Quote Originally Posted by mtkitchn View Post

I really don't have any women cycling friends around to discuss bikes with, so I was wondering how you all chose what you ride? I know absolutely nothing about bikes other than my Giant. Did you visit different shops and ride what they had available? Living in Phoenix, I am lucky to have a lot of shops around, but some of the people in some of the shops talk down to me or don't seem to have the time for me. The shop I bought my present bike from has great people and I'll probably go back there to talk to them first, but I don't want to limit my options, either.
Any suggestions?
My early bikes were hand-me-downs from my older sister (who is shorter than me and the bikes were always too small) in her efforts to get me to do something active (I was a major couch potato through college).
While working, I lost a whole lot of weight and discovered exercise. Walking was too slow/boring, I can't run to save my life, and I was being treated for a back injury by my chiropractor. He recommended a hybrid bike. So, I just visited local shops and rode a lot around the parking lots. Ended up with a Miyata. Loved it.
A few years later, that was stolen. I caught an article in Bicycling Magazine about a new "trend" in bikes - triple chainrings and integrated brake/shifters. They reviewed 4, including the Bianchi Eros. I went to several local shops who had those 4 (including a Giant, a Trek, and I think a Specialized that my sister ended up getting) - plus a few others of these new fangled things (this was in '95). I got the Bianchi. Loved it.
A few years later, I hook up with a weekly ride with a bike shop. I'm on my steel Bianchi with a rear rack and a headlight I forgot how to remove. The hammerhead shop riders were all on ti, aluminum, or carbon, and left my slow butt in the dust, except for my friend, the shop owner's wife, who escorted me home (I was new to the area and had no idea how to get around). I arrive back at the shop 15 minutes after everyone else (maybe more, and they were just being kind to me). Owner comes over to me. "I've got a bike for you," he said, and rolled over a ti Seven Axiom. Next week, I demo'd it and the rest, as they say, is history. Loved it.
Other bikes have come and gone. I'm still unsure about my mtb, but the rest all have one thing in common: I love 'em. If I were a better mtb'er, I'd probably love that, too.
So...moral of the story? Don't limit yourself to one brand or style of bike. Don't get hung up on "I gotta have bike x" Find a bike you LOVE to ride, because that's what it's all about.