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Test riding a bike for 2 hours

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Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Test riding a bike for 2 hours

Old 05-12-23, 05:11 PM
  #51  
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Originally Posted by LarrySellerz
200 rpm bursts are the a dream.
ftfy
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Old 05-12-23, 08:01 PM
  #52  
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Lance could hit 175
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Old 05-12-23, 09:53 PM
  #53  
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Originally Posted by LarrySellerz
I agree in principle, but to play devils advocate there is a good chance I would buy the bike if it fits my needs, and I can't tell if it will fit my needs with the brakes in the current position
Originally Posted by tomato coupe
But, from the shop's perspective, there's a good chance you won't buy the bike
So, what are the "chances"?

50/50 that one will buy it?
50/50 that one will buy it even if it meets all the criteria that Larry has?
10% chance that one will buy it, no matter what?
90% chance that one will buy it?

Are those cross top brakes? How much of the ride will be in the drops? Can one get the comfort and leverage needed to activate those from the hoods?

I'd be more comfortable doing a strenuous group ride on a bike that was set up properly with the right brakes, and that one has had more than 5 minutes warm up on.

Doesn't SF have some good level places and hills to climb? Do an all out sprint on the flats, then try a 20% hill climb, then sprint back to the shop, and you'll know if the bike does what you want.
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Old 05-12-23, 10:48 PM
  #54  
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Originally Posted by LarrySellerz
I'm sick of my bikes breaking and I need to commute in the rain etc, don't like maintenance. I want my commuter bike to be the same bike that I race on.

Separately, there are training benefits to riding single speed with fast groups. It forces you to be comfortable with a dynamic cadence and exposes inefficiencies in your pedaling style.
lots of people commute on bikes with lots of gears without issue. i commute on a 2x12 carbon bike, have never had a commute fail or any major maintenance issue. if you get a good quality, properly specified bike for your purpose and maintain it properly there's no reason you can't stick with one bike for commuting and group rides and racing.
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Old 05-13-23, 02:14 AM
  #55  
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Originally Posted by LarrySellerz
Lance could hit 175
With a little help.
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Old 05-13-23, 09:17 AM
  #56  
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Originally Posted by znomit
With a little help.
What's the best PED for cadence? Meth?
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Old 05-13-23, 11:29 AM
  #57  
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Originally Posted by LarrySellerz
Lance could hit 175
comparing yourself to Lance?
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Old 05-13-23, 12:35 PM
  #58  
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These threads are like a train wreck or a bad auto accident. You know it’s terrible but you can’t keep yourself from watching.

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Old 05-13-23, 12:48 PM
  #59  
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Originally Posted by LarrySellerz
I'm sick of my bikes breaking and I need to commute in the rain etc, don't like maintenance. I want my commuter bike to be the same bike that I race on.

Separately, there are training benefits to riding single speed with fast groups. It forces you to be comfortable with a dynamic cadence and exposes inefficiencies in your pedaling style.
I'm not sure the answer to frames breaking. Some riders can go a lifetime without a frame breaking, then others can destroy several, including different materials.

Starting with new, good quality, never wrecked equipment may help, as long as you don't crash on it. Continuing riding on a crashed frame with potential hidden damage can be problematic.

I think some of the professional track cyclists are hard on equipment, but then again, their sponsor would just replace whatever breaks and the cyclists keep riding. Perhaps even supply new equipment for major events. So it would be worth following whatever the pro track riders are riding.

I'm not convinced a single speed is the answer, that you'll always be jumping between too high of gearing and too low of gearing. I can, or used to be able to climb in pretty high gears. But, I'd struggle simply riding up my driveway with a 48:16. And undoubtedly it would put both myself and my bike under a lot of stress.
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Old 05-13-23, 09:40 PM
  #60  
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Shirtless drop bar 2 hour what now?



Thread 1 was more entertaining
Ocean swimming in bib shorts
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Old 05-13-23, 09:48 PM
  #61  
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Something isn't right here. Usually shops are falling over themselves to get their products into the hands of highly successful "influencers".
Larry you need to go back and give them the "Do you know who I am???" talk.
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Old 05-13-23, 10:53 PM
  #62  
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Originally Posted by znomit
Larry you need to go back and give them the "Do you know who I am???" talk.


