Does anyone sell womens specific frames only?

[skunk]

I hear you on LBS frustration. Where are you? Maybe someone can give you a suggestion, even if you have to drive a bit.

Did she like the Dolce? If not, what didn't she like?

I live in Southern California. There are a billion bike stores here but probably only a handful that know what they're doing.

The Dolce was nice, the problem was the store wanted $2200 for it.

Wow Skunk! The experience you describe doesn't seem too nice. What state do you live in!?

I understand your frustration too, but I really hope she gets to try some bikes. It will make a world of difference! She has to be a part of that project, otherwise she'll quickly loose interest in it (and you'll be frustrated because of the time and effort you're pouring in this...).

Good luck!

She's super excited about it just because she wants to get into better shape and going to the gym regularly isn't work for her.

[SadieKate]

Southern California is a pretty big place. Bellflower anywhere near you?

There is a 2005 Dolce on eBay. This is the same year/model I steered a friend toward. She just tootled around on a heavy hybrid but was suddenly motivated to ride a full century. This bike was perfect. Excellent value for the money with good ride and handling.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SPECIALIZED-DOLC...QQcmdZViewItem

[yellow]

Hmmm....methinks you are forgetting about my favorite place to look for that Surly (so far I haven't found it)! Just a sample of what I found in 2 minutes:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/bik/371686689.html

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/371267294.html

NOTE THIS ONE! This is a great entry level bike!
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/bik/371135875.html

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/bik/370460521.html

[skunk]

Hmmm....methinks you are forgetting about my favorite place to look for that Surly (so far I haven't found it)! Just a sample of what I found in 2 minutes:

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/bik/371686689.html

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/bik/371267294.html

NOTE THIS ONE! This is a great entry level bike!
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/bik/371135875.html

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/bik/370460521.html

The only problem I have with these bikes and a lot of the ones on ebay are that they're 9 speed.

[SadieKate]

For your price range and her newness to the sport: fit, handling and comfort should take priority. 10 speed won't affect any of this unless the Campy parts you have right now are 10-speed specific so you'll save money. Even then, much of the 9 spd and 10 spd stuff will work together.

[KnottedYet]

+1 on letting your gf try out lots of bikes so she can get a feel for what she likes. It is going to be *her* bike, right? If you post in the California thread, you can ask for shop reccs. Don't limit her options to sizes and top-tubes and materials you think she needs. Cut her loose, and let her experience the joy of riding whatever strikes her fancy! Let her play! There is a wonderous assortment of bikes out there, give her the pleasure of experiencing that! Then you can build her the bike of *her* dreams. (or buy the one she falls in love with on a test ride. )

WSD isn't a magic bullet. It's just a handy label for a general trend of geometry.

That being said, none of my bikes is "WSD". Let your gf try some bikes. Bikes aren't like underwear: she doesn't HAVE to ride a WSD just because she's a girl.

Edit: Yellow - my Surly just whispered to me that you really need to get a Surly, too. Sending you Surly-vibes!

[Trek420]

I prefer the term TrekSD to WSD.

Your bike doesn't have to be custom, it just has to fit YOU and frame is just one tiny aspect of that, it's important for sure but not the only thing.

Hides subliminal message, everyone needs a Surly

[skunk]

For your price range and her newness to the sport: fit, handling and comfort should take priority. 10 speed won't affect any of this unless the Campy parts you have right now are 10-speed specific so you'll save money. Even then, much of the 9 spd and 10 spd stuff will work together.

It's not so much that 9 speed isn't good enough for her it's just that 9 speed is pretty much obsolete and almost impossible to find parts for unless its DA9. Finding a new 9 speed 105 cassette is a lot harder than finding a 10 speed 105 cassette.

[SadieKate]

Wow, you must use a different internet than I do. 30 seconds found these from very reputable dealers.

http://www.speedgoat.com/product.asp...t=55&brand=226
http://www.bikemannetwork.com/biking/c/COMPCASS9RDSH

There's also a little company called SRAM that makes Shimano-compatible cassettes, as do Miche and IRD, perhaps you've heard of it?

I'm with yellow as far as leaving the conversation. You appear more concerned with bling or some mind game than making your girlfriend happy and getting her on a bike. You get her there, you can upgrade any frame to 10 spd down the road. Upgrading girlfriends is a whole different ballgame.

[Starfish]

SK, I love you.

I second the notion of letting GF be highly involved in picking her own ride, even if she is a newbie. Personal experience story there for me. Let her control her buying experience. She will be that much more comfortable, then, going to LBS alone after she has the bike, and getting educated and making her own decisions, so her riding experience empowers her, rather than creates perceived dependence on you for her bike know-how.

And, um, as I type, my LBS is putting a new 9 spd cassette on my bike, which happens to not be a WSD, but is 105.

[Trek420]

you can upgrade any frame to 10 spd down the road. Upgrading girlfriends is a whole different ballgame.

And it costs more and takes longer too! And as I type this my LBS is rebuilding my MTB which has 8 speed...after powdercoating the frame.

Log off and get her on the bike that fits her, you can even change frame color later on.

[skunk]

Wow, you must use a different internet than I do. 30 seconds found these from very reputable dealers.

http://www.speedgoat.com/product.asp...t=55&brand=226
http://www.bikemannetwork.com/biking/c/COMPCASS9RDSH

There's also a little company called SRAM that makes Shimano-compatible cassettes, as do Miche and IRD, perhaps you've heard of it?

I'm with yellow as far as leaving the conversation. You appear more concerned with bling or some mind game than making your girlfriend happy and getting her on a bike. You get her there, you can upgrade any frame to 10 spd down the road. Upgrading girlfriends is a whole different ballgame.

A cassette might have been a poor example but 10 speed stuff is much more readily available than 9 speed or 8 speed. And as the years go by it will be harder and harder to come by 9 speed parts.

I've been through this bike newbie phase myself and have learned that once you start riding you'll want to upgrade to something beyond sora/tiagra/mirage/xenon. I would like to have something mid level to begin with that I can keep for a long time. I guess it's a gamble for me since I don't know if she'll stick with it but it's a gamble I'm willing to take.

We're heading out to a local trek dealer this afternoon to check out their inventory so hopefully they'll have something that fits her.

[yellow]

The only problem I have with these bikes and a lot of the ones on ebay are that they're 9 speed.

9 speed seems to be good enough for many beginning riders. Heck, I even know some very talented riders that ride 8 speed bicycles! sadiekate

I'm beginning to think you don't really want us to help you but rather want us to run around in cerebral circles while you watch, fascinated. I guess we're not really answering your original post, which is about WSD frames, since that's what you seem to think she needs. I'll put in one last plug for you to be a little more flexible re: material, number of speeds, and WSD vs non WSD, and now I'll shut up.

So no, I certainly can't provide any helpful information! Good luck and have fun!