Buying without riding first

barongreenback
barongreenback Posts: 229
edited March 2017 in Road buying advice
Would you? Have you? I have a bike in mind but there's only 1 outlet that has in it stock and I'd need to order online. I've had a bike fit so I know my measurements but is buying without riding a huge gamble?

Comments

  • mrb123
    mrb123 Posts: 4,815
    No, I don't think it is if you're sure of your size.
  • fat daddy
    fat daddy Posts: 2,605
    I think my last 3 bikes I bought without riding first
  • dstev55
    dstev55 Posts: 742
    Bought my current bike in exactly the same circumstances as you. Saw it online with £1.1k off the RRP, just couldn't resist.
  • bbrap
    bbrap Posts: 610
    Also last 3 bikes online as I was sure of my size. But, and its a big but, although the bike will fit, you do not know how it will feel to ride if the components are radically different from what you are used to (different frame material, different wheels, tyres, bars etc). Of course all apart from the frame are readily changed at further expense if you really don't like something.
    Rose Xeon CDX 3100, Ultegra Di2 disc (nice weather)
    Ribble Gran Fondo, Campagnolo Centaur (winter bike)
    Van Raam 'O' Pair
    Land Rover (really nasty weather :lol: )
  • kingrollo
    kingrollo Posts: 3,198
    i think ive brought every bike ive ever owned without a test ride. its a calculated gamble but unless youre buying the bigger brands there isn't always a test ride option....
    go for it....
  • Harry182
    Harry182 Posts: 1,170
    fat daddy wrote:
    I think my last 3 bikes I bought without riding first

    Me too. Bought based on toptube measurement and tweaked fit as necessary with stem and seatpost replacements.
  • barongreenback
    barongreenback Posts: 229
    Better put my order in then! :). Thanks all.
  • flanners1
    flanners1 Posts: 916
    Never demo rode any of the bikes I have, read the reviews/forums etc; made a decision, got the best price and picked a colour.
    Colnago C60 SRAM eTap, Colnago C40, Milani 107E, BMC Pro Machine, Trek Madone, Viner Gladius,
    Bizango 29er
  • alex222
    alex222 Posts: 598
    Agree with all the comments above. I would just pull the trigger.
  • slowbike
    slowbike Posts: 8,498
    I bought my last 3 bikes without a test ride - 2 new, 1 s/h.
    The 2 new - one was a commuter/cx bike - same brand as my road bikes - dimensions comparable, wasn't bothered too much what it felt like to ride. I had to change the stem as the reach was marginally too short (for prolonged road use). The other one was a 29er - "bargin" - little point in riding it beforehand as I'd not ridden mountain bike types before and it would've only been on the road - so hardly comparable.
    The S/H one was a TT frame ... so a bit tricky to ride it before I'd built it up....
  • courtmed
    courtmed Posts: 164
    Flanners1 wrote:
    Never demo rode any of the bikes I have, read the reviews/forums etc; made a decision, got the best price and picked a colour.

    Same here for 2 road bikes & a mountain bike - I realise it's not ideal but it's served me well so far
  • teebs_123
    teebs_123 Posts: 357
    courtmed wrote:
    Flanners1 wrote:
    Never demo rode any of the bikes I have, read the reviews/forums etc; made a decision, got the best price and picked a colour.

    Same here for 2 road bikes & a mountain bike - I realise it's not ideal but it's served me well so far

    Same here and I apply the same principles to cars. Not driven my last 3 company cars prior to taking delivery.

    Unless you get the bike fitted to you correctly, a quick spin round the block isn't going to tell you anything really.
    Orbea Orca OMX DI2 MyO
    Kinesis 4s Di2
  • trek_dan
    trek_dan Posts: 1,366
    Buying without seeing it is fine as long as you have a reasonable understanding of the frame size and geometry you need. I once made the mistake of buying a second hand frame with upright/laid back gemoetry and I couldn't get the seat far enough forward for my fit.
  • pippi_langsamer-2
    pippi_langsamer-2 Posts: 1,470
    Yup, never test-ridden a bike...ever.

    As long as you know your geometry, shop around for the best deals!

    (or pay for a proper bike fit first so you know your preferred geometry)
  • dinyull
    dinyull Posts: 2,979
    I have with all 3 of my buys, but beware.

    My first London Road fit perfectly, but I had terrible foot overlap when mudguards went on. To the point I had to buy the same frame again in the next size up.

    Luckily both times I bought the frames they were heavily reduced in a sale, but something to keep in mind.

    Should add. Mate has just spent a couple of grand on new Argon 18 whilst getting a test ride and I'm utterly convinced he's bought/been advised to buy a bike too big for him. His seat is just about level with the handlebars and despite it having a 90mm stem, he's already looking to go shorter. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT SIZE YOU NEED.
  • fenix
    fenix Posts: 5,437
    Dinyull wrote:

    Should add. Mate has just spent a couple of grand on new Argon 18 whilst getting a test ride and I'm utterly convinced he's bought/been advised to buy a bike too big for him. His seat is just about level with the handlebars and despite it having a 90mm stem, he's already looking to go shorter. MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT SIZE YOU NEED.

    Perfect- plenty of growing room ! ;-)
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    First proper road bike I bought through a decent bike shop. They pointed me in the direction of the right bikes for my kind of riding, gave me test rides, ordered in the right size / colour frameset and built it up with components of my choice. Fitted me properly and gave me a second test ride when I went to collect it.

    Second one was like internet shopping tourettes. Somebody posted on here that Westbrooks were selling off CR1-SL framesets for £500 and before I knew it I'd bought one. (I already knew what size I wanted because it had been one of the bikes on my first shortlist)

    Only after it arrived at work did I start to wonder what to do with it and when to introduce it to my wife...
  • philbar72
    philbar72 Posts: 2,229
    bought all my bikes without testing. all fine.
  • barongreenback
    barongreenback Posts: 229
    Thanks again all. I'm 193cm tall so generally it's the biggest size anyway!

Categories