Test Riding a Road Bike

[Sam Kennedy]

I'm (hopefully) going to be going to test a road bike out before I buy it, however I've had very little experience riding road bikes. On Saturday someone from my club let me try out their bike for a bit, and it felt completely different.

So when I come to test ride this bike, how will I know if I will be comfortable or not since I've had no past experience with one? How will I know if the size is right?

Also, what sort of things should I check to make sure its in good working condition?

Cheers,

Sam

 

[MajorMantra]

I take it this is a used road bike, no? Things you can check include play in the bottom bracket and hubs, wear to the rims, condition of the frame (no cracks), functioning of the gears (run through them) and probably some others I've missed.

You should have an approximate idea of what size you need already from measuring yourself and/or your current bike. Unfortunately evaluating fit from a single test ride is almost impossible but you can at least make sure that with the saddle at the correct height you are going to have a sensible (not huge but not non-existent) from the saddle to the bars.

If possible, take someone experienced along, it'll help a lot.

Matthew

 

[jimboalee]

I've never test ridden a bike.

My LBS man sized me up when I was fourteen, and I've shrank a bit since then.
My LBS man was a frame builder in his own right, and I have the sizing sums and know what to look for when I'm buying another bike.

I saw an SWorks in Mike Vaughan. They didn't want much at all for it and it was a 54cm when my size is 21 1/2", well 6mm don't make a fat lot of difference and 3mm error in the reach isn't much either.

I flashed my plastic and carried the bike to the car.

The SWorks was a completely different animal to my old Pug 531. 5lb different.

My recommendation is:- get sized up by someone who knows what they're doing. Make a note of seat tube length, seat angle, stand-over height and reach. Take a look through the spec' pages on the websites and go to the shops with a measureing tape.
If the bike measures up, you won't need to test ride it.

 

[Gerry Attrick]

I've never test ridden a bike.

My LBS man sized me up when I was fourteen, and I've shrank a bit since then.
My LBS man was a frame builder in his own right, and I have the sizing sums and know what to look for when I'm buying another bike.

I saw an SWorks in Mike Vaughan. They didn't want much at all for it and it was a 54cm when my size is 21 1/2", well 6mm don't make a fat lot of difference and 3mm error in the reach isn't much either.

I flashed my plastic and carried the bike to the car.

The SWorks was a completely different animal to my old Pug 531. 5lb different.

My recommendation is:- get sized up by someone who knows what they're doing. Make a note of seat tube length, seat angle, stand-over height and reach. Take a look through the spec' pages on the websites and go to the shops with a measureing tape.
If the bike measures up, you won't need to test ride it.

Sorry Jim, but i disagree. Just because a bike measures up, does not mean that you will like it. Every frame design has its peculiarities and riding qualities which may well be subjective. I would advise test riding as many bikes as possible before flashing the cash.

 

[Tollers]

I moved to a road bike from a hybrid a few weeks back. I think the first one might always be a bit of a gamble.

I approached it by testing loads at my lbs, then when they were annoyed with me, i tested a load more at the next. My point was to get a feel for the differences and try to figure out what hurt me least. In the end i found a bike i liked, then went online and noted the basic geometry before buying a completely different bike (with roughly similar gemotery) online.

This approach worked for me, but wasn't quick. My first few ride hurt but the more i ride the more i like her.

Tollers

 

[briank]

If at all possible, take someone experienced with you. Those who have ridden bikes a lot, especially those who have ridden in company with others, will be able to advise not just on technical questions but also also whether you look like you're on a bike that fits you. It's not as useful, of course, as a proper bike fit, but better than trying to disentangle the feeling of strangeness that will come every time you sit on a new type of bike.

 

[jimboalee]

Sorry Jim, but i disagree. Just because a bike measures up, does not mean that you will like it. Every frame design has its peculiarities and riding qualities which may well be subjective. I would advise test riding as many bikes as possible before flashing the cash.

Granted.
There will be subtle differences from frame to frame, dimensions and angles as well as stiffness.
Every bike will feel different on its first ride. It will become familiar after several rides.

If the LBS man is worth his salt, he'll measure you up and suggest a bike for your type of riding.

Test riding a bike for half an hour round the streets will not really give you an idea of what it will feel like after 3 hours on a Sportive.

My SWorks feels quite awkward for about forty minutes after using my Dawes all week. But after an hour, it's a fantastic, comfortable ride.


That reminds me of the old saying "The first ten miles are the worst".

 

[andyfromotley]

If its a LBS the owner/staff will have a look at you on the bike and show some real interest in making sure it fits.