Get the bike ready for a fair test
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So much choice! The inside of Bella Velo
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Image: Evans Cycles
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Take your own pedals and shoes
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You should be set up comfortably before you start your test ride
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If you can test on a hill and in a sprint, then do!
Get the bike ready for a fair test
You want to make sure you get answers from your test ride – not further questions. Ensure you replicate a ‘normal’ ride to give it a fair chance.
If you ride clipless, take your shoes and pedals, the same goes for padded shorts you might normally wear, as these affect saddle height. If you ride in flats, wear shoes that you would use for a ride.
A Beginner’s Guide to ‘Clipping-In’ on the Bike
You should also make sure the tyres are pumped up to an appropriate PSI – even a £7k road bike will feel poor on tyres pumped to 60psi.
Check, before you leave, that the gears and brakes are adjusted correctly – the brakes should feel sharp and the gears should shift smoothly. If the bike has just been built, it’s possible the indexing might not be perfect, or brake cables could be slack – and it’s best to make sure this isn’t the case before judging the bike ‘clunky’ when you get on and ride.
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