LarrySellerz

Hey guys, I was looking at the Stanford campus bike shop and they would sell me a fuji feather single speed for $600. I want to try test riding it for ~2 hours doing a fast group ride, because if the bike cannot perform well under load I don't want it, and its hard to replicate that without a racing environment. Id need them to move the brakes to the drop bars, and I would consider buying it if i am happy with it. Is this unusual or a dick move on my part? Bit more than the customary spin. Was going to drop off the money or a more expensive bike as collateral and not bother explaining in detail where im riding it/ask the sales guy for permission because he would have to ask his manager and its just escalating for no reason.

KJ43

Total dick move but that's your MO isn't it? Why even ask because you'll just argue/ignore/troll. I don't need a response. Carry on.

SoCaled 

Can't imagine they would go for that? But I would start with $600 is too much for a Fuji Feather? Single speeds in general can be had at very reasonable prices here's one from a BF member - 520 Reynolds frame - https://offerup.com/item/detail/132c...q=kilo&cid=7.4
and used Fuji's, often see them cheaper than this
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...280542748915/?
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...557166793548/?
https://offerup.com/item/detail/d271...eather&cid=7.4
https://offerup.com/item/detail/aa79...eather&cid=7.4
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...2952183298800?

LarrySellerz

I also thought it was too expensive, which is why I wouldn't get it unless it holds up in an intense environment.

LarrySellerz

Whatever bro, I aint a dick and you know that

genejockey 

If you're asking something out of the ordinary you should expect it to be escalated to the manager, and a 2 hour test ride for a $600 bike is out of the ordinary.

indyfabz

Eric F 

Based on evidence previously presented, I think the jury is still deliberating. For example, waiting at the bottom of a hill for someone to come along, just so you can beat them to the top and display your dominance, is pretty dick-ish.

IMO, what you're wanting to ask of a bike shop is probably too much. Even if the price on that bike is inflated, the labor costs involved with making the changes you want, just for a test ride, is possibly more than the profit they will make IF you actually buy it.

LarrySellerz

If the single speed can't handle Spectrum its junk. it shouldn't be damaged by a couple hours of intense riding. Also while it is kind of a "big ask" so is $600 for a single speed, and due to the nature of single speeds it should be less likely to be damaged unless I literally crash. The labor point eric brings up is true though, id feel like a jerk making them change it and then not buying it.

genejockey 

You want to borrow someone else's property to do something you don't want to tell them about. That should be a clue.

Eric F 

Why are you looking at a singlespeed? If you're intending to do fast group rides, you would be much better served by a proper road bike with gears. At your price point, reasonable options can be found on the used market.

LesterOfPuppets

The Fuji dealer I used to work at would allow a 2 hour (or 3-4 hour if you went on the big group ride) test ride only on the shop's Sunday group rides. We'd probably need to charge you $80-ish (in 2017 dollars) + the cost of the levers to put different levers on, and might refund $40 or so if you bought it after the ride, since we wouldn't have to put the stock levers back on). And you'd probably have to book the lever swap at least a week before the ride.

I'd imagine to get the thing you're looking for you'd have to go to a place that rents Fuji Feathers, rent one for the day and they'd probably refund the rental costs if you decided to buy one. You would have to pay for both lever swaps up front in case didn't end up buying the bike though.

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.

tomato coupe

You asked if your plan would be a dick move, but you get pissed when someone confirms that it is? Grow up.

Eric F 

I understand about singlespeeds. I've spent time on them - road and MTB.

Are you planning to race just for the training aspect of it, or are you expecting to be competitive?

shelbyfv

Typical dick move but in character. Shop might go for it if they don't know you.

jaxgtr

See if they have a rental model... then ride it as far as you need to

znomit

Those two options are not mutually exclusive.

Gunther20

I can't tell from a ride around the block if a new bike is going to work for me. My LBS granted me a longer test ride and all I had to do was let them make a copy of my DL. I said I wanted it for about an hour, loaded it up in my SUV, drove away, rode the bike for a solid 30 minutes, and returned it. I don't think it's a dick move to ask but they are certainly in their right to say no.

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".

bblair

I was going to write a nice response, but then I noticed: Oh....it's Larry.

Why do so many of your questions involve a borderline "dick move?"

GhostRider62

I have never test ridden a bike, so, I wouldn't think 60-90 minutes is out of the ordinary, especially a used one.

Many times when testing motor vehicle, the Salesman tosses me the keys and lets me go on my merry way w/o restriction (other than a copy of my license).

Tomm Willians

Be completely honest as to what you wish to do and offer compensation for their extra efforts that will be required. Attempting to hide anything is simply wrong.

jon c. 

An out of town shop once insisted we take two Jamis bikes home for the weekend to get a good test ride. He was anxious to make a sale. And ultimately disappointed when that didn't happen. Probably not a bad marketing move though as we did feel some sense of obligation and certainly considered the purchase more strongly than we otherwise would have. But in the end they just weren't the right bikes for us and we had to pass.

Broctoon

They might be concerned that you will drop the hamer and take it up to 400 watts. Is a Fuji Feather designed to handle that kind of power?