OK...here it goes...

[bonnypriest]

I'll try to keep it as short as possible. I haven't been on a bike in probably 15 years. I've been bodybuilding since 1996. I turned pro back in 2003 & as of last year, decided to give up on the whole competitive bodybuilding thing. It's been great, but REALLY hard on my body. This past June, my husband & I decided to take up cycling (kind of casually), so we bought a couple of Gary Fischer hybrids. We love them, BUT...here comes the "but"...I don't think I can just stick with the hybrid. I WANT A ROAD BIKE SOOOO BAD NOW! This has now become something more like a passion instead of just something fun to do on weekends. We own a gym & are both in great shape. We've already worked up to riding 35 miles on Saturdays (started mid June with 10 miles). I would absolutely love it if you guys could give me some good advice. I've gotten some guidance, but it's from a several men who race & have for years and a friend (woman) who only rides men's bikes, but I'd love to hear what you ladies have to say.

Ok...I'm 5'5 1/2. My legs aren't long or short. My torso isn't long or short. Right now, I'm trying to downsize from about 170+lbs. to atleast 145-150lbs (losing muscle isn't easy for me). Ok...I've kind of narrowed the choices down to several different bikes. I'm looking in the $2k-3k range. I'd like to just get something that I will be VERY happy with for a long time & possibly use to race some day in the next year or two. I'll admit that I'm EXTREMELY competitive too. I know that I'd like to have Ultegra components, but I'm hearing that the newest version of the 105 is VERY comparable. I'm interested in the Bianchi Mono-Q Ultegra Comp, Bianchi Infinito Ultegra, Specialized Tarmac Comp Compact, Specialized Tarmac Comp Double (I don't understand the difference) & maybe the Giant Alliance O. Would love to hear what you girls think & see if the more compact geometry on some of these would be good for a woman. Remember, I'm very new to all this so any advice would be AWESOME!!! THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!!!!!

[roadie gal]

Have you been able to get on any of those bikes to see if they fit you? Each brand is set up a little differently. Find a good fit first, then look into better components. Check out the "men's" bikes as well as the WSD bikes.

I'm 5'5 1/2", too. I was much more comfortable on a men's bike. But you have to see for yourself. In your price range you'll have a lot to choose from.

[gabriellesca]

You'll get great advice here - people know their bikes on this forum. I don't! BUT ... I just want to say on the low-end ........ I went from my Gary Fisher Hybrid to a Trek 1.2 (or something) WSD and I WORSHIP it. WORSHIP!! It has been such an incredible and comfortable bike. I just adore it. I tried a few specialized and others - but for me the Trek WSD when I got on it and rode it I knew instantly it was my bike! But it is not fancy enough for you if you're already doing 35 miles on a hybrid!

Good luck - I hope you fall in love with a bike as much as I have!

[Biciclista]

how the heck do you lose muscle? Lay in a bed for a few weeks?

[Zen]

how the heck do you lose muscle?

Stop lifting hard

[bonnypriest]

Stop lifting hard

Exactly right! Well...kinda. I still workout like a crazy women, but just go waaaay lighter & higher reps. I do more of a cross training workout now. After ONLY lifting heavy for all these years it's been very hard to change, but it's working...slowly.

I just wanna thank you ladies for all your input. I'll just have to test them out & see what feels best I guess. Always good advice for sure.

If anyone wants to give me advice on favorite gear (clothes, saddle,etc.) that would be AWESOME!!! I'd love to find out what gloves everyone likes to wear too (by the way...my hands are huge). Looking at the size of my hands (I can almost palm a basketball) I should have been MUCH taller than I am.

[WindingRoad]

I have said it before here on TE but the 2010 Cannondale, Synapse, Feminine 3 is one friggin' awesome ride! It is stupid light, full carbon and it blazes around corners AND full Ultegra. It is touted as a 'touring bike' but there's nothing but speed in those wheels! I have a carbon bike now and I actually used to work in a shop so I have test ridden a lot of bikes and that model Synapse was the only bike that 'wowed' me. I'm out of practice currently to know for sure but the 2011's are probably coming out right now and you should go try one out ASAP. That's my two cents!

[roadie gal]

how the heck do you lose muscle? Lay in a bed for a few weeks?

You do a lot of cardio and minimal lifting, especially heavy lifting. I used to do a lot of weightlifting. I bulked up, but I'm too lazy to lose the fat, so I never competed. When I stopped lifting and started riding I lost 20 pounds over about 6 months. It was mostly muscle.

