Bike recommendations for a mature newbie female

[SadieKate]

Thanks, Jan, for all your comments. Someone on another forum recommended the Trek bikes with the softtail suspension. I've been intrigued by these but need to check out the weight. She complains about the weight of her Milano but better gearing and high pressure narrow road tires may take away that issue. I had a small fit session at my LBS Saturday and learned a bit about hip angles which comes from the bar to saddle setup. It matches with what you're saying. Good to hear it from someone who isn't young, male and negative 5% bodyfat .

[bikerz]

I have the "extra" brakes on the top of my drop bars, as JanT mentions, and I used them all the time when I first started riding, since I spent quite a bit of time in an upright position.

[Geonz]

So, does she have that bike yet :-)

IMHO the critical factor is FIT, FIt, FIT. It's going to be a different bike for different people. I'm beginning to appreciate my good fortune in having found good LBS people (unfortunately I recommended the joint to a friend who went there when the owner was staffing it and *he* was more of the "this is the bike I'm selling, therefore it's what you want" breed - oh, he went out of business...) They were really gracious to a newbie, told me all kinds of stuff (including a detailed, clinical dissertation on the importance of not putting pressure on soft tissues) even though I was buying (shudder!!) an entry-level hybrid.
I liked the feel of a Bianchi and didn't know why - and they'd sold the one I had test ridden, which was the last of the last year's models I could afford - so they suggested the difference might be the angle of the stem, and traded off stems and sold me a nice Giant (pronounced Gee-aunt since it's part Bianchi) because it really *did* put the angles where they felt good. It's got about 18000 miles on it now. It is a hybrid but with 28's instead of 35's tire-wise which was the best change in the world. REally, tire size is much more important than weight.
She might even try switching off tires on the bike she has, first (especially if she could borrow some).
I also think you don't really know what you like in a bike until you've been riding, so starting at the high end would be risky.

[KatieBelle]

Glad to know the proper pronunciation of Giant. I would have made a total fool of myself at the LBS tomorrow.

[SadieKate]

"Gee-aunt" - yes, my SIL called to tell me some friends had given her bike. For the life of me I couldn't figure out what she was talking about so I had her spell it.

I should report in about my friends. I had my 2nd ride with them Wednesday morning. They are going like a house a fire. I'm really pleased with their progress. I'm trying to get Marty to start looking at road bikes. The other isn't so committed to the whole idea but I think the two of them are going to sign up for the 30 mile route on the Tour of Napa Valley which they can do on their current bikes. They're doing 20 mile rides now and are going to expand this to 25 miles with the climb up to Folsom Lake. This should put them in good shape for the ride. I also think that having done the Tour of Napa Valley that they'll have hit some milestones that will increase their confidence and just spur them onwards.

So, we have good progress and Marty is just bubbling every day!

[SadieKate]

Marty just picked up her Specialized Dolce Elite(? - the one with the 105 group) today and we went for a little ride in the friendly invisible hills (i.e., winds) of Davis. She pedaled into the headwind pretty fast and then really cranked it up when we turned around and held it at a steady 20. You gotta love tailwinds!

I am so happy for her. She seems just like a kid. I think she really feels that this is the activity that brings her the most joy and that she'll be able to do for a long time. She and Candy have signed up for the 30-mile route at the Tour of Napa Valley which they'll do on their hybrids. Candy will be buying her road bike in the next few weeks when she sees Marty zipping around on her new wheels.

Joe, the owner of the Wheelsworks in Davis, spent an incredible amount of time taking measurements before he ever put her on a bike and then took a great deal of time setting up the one she tried as a demo. That was last week. Today, he went through a detailed fitting session again on the real bike and showed her how to use a CO2 cartride and even put together her tool bag even to the point of putting her tubes in ziplocks with talcum powder. He was really good about putting her on a frame with the proper length top tube but a tall enough headtube to keep her bars at the right height. I was very impressed with his attention to detail and fit for a rider of her fitness and flexibility. The rest of the shop staff were in the team effort also. I can't say enough about their efforts. Marty left the shop just feeling like the red carpet had been rolled out for her. They're even having a basic bike maintenance class in a couple weeks - great timing.

Thanks, everyone, for your advice and words of wisdom. Only time will tell, but I think we got her on the right bike for the purpose. Once she gets better acquainted with the handling and the gearing, I'll bring her to my house with the trainer and get her set up with clipless pedals. Told her she was going to be riding inside for a couple hours that day so enjoy her outdoor riding for right now!

[CorsairMac]

very nice SK! how awesome that she found the bike for her and has a friend like you! and wow - I'm very impressed with Joe at Wheelworks!! maybe when I'm ready to try a NEW road bike, I'll have to road trip to CA to see him!
So have you told Marty about us yet?? muuuuuuahhhhhhhhhhaaaaahhaaaa!

[SadieKate]

I will have to share Marty's story about something that happened while I was gone for a few minutes. Joe, at this "full service" shop, was fitting her bike and while she was spinning away on the trainer, he leaned closer and said quietly, "Now you know, nothing comes between you and your bike shorts. We just happen to notice little things while we're measuring." Marty did 'fess up that I'd already told her (whew, my reputation is safe) but now she says this is most conscientious bike shop she's ever been to. "They even talk about your underwear!"

[PinkRacer]

I'm 5'1 3/4 (can't leave that out ) I ride a customer Rod but I am thinking about buying this Bianchi Eros Donna http://www.bianchiusa.com/556.html as a daily ride when the weather isn't so nice... The thought of riding my ROD in the rain just kills me...

What is really nice about it is it comes with Campy parts at least at all of the LBS I've seen it at. With the height thing comes the really small hands, mine seem to have no issue breaking with campy. Hands fulls on hoods and can grab the breaks. It's a really comfy bike, tha tcomes small enough...

I had a Raleigh w/Shimano stuff on there and I hated it.... I couldnt grab the brakes and it was so not fun going down hill. I pretty much had to take my hands off the bars to break. I did sell it to a short lady with much larger hands as I woul dnot want to see anyone else go though the same issues...

Anyways that's my rant from the little peoples of the world....