New to Cycling - Need Advice

[FitFreak]

A couple weeks ago my BF participated in the MS 150 bike ride in South Florida. After watching the two day ride I got the bug to start cycling and I need some advice. I liked the fact that it's good exercise, is good for any size/shape and you can go as fast or as slow as you want. Plus I've been looking for something that I can do outside that will be challenging. I've spent many years working out in a gym and that's getting boring.

My BF has cycled for many years and used to ride competitively in Europe. He's been really helpful with purchasing a helmet and cycling clothes, but when it comes to a woman's bike - he's clueless. So, I'm turning to the experts. All of you.

I've been doing some online research for road bikes and have come across the Trek 1.2 WSD which seems to get favorable reviews from beginners. However, I'm having a hard time finding a bike shop that carries WSD bikes. Many of the local shops carry Specialized. I haven't read too much about these bikes and wondered if you had any input.

I'm looking for a good starter bike, not too expense (around $800) that will fit my short stature...I'm only 5'2 (on a good day). Also, is it better to start out with a lower end bike and they move up to something more expensive or just go for expensive to begin with? And does expensive necessarily mean better?

Any advice, ladies?

Thanks for the help.

[hipersons]

Welcome!
I'm 5'2" as well and had the same budget restrictions as you do. I ended up choosing a Specialized Dolce (http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?spid=34176) for my bike. I chose the 48cm, and found out the other day that I liked it so much because it's a perfect fit for me. The price tag is $850, but my LBS was carrying them for $800.

I did a lot of research before making my purchase, and my overall takeaway was that bikes in the same price range from reputable companies are all of the same quality, you just need to ride them to see which one fits better for you.

Good luck in the hunt!

[SouthernBelle]

Lots of companies are making WSD bikes now. Ones you can look at, aside from those mentioned include Terry and Giant.

Both of those companies make a good bike.

[kermit]

I hope you realize that this sport is very addicting. On that note, you've made a wise choice. You will get good exercise, be outdoors and meet people. Lots of fun. I am in Miami and can tell you that a good Trek dealer is Cycle World on bird road and SW 87 avenue. Ask for Rob, he's looks like he is out of ZZ top but knows his stuff. If you want a Specialized(my bike) go to Bike Tech on bird road and 72 avenue. Ask for James or Arnie, the owner, great place and good selection of bikes. The can get whatever you want if they don't have it. Where are you riding? Key Biscayne is very bike friendly, and beautiful scenery. I also suggest you check out Everglades bike club for group rides. Anyway, good luck I hope this helps.

[ehirsch83]

Hi FitFreak!
I live in your area and if you want help on local LBS's feel free to PM me. It is great that you are getting into cycling, it is tons of fun!
Once you get a bike and get comfortable on it, a great ride to start with is the Sheena Ride out of Downtown Bicycles on Wed. mornings(leaves the shop at 6am)(if you are in the Ft.Lauderdale area, if you are in Miami or Boca can help you find other rides). It is a no-drop ride meant for those who are just starting out, and a lot of other more experienced riders join in so it is a great group and great place to learn! Everyone usually goes to Starbucks afterwards for coffee and chit chat:-)

So glad to see another SF women on TE finally!

Welcome

[FitFreak]

Thanks for the advice. I'm hoping to get to a bike dealer at lunch today to check out a Specialized Bike. I did see the Dolce for $850 and liked the look of it. Now I just have to see if I like the fit of it.

Kermit - I'm actually in Boynton Beach...a little north of you. A lot of folks here ride along A1A from Delray Beach down to Deerfield. Right now I'm looking for less trafficky (is that a word?) roads since I will just be starting out.

I've already discovered how addictive the sport is and I haven't even started riding yet. Before doing some research I never realized all that there was to the sport. I thought you just buy a bike, hop on, pedal and off you go. But boy was I wrong. I'm actually really getting into it and can't wait to get a new bike.

I have an old mountain bike which my BF has offered to fix up so I can start out on that, but I almost feel that I should just get a new road bike and not even bother with the mountain bike since the riding will be completely different. I've also discovered how expensive the sport can be but I figure it's all worth it in the end.

[kermit]

If you think you will like it, get a good bike. I made the mistake of getting a crappy no name aluminum bike, crappy components and after the first group ride, realized I wanted more. I think you will be happy with the Specialized, my husband and I both have one. Great bikes. I think you've got the right plan with the A1A rides. Just watch traffic, assume they don't see you. I also used to ride 441 from west boca all the way to Wellington, nice and open, probably too hot right now. Good luck and if you need anything down this way give me a shout.

[Spec&TrekGirl]

I just went through the bike buying experience a few months ago as I'm new to the sport too - and it is addictive. So here's my experience/advice.

My price range was about the same although I ended bumping it up to $1050 by the time I bought because from what I found, around $1000 seems to be the sweet spot where you get the most bang for your buck. I got a Trek 1600 (2007 close-out and you may still be able to get them for around $1000 although they were retailing at $1300+). Mainly because it fit me so well.

