What kind of Road Bikes do you ride?

[cherinyc]

Hi everyone - I apologize now for the length of this posting.
I am brand new to the group - and so glad to have found it. Not sure how it is elsewhere, but here in the Princeton, NJ area - I am finding the local cycle scene and LBS's to be completely male saturated, so it is good to finally get some female opinions.
Question: Why is it that with everything else in the world, men will loudly proclaim how strange, different, feminine, fragile, etc, etc, etc us women are....yet when I am trying to find a bike that doesn't make me feel like I am stretched out, or can't press/reach the brakes, or my handlebars are too wide, or my saddle is just plain KILLING ME.....the guys at the LBS, AND my boyfriend tell me I am just being too picky, and that a guy's bike is fine for me?
Ok- maybe I was just venting a little there, but I thought I was supposed to enjoy this. The thing is, it's easier to just ride the damn- too-big bike than to argue with him about it.

However, enough is enough, and I am about to buy my first road bike after a riding a very ill-fitting hand-me-down mountain bike of my boyfriend's and hurting my back as a result.

My request from you all is such: To help my search for the perfect bike for me, I really need to get some good opinions on Women's Specific road bikes. I went to 4 bike shops within about 50 miles - and the selection was crap. 3 of them all had the same bike - a Specialized Dolce, and only 1 of those had 1 other option - a 2003 Lemond (which I found too rigid for me - plus....a 2003? have they had it that long?)
The last shop - the closest to my house, which is a plus...carries the GIANT OCR 1 w, and a Cannondale. Now the guy there was soooo much more helpful than anywhere else, so I am afraid I am going to be biased to those 2 brands because of that.
I really want to be sure I get a good bike, and most of the reviews out there are on guy's bikes.

Here's another point to mention. While the first 3 bike shops had me stand over the bikes, and figured me for a 54 (I am about 5'6") - I still felt like I was reaching, and had a hard time braking. The last shop (my bias) put me on a GIANT size S which I think is around a 50, and it turned out even that was too big for my reach. Apparently I have long legs and short arms. Which definitely explains how extremely uncomfortable I was on my bf's old bike.
So even though my height may say 54, my arms say 48 - and after the guy adjusted the seat, handlebars, etc - it felt a lot different.

Alright - that's it ladies. Again apologies for the length, but I had to get a lot off my chest. Next come the apparel questions.;)
Help????

cheri

[Triskeliongirl]

You may be a great candidate for a terry bike. They have shorter top tubes than conventional male bikes, but still have reasonable seat tube angles. Some manufacturers fool you, by steepening the seat tube angle it appears they shorten their top tube, but in fact since you have to push the saddle further back on the rails to establish the same KOP, its just like having a too long top tube. I ride a 2005 terry titanium isis and I am very pleased with her. However, she was made in ti only in 2005. Maybe you could call them to see if they have any left in your size, or can locate a dealer they sold one to that may have one left (I bought mine from Harris Cyclery in Newton MA, who is a big terry stockist).

[FreshNewbie]

Welcome aboard Cheri! I know exactly how you feel and i am there with you in the same boat. My bf also tells me that I am just being picky about everything when it comes to cycling. Some guys actually do understand that women are different and some unfortunately don't! Don't let that ride a bike that is not your size and will hurt you in the end. I think you are on a right track with going to 4 lbs and comparing what they have, good job! I am 5'4" and just bought myself Specialized Dolce Vita 2005 model (48cm)Today was my first day riding her, and i loved it, but still need to play around with saddle positioning. I used to ride an old model of CyclePro regent ( men's bike) size 50cm and it was big for me but comfortable enough after playing with saddle and paddles to ride as my first road bike. I know a lot of shops will actually order a bike for you and then if you decide not to buy it they will leave it in the store for sale. Talk to the guys in the shop you went to maybe they will be willing to order something different for you. I know Giant makes good bikes and has a good reputation for women specific models, in fact many women on this forum own Giant ( i hope they will response). I know you live in NJ and if you have a car I think you should visit some other stores where you can test ride other bikes and other brands. The store might be far from your house, but then you can come to the one you like and already know what they can order for you ( i know its a little sneaky but whatever works for you to find the ONE). Wish you good luck, FN

