Help choosing a women’s road bike?

[StephanieG]

At the moment I have a Giant SCR 3.0 I think it’s an 07, anyway as time has passed I have started to realise that this is a pretty heavy bike, so its time for me to invest in a slightly 'lighter bike'.

I don't know that much about road bikes but here is some of the spec's of my current bike:

Weight: 938kg/21.5lb - This was the purchased weight I am sure its not that anymore!
Shifters: Shimano Sora 24 Speed STI
Frame: ALUXX aluminium
Fork: T700 carbon composite (aluminium steerer)
Cassett:SRAM PG850 12-26
Cranks: FSA 30/42/52

I have £700/£800 budget and was hoping to see what I could get from the sales. Can anyone recommend a better spec bike then my own that would be lighter and faster ?


Steph

[Stu Merckx Man]

if it was me (and its what i did). was just buy a new frame- you could get a full carbon frame for that money. then put all the components from the old frame onto the new one..
you could get a nice frame for that money.

stu

[Andrew G]

Does it need to be a women's specific frame? I don't really know anything about them (what's best etc) but GBs is worth going to - visit not just web - as their sale has just started. The reason I say visit apart from the obvious try before you buy, is that they also pull out all their "older" stock which doesn't always make the website. When I say "older" it may only be last year's model or even 2 years old but basically the same as the current one with different stickers and a one year older groupset.

[Roy Green]

Check out the Panet X I noted on the previous post! (No, I'm not on commission).

[Roy Green]

Check out the Planet X I noted on the previous post! (No, I'm not on commission).

[StephanieG]

[quote="Stu Merckx Man"]if it was me (and its what i did). was just buy a new frame- you could get a full carbon frame for that money. then put all the components from the old frame onto the new one..
you could get a nice frame for that money.

stu

[StephanieG]

[quote="Andrew G"]Does it need to be a women's specific frame? I don't really know anything about them (what's best etc) but GBs is worth going to - visit not just web - as their sale has just started. The reason I say visit apart from the obvious try before you buy, is that they also pull out all their "older" stock which doesn't always make the website. When I say "older" it may only be last year's model or even 2 years old but basically the same as the current one with different stickers and a one year older groupset.

[Keith]

Despite Michelle having 2 Trek WSD, "women's specific" bikes, I'm not convinced that there's any such sweeping generalisation as a "women's specific bike".

There's only 2 sorts of bikes; those that fit you, and those that don't.

If that turns out to be a women's bike or a men's bike, so be it. Just make sure you get one that's right for you. Ideally get properly measured up.

[Amy]

I second Keith - get measured. It is generally held that men tend to have longer bodies and reach compared to their leg length while women have shorter bodies and reach with longer legs. Of course that doesn't apply to everbody or even every body

I have found it to be a problem to get a short enough reach even on my bikes carefully designed from my measurements and made by Roberts (South Croydon) generally held to be one of the best builders of bikes for women (I also tend to prefer sitting well back which doesn't help). And yet, I have had to put up with very short handlebar stems to fit my reach and that makes the bike quite lively. I have, however been pleasantly surprised by my titanium Enigma ordered through Pearsons in Sutton, which was based on my position on my blue Roberts, and which actually has a decent length handlebar stem and yet a short enough top tube for me. The problem with designing frames is that by changing the angle in one area it affects the whole bike and off the shelf women specific bikes tend to have very steep angles - well at least in the opinion of my mechanic - and it affects the way they handle and ride. Of course if they fit you, then it's fne - I just never have. Also some of them can be quite heavy and come with a saddle that looks like a sofa and as for the colours

Over the years things have improved, brakes made so that smaller hands can reach them easily, women's clothes , acknowledgement of female specific designs etc but the cycling world, especially trade, is still male-dominated and in this country I have had difficulty getting hold of some products from overseas - so there is more choice for women but not always available, at least not easily. And men, as proved by some comments on here, don't always realise that female needs and problems can differ from men's - and how many women do you see working in a bike shop? I'll probably start a great outcry over some of my comments - and yes, I haven't a clue about actually frame designing and building but I am an expert on being a woman rider and what I feel comfortable riding!

OK, I'm going back to bed now...

[StephanieG]

I did have a little read about the differences between the bike setup for males and females. At the moment I have a Giant SCR 3.0, which is a man's frame it’s never caused me any discomfort really except for its overall weight when trying to get up the hills. Although my bike has never caused me any problems as such I thought that I would try and do it properly this time round.

I didn't manage to get as far as GB's today but I did go down to Evans Cycles I didn't see anything I liked in the shop so it ended up being a wasted journey. I did however go to another shop in Greenwich that specialised in Giant products but I was told that all Giant branded bikes were sold at 1/2 price just before xmas! looks like I missed out big style.

So today I have had two wasted journeys and still no bike. At the moment I have my eye on the Giant Avail Alliance W, but I haven't made my mind up as yet. I think I will stick to the Giant brand and possibly try and order it in the shop so I can get a feel of the bike, hopefully some time next week (fingers crossed).

Steph

[thePinkDreamMachine]

i loved my old Trek WSD... and now i have a boys bike... (in pink) i can tell that my trek was buit for a girl. my breaks were closer to reach and it was just soooooo comfy.. but you can get these stoppers to make the breaks closer but thats only required if you have little hands. i still need to find them.

ALSO girls bikes offten come with 3 rings on the front bit, (haa haa yes you can all laugh at my lack of the tecy bits) is it a granny cog?

how tall are you, as i think it make a HUGE diffreces if you are under 5ft4 like me,

I had a little look on evans and they have a few on sale,

kate and her sister have this one and its on sale, they like there bikes

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec001406

and this one is on sale too
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/spe ... e-ec014267

sorry i cant help you anymore,

chloe x

[Marek]

Just a few thoughts that may help.

If your frame currently fits and you don't want to spend too much money why don't you think about lightening up some of the other parts on the bike. For example, how much do your wheels weigh and how much would a new pair weigh. I think that there can be quite a weight saving with a decent set of wheels and also they are likely to be stiffer with a better hub and therefore should get you moving a little quicker. I always remember a very good rider telling me that the thing to upgrade first is the wheels.

How much does your saddle post weigh. Is it a steel/alu seat post. If so see what the weight difference would be if you upgraded to a carbon seat post. Because I am quite tall I think I saved a fair amount of weight by upgrading to a Carbon post.

Also you are running a quite low spec groupset which probably weighs a bit more than a higher up the range version. Again, take a look at for example the Shimano 105 groupset weight relative to the Sora. Also with the groupset you should notice a difference in the sharpness of the changing etc. I would do this last though, I think the wheels may make the most difference. If you ask someone nicely that runs Shimano I am sure they would lend you a decent set of wheels so you can test the difference.

Cheers

Marek...

[Andrew G]

[quote="Marek"] Because I am quite tall I think I saved a fair amount of weight by upgrading to a Carbon post.

[StephanieG]

Funny enough I popped into Evens in Waterloo and had a look around at some of the bikes in the store, they have a nice range but mostly not in my budget. Originally I was thinking of upgrading my components on the bike but then I thought that it would probably cost more than the bike its self to do so.

So in the end I purchased a Scott CR1 Comp road bike it’s not a women's frame but it will be set up and adjusted according to my measurements. I'll keep my old road bike for commuting on and over time slowly upgrade the components.

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/sco ... gn=froogle

Thanks for all your help everyone.

Steph

[Andrew G]

Very nice bikes Scott.