What am I missing?

[rapid cycler]

Hey, all—

I'm looking to make a lateral move to a more spine-friendly ride. Once-dormant spinal arthritis has reared its ugly head in the years since I bought my (non-WSD) 50 cm Trek 5200, and I just can't any longer bear the dagger-in-the-neck sensation I get after about an hour in the saddle on a race-geometry bike. And as a woman in my 40th year, I've pretty much come to peace with the idea that I'll never make the U.S. national team anyway.

I've already made a couple of switch-outs to try and salvage a bike I otherwise love—super short reach Salsa Poco handlebars, a smaller stem with a bit of rake—and I've made the fit better, but it's not quite there.

In poking around, these are the bikes I want to take a hard look at:

Cannondale Synapse Carbon Feminine
Specialized Ruby (or Roubaix)
Orbea Diva or Onix Dama
Lemond Buenos Aires Women's
Trek Pilot 5.2 WSD

I'm not terribly fond of Giant's aesthetic, though I know they make fab bikes for the buck, but we like what we like, eh? Litespeed's Bella doesn't inspire me either, though I'm very open to TI. For that matter, I'm not thrilled with the Trek's one-color-fits-all approach to WSDs, so I'm probably leaning away from the Pilot as well. Oh, and I don't do pink. Not that I'm picky or anything. :) But, hey, if I'm shelling out a few grand, I want comfort, performance, and romance!

So, gals, which bikes am I missing? Most boutique brands cater more to racers than those of us without on-call masseuses, but I'd love to hear about other bikes that deserve consideration—as well as negative/positive experiences with the bikes I've mentioned.

I probably can't afford to go custom. :(

Oh, component-wise, I currently ride an Ultegra drive train, so I'd probably lateral over to that, but I'm really intrigued by SRAM's Rival group, so bikes with that option would be neat-o too.

[mimitabby]

for a few grand you probably COULD go custom!
are you, um, altitude challenged as well?

[amymisk]

Hi,

I don't have the Buenos Aires, but I ride a 2007 Versailles. I love the bike. The catalogue does not do the bike justice. The min-max frame is very unique in person, the colors are gorgeous. I did add some hot pink accessories, which you can see in the avatar. I originally was looking at the Trek Pilot as well and my LBS recommended the LeMond based on my fit.

I also love the Orbea Diva, but I haven't ridden one.

Good Luck with shopping.

[rapid cycler]

for a few grand you probably COULD go custom!


I like the way you think!

Altitude challenged in size or climbing skills? Yes, to both. I'm 5'4", with legs proportionately small and a torso proportionately long for my size, which renders my body a bit less aerodynamic than those long, lean, sinewy types who climb hills like mountain goats—and also makes me wonder whether women's-specific makes would work for me. Only way to find out is to ride 'em. Woo-hoo, long weekend!

[mimitabby]

check out this thread:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=12441&highlight=bikes+women

[rapid cycler]

Hi,

I don't have the Buenos Aires, but I ride a 2007 Versailles. I love the bike. The catalogue does not do the bike justice. The min-max frame is very unique in person, the colors are gorgeous.

My S.O. rides a Zurich. Lemonds are sweet!

[makbike]

Have you given any thought to a recumbent?

[gnat23]

For that matter, I'm not thrilled with the Trek's one-color-fits-all approach to WSDs, so I'm probably leaning away from the Pilot as well. Oh, and I don't do pink. Not that I'm picky or anything. :) But, hey, if I'm shelling out a few grand, I want comfort, performance, and romance!


As someone who wishes more bikes DID come in pink, I stumbled across this the other day:
http://projectone.trekbikes.com/

You can go stock or custom with the parts, but the frame colors and patterns available are really spiffy!

-- gnat! (now all I need is the shoes to match...)

[dex]

'm 5'4", with legs proportionately small and a torso proportionately long for my size, which renders my body a bit less aerodynamic than those long, lean, sinewy types who climb hills like mountain goats—and also makes me wonder whether women's-specific makes would work for me.

I'm about the same height as you, also with proportionately shorter legs and long toso. My own experience with bike shopping and trying out WSD bikes was that none of them worked for me. So definitely give them a try, but I'd say be open to the reality that the fit may not work out.

Coincidentally, I ended up with a LeMond. A Reno for me, but I'm now regularly eyeing Zurich frames on eBay. I loved every LeMond I test rode, the Reno was just the one that fit best into my budget at the time (also I didn't want to drop loads on a road bike when I hadn't even been on one at all in fifteen years or so).

Good luck! :)

[rapid cycler]

Have you given any thought to a recumbent?

I have, actually, especially after I saw that Calfee makes a carbon fiber model available in a generous sampling of sizes, but I have one significant barrier between me and such a steed: I live in Los Angeles, where even high-profile cyclists take their lives in hand when pedaling the crazy roads.

Interestingly, I had mentioned the idea of getting a recumbent bike during a chatty moment in therapy several weeks back. At the time, my therapist had trouble visualizing what I was talking about, but this week when she saw me she immediately forbade me to buy one, saying that she had nearly hit one on her way into work that very morning.

