Time To Take Plunge

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Xplora
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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby Xplora » Fri Jan 03, 2014 10:13 pm

dynamictiger wrote: My Schwinn is a drop bar. I just find it a bit hard on my hands and thought a more upright bike would be better.
Oops. LOL

My right elbow is STUFFED after a decade of guitar and drums in the vein of Slayer, can't straighten it. If you want to sit up more, or feel more comfortable, you might get a LOT of mileage from a compact bar liek the 3T Ergonova. Easier in the flat section, and you can always bring your hoods up or down a little bit to fill your palms better. Mercx's era had impossible hoods positions for my mind. There are a lot of options out there.

Another possibility is going Campy or SRAM or Shimano to get a better ergonomic hood. I don't know what will suit you, but sadly even Super Record shifters are cheaper than a new bike :idea: :idea: :idea: :idea:

dynamictiger
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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby dynamictiger » Sat Jan 04, 2014 9:08 pm

Rode a lot of bikes this afternoon, quite quickly. The overview is the CX bikes I tried I didn't like. There was little to differentiate them from the Schwinn I am riding now. Of those I tried I surprised myself by preferring the more aggressive geometry of the Fuji Cross 1.3. Although I admit to wondering how practical this would be on longer rides as my entire abdomen was tightening up...but it does encourage you to go fast on the flats :) :D :D

I tried about 8 more bikes today and nothing really made me leap. The closest was a Trek 7.4 FX which I thought rode well. I think I will put this on my list to ride again.

I am surprised how many bikes are just ride it and get off and go ho hum. Even the Merida T5 I tried was a bit ho hum. Not really gripping.

We are going out of town tomorrow down to Mandurah to see family, should get a chance to try the shops around there and see a few other bikes I made a small list of to look at.

So far the Sirrus is way, way in front and nothing seems to come near. Might go for another ride on this and his more expensive brother tomorrow if time allows.
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Xplora
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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby Xplora » Sat Jan 04, 2014 9:58 pm

You'll get used to whatever you get ;) Even a Venge will be comfortable eventually :D

Sirrus Comp has 10 speed; a 34/36 will pop wheelies if you want it to. I'd spend the extra. If I was going that way ;)

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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby dynamictiger » Sun Jan 05, 2014 7:28 pm

Went in to talk about the Sirrus Elite Pro again today. Got different sales person. Told I need an XL frame and not available until June :cry:

Anyone seen an XL anywhere? Looked on Bike Exchange and couldn't see any.

Thanks
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il padrone
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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby il padrone » Sun Jan 05, 2014 9:45 pm

Duck! wrote:
Nobody wrote:Something to consider before ditching the idea of a drop bar.


Also what's the budget for this bike?
Something funky I noticed in this clip that they didn't mention was that their "flat bar" was a riser, and the stem was a higher rise than when they converted to drops, so their comparison was invalid from the start. :?
I noticed also that the rider position shown was a very short one, sitting what I would describe as uncomfortably upright. But YMMV. Generally most people ride in a position where the angle between their torso and upper arm is ~90 degrees. Have a look some day. A guy who does regular bike-fits told me about this little guide to set-up.

ImageImage

Only in the most upright Dutch roadsters does this vary, and even then not by very much.

Image


I reckon Georgina Terry's model is too cramped.
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il padrone
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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby il padrone » Sun Jan 05, 2014 9:52 pm

dynamictiger wrote: My Schwinn is a drop bar. I just find it a bit hard on my hands and thought a more upright bike would be better.
Good saddle position (fore & aft) is more important than the handlebar type you use for sore hands. Seating more to the rearwards will enable you to use your core muscles more effectively to support your torso. Even with a drop bar bike, you should be able to ride along in the hoods position and lift your hands off the bars without moving your torso position, using your abdominal muscles to support yourself without great stress. If you cannot do this your saddle is too far forward and you will be putting greater load on your hands, arms, and shoulders.

Check your saddle angle as well. You can also get sore arms and shoulders from a saddle that is tilted too far forwards. You will be using you arms to continually hold yourself from sliding forwards.
Mandatory helmet law?
"An unjustified and unethical imposition on a healthy activity."

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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby clackers » Mon Jan 06, 2014 5:00 am

dynamictiger wrote:Rode a lot of bikes this afternoon, quite quickly.
Not sure this is the way to do it, DynamicTiger, unless you had the saddle you want at the right height and setback with the crank length, handlebar height and frame size that suits you.

Especially if you've had medical issues with your hands, why not get a bike fit done and write down all the measurements for future reference?

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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby dynamictiger » Thu Jan 09, 2014 8:43 am

Well what an illuminating experience this has been.

I think I can state my existing bike is too small for me or perhaps better wording not set up properly for me. This is an interesting observation of its own as I have wondered from time to time.

Despite being incorrectly set up and too small, none the less I have ridden it for a few years to and from work a few times a week most weeks.

Now having ridden a few more bikes I discover I am definitely suited to an XL frame, however a lot of the bikes don't come in or are not readily available in the correct size. Most shops either know this or are looking at my height alone and setting me up on an L, however my upper body is larger than the L and I need the stem extended on any L size bike.

