So how the hell do you test ride a bike?

[Andrew_Culture]

I've just been out for a test ride on a used bike I'm considering buying and the more I think of it the more unhelpful my first opinions are in helping me decide whether to purchase or not!

The riding position is putting a lot of weight on my hands - this can be adjusted, in fact I did stop and change the angle of the saddle

It's slower off the mark than my single speed - I'm not used to these gears so that will change

It's heavier than my single speed - of course it is

There appears to be more rolling resistance than my single speed - I can fit narrower tyres

It feels weird - of course it does, it's different to what I'm currently riding.

I could go on.... But I'll only really know how I really feel about this bike when I've been riding it for a few weeks. Arg!


So what do you look for when test riding a new bike?

 

[Crackle]

Me.
Position, sure you can change it but the overall position has to be right, reach, height, hood comfort, if it's a bit off and you think you can solve it no problem.
Gears: How well they change, easy to reach and use, Brifters etc...
Feel: Responsiveness, vibration, smoothness. Again you can change stuff but the underlying feel has to be there.

If it doesn't feel right, pass on it, don't think about what you can do to change it unless you are absolutely sure it will work and deliver what you want.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

It was smooth as velvet but it would feel that way as it's the first 'proper' road bike I've ridden. It creaked when under stress (being pushed hard uphill for example), and the seller (very respected local independent repairer) just text me to say he can't get rid of the creaks and would understand if I turned the bike down.

The changes were solid on the whole, a couple of up changes lagged by a second or two though.

But here's the thing - this bike is a custom build with carbon forks, Dura ace chainset, ultegra hubs and derailleurs plus ma3 wheels and I've been offered it for £350 so it seems like a bit of a steel.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

The price has just been dropped by fifty quid due to the creaking.

I was originally planning to get a Triban 3 but it strikes me my money would be going a lot further with this bike, even if it does creak!

 

[Baggy]

Wot Crackle said.

It's tricky though, my Audax bike felt horrible and slow on the first few rides because it didn't fit right but after much tweaking it's now it's the most comfortable of all my bikes. In contrast, my road bike just felt right and I came back after the first ride with a grin from ear to ear.

Not much help really!

 

[Baggy]

Creaks could be seatpost, pedals or bottom bracket...

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Creaks could be seatpost, pedals or bottom bracket...

The thing that troubles me is that if the guy selling me the bike can't fix it then I sure can't. But unless it's an indicator of frame damage I'm not sure I care all that much.

The bike is heavy bit as I've gleened from other threads I'm not sure that matters too much

 

[Crackle]

Creaks could be seatpost, pedals or bottom bracket...

Yeah, add stem to that. It could be a bunch of other things, even the chain rings not seated properly. Unless it was a frame problem, then with patience you could solve it, though creaks can be a bit frustrating. Sounds like he's done a few obvious things, didn't cure it and doesn't want to have to spend the time on it, to find the source.

It sounds very good, better specced than the Triban. Trust your instincts, Andrew.

 

[Baggy]

The thing that troubles me is that if the guy selling me the bike can't fix it then I sure can't. But unless it's an indicator of frame damage I'm not sure I care all that much.

A couple of the bikes in our household have mysterious creaks, as you say, unless it's frame damage (which seems unlikely) it's just an irritation, and might disappear one day when you replace something or other. It depends how much of an irritation it is to you!

 

[accountantpete]

What generation of Dura Ace/Ultegra are we talking about? What shifters?

Who built the frame and what is the material?

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I don't know how old any of the kit is, but I'm pretty sure the changers are ultegra - they have a function whereby if there is any ticking after the change you move the levers just a little bit to make the change perfect.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

What generation of Dura Ace/Ultegra are we talking about? What shifters?

Who built the frame and what is the material?

No idea whole built the frame, pretty sure it's aluminium .

 

[asterix]

You have to be comfortable right away IMO. That means the bike urges you to pedal harder. If you have to think about other forms of physical exertion, like supporting yourself, you could be in trouble if you are already a fit and competent cyclist. If you are not, it could just be a matter of strengthening muscles, e.g. neck and back.

Don't buy a creaking bike. The seller is right: "would understand if I turned the bike down."

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I've just said yes, a lot of the reason behind the decision is that I trust the seller.

If I have made a mistake there will hopefully be ways to amend. It's not the Giant Defy 2 I was lusting after but it is within my price range.

 

[biggs682]

i always take a look first then just go for pootle trying to work out what can be adjusted and not and go from there , but not easy