I haven't had a road bike since they were called "ten-speeds" or "racing bikes." Even then, they still had flat pedals, or toe clips at best. For a while, I rode a mountain bike. Then I switched to a hybrid after totalling the MTB. Due to tendonitis in my arms, I needed the upright riding position to avoid further pain. Well, my tendonitis is gone and I'm ready for a real road bike. I'm looking for a good local bike shop to help me get started without being condescending to an old fat guy who's never used clipless pedals before. They'll need to spend some time with me, but will be rewarded with all my biking business. I'm in Sunnyvale, and prefer a shop within a short ride of there. Also, if you know a particular person at a shop who you'd like to recommend, I'm all ears. If you'd like to reply privately for any reason, that's fine, too. Thanks, - Bob rlw@rlw.best.vwh.net

"bfd" <bfd853@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:1173986841.115725.146020@n76g2000hsh.googlegroups.com... > On Mar 15, 11:47 am, r...@rlw.best.vwh.net (Bob Weissman) wrote: >> I haven't had a road bike since they were called "ten-speeds" or >> "racing bikes." Even then, they still had flat pedals, or toe clips >> at best. >> >> For a while, I rode a mountain bike. Then I switched to a hybrid >> after totalling the MTB. Due to tendonitis in my arms, I needed the >> upright riding position to avoid further pain. >> >> Well, my tendonitis is gone and I'm ready for a real road bike. I'm >> looking for a good local bike shop to help me get started without >> being condescending to an old fat guy who's never used clipless >> pedals before. They'll need to spend some time with me, but will >> be rewarded with all my biking business. >> >> I'm in Sunnyvale, and prefer a shop within a short ride of there. >> >> Also, if you know a particular person at a shop who you'd like to >> recommend, I'm all ears. >> >> If you'd like to reply privately for any reason, that's fine, too. >> > In the South Bay, anyone of the following shops should be good: > > Cupertino Bike Shop > Shaws > Bicycle Outfitter (Los Altos) > Chain Reaction (Redwood City) > > I would highly recommend paying for a fitting. Good Luck! I'll endorse 3 of the bike shops listed: Cupertino Bike Shop: http://cupertinobikeshop.com/shop.htm Shaws lightweight Bicycles: http://www.shawscycles.com/mission.html The Bicycle Outfitter: http://www.bicycleoutfitter.com/ -tom

Spending almost $500 on different bike stuff at Chain Reaction in Los Altos yesterday, I think am a bit familiar with the place. Steve does a great job. Amy is good. Rob is very personable. They have some other long time folks there who I just don't remember their names. You won't go wrong with any of the recommendations. I know that Chain Reaction has a pretty good sale on bikes right now. Biggest thing is to find a shop that you like and who will give you service after the sale. Fit is critical to keeping you on the bike and enjoying it. I think finding a good place to buy a bike is more important than price. Just my opinion but if you don't use the bike because you have a bad experience, what good was it saving that $25. "Dan Connelly" <d_j_c_o_n_n_e_l@y_a_h_o_o_._c_o_m> wrote in message news:Y7iKh.3367$Qw.121@newssvr29.news.prodigy.net... > Tom Nakashima wrote: > >> I'll endorse 3 of the bike shops listed: >> >> Cupertino Bike Shop: >> http://cupertinobikeshop.com/shop.htm >> >> Shaws lightweight Bicycles: >> http://www.shawscycles.com/mission.html >> >> The Bicycle Outfitter: >> http://www.bicycleoutfitter.com/ >> > > Obviously the other recommended shop, Chain Reaction in Redwood City, is > also excellent -- you need only look at Mike's wonderful web pages > (http://www.chainreaction.com/) to see that he cares a great deal about > riders, and while I haven't had personal experience buying a bike there, I > know people who have who had a good experience. > > The one issue is Redwood City is a bit far north from Sunnyvale. > Preferred bike shops should be within easy riding distance of home! > There's a Chain Reaction in Los Altos, as well, near Trader Joes, but I > leave it to others to recommend that (I have almost no experience with it; > I bought a fender there once....). > > Dan