Bonnypriest, it sounds like we have a similar body type. I also have large hands. I take a men's medium to large in most gloves. My favorite gloves are the Performance brand Century Gel gloves. I find that the Pearl Izumi gloves cut into the webbing between my 3rd and 4th fingers. Fox and Cannondale also fit OK. You just have to try them on.

As far as clothing goes, if you have those weightlifter thighs, shorts with a stretchier material may be better for you than less stretchy compression style shorts. Before I lost the weight, I had to take a size larger than was comfortable just to get them over my thighs. The top would sag and the legs would look like an overstuffed sausage.

[OakLeaf]

I posted about that a few months ago when a motorcycle racer I follow was switching from a discipline that requires a lot of muscle, to a discipline where weight is at a premium. He called it "muscle atrophy training."

[GLC1968]

how the heck do you lose muscle? Lay in a bed for a few weeks?

Crash diets will do it, too.

[smilingcat]

Bianchi used to be made in Italy but no longer. Like many manufacturer, they are mostly made in Taiwan. It's not a bad thing. Still a very good bike. Giant is also a very good bike. Giant size tend to run big. Rides well. Tarmac is probably the highest end on this group of three bikes.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the bikes you've listed. If you have the strength and not doing a prolonged steep climb, go with regular chainring instead of compact double.

Most importantly, go for the fit and comfort. If you want to be a roadie, try all three bikes on a rough pavement and feel the vibration. See which one you like the best. Some prefer the softer ride, others prefer a stiffer frame for better power transfer. There is no right or wrong so go with how you feel on the bike. At 5' 5-1/2" you're pretty close to the dividing line between a small and medium size bike. Probably a 52cm-54cm frame will do. And probably get away using 172.5mm crank.

go to the bike shops and go for a spin 20minutes or more if you can.

Enjoy your test ride!!

[Ritamarie]

Bonny, You sound a lot like me. Being as competitive and athletic as you are, you will outgrow a low or even mid-range bike quickly. Buy quality and you will never regret it. I was where you are 18 months ago. I bought a 2008 Cannondale Synapse Fem 1 Dura-Ace bike on an end of the year clearance. The bike shop talked me up from the Ultegra bike by making me an offer I couldn't refuse. I was breaking out in a cold sweat when I wrote the check, but I'm so glad I went for it. 18 months and almost 9000 miles later, I still love my bike "Lucille". She ROCKS and can keep up with the men on "A" rides. Occasionally, she makes them cry. ;-)

[Ritamarie]

Also, I'm 5'6" and Lucille is a 50cm WSD. Work with a good bike fitter. Be careful not to fall into the trap of buying a too small or two big bike because it's what's on the shop floor and they are giving you a good deal. An ill-fitting bike is never a bargain.

[2WheelsNMe]

35 miles on a hybrid! Oh, that's torture!

First, be mindful that some bike companies do the "Shrink and Pink" on men's bikes to market them to women. They don't take into consideration women's different geometry. You are about my height, and for years I rode a men's Cannondale only because there were not many women-specific road bikes available. I was so stretched out reaching for the brakes (I have normal girl-length arms & legs). I've been test riding a lot of bikes, and when I get onto a WSB, I feel like it's too small. But it's not. I was riding a bike that was too big. Everything suffers on a wrong sized bike, especially handling skills, which I feel is most important!

You mentioned you are looking at Specialized Tarmac, which is a great bike, but it's geometry is for men; the women's counterpart is the Specialized Amira (I think the Comp runs about $2500, and is designed specifically for women).

Giant - try the Avail Advanced 3 (full carbon), a nice ride! I would have purchased, but I can't afford the tag, so I just got my Avail 1 last night (aluminum with carbon fork and seat stays.

Masi has a new line of WSB launched in 2010; they've really made great changes in the geometry, so check those out.

Check out Terry Precision Bikes as well - a company founded by a woman, for women.

Just don't let a salesman pressure you into buying a bike you're not so sure about. This is the time of the year when the 2011 models are coming in, so you can get a nice deal on a 2010 bike.

There are so many permutations in the combination of frame materials and component groups, it can make your head spin! Oh, and don't get so wound up about "pretty", I nearly bought the wrong bike because I loved the look of it. Really, when you're riding, you're not looking at your bike!

Hope it helps!

[bonnypriest]

Seriously...I just want to thank each & every one of you ladies for your input. I will check out all the options that you've given me & I promise to go to a VERY reputable bike shop that trully knows it's bikes & riders. You ladies have given me some really great knowledge that I can bring with me. I hope that each of realized how much it means to me. None of you even know me, but are still willing to help. You're all really great people! If any of you hear of bikes that are coming out that I should go check out...please let me know! THANKS AGAIN!