My niece is looking at getting into road riding bless her soul so I've been tasked with finding her a decent bike.
She got a top end budget of £700 but want something decent so staying away from bottom end / unreliable stuff.
Anyone spotted some good deals of late or know something that might suit?
5' 6" in statue, a lil bit girly but also in the Army so not pink and unicorns kinda girly!
Have a look at Merlin.A couple of friends,one of them female, bought the Malt models and are really pleased with them.
If you have one nearby, Decathlon.
Spa Cycles have offers on some nice, more "classic" looking bikes (Raleigh Soujourn with BB5 brakes, for example).
Evans do do a wide range of brans/sizes to try, and you used to be able to get them to source and build a range of different bikes for a small deposit, refundable against the purchase.
I'd strongly recommend getting her to try a few to see what feels right.
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p5268/CUBE-PELOTON-PRO-COMPACT-2013
if she can find and extra £20
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s6p5261/CANNONDALE-SYNAPSE-ALLOY-TIAGRA-TRIPLE-2013
or lend her a ton
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b67s6p4671/CUBE-AGREE-GTC-COMPACT-2013
loads of bike for the money and Cubes come up small (most people on here with Cube road bikes ride at least 1 size up from conventional).
Ribble have got a special offer on for carbon bike with sora or tiagra on their front page- it looks a bobby dazzler.
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/54cm-alu-carbon-veloce-ragley-cragg-vale-road-bike-as-new
Built this for my wife but she never really used it. Great spec for the money. Much better than those other bikes and cheaper too. My wife is 5ft7
Size 52 with warranty: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sed/road-track-bike/ribble-evo-pro-carbon-summer-special-edition?part=SE14RIBEVOPROSUMMER&sub=conf_SERW