I'd love to try a 'bent someday, and I'd like to do so on sleepy country roads, pedaling past nothing but idyllic cow pastures and vineyards. :rolleyes:

[sklarewc]

You could get a custom-fitted titanium Serotta for a little under $3,000. I've never ridden one--I have the Litespeed Bella (and love it)--but I see a lot of them in my club and think the custom-build route might work best for you. Also, although the ones they have on their website don't look all that exciting, you can choose the paint scheme & colors, w/in certain parameters.

[rapid cycler]

Coincidentally, I ended up with a LeMond. A Reno for me, but I'm now regularly eyeing Zurich frames on eBay. I loved every LeMond I test rode, the Reno was just the one that fit best into my budget at the time (also I didn't want to drop loads on a road bike when I hadn't even been on one at all in fifteen years or so).

Good luck! :)

My partner got a great deal on the steel/carbon 2005 Zurich in a bike store, about $700 off if I remember right. This was about a year back, but I still see them pop up here and there on clearance. Keep those dreamy eyes peeled.

[rapid cycler]

You could get a custom-fitted titanium Serotta for a little under $3,000. I've never ridden one--I have the Litespeed Bella (and love it)--but I see a lot of them in my club and think the custom-build route might work best for you. Also, although the ones they have on their website don't look all that exciting, you can choose the paint scheme & colors, w/in certain parameters.

Mmmm, Serotta. I like me some of that. I thought it would probably run me more like 5K to get there, but I'll definitely investigate.

[bike4ever]

I'm currently on a 49cm Lemond Buenos Aires. This is a men's frame since my torso is longer, and I feel like I am falling off of the front of Lemond's WSD bikes. My bike is the steel/carbon spine model; however, if I were purchasing this year I would definitely go with their Triumphe carbon. I rode those last August at Trek World and absolutely loved the ride.

Since you have some back issues, I would stick with carbon, steel or titanium. Aluminum would probably be way too uncomfortable.

Good luck - have fun test riding.

[Kathi]

I have a custom Serotta and it is so beautiful and such a joy to ride. Besides fit Serotta did a great job of building it proportionally. I'm 5'1" and have short arms so I needed a very long headtube. Because the headtube needed to be long compared to my Standover height I thought my bike would turn out to be a sloper, like a lot of the WSD frames. However, Serotta was able to build the bike to my needs without an extreme slope of the top tube. The slope is only 1 degree!

Btw, the fun of building your own bike is that you chose the level of components that you want, not what some company thinks you need.

A good custom fitter can work with your physical needs to build a frame for you.

Here's pics of my Serotta

[sklarewc]

Wow, I woulda said I don't like pink and I already said I don't think Serottas look all that great on the Serotta website, but that bike is just gorgeous--a real beauty. And nothing beats a great fit.

[jusdooit]

I was considering the specialized and my LBS guy suggested a Masi, can't remember which one though.
Good luck!

[Delta7]

I highly recommend the Specialized Ruby Expert. I've had it for just over a year and it's been a fabulous and fast ride, a great climber and looks great, imo :D

My LBS guy did a fantastic job with the fit, he did swap out the stock stem with a Bontranger Race Lite. My bike is a 54cm.

3352

[Mr. Bloom]

I too have short legs and a long torso. I have a 49cm Lemond Reno and it's been great for me.

Previously, I had a "crunched" feeling between my shoulders when I rode SilverSon's 50cm Trek Pilot for any distance.

The LBS really pondered the recommendation, but concluded that I needed the shorter vertical height and extended horizontal distance. I've not regretted the decision one bit.

[rapid cycler]

I have a custom Serotta and it is so beautiful and such a joy to ride. Besides fit Serotta did a great job of building it proportionally. I'm 5'1" and have short arms so I needed a very long headtube. Because the headtube needed to be long compared to my Standover height I thought my bike would turn out to be a sloper, like a lot of the WSD frames. However, Serotta was able to build the bike to my needs without an extreme slope of the top tube. The slope is only 1 degree!

Btw, the fun of building your own bike is that you chose the level of components that you want, not what some company thinks you need.

A good custom fitter can work with your physical needs to build a frame for you.

Here's pics of my Serotta

Wow, Kathi, I have to agree with sklarewc: That's one pink bike I could sink my teeth into! What a beautiful ride!

[rapid cycler]

OK, so I had big plans this weekend: Go out and ride as many of the bikes under consideration as I could cram into one action-packed holiday weekend. I prepped Saturday morning by taking the ol' 5200 out for a few hours, plenty of time to get a good ache going in my shoulders and neck so that I would be primed to feel pain during my test rides, 'cause just about any bike feels great when I'm fresh—at least for the first hour.

I wore bibs under my clothes so that I could coyly drop my pants when I was ready for the salesperson to offer up a test ride. Girl Scouts come prepared.

Store #1: Agoura Cycles in Agoura Hills, Calif.