[rivergrl]

I just bought a Giant OCR 1 with a small frame a few months ago and so far I really like it a lot. I liked it because I sat a little more upright than on say the WSD Orbea, that was just too stretched out and it felt uncomfortable no matter what he did to adjust. I went into my buying spree being all about that Orbea at first, I was encouraged to look at Trek and some others, but I really just felt the best on the OCR so I kept coming back to it and it happened to be cheaper anyway. I'm completely satisfied with what I bought.

Good luck!

[pikato]

I have a Giant OCR 3 in an XS that I love. LBS just had to make a few adjustments to my handlebars and I was good to go.

When I was looking, the Specialized dealer treated me the same way, showing me only the Specialized Dolce & telling me that it was the only womean specific bike made. I honestly don't know if he thought I was an idiot, or if he didn't think I was really interested in making a purchase. Either way he lost the sale.

Definitely don' let others talk you into something, do what feels right for you!

[Nanci]

I have the Trek 2005 2100 WSD. I love it. The bars/brakes etc. actually feel tiny to me compared to my MTB, but very natural. You can definitely tell it's a WSD setup.

Nanci

[GreenLady]

There are plenty of WSD bikes out there. Ok, maybe not "plenty", but many companies make them: Trek, Giant, Orbea, Cannondale... I'm 5'3" and ride a 49cm Airborne Wasp frame. Unfortunately, they don't make Airborne frames any more; they were great bikes.

Anyway, don't settle for a bike that doesn't fit you. You are spending lots of money on a bike and you want it to fit; if a bike store doesn't have bikes that fit you, have them order it, or move on.

And yes, the bike scene almost everywhere is male-saturated. Some males will be patronizing, or ignore you, or whatever. On the other hand, others will be very nice, precisely because you are a woman. Try to find the nice ones - they do exist!

[DrBee]

I have the Trek Pilot 2.1 WSD and love it! The geometry fits me just right and it's a super smooth ride.

Welcome to the forum! Head on over to the Getting to Know you thread and introduce yourself further.

Good luck finding the right bike. Try everything you can get your hands on! You'll be amazed at how different they feel. And make sure you get a good fit!

[rivergrl]

I don't know what it is but in my city (somewhat small city) there are two main bike shops conveient to me and I've noticed (along with a few other female friends) that the Trek/Specialized shop is just rude if you are NOT male. I went in to look/shop for a bike and was all but ignored, finally I got someone to help me and they were not interested in selling me a bike that's for sure. They pretty much just pointed out a pink bike and said "you might like that one." and pretty much walked off until I inquired about a specific bike, even then, he never showed any interest in answering my questions.

On the otherhand, I was never treated rudely by the Giant/Orbea crew as I call them. I went in a few times before deciding to take a test ride and every time I was very impressed by their knowledge of the bikes and their willingness to help. My sales guy also followed up with a very nice thank you card a couple of days after I bought my Giant. He has also called once and left a message asking me how I'm liking the new Giant.

[bcipam]

It's interesting you found the 2003 Lemond too rigid... which model did you try? The Zurich which for 2003 is a steel/carbon hybrid should be anything but rigid. I ride the 2002 Zurich, which is all steel, and find it to be a flexible ride.

I would suggest you stay away from Aluminum bikes if you don't want a rigid, harse ride. You need to consider carbon, Ti or steel. I wouldn't shy away from a steel bike. New steel bikes are very light weight and very comfortable to ride. Steel is also durable - just like Ti but only better! ;)

AND and can't emphasize this enough and lord knows this forum is full of the same discussion but get a bike fitting before buying the bike. Standover is no indication of bike fit. There are so many other measurement even more improvement, reach being one. Every bike is different so you need to be sized on your bike of choice. If your legs are long but torso and arms short, you might be a candidate for a WSD model but do not assume just because you are a women WSD bikes are for you.

Good luck, take your time. Don't rush your decision. Be informed, research, research, research.