My finalists were the Specialized Dolce Elite (prior year on close-out), Giant OCR1W (also prior year close-out) and the Trek 1600, all WSD bikes. They were all close to $1000. The Trek and Giant both fit me better than the Specialized (although I love Specialized, I have a stumpjumper mtn bike), the Trek was slightly lighter, had Ultegra shifter on the back (all other components were 105), and cost $140 more, and it just "felt" right. I can't really explain how it felt "right" but I think that's what it really needs to come down to. If price was a bigger deal for me, I would have gone with the Giant and been very happy. I think with Giant you get a little more bike for the same amount of money because they don't quite have the brand name recognition of Trek or Specialized. The feel was very similar between the bikes, there was just something about the Trek that "felt" right.

In this price range, the frames are all pretty similar in quality, you're really comparing small differences in components (I decided 105 was the way to go because I could feel the difference in the smoothness of shifting between them and even the Tiagra, and definitely the Sora; shifting is a pet peeve with me because I used to fight with my "Sears" bike, trying to adjust the shifting all the time so I decided that was something that was important to me in a bike). But it really comes down to FIT. Ride several bikes several times to get a feel for them and what really feels good to you. Being a newbie, I also put some weight into the service I got from the bike shops.

[mimitabby]

by all means, while you're waiting, DO ride that mountain bike. It's going to help you strengthen your muscles and increase your endurance, so when you get on that spiffy new road bike you'll be ready to fly.

have fun and good luck with those headwinds.

[bounceswoosh]

What mimi said. Yes, mountain bikes and road bikes are different beasts -- but they're both bikes. I've been riding a mountain bike for several years now, and when I got my first road bike a couple of weeks ago, pretty much everything translated. Except descending, and I think that's because road bike brakes feel pretty weak compared to disc brakes. I don't think that would be an issue if you aren't used to disc.

Strength, balance, steering -- those all translate very well. Take Freddy Mercury's advice -- "Get on your bike and ride!"

[FitFreak]

I looked at the Specialized Dolce as well as the Trek 1.2 at lunch today. The Specialized felt better than the Trek. Took a few turns around the parking lot with the Dolce and even though it wasn't the right size (I need a 48 cm and this was 51 cm) it was good.

A friend of mine mentioned the Jamis Ventura Sport. It's about $300 less expensive than the Specialized. Does anyone have any experience with this bike?

[ehirsch83]

Hey Fit, I read all of this after I responded to the PM:-)

I ride A1A from Ft.Lauderdale up into boca and north, depending on what ride my schedule calls for, unfortunatly it is one of the safer routes:-( I don't know Boynton Beach very well, so I unfortunatly am not sure of what other roads are around there. The other thing is, the safest time to ride down here is between 5:30am and 7:45am. After that the crazies come out. I do ride in the afternoons a lot(going to do it today) but you have to be super super defensive with the drivers out there on the road. The good thing though, is if you go north from where you are a1a isn't to bad! The worst part for me is getting from Ft.Lauderdale to Hillsboro bridge, once I get through there it is a lot less hectic.

I am glad you liked the Dolce, I would still go to Bike Generation and talk with them:-) They are awesome.
We sell the Jamis Aurora at Downtown, and have a few in right now on sale, but...... For what you are wanting to do I would go with the Dolce. The Aurora is a great entry level bike for someone looking for a fitness bike or road bike commuter, but if you want to continue with it and really think you will progress I would start with either a Dolce, A giant Women's frame(entry level OCR) or look into the Felt line of women's bikes. They are all in the same price range and about what you are looking for.

[OakLeaf]

even though it wasn't the right size (I need a 48 cm and this was 51 cm) it was good.

Are you sure you need a 48? Is that just going by the standover height, or is the top tube too long for you? If it's just the standover, do you have any clearance at all?

If it feels good, chances are it's the right size for you. If you're not sure, ask your BF or the LBS guys to watch you on it.

[FitFreak]

Are you sure you need a 48? Is that just going by the standover height, or is the top tube too long for you? If it's just the standover, do you have any clearance at all?

If it feels good, chances are it's the right size for you. If you're not sure, ask your BF or the LBS guys to watch you on it.


The bike store told me I needed a 48cm. When I did the standover over on the 50 I had some clearance, but not that much. When riding the 50cm it felt good, but since I don't have anything to compare it to (this was the first road bike I tested) it's hard to tell. I'm going to check out a Jamis 48cm today. Now I'll be able to tell if the smaller size is the right one for me or not. Plus I'll have something to compare the specialized dolce to.

I never knew there was so much to consider when purchasing the proper road bike....and we haven't even gotten into pedals, saddles or anything else. :D

[OakLeaf]

You can't really compare frame sizes between manufacturers. Think of it as more like clothing sizes :rolleyes: - it's a rough guide only. Plus different bikes have different geometry that will affect the fit also.

I've heard people say here that most people can ride two or three frame sizes in any given frame.

