So, the wife's just toured Northern France, done a quick hilly sportive and a pootle to the shops - all in the same week... all on my Roadrat (which is too big for her).
She wants drops.
She wants to go a bit quicker up hills, but doesn't want to sacrifice too much comfort.
I'd like to get her something as decent as possible (ideally 2nd hand).
Anyone got a small Cross Check or similar? (She's 5ft5).
All thoughts welcome....?
Ta.
All thoughts welcome....?
Don't piss about with roadrats and cross checks and the like, get her a proper road bike.
Dawes tourer?
thorn mk3?
two sets of wheels,a119 on slx/deore.
stans alpha on bikehubstore hubs.
+1.
My daughter has a Lexa SL, it's lovely.
aye,looks allright,but if she likes touring it won't work.
pootle,sportive,shopping,touring.
the thorn can take front and rear racks,has a different fork for the smallest size(can't use a carbon fork-rake's different).comes in pink.
is comfortable.fast enough with lighter wheels and stripped down.
takes mudguards with decent sized tyres fitted.
with great tyres and properly light wheels it won't be much worse than the trek above,but the trek will be much worse in all other situations.
if you can actually use it for those situations.
get a triple,go down to 24 on the inner,38-46 or something similar.shorter cranks.dynohub front everyday touring wheel.
it takes both 130 and 135 wheels.
you can stack it and it's fine.I have.It's a nice bike.
Got one and I'd reccomend it.
I'm sure there are others,but the thorn racks are pretty good.and light.
you can get loads of shopping in panniers.
might as well get a fit done,before buying the bike.then you can find a frame that will fit her well.dunno about 650 though.but if you get two sets of wheels,get the normal cheap but good ones first.then the ones I mentioned earlier next year or something,so she appreciated the difference.
appreciates
If she has 'female' proportions (ie longer legs / shorter torso than a guy), then a women's specific road bike might be wise. A women's bike is also likely to have appropriately sized bars, brake reach, crank length etc.
The entry level Specialized Dolce is a great bike, and bang on budget. This model has rack mounts so would make an excellent, lightweight bike for sportives and touring.
Above all else, I'd suggest she tries any bike for fit before you buy one
The Dolce is nice - my daughter tried that before choosing the Trek - which also has mudguard/rack mounts, a triple, and is WSD. Only problem with the Lexa is that it looks nice enough for me to be a bit worried about using it to go to the shops - too nickable. A Thorn would probably attract less attention.
Pompino.
I'm very pleased with bike and follow up service I got from Ribble and their Audax looks like it would fit the bill and is available down to 50cm. I went with Ribble because I wanted Sram Apex double compact with the big 32t sprocket. I love the fact that you can wind in the Apex levers closer to the bars like you do with mtb levers
but on the road I'd rather have the smallest steps possible.especially for touring.
hence a triple,24or 26-38-46.14-25cassette.
you can go plenty fast on that,juniors do.and good ones are faster than most.
you can climb anything on that.and 24-25 will enable your pannier laden,headwind buffeted bike and you to get anywhere you like at the end of a long day.
hence a triple.
plus I think a slightly wider q factor may be beneficial for women,with their wider hips.
hence a triple.
a road one,mind.
and shimano tiagra comes with shims,or you can get their small hands specific levers.
shame to get 165s you have to go to 105.
Thanks very much to all.
Some useful thoughts and pointers there, and hardly any piss-taking, very unusual for STW.
I've a clearer idea of what will suit her now and we're going to the LBS on Friday for a mooch.
Not sure if this will do.
But I have just bought a new road bike to replace this Jamis and my Roadrat. So the Jamis is up for sale.
Full carbon inc steerer, 105 with Ultegra rear mech. Small mark on one shifter from leaning against the wall, but like new apart from that.
No cages or pump inc in sale BTW.
I'm 5ft 4" BTW and it fits me perfectly.
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[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/17059060@N00/3931683409/ ]IMGP1588[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/17059060@N00/ ]eastham_david[/url], on Flickr
and I would be looking for around £600.
Vortex, I have emailed you.
Mip in case it gets spammed.