Buying a bicycle - The test ride myth…

And how to do it correctly.

Nearly everyone that asks for advise about buying a bicycle is told the exact same thing, go out and test ride a few bikes to see what you like. Well despite being probably the most ubiquitous piece of advise given, in most cases without qualifications it is not the best.

If you are looking for your first bike, then maybe that advise is sound. It is very hard for a new to cycling person to really know what feels good, or doesn’t. That short trip around the parking lot or block can help you decide whether or not the shop can do quick work sizing you up and setting up a bicycle to ride. The fit won’t be perfect, but it will be close.

Any short test ride will only tell you about gross errors in bike fit or in bike setup. Most people just don’t realize that a bike with a jarring ride might feel totally smooth with 5 psi less pressure in the tires. They might not realize that the pedaling effort while riding could be affected by gearing selection (most novice riders ride too high a gear and spin very slowly).

For experienced cyclists that same test ride tells us nothing except bike setup. So then the question is; "Am I able to take an extended test ride?" If the shop you visit cannot accommodate that request, then find another shop, even if that means traveling to another city. My definition of an extended test ride is any ride duration equal or exceeding one hour. If you can swing it anything from 10 to 30 miles might be what to shoot for.

There are a few things you should also bring with you for that test ride. In most cases you will need to bring some sort of identification and/or a credit card. This is mostly to protect the shop. They will want to incent you to return the bicycle. Also note that you will need to arrive at the shop well before closing. Many shops will not allow test rides near dark or when the roads are damp or wet.

Most shops will require that you wear a helmet, so bring yours! If you are using clipless pedals make sure you bring your shoes with you. It doesn’t make sense to test ride a bike with a pedal system you are not familiar with or without a system entirely. It might be a good idea to bring your pedals too if it is convenient for you. This is especially true if they are not Look or Shimano compatible systems.

Bring or wear your cycling shorts, it will make the ride much more comfortable. This is one time that test riding in the winter may not be the best time of year. You are usually wearing more clothing and your movements are restricted so you will not be able to illicit the entire experience during your test ride.

If you are comparing it to your existing bike, and that bike fits you well, then bring a few measurements with you so that the fit can be matched up better. At the least bring the saddle height, either measured from the center of the BB to the top of the saddle or the top of the pedal to the top of the saddle. You should also bring in the setback measurement, that is the measurement from  the tip of the saddle to the vertical point above the bottom bracket. This will place the subject bike saddle position identically to your existing bicycle. Please note that in most cases stem length may have to be changed, but this is not critical for a test ride.

During your ride make mental notes about acceleration sitting and standing. Comfort over big bumps or broken pavement. How the bicycle feels while climbing and descending. Also note any emotional attachment you might feel toward the bike, after all you need to like the way it looks too! Before you even get on another bike to compare it, try to commit those mental notes to paper. This way you will have a subjective list to accurately compare multiple bicycles.

With a little preparation and some time you will be able to find a bicycle (or maybe two) that will provide you years of enjoyment. Hopefully this advise will take some of the uncertainty out of buying that new ultimate ride.