few test rides, but if I was doing one I'd want to wear my usual kit - whenever I've ridden one of my road bikes with "normal" clothes it's felt like a completely different bike, not flattering at all.. I'd also turn up with my own pedals and shoes and expect them to fit the pedals for the test ride.
  • Primus84
    Primus84 Posts: 109
    Well I called into a few local places but after being ignored for about half an hour in both I decided they didn't deserve customers and that there's a reason LBS are shutting.

    Very disappointing all-round, I was hoping to buy locally but it wasn't to be.
  • diamonddog
    diamonddog Posts: 3,426
    Hope you enjoy the new bike. :)