A Guide to Buying a Road Bike for Someone Under 5ft or 145cm
1.
Measure your inseam.
If you are like me, having an inseam of 66cm, you’re screwed.
When I say fit, I don’t mean taking into account niao stuff like reach, angle, toptube to Bb etcetc. I simply mean standover height. i.e. can u comfortably straddle over the top tube with your feet placed flat on the ground?
2.
If you’re like me, you can’t even fit ANY 650c wheel frame.
Most bikes claim to be fitted for women. It doesnt apply to five footers.
This means the standover height in “xs” size is 70cm.
3.
The only real choice is between a kid’s bike and a trek 43cm wsd.
You know ure way too short when even the high end bikes don’t make it in your size. Pinarello? No size solly, says Cycleworx. Cevelo? Ooof, our smallest bike <paris and p2> is 6cm more, says TBB.
4.
Trek doesn’t make many 43cm wsds.
There are the low end Sora, Tiagra gearsets w full alu frames <under $1400> which come in 43cm. There’s a midrange decent one that comes with 105/ultegra gearset w half carbon frame. Nice! But the price $3050, nosso nice. And then there is ONE entry level high end Madone <$3895> that comes in 43cm. And that’s it. No other bike in the trek <and the world> makes it so small.
Sidebar: I know, entry level high end seems like a paradox isn’t it? Nope. High end Madone costs $8000. ok.
How? Pay $800 more for a 2010 bike? Cfm guarantee fast with superlight frame and super responsive gears? But its too much too soon for a newbie like me. =s
5. Solution: Beat the price down
Got a great deal from my regular lbs’s friend’s shop. U see, all depend on guanxi.
I bought my 2.3 at $2600.
The biggest bonus was not the price, but that it was brand new, from the box.
I hate buying display items because I can feel the noisy chi emanating from the thing that people touched/tried. Don’t wanna bring home an unclean… er.. thing.
6.
Buy from Guys that Know their Stuff, and gives you a Fair Deal
Trek Shop A sells trek. So does Trek shop B. But A’s retail price is at least $100 cheaper… plus all the guys in the shop rides.
Retail Prices Comparison between Shop A and B:
Trek 1.2 $1400
Trek 2.1 $1980 <A>, $2200 <B>
Trek 2.3 $2975, $3200
2010 Madone 4.7 both $3895
7.
No prizes for guessing which shop i bought it from.
Thanks very much to K, pointing me to his friend. If not, I dun tink I wud have got such a gd lobang.
To say the least: I am very happy with the bike. It fits great and its light enough. So I am moving so fast on the straights I scare myself.
Comparison:
ECP f2 to Changi Village on MTB: 01:06
on Roadie: 00:32.
BUT I must say, riding a roadie is def harder than a mtb. My neck, back, arms, biceps, triceps, core, and palms hurt like mad.
I am also convinced that the roadbike geometry is configured for slicing thru the wind, i.e. flat n sleek, when I see chain ring oil on my calves.
It may take at least 10 rides wobbling through ECP and Coastal Road before I ride in a peleton.
8.
Triple Chain Ring: Conquering Hills
heehee… Triple chain ring, work your magic!
Just for info’s sake: When I am ready, there is a nice and friendly group riding from Sengkang.
