Buying a bike 101

Thought I would do something a little bit different today. Twice in as many weeks I have been asked for advice for buying a road bike. Given that I thought I would give a bit of a summary of what I told those two people. This advice is obviously just my opinion, so I reserve the right to be wrong. Also I have made this pretty general. I acknowledge that some of the things I have said aren't universal truths, rather I have gone for stuff that is generally true (in my experience).

So, if you are looking for a bike, here are some of the things I look for and some of the questions I ask myself.
First find a 'good bike shop'. At a 'good bike shop' the people working there will give you the attention you need and listen to your requirements and then give you good advice. If you aren't getting that then you aren't in a 'good bike store' and are in fact in a 'bad bike shop'. If you find yourself in a 'bad bike shop', turn around and leave and then try another one. There are plenty of bike stores around, so you don't need to put up with poor service. If you find a really good bike shop, then you will be in good hands and the rest of the bike buying process should pretty much take care of itself. However, if you want to know more, then read on...

It is worth remembering that every bike shop is the agent for certain brands. No bike shop sells all brands. Given that, if the shop is steering you towards a certain bike, it may not necessarily be the best bike for you, but simply the best bike for you that they sell. This isn't necessarily a big issue since most major brands make good bikes. However, if a particular shop doesn't have a bike that is just right for you, it probably isn't because such a bike doesn't exist, but more likely because the shop doesn't sell it. There is no need to compromise, just try another shop with a different range of brands.  If you are after a particular bike then it is probably worth spending the 5 minutes it takes to find out who the local agents are.

Have an idea of what you want to spend. Bike manufacturers build bikes to fit certain price bands, ie sub $1000, $1000 to $2000, $2000 to $3000 etc. They do this to make sure they have all the markets covered. This means that no matter what you are looking to spend, there is a bike for you. Speaking very broadly, bikes from different manufacturers within the same price band will be largely comparable, ie similar components, similar frame construction etc.

For more money you usually end up with a more advanced frame and better components. Speaking generally the cheapest bikes are aluminium with entry level components, around $2000 you start seeing carbon frames with mid range components. The more expensive you go, the more advanced the carbon fibre gets and the better the bits get. If you find a carbon bike for less than $2000 it probably isn't a bike you would want (unless it is heavily reduced).

Carbon fibre has a few advantages over aluminium. It is usually lighter than aluminium and can be made stiffer (helping power transfer). The fact that you can mould carbon fibre has also led to big advances in aerodynamic shapes. How stiff a bike should be depends a lot on what sort of cyclist you are. A very stiff bike will get all the power from your legs to the wheels (sounds good), but they will also transfer every bump in the road to your body (sounds bad). A more compliant bike might be less efficient, but more comfortable. The fact that you are more comfortable may leave you less fatigued in the long run. It is a bit of an individual thing depending on what your tolerance level is and what you are using the bike for. Most manufacturers make bikes that cover a range of stiffness. Often higher end bikes are a bit stiffer because they are aimed at people who race. TT bikes tend to be very stiff. It is worth remembering though that there is nothing wrong with aluminium if that is where your budget leads you. Plenty of very good bikes have been made using it.

Very generally, the frames from most major manufacturers will be pretty similar within a given price band, until you get right up towards the high end. Each brand will have their own features etc, but in terms of the basics you can be confident that you are getting a frame that is reasonably well made, made from a similar material using a similar method.

Since bikes within a price band are largely comparable in terms of frame quality, one of the differentiators that manufacturers use is the components they put on the bikes. This can be a useful way to compare various bikes. In order to differentiate their bike from another brand a manufacturer might decide to put higher spec components on their bike. Everything else being equal this bike will represent better value.

However, whilst comparing components can be useful, don't get hung up on it. There are a few tricks that some manufacturers use to make a bike look better than it is. A semi common practice (particularly in lower end bikes) is fitting out a bike with a mixture of high and low end components. If this is done, you will often find high end stuff used on the obvious bits, like the derailleurs, but find cheaper parts used for some of the less obvious bits, like hubs and brakes. As I have said, comparing components can be useful, but it shouldn't be taken as gospel, or necessarily become a show stopper. In the end all the bits on a bike will work.

So why are some components better than others? Often it is a question of quality. The more expensive bits might be a bit lighter, or shift a bit better, or last a bit longer. It is important to be honest about what you need the bike to do and choose a bike with components that match your needs. For example Shimano Dura-Ace is the top of the Shimano tree, but for most people this side of the tour Shimano Ultegra is as much as they are ever, ever going to need. If you are looking for a bike to ride to work and then perhaps have a good ride on a Saturday, then Ultegra might be overkill and you could get away with Shimano 105. Have a think and then talk to the people in the 'good bike shop' about it, they should steer you in the right direction.

Once you have found your 'good bike store' and found a bike that sets your heart a flutter. Make sure you ride the damn thing. No point having a pretty bike if it doesn't fit or makes you really uncomfortable.

Finally, remember that no matter where you end up in terms of brand and budget, be confident that if you are buying a bike from one of the established brands then you are getting a good product. There might be small differences between one and the other, but they are just that, small differences.

Anyway, hopefully if you are looking for a new bike, this has been a bit useful.