Our goal at PEDALHEAD ROAD WORKS is to bring the consumer the finest in specialty bicycles. From Road Racing to Time Trials we strive to offer the best in performance bicycles available today. It is not by chance that all the lines we carry are ridden in the Pro Peloton The brands we carry are selected for their quality, craftsmanship and tradition.

A common question that comes up is "Why can't I test ride the bike outside ?"

The truth is, test rides are not an effective tool in evaluating if a road bike will work for you in the long run. Here's why:

* A test ride is too short to gather any usable information about a bike. 10 minutes around the block tells you what ?
* Any information gathered can be considered generally inaccurate (positive or negative) since the bike will be sized and altered for the client with the correct contact points like bar, stem, saddle and other alterations.
* The bike you test ride is not specifically built to your dimensions. It doesn't have the saddle you need, the correct stem length, handlebar type, pedals and crank length. The information you gather from the test ride will be misleading, either positive or negative.
* Test rides are not conducted in the same environment you will be riding in. Riding around a parking lot is not a ideal environment.
* Most cyclists don't know how to test ride a bike to gather valuable information about its suitability for them. They are looking for a a general how it "feels"rather than evaluating the bike for specific performance characteristics such as ride quality, bottom bracket stiffness, fit and frame design. Heck most top racers could not distinguish ride quality in a 10 minute ride around the block.
* Factors such as road surface, clothing, and especially tire pressure can influence a test ride to such a degree that the information is not only inaccurate, it is misleading.
* The test ride reveals nothing about the client's experience once you bring the bike home. How will it feel after a 2 hour ride? How will handle on the roads you actually ride?
* We take responsibility for the customer's ownership experience. Relying on outdated selling techniques such as test rides or letting inexperienced cyclists evaluate a bike for themselves is not responsible on our part.
* PRW uses a technique for fitting and selling road bikes that has taken over a decade to develop. It has proven, over and over, to be an effective system in matching a rider and their needs to the right bike to insure a positive and long term experience. We used a controlled system that allows instant feedback to me the fitter and you the rider.
* I personally guarantee the fit of every bike, whether it is $1400 or $ 14,000.

Some common things to consider when looking at bikes are:

- What will you be using the bike for? Racing, time trials, tri or fitness riding.
- Do you have any injuries? Back problems or knee issues.
- What didn't you like about your last bike? Too big or too small ?
- What size?  This is the most important consideration. Just because you are a 52 cm frame in one company does not mean you will need that size in every company. There are no standards in how a bike is measured, so you could be a 52 cm in one brand and a 49 cm in another. To complicate things further some companies size small - large. Whatever size you think you are be sure to be properly measured for your bike. You should never buy a road bike without being measured and properly fit, these elements are crucial in bike enjoyment and injury prevention.
- What parts should I put more money into? The most important part of a bike is fit, then frame, wheels and drivetrain.

We can help you answer these questions and any others you may have. One important thing to remember is buying a bike should be fun!

pedalheadroadworks.com
"Edmonton's Road Authority "
9635 82 Ave Edmonton, Alberta T6C-0Z9
Tel: 780.433.0393 Fax: 780.433.1795
e-mail: rdworks@telus.net
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