What do you think about WSD?

[mixie]

I don't like girlie anything either. This is my bike, and I love it. They also make a SRAM version that is black and red

http://www.jamisbikes.com/usa/thebik...nithracef.html

[Lesley_x]

The bikes that have been posted look great. I just can't seem to find anything similar in the UK, there is a very small selection here, even in the large stores. I went into a large chain yesterday and there must have been 50 mens road bikes and 3 women's.

There is a beautiful Cannondale Synapse available but it is £999 or ~$1550. There is also an Eddy Merckx I have fallen in love with but it is the same price.

Cannondale Synapse - http://www.thetristore.com/newproduc...sefeminine.jpg

Eddy Merckx - http://sgmtb.files.wordpress.com/201...-road-bike.jpg

Difficulty is justifying the expense to my non-cycling fiance. I have the money to do it from a bonus at work but he's already grumbling about me buying another bike, never mind one at that price!

Anything cheaper I've seen has a distinct 'girly' look, especially when you look at the mens equivalent.

[Owlie]

Ooh. Pretty Cannondale. Does it fit? Does the Eddy Merckx fit?
I think you'll find the lack of floor space given to women's road bikes a problem anywhere. My LBS back in Cincinnati has...maybe five women's road bikes (two of which are different model years of the same bike), none above 105. I think all of them may in fact be Sora (or cheaper, in one case). If you go to the back 1/3 of the shop, it's full of higher-end men's road bikes...up to and including a sleek-looking Dura Ace-equipped Specialized.

[Lesley_x]

Ooh. Pretty Cannondale. Does it fit? Does the Eddy Merckx fit?
I think you'll find the lack of floor space given to women's road bikes a problem anywhere. My LBS back in Cincinnati has...maybe five women's road bikes (two of which are different model years of the same bike), none above 105. I think all of them may in fact be Sora (or cheaper, in one case). If you go to the back 1/3 of the shop, it's full of higher-end men's road bikes...up to and including a sleek-looking Dura Ace-equipped Specialized.

I haven't even seen a woman's road bike with 105 in the bike shops. One really big shop I went to didn't have ONE road bike, all hybrids with wicker baskets on the front

I would have to order both those bikes in (£50 refundable deposit if you don't like it, so not too bad). If it wasn't for my fiance I would do it in a heartbeat. I asked him if he loved me enough to let me buy it (even though it's my bonus from work?!) he said no

I have also fallen in love with the Wilier Escape Xenon http://www.cultracing.com/product_im...67842_zoom.jpg

[Owlie]

Now, that's a sexy bike.

Can you test out the same frame, at the very least? So, even a "girly" Synapse, or is it a case of having to order it regardless?

[Lesley_x]

Now, that's a sexy bike.

Can you test out the same frame, at the very least? So, even a "girly" Synapse, or is it a case of having to order it regardless?

It's the price. My fiance won't get on board with a bike a that price. I, however, would order it in in a heartbeat

BTW the Merckx and Cannondale were both WSD which makes them so appealing.

[runningcyclist]

Hi Lesley, it's your money so why is it of such concern to him what you spend it on if all your commitments are met?

Anyway, nice bikes you posted. I'm having problems finding bikes that fit as I need a top tube of 47/48 and they are very very thin on the ground, in London at least Most shops seem to think getting a shorter stem, shims and smaller handlebars will work perfectly well. Not for this 4'11 person, but I might have to settle for that (Plan B).

Thanks to this site I've checked out bikes that I wouldn't have thought to look into so that, coupled with a bike fit I had a few months ago, has given me a better idea of to look for. I'm currently trying to find a Trek 1.2 43cm, which comes with 650c wheels which I'm almost convinced will be the best bike for me (Plan A). Plan C is getting a custom build, but that is a few years away due to lack of funds .

[runningcyclist]

Thanks for that Knotted. I tried the Giant Avail XS yesterday and with a shorter stem (no idea of the size) it felt better but reaching the brakes/levers was still a stretch as my hands are very small.