[FitFreak]

I purchased my bike today. I decided to get the Jamus Ventura sport (female version). While I really liked the Dolce, when I test rode the Jamus it felt right from the beginning. I have to admit that, unfortunately, price had a little to do with it as it was $300 less than the Dolce. I also like the attention and service I got from the bike store. I really felt that they wanted to make sure I left completely satisfied. The owner of the store even rode beside me on my first test ride giving me pointers and advice. when I picked up the bike later that afternoon he spent about an hour with me going over everything including a changing a flat and then did another test ride with me. Maybe this isn't unusual when purchasing a bike, but I was kind of surprised.

Eventually I'll have to get different pedals when I get proper bicycle shoes, but for now I'm going to take it around the neighborhood a few times, get used to riding a bike again.

Thanks to everyone for your advice. It was really helpful and got me thinking about so much when looking at the bikes.

[OakLeaf]

That's great! Sounds like a wonderful shop! Enjoy your new bike!

[KatyLady]

I just Googled the Jamis Ventura - VERY nice looking bicycle. Sounds like you found a great LBS too.

[kermit]

Glad to hear you found the right one! Where did you get it? It sounds like you've got a great LBS for life.

[FitFreak]

I bought the bike at a little bike store in Royal Palm Beach called Flying Wheel Bicycles. They really were fabulous to deal with, especially as a novice who knows essentially nothing about cycling. It was a great experience.

I took the new girl out for a spin yesterday with my BF. We went about 11.6 miles and miraculously I didn't drop dead. There was a terrible wind and everytime we road into it my speed went down about 2 mph. It was brutal, but my BF assures me that as I ride more it will get easier. I'm still skeptical.

I'm really looking forward to our next ride. Amazing how addicting this is after one ride.

[kermit]

It will get easier and yes the wind(and smoke) sucks right now. When your starting out remember to keep a good cadence and the speed will come. I have been doing intervals with cadence(Carmichael video) and it helps alot. Enjoy!

[Kano]

Yes, be very careful riding in the smokey conditions!

Wind does make a difference when we're riding -- it's GREAT when it's a tailwind, but headwinds are just no fun at all. Almost like riding up a hill...

Karen in Boise

[drtillman]

While I am not a woman I am a physician with many female patients who are very active athletes at all levels. While obviously not eligible for the "Sheena Ride" I felt compelled to let everyone know how impressed I was with Sheena herself, assuming she is the one that fitted my bike at Downtown. Her professionalism is unmatched. I have literally bought $80,000 automobiles with less involvement from the dealer. She took at least a half-hour fitting my bike and even gave a lot of "insider tips" way above and beyond any other $2,000 purchase I have ever made.

Arnold Tillman, MD
Certified Age Management Physician
Cenegenics Medical Institute of Boca Raton
atillman@cenegenics.com
770-548-7722

Eat clean and train hard!

[jenniferh]

I rode tons of bikes before deciding recently. Ultimately I choose the Trek 1.5 (non WSD) bike. It just felt best. Don't limit yourself to WSD.

[blumensh]

I went to my Trek store all ready to buy a WSD 1.2 and thankfully they were sold out of them because for a little less I ended up getting (what I think) is a much better bike. I ended up getting a 2009 Fuji Finest 1.0.

It's interesting though I am 5'3" and the Trek Store and another store both told me I needed a 50 and I had very little clearance. Being a newbie with no experience at all I went with what they told me but they just did based on my height. Then I went to performance and got fitted by a woman and I actually ended up with a 44! Evidently I'm disproportionate. The 44 feels so much better to me but I never dreamed I'd need that small of a frame.

[OakLeaf]

A 44 cm men's frame may well have the same top tube length as a 50 cm WSD frame.


EDIT: Sorry, didn't realize that the Finest was a WSD bike.

Still: here are your specs. '09 Fuji Finest (http://2009.fujibikes.com/Womens/Sport/Finest10.aspx) in 44 cm: effective top tube length 505.0 mm.
'10 Trek 1.2 WSD (http://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes/road/1_series/12wsd/): 50 cm, effective TT length 511 mm; 47 cm, effective TT length 494 mm.

So your Fuji is shorter than the 50 cm Trek they were trying to fit you on... but longer than the next smaller Trek, which still has a taller seat tube.

And... they've taken down the specs on my 50 cm '07 Cannondale WSD, but I'm 95% sure that it has the same 505 mm top tube as your 44 cm Fuji.


That's why you ride lots of bikes until you find the one that fits you best.

[blumensh]

A 44 cm men's frame may well have the same top tube length as a 50 cm WSD frame.


It's a Fuji Finest so it is actually a womans bike.
Fuji
Description XS (44) S (47) M (50) L (53)
SEAT TUBE 440.0 470.0 500.0 530.0
TOP TUBE 505.0 510.0 520.0 535.0

Trek
Description XS (47) S (50) M (52)
SEAT TUBE 42.5 47.6 49.3
TOP TUBE 49.4 51.6 52.9

So roughly speaking the 47 Fuji and a 50 Trek would be comparable. I would have definitely gone with a 47 trek. The 50 felt way to big for me but my itty bitty 44 fits perfectly.

I just realized we posted at the same time :) It does make me feel better to see that though because I was really worrying that maybe I got too small of a frame but now it makes sense.