Bicyclists- more advice please?

+Elle+ · April 2012

First, thank you all or being so helpful. It has been an ongoing saga for sure.

The guy who sold us DH's bike knows I am casually looking for a woman's road bike. DH saw him yesterday, and he suggested this bike - a 2011 Trek Madone 3.1 WSD- marked down from $1,899 to $1,399.

http://helenscycles.com/product/11trek-madone-3.1-wsd-73940-1.htm

WDYT? I have read the reviews online and it seems like a well regarded bike. The fit should be right. The price seems good. But I am still feeling overwhelmed and wonder if I should wait longer and do more research.

Thank you again for your thoughts. If I'm being a repetitive PITA just ignore me!

Kaley28 · April 2012

I'm not well-versed enough to give you advice on cycling gear (though I think that sounds like a great deal), but I did just want to tell you that I love your name. Elle is my DD's name, too :-).

+Elle+ · April 2012

Kaley28:
I'm not well-versed enough to give you advice on cycling gear (though I think that sounds like a great deal), but I did just want to tell you that I love your name. Elle is my DD's name, too :-).

It is not my "real" name - its a takeoff of Elle Woods, to whom I have been compared on a few occasions - but I want to name my first daughter Elizabeth and will call her Elle. Smile

Kaley28 · April 2012

+Elle+:
Kaley28:
I'm not well-versed enough to give you advice on cycling gear (though I think that sounds like a great deal), but I did just want to tell you that I love your name. Elle is my DD's name, too :-).
It is not my "real" name - its a takeoff of Elle Woods, to whom I have been compared on a few occasions - but I want to name my first daughter Elizabeth and will call her Elle.

People always say to me, "Elle? As in Elle Woods?" Ha. Well, I love your future daughter's nickname.

Ok, now hopefully a pro like Sadlebred will swoop in with her awesome advice :-).

+Elle+ · April 2012

I just saw your sig. Maybe I'll see you at the Vegas RnR half!

Kaley28 · April 2012

+Elle+:
I just saw your sig. Maybe I'll see you at the Vegas RnR half!

Awesome! Should be fun!!

tiki_life · April 2012

As someone who recently bought my first bike as an adult, I found there is so much variation in bike construction, materials, geometry, and features that it's probably impossible to buy the perfect bike for you on your first try. I say pick something, anything, that has good reviews and you have warm fuzzy feelings about (or you'll never ride it), and then if it turns out not to be your cup of tea, sell it and use the knowledge you've gained to get closer next time.

Joenali · April 2012

Here is what I thiNk: there will ALWAYS be nicer bikes at higher price points. If this is what you want now and don't want to save anymore money, than this is a decent bike. The components are decent as well. Just buy it already!

trigal · April 2012

It's a great bike. But, does it fit? If it doesn't fit, then it's a lousy deal. And, Ali's right, there will always be something else out there (unless you are buying the cream of the crop). The bike shop should be able to put you on a size cycle to see if that frame will work for you.

JW28 · April 2012

It looks like a pretty decent bike, and that's not a bad deal for it. However, do make sure that it fits you properly. How tall are you? Were you looking at the 47cm or the 54cm? 54cm is likely too big if you're under 5'7", and 47cm is likely too small if you're over 5'3" or so, though it depends on your proportions. I would go to the shop and ask about the fit and also see if they do a fitting or any free service on bikes they sell.

Also note that that's a pretty fancy bike - I wouldn't be ashamed to race on a bike like that, it would certainly do the job. I don't remember what you said before - what's your primary use case for this bike? Just riding around for fun, training for something? There are definitely cheaper bikes out there if price is a concern - you probably don't need full-carbon.

+Elle+ · April 2012

trigal:
It's a great bike. But, does it fit? If it doesn't fit, then it's a lousy deal. And, Ali's right, there will always be something else out there (unless you are buying the cream of the crop). The bike shop should be able to put you on a size cycle to see if that frame will work for you.

I am 5'6" (long legs, short torso) and was fitted to a 54 cm on a different Trek. I asked the bike store to have the madone moved from the store it's at to the store near me so I can try the actual bike Tuesday.

I am *way* over my head and out of my element on this. I was leaning toward a Lexa (which felt fine to me) but both DH and the guy at the bike store suggested the components weren't great. So now I don't trust what "feels" good. I am really unused to not being able to rely on my own instincts but I have no instincts on this. I bought a cheap crossover thinking I would ride it while I figured out what I wanted but DH's new bike is so light and crisp and smooth it makes me not want to wait. But I basically suck at cycling - I have never ridden a bike with gears before, I was riding the brakes down all the steep hills today, I am slow and clumsy - so I don't know if it's just dumb to get something nice when I suck so much at this.

Anyway, thank you all for your patience and input.

