Test rides: 3 at Calhoun
Having some stupid number of overtime hours in the kitty, I took today off and test rode some bikes over at Calhoun Cycle.
Civia Midtown
chromoly
26" tires
8 speeds
Pros
+ I keep hearing people say they knew a bike was "the one" as soon as they started riding it. I suspect I won't be that easy to please, but this bike sure comes close. I did not want to take it back.
+ Smoooooth ride (never really knew what that meant 'til now)
+ Zippy!
+ Fairly upright posture
+ Insanely comfy grips
Cons
- Not super-duper on hills.
- Top tube angle about the same as Aubey's, so no gain there for mount and dismount.
Linus Dutchi
I tested the 3-speed, which is hiten, but want the 8, which is chromoly
700 tires
Pros
+ Sooooo good on hills!
+ kind of digging the twist shifter
+ has zip (I'm going to have to stop saying this, as it turns out that any bike that's not trying to be an MTB on city roads will, yup, have zip)
+ fenders, chain guard, and rear rack included
Cons
- doesn't have the wheeeeeee! feeling of the Midtown
- hiten (grrrr)
- maybe a little too upright? I kept expecting Margaret Hamilton's theme to waft past me.
Linus Mixte
chromoly
8-speed, twist shifter
700 tires
internal gear hub
Pros
+ IGH. I likes it.
Cons
- A little too big. Apparently the line of what I can handle is somewhere between the 45cm frame of the Dutchi and the Mixte's 49cm. I felt I wasn't entirely in control of the bike.
Rankings
1. Civia Midtown
2. Linus Dutchi
3. Trek 700
4. Linus Mixte
The Midtown and the Dutchi are neck-and-neck at this point. A little more checking tells me that (dang it) I'm also going to need to test the Civia Loring, as it seems to combine much of what I like best about both of the other bikes (plus it's an IGH).
Possibly more tests this weekend!