I'm not sure that will help.


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Old 05-14-23, 06:17 AM
  #63  
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Originally Posted by znomit
Something isn't right here. Usually shops are falling over themselves to get their products into the hands of highly successful "influencers".
Larry you need to go back and give them the "Do you know who I am???" talk.
Good point. Brands are always looking for appropriate ambassadors.
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Old 05-14-23, 06:33 AM
  #64  
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So if you ask for a short ten minute test ride but show up 2-3 hours later, I would not expect a friendly exchange afterwards.

Penal Code 532 PC prohibits theft by false pretenses – which is defined as defrauding someone of money or property by way of false promises or representations. The offense may be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or a felony and carries a penalty of up to 3 years in jail or prison.

Dot your i's and cross your t's or ruin your life.
Your choice.

Last edited by CAT7RDR; 05-14-23 at 06:37 AM.
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Old 05-14-23, 07:00 AM
  #65  
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Originally Posted by Kai Winters
How are your bikes 'breaking'??? Perhaps you are buying junk bikes???

I've worked in three shops for over 20 years and I've never seen anyone allowed to take a bike for a 2 hour ride....
I did that. Was looking for a new bike and admiring the LBS owners personal bike-a Lynnskey Titanium. He encouraged me to take it on a Sunday group ride of about 40 miles.

Yes, I ordered one and had it built to his recommendations. I guess if you are a regular customer with a new credit card in hand, then a long test ride is not out of the question.
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Old 05-14-23, 10:48 AM
  #66  
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Originally Posted by datlas
These threads are like a train wreck or a bad auto accident. You know it’s terrible but you can’t keep yourself from watching.

Back in the 19th and early 20th Century, the were sometimes staged trainwrecks, for the entertainment of crowds. They'd run two old locomotives at each other on the same track to crash right in front of the spectators.
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Old 05-14-23, 11:29 AM
  #67  
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Originally Posted by genejockey
Back in the 19th and early 20th Century, the were sometimes staged trainwrecks, for the entertainment of crowds. They'd run two old locomotives at each other on the same track to crash right in front of the spectators.
Michael Bay is taking notes.
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Old 05-14-23, 11:31 AM
  #68  
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Originally Posted by bblair
I did that. Was looking for a new bike and admiring the LBS owners personal bike-a Lynnskey Titanium. He encouraged me to take it on a Sunday group ride of about 40 miles.

Yes, I ordered one and had it built to his recommendations. I guess if you are a regular customer with a new credit card in hand, then a long test ride is not out of the question.
Did he know you? An LBS where you've bought bikes is much likelier to give latitude.
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Old 05-14-23, 06:10 PM
  #69  
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Originally Posted by Bah Humbug
Did he know you? An LBS where you've bought bikes is much likelier to give latitude.
Yes. I had many bikes serviced there over the years. I bought my tandem car carrier, which cost as much as a bike. Our club rides started at the shop, so yea, we knew each other well and it was his idea.
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Old 05-14-23, 08:00 PM
  #70  
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Originally Posted by bblair
I did that. Was looking for a new bike and admiring the LBS owners personal bike-a Lynnskey Titanium. He encouraged me to take it on a Sunday group ride of about 40 miles.

Yes, I ordered one and had it built to his recommendations. I guess if you are a regular customer with a new credit card in hand, then a long test ride is not out of the question.
You rode the "owners" ride...not a new bike sitting on the show room floor...apples and oranges
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Old 05-14-23, 09:12 PM
  #71  
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Originally Posted by Bald Paul
I'm guessing the "epoxy and heavy duty zip tie" frame repair didn't come out as expected?

And please, don't insult anyone named Dick. What you want to do is a total Larry move. I sometimes read your posts just for the entertainment value, but I think it's time to put you on "the list".
I mean if he really wanted to be Larry Sellers, he would be completely silent and not say a thing. In the greatest film ever made The Big Lebowski, Larry Sellers didn't say a damn thing, he was probably a prick who stole Dude's car and left his homework but never had a line.