"SMS" <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote in message news:45f9b902$0$27191$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net... > Bob Weissman wrote: > > A lot depends on how much you want to spend, but the first thing you want > to do is to eliminate all compact frame models, the second thing you want > to do is to eliminate any non-steel models, the third thing you want to do > is eliminate any models that aren't factory triples. That narrows things > down considerably to start. > Can you explain why you want to "narrow" down the OP selection by eliminating these item? For example, how well do you know the OP? How do you know a "compact" frame wouldn't fit him or her? Further, what's wrong with "non-steel" models? Moreover, do you know the OP well enough to know whether he needs a "factory triple?" I would think that for some people, any of the items you would eliminate might actually be something the OP wants? That is where a good LBS comes in. Any of the 4 shops I listed would be able to figure things like what components and frame material would work for any potential buyer and thus, make riding fun. Eliminating a bunch of items without know the buyer and his or her preference, fitting needs and price range is crazy!

> Spending almost $500 on different bike stuff at Chain Reaction in Los > Altos yesterday, I think am a bit familiar with the place. Steve does a > great job. Amy is good. Rob is very personable. They have some other > long time folks there who I just don't remember their names. > > You won't go wrong with any of the recommendations. I know that Chain > Reaction has a pretty good sale on bikes right now. > > Biggest thing is to find a shop that you like and who will give you > service after the sale. Fit is critical to keeping you on the bike and > enjoying it. I think finding a good place to buy a bike is more important > than price. Just my opinion but if you don't use the bike because you have > a bad experience, what good was it saving that $25. Fortunately we have a number of good shops in the area, and sometimes the "best" shop might be determined by the atmosphere created by the staff. Different shops will be more or less compatible with different people. Fortunately, we've fooled enough to stay in business for quite a few years. By the way, I should mention that Amy's gone to full-time teaching & writing, and much as she misses our customers, she really wants to make her writing thing work for her. Not that I should try and talk anyone out of buying a road bike from us, but I would also add Palo Alto Bicycles to the list of good, local shops. And not just because their manager, Jeff Selzer, is also out here at the DC Bike Summit, lobbying to try and make the world a better place for bikes (rather than further inconvenienced by an auto-oriented infrastructure that often seens bikes as being in the way rather than an accepted mode of transportation. --Mike Jacoubowsky Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReaction.com Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

> Well, my tendonitis is gone and I'm ready for a real road bike. I'm > looking for a good local bike shop to help me get started without > being condescending to an old fat guy who's never used clipless > pedals before. They'll need to spend some time with me, but will > be rewarded with all my biking business. No matter what bike you're looking at, or where, I think you'll find this article on our website very helpful. It's completely brand-neutral (meaning that it doesn't tell you to buy a Trek, LeMond or Klein, the three lines we carry). www.ChainReaction.com/roadbiketestrides.htm As I mentioned in another post, you're fortunate to live in an area with a number of good shops. --Mike Jacoubowsky Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReaction.com Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

> The reason to recommend steel is it's cheaper, with excellent ride > quality, at the expense only of weight, allowing for more to be invested > in components and/or wheels and/or a bike fit and/or tools and/or shoes > and/or fenders and/or lights and/or any of a host of other worthwhile > investments. Steel is no longer less-expensive than aluminum; in most cases, it costs a bit more. Aluminum fabrication (and the cost of the tubes themselves) has become dramatically less-expensive over the past 10 years. There is potentially a durability advantage with aluminum as well, providing it wasn't built to be as light as possible. Inexpensive steel frames *do* fail, popular believe saying otherwise. Same can be said for frames of all materials, for that matter. --Mike Jacoubowsky Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReaction.com Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA "Dan Connelly" <d_j_c_o_n_n_e_l@y_a_h_o_o_._c_o_m> wrote in message news:PdlKh.7887$M65.1679@newssvr21.news.prodigy.net... > bfd wrote: >> Can you explain why you want to "narrow" down the OP selection by >> eliminating these item? For example, how well do you know the OP? How do >> you know a "compact" frame wouldn't fit him or her? Further, what's wrong >> with "non-steel" models? Moreover, do you know the OP well enough to >> know whether he needs a "factory triple?" I would think that for some >> people, any of the items you would eliminate might actually be something >> the OP wants? > > The interesting thing is each of the Bianchi's he recommended have sloping > top tubes... doesn't this qualify them as "compact"? > > The reason he recommended a triple was Bob said he hasn't ridden a road > bike since "10-speeds". In the Bay Area, it probably implies he lacks the > power/mass ratio to be able to climb at a comfortable pace with typical > doubles, and that any loss in shifting performance or gain in mass will > probably be irrelevant. The reason to recommend steel is it's cheaper, > with excellent ride quality, at the expense only of weight, allowing for > more to be invested in components and/or wheels and/or a bike fit and/or > tools and/or shoes and/or fenders and/or lights and/or any of a host of > other worthwhile investments. > > Dan

