Hubby looking for advice on buying the most amazing women in the world a TT tri bike.

[steelynorm]

Hello to all who come to check on this post.
I am man asking for advice.

Well last time I came here I was given some sound advice, and received some hostile emails??
Some of the gentler sex can be very aggressive, defensive and offensive.
I am just saying...

Anyway..
It has been several years since my last post and wanted to ask the collective for some assistance if possible.

I want to purchase my wife a tri bike.
I was going to post this is the tri specific area, but it is not very active...

Here is what I am looking for.
She is of small build her last bike was a 47 Trek WSD 4.?
I am purchasing her a bike because she plans on doing two more IM distance races in the next 3 years and would never buy a bike for herself.

I want to spend under $4000.

I am running into trouble with finding tri bikes, let alone Tri bikes that small for her to demo..
So I am looking for suggestions or any experiences some of you may have had with models, manufacturers etc.
Looking for a good starting point.

Thanks for your help..

[rebeccaC]

Looking for a good starting point.
Perhaps getting her involved in this search for her bike? Not only for fit issues but also just giving her a say in the process. For used, getting more bike for the money and if she really wants a tri bike, if there is a triathlon club in the area, that may be a good connection for finding a person her size who wants to upgrade their bike……from what I’ve witnessed not an uncommon want with tri riders, especially newer ones. A local club should also know the tri resources in the area to help with that.

eta....sacramento has a large tri club.



Well last time I came here I was given some sound advice, and received some hostile emails??
Some of the gentler sex can be very aggressive, defensive and offensive.
I am just saying...
i can't believe the gentler sex can be aggressive etc. etc.:eek::eek::eek:

[steelynorm]

Ultimately she will have the last say.
But I have been having trouble with LBS in the Sacramento Area stocking womens tri bikes.
they might have one, but they can order me whatever I want???
Crazy right, I am gonna drop a fairly healthy amount of $$ and buy it without riding it???
No one in my area wants to carry that kind of inventory, for a such a limited market, I cant blame them.
When we purchased her Trek, we were able to try out several different bikes in her size before making our purchase. I want to attempt to buy at a LBS for post fitment issues and tuning, but alas that may not be an option. I hate to lead on a sales person in another area just to buy locally. So you see my dilemma.
I want to buy new, but would consider used... I want to give her the best that I can afford right now to help her achieve her goals.
Just looking to other women, who may have experience with some of the major brands available in my area, trek, specialized, Cervelo and Felt or ?

[Eden]

I'm 5 feet even and I can tell you when I looked for an aero bike, small enough was hard to find… I do not have a long torso or arms, so my bikes generally need to be shorter in the top tube, which can be hard to find in a TT bike.
What I did eventually find is that one of the few manufacturers who at the time made very small bikes was Quintanaroo and they make nothing but tri-bikes so they've bikes at many price points. If you can find a dealer in your area they do their XS that may well work for her- she might possibly even only need the small. I know other relatively small people with a bit of a different body type than mine (longer torso/arms) that have been very happy with the smallest Cervelos.

btw.. the way the message board truncates your title it reads - Hubby looking for advice on buying the most amazing women in the world…. :p

[rocknrollgirl]

I am 5'3" and I also have a Quintanaroo. It is either and xs or small, I do not remember.

[steelynorm]

Hilarious about the truncated title. my wife is 5'2"
I totally forgot about Quintana thanks, dont want to leave them out of the mix.
Pinarello i am not that familiar with, but will see if any of LBS carry them.
When we purchased her last bike i think she was in between 47-50 but 47 fit her better..

Muirenn, i clicked on the link you posted...my wife is the most amazing women in the world, and that bike would make my wife look like she is one of the fastest women in the world.. and its on sale......i wonder if LBS will let me pay that off with 60 monthly payments, i mean 80 monthly payments forgot to include those other important items, wheels, shifters, seats, handlebars etc.

[steelynorm]

I just looked for this bike.
I would pony up for that if I could get one for around 4 grand..
I have been looking do you have a link to a retailer or other?

[Nandy]

If you're willing to drop 4k, I'd almost recommend going custom or semi-custom (like Rodriguez) to get her an excellently fitting bike for going fast in amateur triathlons but also for enjoying on regular rides. TT bikes seem so specific and impractical for anything but hard, miserable racing. Maybe also a few personal trainer sessions to use her training and equipment more effectively?