As promised online, the store had a generous stock of Orbeas, including multiple sizes in both the Diva and Onix Dama. I spotted a 49cm Onix Dama, my target size, but it was pink! I haven't worn a dress in 20 years (and even then I looked like a boy in a dress). And by the time I was 12 years old, my bright yellow Sears bicycle had a BMX seat and handlebars where its flowered banana seat and basket once stood. I'm not even sure I can ride a pink bike ironically given that I'm often addressed as sir by people who fail to notice my D-cup breasts.

Saleswoman Kristen came over as I was checking out the Dama and said, “That’s definitely going to be my next bike!”

I told her I wasn’t in love with the color, to which she enthusiastically replied that she LOVED it and would be pimping it out further with pink cable housing and pink bar tape. We may have a vastly different aesthetic, but I liked her—especially after I learned, later, that this was a second, weekend job that she had taken on because the store owner called her bluff when she said he needed a saleswoman who could speak directly to women’s needs as well as folks new to cycling. Go, Kristen! And go, store owner!

What Kristen was unable to tell me was that the Onix Dama only comes in pink, at least in the 2007 model year. But before this came to light I decided that I could, perhaps, straddle a pink bike with a pink saddle. And then once I was straddling one, I figured I might as well take it for a test spin. Outside. Me, on a pink bike.

I took it up a hill and into some fun, winding roads, all woo-hoo and such, and then, about 30 minutes in, my lower back started screaming at me. Great, I thought, there’s no pain in my neck and shoulders, but now there’s pain down south. It’s like there’s some finite amount of pain that must be felt somewhere, so where would I like it? Then I noted the toe overlap. Granted, I was riding in sneakers, but you can see where this test ride was headed. I returned to the bike shop, mentally crossing the Onix off my dream list. Dare I ride the Diva?

My partner was waiting for me in the store, wondering whether I had maybe been hit by a car and how long she should wait before hopping in her own car to search for my remains. But then I came riding up, shaking my head dejectedly.

“It’s probably best that you don’t like it, because it comes in pink only,” she said. “But the mechanic said the men’s 48cm model has very similar geometry, so we set one up for you with a shorter stem!”

She was so cute, all gung-ho and trying to get me just as excited about giving another Onix a whirl. But I was pessimistically certain that I would have the same problems on the similarly apportioned men’s model. Nevertheless, they had set it all up for me, so I had to give it a college try.

The Onix TdF felt different the moment I got on. Pedaling on flat road was a dream, and when I started up that first hill I felt my whole body respond to the task, working the pedals with a kind of fluidity I had never experienced on inclines of any note. The farther I went, the more I could feel my lower face compulsively breaking into some kind of freakish smile.

I had always sneered previously when reading those bike reviews in which the testers go on and on about the bike coming to feel like an extention of themselves, but now I knew exactly what they meant!

To paraphrase Jane Austen, “Readers, I married it.” How could I not? Several days have now passed and that freakish smile still hasn’t fallen from my face. On Sunday I took it out on a 35-mile canyon route that I had always, always had to break into two legs, such was the pain that had always overtaken my neck at mile 15—I know, pitiful. But on Sunday I had zero desire to get off the bike. Break? No way! That would cut into my available biking time. Omigod, road biking doesn’t have to hurt? Hallelujah, and pass the chain lube.

So, to sum up, I went to exactly one bike store and rode just two bikes, which wasn’t my master plan. But they say that when you find The One, you just feel it. My response to the Onix was as visceral as the first pangs of true love—I was just lucky enough to find mine on the first date. :rolleyes:

[jobob]

LOL, I love your story. Well done and congratulations - may you have many happy miles together. :cool:

[Mr. Bloom]

That's great. Congrats

[cosc]

Sounds like a marriage made in heaven! Have many wonderful adventures with your orbea. Pictures please?

[rij73]

What a great story! And beautifully written... I second the motion for pictures. I'm a sucker for pictures of a new bike!

[rapid cycler]

OK, finally managed to arrange a photo shoot with my new bike—it's very busy, you know. Thanks for asking!

The only mods from stock are the Thomson seatpost, the pimped-out handlebar tape, and my beloved Selle Italia LDY seat.

[rij73]

Beautiful! I've been lusting after Orbea's in the park... Yours looks fantastic!

[ridebikeme]

Ummm lots of great imput! Like you, I am generally the same size as you. With that said, although I own several nice road bikes, I still find my custom Ti bike the most comfortable. If you are interested in Ti, have you thought about Lynskey? These are the people that used to own LItespeed in the 90's... and sold the company. They make awesome frames, with custom sizing and paint schemes as well... I have to admit that my next frame will be from them... Dear Santa, HA!

Have fun looking!

[rij73]

BTW, how's the standover height on that bike? Their website doesn't say...

[rapid cycler]

BTW, how's the standover height on that bike? Their website doesn't say...

Hmm, I have a 29-inch inseam, it's a 48 cm frame, and we work well together, with the proper inch or so of clearance. It is strange that they don't post SO height online.

[emily_in_nc]

That's a gorgeous bike, rc. Thanks for sharing your photos!

Emily