Need your opinions on a new bike!

[ASammy1]

I'm moving in a few months to an area that is a block from a multi-use path (yay!!!) which is dirt packed. My skinny tire Trek road bike isn't going to cut it on this path, so I need some ideas.

Here is what I would like: Relaxed road bike geometry with curved bars for multiple hand positions. I'm only 5'4", so I think most of the Surly's are out

GO!!!

[Becky]

I'm only 5'4" and, while I don't own a Surly or a Soma, I'm quite confident that their smaller sizes (46cm or so) would fit me. I'm basing this on their geometry charts and my current bikes' geometries.

I wouldn't rule out a Surly Crosscheck or a Soma Doublecross if I were in your shoes....one of those could be built up soooooooooo many different awesome ways. (Go look at Redrhodie's winter bike built on a Doublecross frame- I covet it in the worst way!)

My Scattante cross frame, built as a do-anything commuter tank, is a 46cm frame with an ETT of ~51.5. In fact, the reach is actually a touch short for my liking....

What sort of effective top tube length would you need to be comfy?

[KnottedYet]

Trek420 is 5 foot 0, and she rode a 42cm Surly Long Haul Trucker over dirt, gravel, grass, and asphalt. It fit her perfectly.

[warneral]

I dream of moving to be that close to one of our rails-to-trails in the area. Lucky you!

I was thinking I'd probably convert my backup road bike (trek 1000 wsd) to cross tires and try that out.

Have fun shopping. I'll be watching the thread for future reference.

[moderncyclista]

Um, I'm 5'3'' and I own a 46cm Surly Long Haul Trucker. Fits me like a glove. Nice comfortable ride. Purdy as can be. But whatevs. You shouldn't count that out if you've been thinking about it, is all I'm saying.

[indysteel]

I'm 5'4, with short legs and a long torso, and went with a Jamis Aurora in a 47 cm. I can't honestly say I've been able to ride it much yet though, so I can't attest to much of anything.
There are a number of good options though that others have already mentioned.

[Catrin]

I'm moving in a few months to an area that is a block from a multi-use path (yay!!!) which is dirt packed. My skinny tire Trek road bike isn't going to cut it on this path, so I need some ideas.

Here is what I would like: Relaxed road bike geometry with curved bars for multiple hand positions. I'm only 5'4", so I think most of the Surly's are out

GO!!!

I am 5'3 in my stocking feet and the 48cm LHT fits me fine, and it comes one size smaller so don't give up on Surly yet, they come in lots of sizes

[Trek420]

Trek420 is 5 foot 0, and she rode a 42cm Surly Long Haul Trucker over dirt, gravel, grass, and asphalt. It fit her perfectly.

Loved that bike! And since you want lots of hand positions I'm sure you or your LBS could put 'stache bars on it like Knott has on her Surly Cross.

[KnottedYet]

Loved that bike! And since you want lots of hand positions I'm sure you or your LBS could put 'stache bars on it like Knott has on her Surly Cross.

There are actually fewer hand positions on a moustache bar than on the regular drop bar the LHT comes with.
http://surlybikes.com/bikes/long_haul_trucker_complete/

[Trek420]

Oooh and it's now available in blue

[KnottedYet]

And coming soon: The Trucker DeLuxe! ($999, only available with 26 inch wheels)

[ASammy1]

Maybe I was too quick to rule out the Surlys. I have a few months before the move (and spring thaw), so I have a little bit of time to go try out a bunch of bikes.

Indy-I had completely forgotten about the Jamis Aurora! I know a bunch of ladies on this forum like them....

[indysteel]

Maybe I was too quick to rule out the Surlys. I have a few months before the move (and spring thaw), so I have a little bit of time to go try out a bunch of bikes.

Indy-I had completely forgotten about the Jamis Aurora! I know a bunch of ladies on this forum like them....

Happy to oblige!

My husband has the 2011 Aurora in Sangria. It's a lovely color in person. Mine is the 2010 in whatever blue they were offering. It's nice, but I like my husband's better. Oh well.

We're planning a tour along the Katy Trail for Sepember--hence the bikes.

[ASammy1]

Happy to oblige!

My husband has the 2011 Aurora in Sangria. It's a lovely color in person. Mine is the 2010 in whatever blue they were offering. It's nice, but I like my husband's better. Oh well.

We're planning a tour along the Katy Trail for Sepember--hence the bikes.

That sounds fantastic! Do you find that you are in a more upright position on the Aurora?

[indysteel]

To be honest, I haven't been able to ride it much since getting it this fall, so I can't honestly remember. My regular road bike's geometry isn't all that aggressive, so if I am more upright on the Aurora, it's not by much. Of course, with a different stem, I could change that to some degree. Certainly, I'm much more upright on my my MTB.

One thing I'll say about the Aurora is that it's not as heavy as I feared it would be. It's not road bike light, but it's not a beast, either.