I came across this road bike from ebay -- windsor willow for woman. I am not sure how good this bike is. I am new to this sport and don't want to spend too much on the first bike. Can anyone give me some suggestions? Thanks

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7160599383&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

Can anyone give me some suggestions? Try to go for at least Tiagra-level components if you go with Shimano. Let your LBS fit you carefully, and plan to spend $700 or so for an entry-level bike, IMHO.

I agree. And you must get fitted(ha...um....when will i decide to get a fitting?........oooo ya....when i get some more dough!)
If your bike dosnt fit, your ride will be, well.......uncomfortable./

My 2 cents..........

I agree. And you must get fitted(ha...um....when will i decide to get a fitting?........oooo ya....when i get some more dough!)
If your bike dosnt fit, your ride will be, well.......uncomfortable./

My 2 cents..........


Can I do the fitting myself?

If you know what your diong..then yes.
Sometimes though at your LBS they will swap stems and seats and other stuff for free.
And most of the time you will need different sizes than what is alredy on the bike.(like on mine right now....hahahahaha) So yes you can do it yourself, but i would really consider going to your LBS.(And if you dont, then you will be sorry the next time you need repair or something that only a LBS can do.) Also, if you are going to be riding alot, consider something in the 500-750 dollar range.

You should maybe post this in the newbie section -- the Beginner's Corner or whatever it's called.

First, bite these bike snobs really, really hard. You're not racing, and you don't need an arcane, expensive, snob sanctioned bike.

Visit your local bike shop, that's LBS here. Tell them what sort of riding you expect to do, or are interested in doing, and let them show you what they have in your range of bikes. You can get a fine road bike, nothing fancy just nice, well made and servicable for in the $400 - $500 range. That's a nice machine with nice features, and no cheap shortcuts.

Bikes are like stereos, motorcycles, kayaks, hiking boots, and motorboats. They come in all sorts of styles and a wide range of prices. Until you understand what you're looking at you won't be able to sort out what's being presented to you. Trust an LBS to put you on a decent bike and get you riding. As you develop in the sport, you'll find out what you want as a bike -- and you'll upgrade.

I've owned 4 stereos, 3 motorcycles, 3 kayaks, have a shelf full of boots, never owned a motorboat, but I have 5 bicycles right now -- and have owned several others. If you're willing to shop around and not horridly serious about cycling -- you can probably find one bike that will serve you well. But chances are you'll get hooked, find out your interests and end up with a second bike -- or several bikes.

Just looking at the Windsor on Ebay. It looks fine, but you'd be better served buying from an LBS where you can get service, warranty work, adjustments and have the LBS become part of your support system and cycling community. Your LBS wants your continued patronage and support. Accordingly, they'll put you on an appropriate bike and keep you happy.

I wouldn't buy online unless I really knew what I was looking at. You're not there yet.

First, bite these bike snobs really, really hard. I love ad hominem attacks - they're the very best part of online discussions :mad:. I don't think suggesting something a bit better than Sora components and somewhat more that $400 for a first road bike is being "snobbish." It's a matter of opinion. Yours differs from mine. Fine, but spare us the personal attacks.

I love ad hominem attacks - they're the very best part of online discussions :mad:. I don't think suggesting something a bit better than Sora components and somewhat more that $400 for a first road bike is being "snobbish." It's a matter of opinion. Yours differs from mine. Fine, but spare us the personal attacks.

An ad hominem attack is a rhetorical strategy which impugns the character, morals, ethics, or integrity of a specific person -- rather than attacking the idea or concept that person is presenting. I'm attacking the notion that this person needs to spend heaps on an unobtainium, arcanium ride for her first bike. Attacking the mindset of the enclave of bike snobs who would present it is not "ad hominem" insofar as I'm not aiming this criticism at any specific person but rather I'm constructing a nominal metaphor to represent an abstract entity. That's not ad hominem, it's metonymy.

And don't lets construe this post as an "ad hominem" aimed toward you. I'm not attacking your person. I'm merely pointing out that your use of the rhetorical term is incorrect.

If I said that you don't know what you're talking about because you're a jerk -- that would be ad hominem.

And don't lets construe this post as an "ad hominem" aimed toward you. I'm not attacking your person. I'm merely pointing out that your use of the rhetorical term is incorrect. Calling someone a snob, whether as part of a group of other snobs or not, is a personal, i.e., ad hominem, attack to my mind. I'll agree to disagree, and I won't take your comments personally.

I don't know anything about that frame brand or the fit of the bike for you, but the pink one sure is cute. I don't think it would be entirely needed to spend 700+ dollars on a first road bike either. My first road bike was a used 80s Bianchi that I spent 100$ on and it lasted me plenty long enough until I was ready to get myself a nicer new bike. Used isn't a bad way to go as long as the fit is right and you get it from a reputable bike shop so you know there is no frame damage, etc.

Calling someone a snob, whether as part of a group of other snobs or not, is a personal, i.e., ad hominem, attack to my mind. I'll agree to disagree, and I won't take your comments personally.

"Bike snobs" would be an abstraction. It's a metaphor. Technically it's a metonymy -- the use of a term associated with a group or abstract concept. The classic example is using the term "the White House" when referring to the executive branch of govt. Another would be using the term "the crown" when referring to the monarchy.

