Ghoulies October: Team BT (Page 52)

QueenZipp - 2010-10-08 10:05 PM

Go in person to the shop.  They can do a rough sizing based on inseam length and the torso length for reach.

Try out at least 3 bikes. 

You will "know" by what feels best for the reach and ride. 

Look for higher end components if you can afford them.  Seriously, the only things I have replaced on my 4 year old street bike are the chain and saddle.  Components will be replaced when I take it in for spring maintenance (maybe fall if I can't get on the bike any time soon)  Look for Ultegra or Shcimano 105's.

A professional fitting is NOT cheap, but well worth it.  You spend a LOT of time in the saddle, more as you go longer distances.  Think of your clothes, which ones do you prefer to wear when you want to look good.....some old bargain store sweatsuit or that nice dress you bought at the name store ?  (not that there isn't a time and place for the sweats)

QueenZipp - 2010-10-08 10:08 PM
Have you met any other BT'ers in your area?  I have a lot of Canadian friends on my BT freinds list.....but I know it's a large country and they may not be in your area to go to a store.

rnihill - 2010-10-08 8:56 PM OK, ladies...  I hate to admit I am so pathetic but I'm off to medicate my ear and go to bed.  I can't even stay awake to watch a hockey game that we are winning!  And it's Friday.  Sigh...

mbasta - 2010-10-08 9:11 PM

I haven't met any BTer's in person yet. If I wait until spring to purchase I might know someone online well enough by then. I just started chatting last month and haven't gotten to know anyone well enough in my area yet to ask for an in person meeting. (Remind you of dating?)

TriAya - 2010-10-08 10:13 PM Does the rusty mountain bike fit you?

You're looking for a job, you already have a bike, and winter is upon you.

There's something to be said for cutting your teeth on a POS bike. You will be AWESOME come real-road-bike time.

A decent entry-level bike, and for your first, it is better to buy new and bike-shop-guided (provided you have a really good local bike store behind you looking out for YOU and not just their sale), is going to run you ballpark $800; however, the shop will and SHOULD do the fitting free. At that point you will also want shoes and clipless pedals plus a saddlebag with tyre-changing supplies ... in other words, you're really looking at $1000 all told.

Until you can comfortably (or uncomfortably) afford that, I'd get stellar on a MTB.

TriAya - 2010-10-08 9:13 PM Does the rusty mountain bike fit you?

You're looking for a job, you already have a bike, and winter is upon you.

There's something to be said for cutting your teeth on a POS bike. You will be AWESOME come real-road-bike time.

A decent entry-level bike, and for your first, it is better to buy new and bike-shop-guided (provided you have a really good local bike store behind you looking out for YOU and not just their sale), is going to run you ballpark $800; however, the shop will and SHOULD do the fitting free. At that point you will also want shoes and clipless pedals plus a saddlebag with tyre-changing supplies ... in other words, you're really looking at $1000 all told.

Until you can comfortably (or uncomfortably) afford that, I'd get stellar on a MTB.

mbasta - 2010-10-08 9:17 PM Rust bucket top page

QueenZipp - 2010-10-08 10:19 PM
LOL

I'm going to go collapse.  g'night

mbasta - 2010-10-08 9:19 PM I rode my beast all summer on flat tires to boot. When I got to my tri in Sept my friend noticed I had flat tires so I took them to a volunteer for filling and it took about 20 pumps per tire to get them to the right pressure.

QueenZipp - 2010-10-09 10:17 AM

Yanti is right.....and she has raced on some interesting bikes.
I did my first tri on a piece of crap hybrid.  Sold back about 2 weeks of vacation time to my employer to buy my road bike.  My husband bought my race bike as a surprise gift 2 years ago.

QueenZipp - 2010-10-09 10:19 AM
LOL

I'm going to go collapse.  g'night

TriAya - 2010-10-08 10:26 PM

BWAH HA HA HA oh Judi ... you're so ... polite.

I actually just posted a pic of the old cruiser-bar steelie (I can't believe I put clipless pedals on that thing) on Pace Booty a couple days ago.

For a 6" dude in the '80s, with the original components (and the shifters working), it might have been a really fast bike.

QueenZipp - 2010-10-09 10:22 AM That's seriously HARDCORE

TriAya - 2010-10-08 10:29 PM

You are my hero.

mbasta - 2010-10-09 10:22 AM How are you feeling today Yanti? Hopefully better. I saw through posts you've been sleeping a lot.

TriAya - 2010-10-08 10:31 PM

Slowly better. Whatever I had, or am having, it's wiped the floor with me. I didn't feel as bad, for as long, when I had dengue fever.

However, I'm hopeful. I'm young and healthy and somebody will bring me food and make sure I don't get evicted.

mbasta - 2010-10-08 9:31 PM

Before I found the volunteer with a MTB pump I asked to borrow a pump from someone with a road bike and that's when I learned that they have different pump connectors... Is there a swim, bike, run for dummies somewhere? I've been learning the ins and outs of a good training plan but am missing a lot of other information.

mbasta - 2010-10-09 10:31 AM

Before I found the volunteer with a MTB pump I asked to borrow a pump from someone with a road bike and that's when I learned that they have different pump connectors... Is there a swim, bike, run for dummies somewhere? I've been learning the ins and outs of a good training plan but am missing a lot of other information.