[Susie]

I'm 5'5" and I ride a 54 cm Specialized Ruby Pro and I absolutely love my bike. It climbs like a dream and absorbs so much shock from the roads that I swore some of my local streets were repaved. The Ruby line comes in 3 models, all carbon fiber. One comes with Shimano 105, one with Ultegra and the Pro comes with Dura Ace components. Of course, I swapped out the Dura Ace for Campy Record, but that's a whole other thread.

Susie

[cherinyc]

I really appreciate you all taking the time to respond to my posting. I am learning so much already. BTW - I have to say that it is because of my boyfriend's support that I even had the guts to get back on a bicycle after 15 years, so I probably didn't paint such a great picture of him. He is very loving and generous, but he comes from the old school of "no pain-no gain", so when I say something hurts, he's probably thinking it's just because I am not used to it.
Anyway, it's hard to not get frustrated, I just have to remember that he is fully supporting me in my cycling endeavors - in his own special way.
Just wanted to clear my conscience :o

[greenmtngrrl]

I ride a Giant OCR 1 size M (not WSD), which I bought early this year. I love it! When I was shopping around and testing bikes, I had mixed experiences at the various LBSs -- one was awful, a few were okay, and two were really helpful.

I tried the Giant OCR 1 at one shop in a size S and it just felt too small. I tried telling the salesguy and he just discounted everything I was saying because according to his measurments, a size S would fit me (I'm about 5'6" with long legs). Ha, that pretty much turned me off of that shop. I immediately went to another shop that I knew also carried Giant -- they were fine with me trying the Medium, so guess who got the sale?! They even matched the lower price of the first shop!

Bikes/brands I tried during my quest: Trek (variuos WSD), Specialized Dolce Vita, Terry, Cannondale, and Giant.

Don't buy from a shop that doesn't listen to you and your concerns! Best of luck with the search. :)

[FreshNewbie]

Cheri, I didn't think you pained a bad picture about your SO and I didn't take it that way either. All i am saying is that some guys don't feel any discomfort on their bikes and they unintentionally tend to assume that women' should not either. My bf is also supportive and he was the one to get me into cycling, however when I tell him i need a 4th saddle he doesn't really understand my problem with the other three :D

[pikato]

BTW - I have to say that it is because of my boyfriend's support that I even had the guts to get back on a bicycle after 15 years, so I probably didn't paint such a great picture of him. He is very loving and generous, but he comes from the old school of "no pain-no gain", so when I say something hurts, he's probably thinking it's just because I am not used to it.
Anyway, it's hard to not get frustrated, I just have to remember that he is fully supporting me in my cycling endeavors - in his own special way.
Just wanted to clear my conscience :o

LOL, no problem. After I completed my first group ride this weekend, I came home & Kirk(my SO) told me "I like you as a cyclist, you're not a wimp anymore". It's those weird offhanded comments that make you proud, lol.

And I don't think anyone's bashing your boyfriend, as much as, annoyed the bike shop didn't give you better service.

[Nanci]

Another thing- if you find a ibke you love, not at the shop you love, you can buy it and take it to the shop you love from then on. I bought my Trek on eBay because I have always found the owner of the local Trek shop to be rude- for years and years. So my bike goes to a Cannondale/Felt/etc. shop and they take perfect care of her.

Nanci

[hirakukibou]

I ride a Luna and I love it. The woman who made her does mostly custom work but you can get some prebuilt models (that's what I did). It fits me beautifully and is a wonderful ride. Check out her website www.lunacycles.com. Goood luck!

[Trek420]

I ride a Mondonico Futura Legero. It's made by the same man who builds the more-often-seen Torelli bikes. He makes a few each year with his name on the frame. He just retired and now his son is the 3rd generation of frame builders.

Most people who ride Torelli know someone who loves the bike. In my case that was my ex-GF and she loves hers. So when I needed a new bike I tried lots and lots and lots...but had the Mondonico built.

If I was getting one "off the rack" I'd get the Torelli, I've been told it has a slightly shorter top tube.

It's a great bike and rides as good as it looks.

