Need Cyclocross Bike Recommendations for My Petite Wife!

[rpr]

Thanks for the Redline tip. Just checked out their web site and the components sound good, but I have ner heard of Redline before.

How would Redline compare to the better known manufacturers like Trek and Canondale?

[Trek420]

rpr (and Mrs rpr hopefully by now?) "How would Redline compare to the better known manufacturers like Trek and Canondale?"

there's nothing wrong with Trek Canondale Specialized, love them love 'em....and they can be more widely available depending on where you are but I love the smaller independent builders.

Often that's where innovation is. While the "big three" have WSD now, that would not have happened but for builders like Terry and Luna bikes.

more about small frames:

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ighlight=terry

[madisongrrl]

Thanks for the Redline tip. Just checked out their web site and the components sound good, but I have ner heard of Redline before.

I think Redline is more known for BMX bikes, but they make decent cyclocross bikes also. I just got a Redline Conquest Pro Cyclocross bike and I had it built up in 10 speed shimano 105 for about 2k. It is a great bike and I'll be very competitive racing on it.

[madisongrrl]

You might also want to check out Bianchi. They do make cross bikes in smaller sizes. Surly makes a cross bike that would possibly fit a smaller individual, but they are a bit heavier (especially the fork it comes with).

[SadieKate]

rpr, is your wife going to be racing the bike? How will she be using it?

[rpr]

rpr, is your wife going to be racing the bike? How will she be using it?

No racing. Just for staying in shape, but we live around the Blue Ridge Mountains and it is very tough riding (street as well as path/trail), so we are looking for high quality/light bikes even though we will not be racing.

I will encourage her to join this forum, but she generally likes me to do research on purchases like this...I'm an engineer (for better or worse).

[madisongrrl]

so we are looking for high quality/light bikes even though we will not be racing.

What is your budget?

[SadieKate]

Without the racing aspect, I wonder if there are some touring bikes that will take larger tires that might fit the bill. 4'9" is going to be a challenge.