Need Opinions!

[MeganR]

Can anyone please give me some opinions on any of the following bikes, whether you have one of them, or ust know something about them. it doesn't have to be a long review or anything, even just one line, just to say whether its good or not..

Sub Rosa Pro:
http://www.sarahulmerbrand.com/bikes/road-race/subrosa-pro/

Sub Zero 3:
http://www.sarahulmerbrand.com/bikes/road-sport/subzero-3/

Choosing a Road Bike:
http://bgindy.com/page.cfm?pageID=203

Avail Alliance:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/bikes/women/2200/32369/

Avail Advanced:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/bikes/women/2200/32368/

Dama Bianca
http://www.bianchiusa.com/09_dama_alu_c_tiagra_trpl.html

Avail:
http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-AU/bikes/women/2200/31898/

1.2 WSD:
http://www.trekbikes.com/women/wsd_products/bikes/road/12wsd/

Equinox 7 WSD:
http://www.trekbikes.com/women/wsd_products/bikes/triathlon/equinox7wsd/

Avanti Sprint:
http://www.bv.com.au/bikes-and-riding/30526/

Dolce Comp Compact:
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=09Dolce&eid=117

S-Works Ruby SL SRAM:
http://www.specialized.com/bc/SBCBkModel.jsp?sid=09Ruby&eid=115

Diora Modena 2:
http://www.diora.com.au/

Cervelo S3:
http://www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=S32009

CerveloP4:
http://www.cervelo.com/bikes.aspx?bike=P42009

Etape Elect:
http://www.emc2bikes.com/index.php/ps_pagename/bikedetail/bikemodel/50

Fem Etape Course:
http://www.emc2bikes.com/index.php/ps_pagename/bikedetail/bikemodel/53


Thanks Heaps!!

[kermit]

Wow, looks like you've been doing your research. I have a Specialized Roubaix Pro, full dura-ace and love it. It's a unisex frame with a shorter stem, fits great. I am a huge fan of Specialized. That being said, if you are shopping for a bike, buy the one that fits you and that you love. If its not a good fit, you won't like riding. Set a price, including a helmet, shorts, a jersey, and a bike bag for a tube, co2, tire levers, a floor pump, and a good tool set. Fit is absolutely the key to a good bike. Hope that helped.

[Zen]

I'd cross that Trek 1.2 off the list because of the Sora shifters.
But that's me.

[indysteel]

That's quite a list, and to be honest, they're a bit all over the place. Some are entry level road bikes with lower end componets, some are high end road bikes, at least one is a tri bike and another a time trial. I assume there's a big price difference between the cheapest on your list and the most expensive.

So, let's work backwards a bit. What kind of bike are you looking for and how do you intend to use it? Are you a new or experienced rider? What's your budget? What frame material do you prefer?

All of them are fine frames, but how you're going to be using the bike and how much you can spend may eliminate a few of them right off the bat. From there, it really comes to fit and ride quality. I, personally, don't have personal experience with any of them, so perhaps someone else on the forum might. Even with that, it would be to your benefit to find a shop and test ride as many as you can or, in the very least, get a sense of what kind of geometry you need so that you might be able to further narrow it down.

[Kiwi Stoker]

As mentioned above these bikes are at all levels.

Avanti Sprint- this is Avanti's base level road bike

SUB series- Designed in conjunction with Sarah Ulmer and built by Avanti. They are female specific. The SUB Rosa Pro is the top level bike and is full carbon. As its designed as a full on race bike it doesn't have compact cranks which as a beginner you may want to try. The Zero is an Aluminum bike, same geometry as the Rosa series.

Specialized- The Dolce is an aluminum bike and the Ruby a carbon. BTW I assume you are either in Australia or NZ from some of the brands you mention. The Ruby SRAM is not available in Oz or NZ- the distributer doesn't bring in all the variations available in America, so only the Shimano version will be there. So if you have found one it will either be someone has brought it into the country personally, or has altered the groupset on the bike themselves, so may not have the full support of a bike shop.

[celerystalksme]

are you looking to buy one of these bikes?

[MeganR]

Thanks everyone, the reply's are great.
sorry, i didn't specifiy before, i'm researching these bikes in order to create a website that can help females of all ages to find the right bike for them.
I am interested in getting more females out there riding!

so thats why these bikes are a bit all over the place too. i was hoping that if i had quotes from 'real' cycling men and women it would help the users.

so thanks everyone!

[indysteel]

Well, that makes more sense...sort of. I know you didn't ask for your input on your methodology, but for what it's worth I have to say that I'm not sure how helpful someone's subjective opinion of a particular bike would be to me if I were looking to buy a bike. What I would find helpful is something explaining what to look for in bikes in general, including:

A short description of what kind of bikes are on the market, e.g., commuters, hybrids, MTBs (and the different types within that category), roadbikes (and the types within that category as well).

The fundamentals of bike fit.

An explanation about component manunfacturers and the pecking order within each manufacturer's groupsets.

What other things to look for in evaulating any given bike, e.g, wheels, bars, frame material, handling, etc.

The difference between bikes designated as women specific and non-women specific.

How to make the most of your visit to an LBS, what questions to ask, what to expect, etc.

Something along the lines of, "So you bought a bike....now what," that would offer some resources on how to get started as a cyclist.

Anyway, that's just my two cents. As a mentioned previously, I have no personal experience with any of the bikes you mentioned.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thanks everyone, the reply's are great.
sorry, i didn't specifiy before, i'm researching these bikes in order to create a website that can help females of all ages to find the right bike for them.
I am interested in getting more females out there riding!

so thats why these bikes are a bit all over the place too. i was hoping that if i had quotes from 'real' cycling men and women it would help the users.


Gathering 'research' this way is not going to be very accurate or useful. For every 3 people who love a certain bike, there will be 3 people who hate it. A 'good' bike for one person will not be 'good' for someone else. Why?- because people have different needs in bikes. Besides, bike models tend to change every year.
If you really want to make a useful website to advise women about what kind of bikes to buy, I suggest you concentrate less on brands and instead do a lot more reading about the differences between types of bikes, frame materials and geometry, components, gearing, etc... and what various people might need and why they might need certain features in a bike. You can't really skip the knowledge base part to go straight to the 'favorite bikes' part, because it may well wind up being rather meaningless.
I think anyone who wants to make a website advising riders what to buy or even just presenting people's ratings of bikes should know a lot about bikes themselves- to the point where you should already know all the bikes on your list fairly well and know why each one would be good or bad for any particular rider's needs.
Just trying to be helpful.

You say you are 'interested in getting more females out there riding'. Why? Do you yourself ride? Do you sell bikes or do you work in marketing? Tell us a bit about yourself.

[indysteel]

Gathering 'research' this way is not going to be very accurate or useful. For every 3 people who love a certain bike, there will be 3 people who hate it. Why?- because people have different needs in bikes. Besides, bike models tend to change every year.
If you really want to make a useful website to advise women about what kind of bikes to buy, I suggest you concentrate less on brands and instead do a lot more reading about the differences between types of bikes, frame materials and geometry, components, gearing, etc... and what various people might need and why they might need certain features in a bike. You can't really skip the knowledge base part to go straight to the 'favorite bikes' part, because it may well wind up being rather meaningless.
Just trying to be helpful.

You say you are 'interested in getting more females out there riding'. Do you yourself ride? Do you sell bikes or do you work in marketing? Tell us a bit about yourself.

Gearing! I knew I'd forgotten something really important. Duh!