Five Tips for Making Your First Road Bike Purchase

Spring is in the air.  Warm weather is just around the corner.  This is when many people start getting the itch for a new bike.  Or perhaps your first bike.  But if you are new to the whole road bike thing, what do you do?  Shopping for a new bike can quickly become overwhelming - and expensive.  It is easy to get wrapped around the axle (Pardon the Pun) with all the different brands and components and styles.  There is so much information a available on bikes that make it nearly impossible to take it all in and make a definitive decision. Just like any other piece of equipment, buying a bike is a very personal decision that requires some serious thought. And unlike running shoes you are not likely going to have the opportunity to buy and ride a new bike every year so you have to get it right the first time.

Here are 5 basic tips to help you make the best decision you can.

1. Determine your price point
Just how much are you really willing to spend.  This will likely at least limit your options.  Bikes can range in price from a few hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars.  And there is a sea of options in between.   Major price points for bikes are determined by the model you buy, similar to cars.  Different models have each have their own pros and cons.  In general, with the base models you get a standard aluminum frame. Then you move up to light-weight aluminum.  Then aluminum carbon hybrids - usually the forks are carbon at this level. Then you move to the all carbon bikes. Each different construction has its own price level. So determining your price threshold will go a long way in refining your decision.

2. Determine what options are important to you
You may not even really know at this point.  But think about it anyways.  What do you think you want?  As you look around and try things out, you may find that your perceptions change.  That's OK. If you are a novice that's OK - own it!  Admit that you may not know what the heck you are looking for.  Ask questions.  Any good salesman or bike store owner will spend the time answering your questions.  In my experience, they like people asking them for advice.  They like sharing their knowledge with a fresh mind.  Chances are they have been riding longer than you and know more about bikes than you.

3. Get a fit
At least a basic measurement.  Take some time to get at least a rough measurement for the size of bike you need.  Most reputable bike shops will do this for you.  I'm not convinced that as a beginner you need to go through a full bike fitting.  Lots of people recommend getting a full fitting done.  and most bike stores charge for this service.  I think it is not necessary to get completely fit for a bike before you really know how you intend to ride.  The more ride the more you will start to understand what you really want as far as adjustments and body position.  Just get the general frame size (56, 58...). I say work out the finer details later.

4. Test ride
Ride more than one bike. Ride more than one brand. Try different component options. You may find that you don't notice a difference between a Shimano 105 or an SRAM gear set. Within particular bike models this is what drives the price. So at this point why pay for an upgrade you see little benefit from.  You may find that you don't notice a difference with shifting components, but you want upgraded breaks or different pedals.  It's your money, spend it where you see fit.  You can ask 10 different people what bike is the best and you will likely get 10 different answers. Picking a bike is really a personal preference. Try several different models out and see what you like.  Heck you may even discover that at this point you can't even tell the difference.  But at least you know and when you make the final decision you won't be wondering what "what if that Trek was better?"

5. Take your time.
Don't rush.  If this is your first bike, you are probably putting down what feels like a considerable amount of money for this purchase. You don't want to be on a bike that you end up not liking.  Remember that just because you walked into a store and talked to the salesman for an hour and rode a bike or two, doesn't mean that you have to buy something that day (or from that store for that matter). 

Good luck and happy shopping!