Road bikes designed for women

[Zen]

Triple v. compact double, it depends on your strength and experience. Are you a good climber? You might want a compact double. I never use my largest chain ring and there have been rides with hills that I was halfway through before I realized I was still on the middle ring but there are times when I really need that granny.
It also depends on the gearing combinations, you could probably get close to a triple gearing ratio with the right double combination.

[Mama Beane]

I'm new to the site, and just getting back into biking. In the '90s I rode a Terry Classic - steel - and Loved it. Unfortunately in 2002 we had a garage fire, and that was the end of my bike. I have been looking for a bike that I will be as happy with and so far I have left a trail of "um... not quite rights". I am now riding a Trek 1500, not WDS except that I put on a WSD carbon handlebar. I am not happy with the ride - too quick and going over messed up roads leaves me wondering if my bones will survive and if I have lost any teeth. OK - now to the point. I am looking at a Gunnar sport frame, but am also wondering if there are any Terry steel touring bikes out there. I saw there was mention of a Terry steel, so please let me know your opinions.
Oh - btw - I am 50, live in RI (rolling hill terrain), and really want to ride more. My goal is a century with my daughter next summer.
Thanks!

[KnottedYet]

Mama Beane - I was under the impression that Terry doesn't do steel anymore. What a bummer, eh?

What about a Surly Long Haul Trucker? www.surlybikes.com There are several Surly riders on TE, and some reviews of a few of the Surly bikes.

I have a Waterford (they do Gunnar) and just love it. Jeannierides has a Gunnar, it's gorgeous. (If you search "Gunnar" I think you'll find the beautiful pictures she posted of it.)

[sgtiger]

Weird. I was under the impression that Georgena Terry was a fan of steel herself.

A couple of minutes later....

I just checked out the specs and it looks like Susan B(hybrid) and Fast Woman(racer w/carbon fork) are steel. But Madeleine, the tourer, is aluminum. Bummer. Wonder why they would choose an aluminum frame and fork for touring?

[KnottedYet]

Somebody posted a link for a recall or failure warning or something about the aluminum head-tubes cracking on Terry alu bikes.

Yeah, I don't know why she has the tourer in alu now... kinda counter-intuitive, eh?

Maybe now she'll spec steel again.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm new to the site, and just getting back into biking. In the '90s I rode a Terry Classic - steel - and Loved it. Unfortunately in 2002 we had a garage fire, and that was the end of my bike. I have been looking for a bike that I will be as happy with and so far I have left a trail of "um... not quite rights". I am now riding a Trek 1500, not WDS except that I put on a WSD carbon handlebar. I am not happy with the ride - too quick and going over messed up roads leaves me wondering if my bones will survive and if I have lost any teeth. OK - now to the point. I am looking at a Gunnar sport frame, but am also wondering if there are any Terry steel touring bikes out there. I saw there was mention of a Terry steel, so please let me know your opinions.

Don't forget Rivendell lugged steel touring bikes:
http://www.rivbike.com/home

[Triskeliongirl]

Indeed Gerogena stopped making the classic and madeleine in steel. However, one can often pick these up for a song on ebay. I have a pdf of a geometry chart if you want to go that route and need sizing help. Also, check out the used bike section of the terry website, another opportunity to pick up a steel tourer there.


p.s. While not a touring bike, Georgena is still making her 'fast women' in lightweight steel.