Dan Connelly <d_j_c_o_n_n_e_l@y_a_h_o_o_._c_o_m> wrote in news:oOxKh.7959$M65.6730@newssvr21.news.prodigy.net: > General opinion suggests, at the same price, a steel frame will have a > better ride feel than an Al frame, but will weight a bit more. > > One can even get a custom steel frame for around $1.3k. I think the better steel ride applies only to high end frames. Entry level steel has always been heavy and sluggish. $1300 for a bare frame is pretty expensive for a newbie.

"Dan Connelly" <d_j_c_o_n_n_e_l@y_a_h_o_o_._c_o_m> wrote in message news:LrBKh.9564$P47.7723@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net... > SMS wrote: > >> Unless you have a strange body shape, such as abnormally short legs, a >> compact frame is usually undesirable, especially for the non-racer. It's >> only benefit is to the manufacturer. > > Okay, so it benefits the manufacturer.... what's the downside, and why is > the downside different for racers and non-racers? > > I don't see any evidence from pro results that sloping or parallel top > tubes make any a performance perspective. I doubt anyone could tell the > difference from ride quality alone, for a given set of contact points > (saddle, bars, pedals). > > (there's no way a compact is livelier...) > > Dan I read and article that Compact Frames have a lower center of gravity, shorter wheelbase and smaller rear triangle, therefore giving the bike quicker handling characteristics. Perhaps that's the indication that compact frames are livelier? fwiw, -tom

> Yes, I'm grateful for all the typing you've done to get all this > information out there. Very good stuff. Just don't get bilateral > forearm tendonitis, as I did, from too much typing! Trust me, typing is far less painful than the alternative. Being left-handed, I never learned how to handwrite properly, so even a sentence or two are pretty painful. I did, however, learn how to type well (and correctly) at a very early age, and also change the type of trackball I use fairly frequently. Nevertheless, a full day of typing is certainly not as pleasant as a full day on a bike! And now I'm about to embark on the worst of all... a full day in an airplane! Fortunately that's not true, just 6 hours of flying. Thank goodness for E+ on United. Could be worse. --Mike Jacoubowsky Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReaction.com Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA

> The one other difference I have observed is that post-sale customer > service isn't as good at Chain Reaction in Los Altos. Once I went in > there and the store staff was pretty much ignoring the complaints of a > lady who had recently bought a Flight Deck there and was having > trouble with it. Even if she were a nut case (she seemed reasonable > to me) I would like to see the shop continue to work with her until > she is a satisfied customer instead of letting her stand there > complaining to the other customers. > > Another time I went to Chain Reaction Los Altos to buy a replacement > headlight because the mounting bracket on the old one broke in the > course of normal use. The sales guy dismissed my story, telling me I > must have abused it. That was insulting and not a good thing to say, > even if that's what he was thinking. The guy still spent a lot of > time with me answering my questions, for what must certainly be a low > profit item, so I give him credit for that. Anytime something like that comes up at *any* shop, you might send them an email (or call, but sometimes it's easier to be a bit cleared and more precise in an email... plus it can be shown to others who might really need to see it). The biggest fear of a shop should not be the things like this they hear about... it's those they don't. Nevertheless, as a shop owner, I still lose sleep (literally sometimes) over things that go not-quite-right. Sometimes it's a screw-up, sometimes it's a priority issue (some shops place a higher priority on certain types of things than others) and sometimes personalities. --Mike Jacoubowsky Chain Reaction Bicycles www.ChainReaction.com Redwood City & Los Altos, CA USA