I think my nearest Surly shop is in Brixton, which is close to my home, so I'll give them a call tomorrow.

This situation is certainly good for my cycling education. I'm learning lots

I know I can get a shorter stem, shims and smaller handlebars to make whatever bike I get more comfortable, but can anything be done about brake levers? I think I saw a WSD bike that had 'extra' brake levers on the handlebars which would bring them a lot closer to me. Would that be a worthwhile extra to pay for? I'm looking to see if I can find a picture of said bike.

Annoyingly I can't remember the manufacturer name so can't find the bike. Bother!

[OakLeaf]

Shimano has short-reach levers (R700) - they're Ultegra grade and priced to match. My hands are small but not tiny - R700s are fine for me.

I haven't ridden Campagnolo since the days of down-tube shifters, but many women here feel that Campy levers are easier on smaller hands.

Placement of the levers on the bars affects reach, as well. Shops probably wouldn't let you try that out since it involves re-wrapping the handlebars, but a good fitter should be able to advise you whether moving the levers or swapping out handlebars would help you enough.

[KnottedYet]

Whoops, I must have pulled my post as you were putting yours up! The true and effective top tube measurements were flipped on the Surly site, and that confused me, and I thought the bike would be way too long, and then I pulled the post and then I realized that no, I had it right the first time and disaster all around with great wailing and gnashing of teeth....

But anyway, here's the link again: http://surlybikes.com/bikes/pacer_complete/

I'm such an airhead...

Call the shop before you go, to see if they have the 42cm in stock. Even if they only have other Surlies in stock at 42cm, try them anyway. More bikes, more fun!

The extra brake levers up on the flat part of the bar that you saw are interruptor levers. They are popular on cyclocross bikes. They are fairly cheap, and can be added to a bike if you find one you like.

[runningcyclist]

Oakleaf. Thank you so much! Whenever I mentioned short-reach levers to guys in the bike shops they seemed to think I made it up! Shims were mentioned in an off-hand way but no-one said "Shimano do them". I'll go check that out.

Knotted, I thought I was losing it (more than usual) when I couldn't see your post but cheers on the name of the levers.

I'm feeling a little more hopeful that I can get a roadbike closest to my fit now. I too am getting a bonus but don't know what the exact amount as the shock at being told I was getting one meant I missed the actual figure my manager told me. I can wait til payday to find out. I'm sure once the taxman has taken his cut it will be a lot smaller than my list of goodies I'd like to get

Just seen the price for the RS700

[NbyNW]

I would have to order both those bikes in (£50 refundable deposit if you don't like it, so not too bad). If it wasn't for my fiance I would do it in a heartbeat. I asked him if he loved me enough to let me buy it (even though it's my bonus from work?!) he said no

Lesley, I don't understand why you need your fiance's permission to spend money that YOU earned

especially since, as you say, you are planning to use bonus money for this. Unless you've got some debt to pay off, I say use the money to buy a bike that you love and invest in your health and fitness!

[sarahspins]

Uh, agree.

Ditto It's your money, you earned it, unless you're currently struggling to pay your bills it shouldn't matter to him how you choose to spend it.

For the record, my DH is not gung-ho about cycling at all (he'll go ride with me maybe once every other month, usually with the kids too), but he'd never in a million years tell me I can't spend "my" money on what I want to... in fact he doesn't even spend "his" money without checking with me first, even though I've told him a million times that he doesn't have to.

[Catrin]

Tektro also makes short-reach levers - R100A. That 'A' is very important as we found out when I got my stock Surly LHT (it has since been customized). They were fine and they are also affordable. I don't know how they last for the long-term, I only used them for something like 30 miles before I had the bike customized.

[runningcyclist]

Cheers Catrin. Much more reasonably priced although the Shimano ones would be worthwhile for any bike that I aim to keep til they fall apart.