Yesterday I rode a Bianchi Cameoleonte 3. This was a very nice bike to ride, but doesn't come in XL size in WA. The shop fitted an oversized stem and the relief I felt was uncanny, it was like a totally different experience and made the bike actually a lot more pleasurable.
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Xplora
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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby Xplora » Thu Jan 09, 2014 8:58 am

Nothing wrong with super long stems on tiny frames. Modern bikes are all like this in the racing sphere. Number of dudes running 130mm stems in the pros is illuminating to say the least. That said you sacrifice the feeling of the large frame. You don't want a tiny frame, just to say if your butt is over the BB properly and hands over the front wheel in the right spot, then you are sorted. . If you know that it's love, then get them to ship it in and get the proper fit.
This is partly where the expensive shops are better. New stem, seatpost, crank length? Of course it's included. ;) but you pay for the support. Given your requirements, you should continue your quest to buy LBS, because you will get the value through adjustments and maintenance and advice.

Get the Bianchi. They are cool :)

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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby dynamictiger » Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:11 am

Xplora wrote:Nothing wrong with super long stems on tiny frames. Modern bikes are all like this in the racing sphere. Number of dudes running 130mm stems in the pros is illuminating to say the least. That said you sacrifice the feeling of the large frame. You don't want a tiny frame, just to say if your butt is over the BB properly and hands over the front wheel in the right spot, then you are sorted. . If you know that it's love, then get them to ship it in and get the proper fit.
This is partly where the expensive shops are better. New stem, seatpost, crank length? Of course it's included. ;) but you pay for the support. Given your requirements, you should continue your quest to buy LBS, because you will get the value through adjustments and maintenance and advice.

Get the Bianchi. They are cool :)
Interesting comment on oversize stem, 130mm being long. We started on a 130mm last night :o
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Xplora
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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby Xplora » Thu Jan 09, 2014 10:23 am

dynamictiger wrote:Interesting comment on oversize stem, 130mm being long. We started on a 130mm last night :o
:oops:
Get the XL frame shipped in :shock: :shock: :shock:

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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby bianchi928 » Thu Jan 09, 2014 12:11 pm

If your thinking Trek, based on my wife and my experiences, I would recommend Riders Choice in Leederville. Phil or Gary.

They will do a proper fit as well.
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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby Nobody » Thu Jan 09, 2014 7:01 pm

dynamictiger wrote:Interesting comment on oversize stem, 130mm being long. We started on a 130mm last night :o
Overly long stems reduce braking effectiveness and slow steering response.

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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby dynamictiger » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:32 pm

Well. Well. Well.

What an interesting wander through the bike shops its been. Without naming shops as I think that would be against the rules most of the shops I was interested in purchasing in were less than straight with me.

In summary the way I have been treated is:

- Lied too
- Shown bikes that I am not interested in
- Some shops I have not really interfaced with so cant comment, seemed okay.
- Liked Specialised Sirrus Elite Disc. Shop advertised Cynergy finance. Where keen to sell me a bike, until I asked about Cynergy. Then start confusing me with wrong size bike mate and you really should be riding a Crosstrail which we got on a good deal before Christmas as we cant get the bike in the size you need etc.
- Liked Bianchi Cameoleonte 3. Shop seemed very straight. Busy. More affluent area and regular clients walking in and out. But alas cant get your size as you need an XL. As don't bring it in etc.
- Go to another dealer to look at a different bike and get told I can get a Bianchi to fit you.???????????? See you nearly fit this one I have here which is a 51cm and you need a 55cm (large)????????

So I call the Mrs. Have a chat and I call shop 2 and ask what size is the floor stock they have? Get told 20 inch (I know this is 500mm close enough), I ask what is that in Metric I only think in cm, get told they don't know...Uhmmmm sorry BS. I work in pipe we speak metric and imperial in the same sentence and interchangeably as required. I do not believe for one second someone working in a bike shop wouldn't switch the same as we do.

I placed a deposit on a 55cm Bianchi Cameoleonte 3 today, after riding a 1 to check for sure sizing, and it will be brought in from east coast for me next week. Excellent bike, great to ride, and best of all it is not black. What's with the Black fashion at the moment.
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Xplora
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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby Xplora » Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:10 pm

Nice work DT. Bike looks good, and you've figured out a lot of the BS. Don't need to name and shame here - they'll get named and shamed at the coffee shop, and that hurts more. A LOT more. Enjoy the new bike!!!

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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby scottomcgotto » Sun Mar 23, 2014 6:17 pm

Hey dynamictiger, interested to know how this all ended up, I'm in a pretty similar situation and I'd be very curious to know why you ended up going with the bianchi over the sirrus in the end. Did the bike turn up ok?

Love to hear how the story finished!

Cheers,

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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby dynamictiger » Mon Mar 24, 2014 8:49 am

The final outcome was the Bianchi is in my shed.

The only reason I didn't end up with the Sirrus was the bike shop. No other reason at all. If the store had been different I probably would own a Sirrus.
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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby scottomcgotto » Fri Mar 28, 2014 1:18 pm

Cool, thanks for the update. Definitely struggling to find a decent bike shop in Adelaide that has them in stock. Hard bike to track down apparently. I imagine that the Bianchi would be harder here though :/

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Re: Time To Take Plunge

Postby eeksll » Fri Mar 28, 2014 10:09 pm

scottomcgotto wrote:Cool, thanks for the update. Definitely struggling to find a decent bike shop in Adelaide that has them in stock. Hard bike to track down apparently. I imagine that the Bianchi would be harder here though :/
BIanchi is pretty easy. Bicycle express in the city and road rage cycles have them. If the filter was "decent" then I can't comment on that :D

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