Maybe you’re gearing up for your first multi-day summer bicycle tour, you’re intrigued by the idea of doing a 100-mile “century” ride or you’ve just decided it’s time to trade your rusty 10-speed clunker for a quality road bike.
You know the place to go is a shop that specializes in bikes, not the big-box store where bikes are displayed between the fishing gear and the toy department. But when you walk into the specialty shop, the place is crammed with a bewildering collection of bikes with exotic foreign names, esoteric terminology and intimidating price tags.
What are the differences between bikes? What size should you buy? What is “bike fitting” all about? What equipment should you buy?
“The most important thing in finding a bike for the entry-level multi-day rider is to get into a shop with somebody who really understands how to listen to the needs of the athlete,” said Nick Howe, owner of Boulder’s Sports Garage. “If you don’t feel like you’re being listened to, you’re probably not in the right place.
“The second thing is to be empowered. Don’t be afraid to try everything to make sure you’re making a well-informed decision.”
Here’s a primer on the complexities of purchasing a road bike:
Size and fit
A salesman can give you a general idea of the right size based on your inseam measurement, but different brands have different geometries, so you need to try out a few.
“A Trek in a 60-centimeter will fit differently from a Specialized in a 60-centimeter,” said Anthony Sloan of Wheat Ridge Cyclery. “Some of that is due to the length of the top tube, because they can be proportionally longer in one brand. The other has to do with the length of the head tube (under the handlebars).”
There’s more to it than the dimensions of the bike and your body.
“Find out what your individual needs are, in terms of your flexibility and core stability,” Howe said. “You’re going to need a bike that really allows for your body to relax and puts you in the ideal position that helps you maintain a neutral spine.”
After you’ve found the right size, you might want to consider a bike fit to get dialed in. A good bike fit, which is more than adjusting the height of the seat and the handlebars, can take two hours or more. The bike fitter might want to replace the handlebar stem with a longer one, for example, to make sure your spine is in the proper position.
How much to spend
Give it some thought.
“I like to sell people a bike in their price range, but I want to meet their needs,” Sloan said. “With sporting equipment there’s always the question of, ‘Should I save money, or am I going to get into this (sport) and then wish I would have spent more?”‘
Much of the wide range in prices comes from the material in the frame. Frames come in aluminum, steel, carbon fiber, titanium and mixtures – an aluminum frame with carbon stays, for example.
“If we had to break it down, we’re going to look at aluminum frames anywhere from $650 and up,” Sloan said. “We’re going to see steel frames showing up at around $1,500. Steel is an anomaly, because people associate it with an inexpensive bike, but these days steel tends to be high end. It tends to be lighter weight, emphasizing ride quality, and not as heavy as some people are thinking.”
How could steel be lighter than aluminum?
“There is a trend for smaller manufacturers to make steel frames, and that’s why you see them be more expensive,” Howe said. “There is a heat-treating process that steel tubing goes through that allows them to use a thinner-walled steel. That’s why they are a little more expensive.”
Carbon fiber is expensive – starting at around $1,800 – but it can make for a smoother ride. Carbon allows for a bike that is vertically “compliant,” meaning it absorbs road vibrations, but is sturdy laterally so it resists flexion in the bottom bracket or head tube.
Steel, titanium and carbon generally have better ride qualities than aluminum, but don’t put too much stock in generalities.
“This industry as a whole tends to grasp onto, ‘A titanium rides like this … A carbon rides like this … A carbon bike is for this person … A titanium bike is for this person,”‘ Howe said. “There’s a range of ride qualities for each material. The trick in helping somebody find a bike is to find the appropriate place on the range – empower that person to try things.”
Components
The qualities of components (shifters, derailleurs, etc.) can add hundreds or thousands of dollars to the price of a bike.
“When we spend more on componentry, what we’re buying is better performance, longer life and better performance through that life, and more warranty,” Sloan said. “Does it feel precise, is it a little bit clunky, is there some hesitation in shifting? And how much does it weigh?”
The performance advantage of more expensive components will show up if you do a lot of climbing, when there’s a heavier load on the chain.
“You’re not going to notice it as much on a flat road,” Howe said, “but if you’re doing a multi-day ride like Ride the Rockies and you’re climbing a lot, as you load the chain, higher-level shifters and derailleurs just shift better.”
Accessories
A helmet is a given. Water bottles and cages, a pump and tire repair kit, cycling shoes that click into the pedals and padded shorts all are advised.
“I usually tell people to make sure they get a comfortable pair of shorts, because that’s key to being happy on the bike,” Sloan said. “It’s one of your most intimate relationships with a bike; you want that to go well.”
Don’t forget your hands and feet.
“Gloves are much more important than people think, especially for multi-day rides, giving your hands an opportunity to deal with less vibration,” Howe said. “Shoes are very important. If you’re going to be doing a multi-day ride like Ride the Rockies, you’re going to be on the bike as an entry-level rider for six, seven hours a day. You can imagine wearing an uncomfortable pair of shoes for seven hours, five days in a row – it’d be pretty terrible.”
Saddle time
Some multi-day rides in Colorado:
RIDE THE ROCKIES
June 18-23, 419 miles, Cortez to Cañon City, sponsored by The Denver Post.
Website: www.ridetherockies.com
GO FOR THE GORGE
July 8-9, 150 miles, Highlands Ranch to Cañon City, benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Website: www.goforthegorge.org.
COURAGE CLASSIC
July 22-24, 157 miles, Leadville-Summit County loop-Leadville, benefiting Children’s Hospital.
Website: www.couragetours.com.