+Elle+ · April 2012

JW28:

Also note that that's a pretty fancy bike - I wouldn't be ashamed to race on a bike like that, it would certainly do the job. I don't remember what you said before - what's your primary use case for this bike? Just riding around for fun, training for something? There are definitely cheaper bikes out there if price is a concern - you probably don't need full-carbon.

I am *hoping* to do a triathlon. I started running again about 3 years ago, have always swam, but have never been a cyclist. Frankly, I am not terribly coordinated and am often afraid of falling. But we just moved to the beach and there are all kinds of great bike trails, plus DH loves biking and wants me to bike with him, so I thought it would be nice to have something I can ride on the weekends and then potentially race. But if I never get to the point of being confident enough on the bike to race that's OK too. I do think we will do some distance riding, not super far but maybe 30-50 miles in a day, so I want something that won't kill me on those distances.

Susie Derkins · April 2012

+Elle+:
The fit should be right.

"Should" isn't sufficient -- make sure you know for sure. Don't buy it until you've gotten on a Madone that's the correct size and know it fits well. The frame is the frame is the frame, it's the one thing you really can't swap out later. The geometry has to work for you; you can only tweak fit so much.

A Madone was one of my top choices, but the geometry wasn't quite the same as Trek's aluminum women's frame, the Lexa. It just wasn't quite right for me -- so close, but no cigar. I got a Specialized Ruby instead.

But if it turns out to fit you well, that is a great price for carbon frame + 105's. It looks like a really nice bike, and a really nice bike for the price. Calvin has a men's Madone 4.5 (or 4.7?) and loves it.

kat.in.the.hat · April 2012

I'm really new to all this cycling stuff as well, but my husband has been riding since he was in high school so he pretty much picked my bike out for me and I've been really really happy with it.

I have 105s on my bike and I love them and wouldn't get the lower model. My bike (a Fuji Acr 2.0) is an aluminum frame with a carbon fork and seat stays and frankly, I'm not enough of a good rider to know the difference between that and an all carbon bike.

I'm doing my first tri in two weeks and I think my bike will do a really great job, I know it's a much better bike than I am a rider. It's going to take years more of me riding to outgrow my bike I think. If there's other stuff that you'd rather spend your money on, then I'd go for a lesser bike with the same components until you know for a fact you'll get your moneys worth out of that kind of bike.

+Elle+ · April 2012

Susie Derkins:
+Elle+:
The fit should be right.
"Should" isn't sufficient -- make sure you know for sure. Don't buy it until you've gotten on a Madone that's the correct size and know it fits well. The frame is the frame is the frame, it's the one thing you really can't swap out later. The geometry has to work for you; you can only tweak fit so much.

The bike store is moving it to the store closest to me so I can try it. I just enter to decide if it was worth getting (if it is the right size/fit) before putting the store through the trouble.

Sadlebred · April 2012

Everyone else has had great advice. I'll throw in my 2 cents. 54 cm will be WAAAAY to big for you. At 5'6", you are looking more like a 50 or maybe a 52 if the top tube is really short. FIT is the most important thing. For us ladies under about 5'8", top tube is the most important measurement. Stand over height (ie "crotch clearance") is NOT a way for anyone to be fit on a bike. I have no crotch clearance on any of my bikes yet they all fit me well.

Even if it's a bargin, you won't like it if it doesn't fit. You need to be fit to THIS bike, not some other Trek.

+Elle+ · April 2012

Sadlebred:
Everyone else has had great advice. I'll throw in my 2 cents. 54 cm will be WAAAAY to big for you. At 5'6", you are looking more like a 50 or maybe a 52 if the top tube is really short. FIT is the most important thing. For us ladies under about 5'8", top tube is the most important measurement. Stand over height (ie "crotch clearance") is NOT a way for anyone to be fit on a bike. I have no crotch clearance on any of my bikes yet they all fit me well.
Even if it's a bargin, you won't like it if it doesn't fit. You need to be fit to THIS bike, not some other Trek.

I am definitely not buying it if it doesn't fit correctly. I should know by Tuesday, when the bike gets to the store. Thank you again, you have been so especially helpful.

JW28 · April 2012

Sadlebred:
Everyone else has had great advice. I'll throw in my 2 cents. 54 cm will be WAAAAY to big for you. At 5'6", you are looking more like a 50 or maybe a 52 if the top tube is really short. FIT is the most important thing. For us ladies under about 5'8", top tube is the most important measurement. Stand over height (ie "crotch clearance") is NOT a way for anyone to be fit on a bike. I have no crotch clearance on any of my bikes yet they all fit me well.
Even if it's a bargin, you won't like it if it doesn't fit. You need to be fit to THIS bike, not some other Trek.

There's a chance it will fit, but only if her legs are actually extra long. I'm the opposite, long torso, short legs, and I ride a 52cm. And yes, standover is important, though women's specific *might* take that into account. Don't buy it if there's any doubt about fit.

Bicyclists- more advice please?

Re: Bicyclists- more advice please?

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