"Bike snobs" is an abstraction. It's not aimed at a specific person. Ad hominem is ALWAYS aimed at a specific person. You can disagree, but you'd be wrong. As a matter of fact, I do teach this stuff at the university.

Buying a Sora equiped bike is fine if you do not know if you will stay hooked on to road biking and if you will be putting low miles on the bike. I used to ride only mountain bikes and then one day I decided to give a road bike a try. I bought me a full Sora equiped bike with a carbon fork for less than $600. I got hooked quickly and have put almost 500 miles in the three months I've owned that bike. I've upgraded the seats to something more comforatble, and the stem to one that fits me. Right now I am saving money to buy an Ultegra equipped bike next year. If you're not sure what you were getting into, like me, a Sora bike is fine. Just understand that you may want to upgrade for something better later.

I do teach this stuff at the university. I'm glad to hear that; it would be unusual for your average person to be so versed in the formalisms of rhetoric. In any case, I wouldn't disagree with your definitions, but I would (and did) make the point that your characterization was disagreeable to me. I now do accept the more formal and not disagreeable intent as you've explained it, and I enjoyed the bit of education that followed. Cheers.

I'm glad to hear that; it would be unusual for your average person to be so versed in the formalisms of rhetoric. In any case, I wouldn't disagree with your definitions, but I would (and did) make the point that your characterization was disagreeable to me. I now do accept the more formal and not disagreeable intent as you've explained it, and I enjoyed the bit of education that followed. Cheers.

Where's the 'Threads-gone-awry' forum when you need it?

Back to what the original poster was saying.....

Heres my take on it:
If you plan on doing training rides (like maybe 100 miles a week), you should go for something that at least has shimano 105 shifters/derailleurs. That'll put you in the $800 range if you know what you're doing, and on eBay, that translates to around $500-$600. Or, if you plan on doing less than that, than if I were you, I'd go my local bike shop and ask them about a basic, entry-level road bike, and if you tell them the blatant truth (I don't ride much but would like a good road bike for me), you shouldn't feel as if they're pushing you to spend more than you need to, and if so, then go to another bike shop.

Never mind the components, sora...tiagra and the like. I have never seen a frame that was so stretched out...not even on my newbie rides. The area around the rear tire, the rear triangle is just way to large. The rear tire is too far away from the seatpost, the willow is not a road bike...it is a touring bike. Touring bikes are made for very smooth rides and slow speeds under large amounts of weight. They are not agile and quick, and might be for you! Go and tell the local bike shop what you are looking for, then test ride some bikes. After that, go tell another bike shop and ride some more bikes. Unless you know what you want, then don't buy on Ebay. Then you will know the road bike geometry and touring geometry, which this Ebay seller does not.I want your cycling experience to be the best it can be. I love cycling because my bike is perfect for me.
Hey, good luck and see you out on the road!

"Bike snobs" would be an abstraction. It's a metaphor. Technically it's a metonymy -- the use of a term associated with a group or abstract concept. The classic example is using the term "the White House" when referring to the executive branch of govt. Another would be using the term "the crown" when referring to the monarchy.

"Bike snobs" is an abstraction. It's not aimed at a specific person. Ad hominem is ALWAYS aimed at a specific person. You can disagree, but you'd be wrong. As a matter of fact, I do teach this stuff at the university.

As a matter of fact, I'd like to know what this has to do with the thread topic... :confused:

your question on fitting a bike yourself or how it should feel. This recent thread was pretty informative.

http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=32548

Cheers

If this is your first bike, I would strongly encourage you to go to a bike shop. The problem with buying without fitting is even if you measure everything, the fit guidlines are a starting point. There is one website out there that says I should ride a 60cm toptube with a 110 stem. I find a 57.5cm toptube with 110 stem ideal. 2.5cm may not sound like a lot, but it is on a roadbike. There is no way the 60cm would fit. When you go to a local shop, you can sit on the bike and see if it feels right, and if not have them change the stem length and rise and/or frame size until it does; for free. If you take some bike you bought off the internet they will charge you for this ($50-100)

Also, do you know how to work on your bike? Servicing costs $50-100 per trip, unless you bought the bike at the shop, in which case, normal adjustments should be free for at least the first year, preferably 3+ years.

As a matter of fact, I'd like to know what this has to do with the thread topic... :confused:

It's really, really complicated. This is how discourse and bulletin boards work. Someone posts a topic. Someone else picks up on an aside, and the thread goes in another direction for one reason or the other.

We could talk about pie.

But I think mostly this thread is answering Phoenix's question. She should go to her LBS and find a bike and a shop that can serve her.

My favorite PIE is pizza, thick crust combo with anchovies and fresh tomato. I like to drizzle olive oil on it.

Calling someone a snob, whether as part of a group of other snobs or not, is a personal, i.e., ad hominem, attack to my mind. I'll agree to disagree, and I won't take your comments personally.

You may remember a few weeks ago when RodeRash called himself Hardy Clamens and managed to piss off most of the viewing public with his innane, abusive comments and vulgarities.

Just consider the source and report to the moderators when he gets too bad.

You may remember a few weeks ago when RodeRash called himself Hardy Clamens and managed to piss off most of the viewing public with his innane, abusive comments and vulgarities.

Just consider the source and report to the moderators when he gets too bad.

That would be spelled "Hardy Cyclamens" -- It's a flowering perennial.

You people crack me up. Can't spell, can't read, can't reason. But you're fun to annoy.