(no subject)
20/9/14 18:40![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
owlectomyThis makes me so sad, but -- I don't think my bike is a great fit for me. Now, I guess I should ride a lot and see what difference an overall improvement in my cycling fitness level makes, but I suspect the answer is eventually going to be a new bike. (I am not totally enthused at the bike shop that sold me the bike, which sized me by the "if you can get your leg over it I guess it's okay" method, which works less well on most women than on most men, and even less well on women with TEENY TINY T-REX ARMS. Ahem.)
In fact, I worry that I might fit badly on any off-the-shelf bicycle in the categories I want, as someone who's too tall for most "women-specific" bikes. But I'm reasonably sure I can get something great without having a custom frame made, because that is $$$$$$.
The trouble is, I can't really get the bike of my dreams on a moderate budget - the bike of my dreams, to be specific, is a steel touring bike or randonneuring bike or a do-it-all kind of bike that's sturdy enough for overnight camping or credit-card touring (the kind of touring where you stay in hotels and eat at restaurants, so you don't have to carry around a tent and a stove and all that.)
A bike like the All City Space Horse. Because COME ON IT'S A SPACE HORSE.
What I should ACTUALLY DO instead of buying a Space Horse:
- Get a professional fitting done, even though they will laugh at me because I'm a fat lady, to see if there's anything I can reasonably do to tweak the fit.
- (If that fails) Watch Craiglist like a hawk, because if I can get a well-maintained vintage steel road bike that fits me well, then I would happily spend a bunch of money to fix and update the components.
In fact, I worry that I might fit badly on any off-the-shelf bicycle in the categories I want, as someone who's too tall for most "women-specific" bikes. But I'm reasonably sure I can get something great without having a custom frame made, because that is $$$$$$.
The trouble is, I can't really get the bike of my dreams on a moderate budget - the bike of my dreams, to be specific, is a steel touring bike or randonneuring bike or a do-it-all kind of bike that's sturdy enough for overnight camping or credit-card touring (the kind of touring where you stay in hotels and eat at restaurants, so you don't have to carry around a tent and a stove and all that.)
A bike like the All City Space Horse. Because COME ON IT'S A SPACE HORSE.
What I should ACTUALLY DO instead of buying a Space Horse:
- Get a professional fitting done, even though they will laugh at me because I'm a fat lady, to see if there's anything I can reasonably do to tweak the fit.
- (If that fails) Watch Craiglist like a hawk, because if I can get a well-maintained vintage steel road bike that fits me well, then I would happily spend a bunch of money to fix and update the components.
(no subject)
21/9/14 04:29 (UTC)If a bike shop is laughing, joking, or making light of your size, build, or fitness level, walk out. They don't deserve your business. There are lots of jerks in the cycling world, and that shit does not fly anymore. I've walked out of three bike shops in New Orleans because I'm not plunking down $700 for a bike if they're going to be shitty about my body.
The shop I did buy from took me seriously. The guy who worked with me to find a bike didn't laugh when I told him I was scared of my roadie after a couple ugly accidents. He didn't laugh at my body or my fitness level. He gave me some tips for using my body and my bike better. He treated me like a serious cyclist who wanted to be on my bike. It made all the difference, and you know what? I fucking deserved it.
And you do, too.
(no subject)
21/9/14 16:58 (UTC)