[cherinyc]

My first 2 experiences on a road bike were to test ride the 2003 Lemond Wmns Tourmalet, and the New Specialized Dolce Comp. The Comp has these Zirtz inserts that are for shock absorption - which is probably why it was smoother to ride. It's a more expensive bike as well, but- go figure - those were the only 2 women's bikes they had for me to compare, so probably not a fair comparison.
My bf actually rides a Lemond road bike with a steel frame, and says the steel makes for a smoother ride, so it's possible that the bike, since it was hanging around for 3 years, needed some adjusting.

[GLC1968]

I spent my first year riding on a bike that was too big for me. I went into the LBS, the college kid who helped me had me stand over a bike and then I took it for a spin. He adjusted the seat and said "it looks good!" and, not knowing any better, I believed him. It was a Fuji Roubaix in a 49cm. I just traded in it on a 44cm Specialized Dolce Comp and I love it so far (I've only done about 4 rides on it). I ended up getting it at the same shop I got my first bike, but after 3 fit-related visits on the Fuji, one of the fit specialists basically admitted that they shouldn't have sold it to me as it is clearly not the right size. He did what he could to make it comfortable, but now that I've ridden the right sized bike for a bit, it's amazing to me that I didn't hurt myself on the bigger one! :eek:

It just astounds me that I can continue to have so many different types of experiences at the same LBS based solely on who helps me. After 7 years in retail management, I can say that I'd have made some major staffing adjustments if that were happening in my shop! Anyway, my point is...if you don't feel good about the help you are getting, you may find that the person you need is actually in the same shop!

[cherinyc]

that's a great point about it varying by person. the first place I went, a kid - maybe 15 yrs old? came to help my bf and I. he wasn't completely unknowledgeable, but his knowledge seemed very cataloguey (nothing too deep). Besides that - I don't know that I feel comfortable making a 1200-1500 purchase from a 15 yr old. thing is, since the store was somewhat out of the way, I doubt I will go back to even talk to anyone else, so...that's where the sales team is so important. I was in retail as well, and I am VERY picky about customer service.

[li10up]

I guess I just got lucky...when I bought my bike I didn't have a clue. Bought the first one I stood over. The LBS owner checked standover height and asked if the handlebar was covering the hub while I was seated. That was it. I either got lucky that the fit was right or I just got used to the fit. I was very uncomfortable at first but attributed it to not riding for 25 years.

So what should a newbie look for in fit? LBS won't let you take the bike further than the parking lot right? How do you know if it fits you? How do you know if it's comfortable if you just ride it around the parking lot? I don't understand all the talk about sloping tubes, etc. Anyone have the short, concise version for newbies? I do know about saddle height but that's about it. I played around with moving my saddle forward and back to relieve elbow pain but don't know where it's "supposed" to be...other than front of knee over pedal spindle. How stretched out or upright are you supposed to be? Or is it all individual preference?

[mimitabby]

Cheri
your story sounded pretty much like mine. Only i got tired of not finding any bikes within my price range and in my size at stores so i bought my bike on EBAY!
same thing. Got on the bike, straddled fine. I have long enough arms but my torso is apparently shorter than the average 5'3" guy!

I took the bike (a bianchi veloce like my avatar) to the lbs and they fitted me.
It feels better but I haven't had a chance to test it out very well since it's been a major busy week. I'll let you know.
Fitting made a big difference.
And you just have to educate your boyfriend about the problems we gals have
that guys don't even understand.
they can be uncomfortable on a bike and they can just move their boy
parts over to the side and... he's okay! now you try that :)
good luck
mimi

[cherinyc]

on top of that, the bike shorts are supposed to ease the pain, but I've never worn those before either. I got a pair of the women's padded bike short looking underwear, thinking it would be like training wheels for the bike shorts. I wore them to a Spin class, and I went the whole hour despite being in firey pain for the last 45 minutes. That was about 2 months ago, and I haven't touched them since. These things should come with directions...especially for an overthinker/worrier like me. Is there something I am missing about that chamois thing?:confused:

[FreshNewbie]