For those who accidentally think this is a real question. If you take one of my bikes for that long I will be pissed unless you have worked it out with me in advance in a case like this if they were putting heavy wear on the bike I would make them buy it and refund them minus the cost of repairing and cleaning the bike if they didn't purchase it in the end. In terms of a Fuji Feather it is an overpriced cheap bike with a very vintage feel. I remember riding it years ago and hating it. It is certainly not a bike I would want to ride with others.

I would want a more road bike geometry and more comfortable parts for a single speed or fixed gear but also useful for the road and the rides I am doing. However in this specific case I would not want anyone like the OP near my rides as they are too much of a liability and a risk for the other rides.

A test ride is generally 5-20 minutes. Theft is generally riding a bike longer than that without working something out in advance. We had a customer once who took an "extended test ride" and in the end he was gone for days and was DUMB enough to walk past the shop with bike because it died on him and he was not happy I saw him walking bike and kept walking and I had to grab the bike from him. Don't steal a bike and don't ask if you can rent a bike for free. If you want the bike buy it if you don't, don't.
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Old 05-14-23, 09:29 PM
  #72  
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What I'd like to know is how much better or worse is one $400-$600 single speed track bike compared to other $400-$600 single speed track bikes?
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Old 05-14-23, 10:05 PM
  #73  
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Originally Posted by seypat
What I'd like to know is how much better or worse is one $400-$600 single speed track bike compared to other $400-$600 single speed track bikes?
The best way to really know is to take the bike out for a demo ride, fly it down to Mexico City.

Then ride it in the Velodrome.

If you can't get at least 56.5 km in an hour, the you might as well just give the bike to a street kid, and call the bike shop back and tell them it was junk.
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Old 05-14-23, 11:23 PM
  #74  
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Originally Posted by Bah Humbug
Did he know you? An LBS where you've bought bikes is much likelier to give latitude.
Plus a Lynskey vs. an inexpensive bike
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Old 05-15-23, 02:19 AM
  #75  
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Originally Posted by veganbikes
I mean if he really wanted to be Larry Sellers, he would be completely silent and not say a thing. In the greatest film ever made The Big Lebowski, Larry Sellers didn't say a damn thing, he was probably a prick who stole Dude's car and left his homework but never had a line.

For those who accidentally think this is a real question. If you take one of my bikes for that long I will be pissed unless you have worked it out with me in advance in a case like this if they were putting heavy wear on the bike I would make them buy it and refund them minus the cost of repairing and cleaning the bike if they didn't purchase it in the end. In terms of a Fuji Feather it is an overpriced cheap bike with a very vintage feel. I remember riding it years ago and hating it. It is certainly not a bike I would want to ride with others.

I would want a more road bike geometry and more comfortable parts for a single speed or fixed gear but also useful for the road and the rides I am doing. However in this specific case I would not want anyone like the OP near my rides as they are too much of a liability and a risk for the other rides.

A test ride is generally 5-20 minutes. Theft is generally riding a bike longer than that without working something out in advance. We had a customer once who took an "extended test ride" and in the end he was gone for days and was DUMB enough to walk past the shop with bike because it died on him and he was not happy I saw him walking bike and kept walking and I had to grab the bike from him. Don't steal a bike and don't ask if you can rent a bike for free. If you want the bike buy it if you don't, don't.
I think you’d agree that $600-650 for a feather is steep, and that the inadequacies could be well masked by good maintenance and won’t expose themselves until the bike is pushed hard and actually tested. Not moseying around for 15 minutes and climbing a hill then calling it good.

40 miles shouldn’t do any appreciable damage to the bike, if it does it was faulty. It’s a single speed... Also I’d shout out the bike shop and the Fuji brand to anyone asking about the bike on the ride.

I have a single speed and the mechanical disk brakes are such a headache that I won’t even ride it anymore. I’m not going to go down that road again with a trash single speed. Is a feather the same thing as a kilo tt or is it worse?

Last edited by LarrySellerz; 05-15-23 at 02:30 AM.
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