Shorts is another hot topic here! I think everybody has their own prefference and soon you will find out that you will too. Not all shorts are the same and some of them can be a real killer on a bike!!!! I have 3 pairs right now Sugoi, PI and SheBeest. I am sure you will be able to find a comfortable pair for yourself once you get your bike and find a right saddle. Good luck

[mimitabby]

you should check out some of our earlier discussions about shorts.
How old are you?

one lady said she trims her pubic hairs and that solved HER problem.
Some of us lather lubricant on our girl parts and that helps
and some of us have to get VERY NICE saddles (bike seats) like
Brooks 67... before we are comfortable.

[mtbdarby]

Cher,
I also had the same lbs problem so I did my research and bought both a Trek 2100 wsd and a Terry symmetry, both 15". I'm still trying to decide which one I like better although I'm leaning toward the Trek. I'm bringing them both in Thursday to get fit but I think part of it is I'm still not used to the "road" position. I'll be posting the bike I'm getting rid of on the for sale spot so keep an eye out. Best of luck on finding what you're looking for - it will be money well spent whatever you decide.

[cherinyc]

well Dar - I hope that between the 2 of the bikes, there is a definite yes, and a definite nope. would be quite costly to keep both. ;)

[cherinyc]

you should check out some of our earlier discussions about shorts.
How old are you?

one lady said she trims her pubic hairs and that solved HER problem.
Some of us lather lubricant on our girl parts and that helps
and some of us have to get VERY NICE saddles (bike seats) like
Brooks 67... before we are comfortable.


hi mimi - i am 31. just got my first pair yesterday - tried on about 15 pairs. i went with a pair of shebeest - fairly light padding, not long, not short - very stretchy. closer to a jersey material than that shiny spandex stuff. i like them ok i guess, but i am still weary to wear them without my boyshort underwear underneath. does that lubricant make you feel all slimy?
ik!!!

[Brina]

I ride a Specialized Ruby. I have had numerous shoulder problems and wanted the smoothness of carbon. I tried a number of men's bikes - Felt, Trek, Marin - and all felt too stretched. The Ruby fit like a glove.

[salsabike]

I too had a simlar LBS experience--first bike too big, LBS recommendation based solely on standover height. Standover height is a necessary but not sufficient condition for a good fit. I got a 50 Bianchi Eros Donna several months ago that fits perfectly--I had help from a local physical therapist who is an expert cyclist and cycling coach on the fit. Top tube length really matters. See this article, too:

http://www.myra-simon.com/bike/womens-fit.html

[mtbdarby]

Cher,
I got the trek used from Doc on here and the Terry on ebay new. So I didn't spend a huge amount. I'll let you know how it goes!

[RoadRaven]

I'm going to add my voice to those saying how well the Giant TCR and OCR fit...
I have the Giant TCR in a small frame (I am 5'10") and it just felt right from the moment I went for my first ride.
I had to get a different seatpost and it is extended out as far as possible as I have long legs... but wow, do I relish hoping on that bike... :D

[fasteryet]

My two cents...
I've got a Cannondale R800 Feminine, which is several years old and fits perfectly. I'm 5'4'' and it's a 50 cm frame.
This year I wanted to go faster, and bought a Cannondale Six13. It's not women's specific, so I went to a 48cm frame, which has a shorter top tube, and swapped the handlebars from a 40cm to a 38cm, and also got a shorter stem.
I spent a long time with my bike shop getting the fit right. My advice would be to go with the best shop. Many of the bikes these days are similar, so it comes down to who you trust, who's the most knowledgable, and who offers the best customer service.
And don't be afraid of aluminum. If that's what you can afford, there are plenty of bikes out there with a good ride.

[farrellcollie]

I have a scott contessa roadster -it (obviously?) is a wsd. I test rode the trek pilot 2.1 wsd, specialized dolce elite, bianchi eros donna, giant ocr wsd, lemond reno, a cannondale wsd of some sort, and a raleigh of some kind. I am a short stumpy person who needs the wsd - the regular design were too long for my arms. I was measured at two lbs.