Holey Moley What do I want?

[tulip]

If your budget if $4k, you should have no trouble getting a deluxe custom made bike just for you. However, I wouldn't want to pull a trailer with a $4k bike.

Lots of people take their dogs in trailers. Well, not lots-lots, but more than I expected to see. And lots take their kids, which are typically heavier than dogs.

Since you are in the DC area, you might want to head over to the Bike Lane in Burke or Proteus in College Park and try out a few bikes. Have fun, and make sure you get a proper fit.

[Cataboo]

You probably don't want carbon fiber if you want to bring it out on trails... Steel or titanium might be better for that. Titanium's lighter.

[roguedog]

I agree with Cat. Steel or Titanium. Go out and try some bikes. A few of each type and see what grabs ya.

Given the variety of things you want to do with the bike. Try a road bike and then try a cross bike. They cross bike will give you more diversity but you might sacrifice some speed. And the cross will feel a bit different because the geometry is slightly different because of its intended task.

For steel, try a Serotta Fierte. Try a Surly LHT or Soma Doublecross. Try the Gary Fisher label @ a Trek store (used to be Lemond but Fisher bought the IP).

For titanium, try a Lynskey or Merlin. Lynskey has some nice sales sometimes on his page or you can get one custom.

And there are lots of nice builders out your way. But get riding and see if you can begin to define what you like and what you don't like.

If you can narrow down what you like, you can get some really good deals on the used market .. *if you know what you're looking for (model, SIZE, condition of the bike, etc.)*

If you want new and don't want to have to worry (and you have patience), I think new models are coming in and you can stalk the shops that have what you're looking for and see if it goes on sale. *If* they happen to your size at the time of the sale...

[Seal]

Just to clarify, the W&OD trail is a paved 2 lane bike path. I don't plan on going on anything that is not paved with this bike.

The problem seems to be that there's just not much out there for women currently to even try-perhaps because its late in the season and they've all been sold?

Proteus is quite a haul for me but I will try to go if the bike fitter woman is worth it and the shop has stock. Maybe I need to call before I go to find out what people have in stock. Most places seem to have very few or only 1 model for women.

How does the weight compare for something like the Surley vs a carbon road bike vs a hybrid? Will that make a difference? The last thing I want is to get something like what I already have.

[Biciclista]

check out Lunacycles.com. Built by a woman, for women

[Cataboo]

Alright - my surly frame & fork on the pacer weighs about 6-7 lbs, and that's in a really small size, 44 cm. The entire build weighs about 25 lbs with burly wheels, etc.

My carbon fiber road bike which is a 105 level triple weighs about 18-20 lbs.

My titanium litespeed road bike which is an ultegra level compact double weighs 16-18 lbs.

(I have 2 scales, I don't know which one is right, but they're 2 lbs apart).


I originally got the carbon fiber bike to get rid of all vibrations to make things easier on my wrist - and it is, but I can also ride the titanium litespeed without any wrist issues. There are more vibrations on the latter, but they're not jarring and they don't inflame my wrists.

If you want this to be a bike that's going to last you forever - carbon fiber frames supposedly have a lifespan of 5-10 years. I haven't cracked mine, but I don't really count on it as a bike that I will have forever. The litespeed - I'll have forever barring any really bad accidents. It's currently my favorite bike.

What is your inseam? Do you have relatively long legs for your height? The only reason you should get a WSD bike is if you have a tall inseam and a short torso. I don't have either, so I don't ride WSD bikes. But you do need to get out and test ride a lot of bikes to figure out what material you want and what sort of geometry you need.

You could look at the steel tourer bikes - jamis aurora, surly long haul trucker, etc. But those are going to be a bit more "solid" than a lightweight road bike. My surly feels like a tank when I'm riding it. It's a smooth tank.

It looks like you're in northern VA - off the top of my head, I can mention revolution cycles in clarendon. I don't know which part of northern va you are living in. If you're near Leesburg, there's 3 bike shops out in frederick md which'll be about 30 mins from you.

if you just want to ride bikes and don't expect much in the way of fitting, there's always rei & hudson trail. But I'd just recommend that so that you can get out on a bunch of bikes test riding. You probably want a fitting if you're going to spend as much as you are.

[7rider]

For $4K, you could get yourself into the Gateway program and get yourself a totally custom Seven.
Custom steel or ti designed for you and the way you ride.
You could get a custom ti Alaris road bike, a lightweight road machine that will last a lifetime. Or, you could get a custom Mudhoney cyclocross bike (swoooon!), a do everything rig that will handle road and trail equally well. Or, you could do a custom Muse touring bike...a little longer wheelbase, more relaxed geometry vs. the road bike....an all day cruiser. Or, if you prefer beefier tires for a plusher ride, you could get a Mokeefe commuter... a high utility rig that would have no problem hauling it all with you.
Find a Virginia Seven dealer here. Or, the Bicycle Place in Silver Spring is a Seven dealer and Mike is probably one of the best fitters around.

[malaholic]

carbon fiber frames supposedly have a lifespan of 5-10 years

Really? I haven't researched this, and I know that there are cracking concerns upon hard impacts, but unless you crash I'd be very surprised if a decent carbon frame is "expected" to fail so soon with normal use.

[Seal]

Ok I don't know if I want a "forever" bike because technology changes and I might want something cooler or cuter later. but I sure don't want to need another one in 1 or 2 years if it can be helped. I just want one I'm not liable to hurt and that will be comfortable and not "too much bike". My inseam with the ruler pressing my pubic bone is 80mm or 31.5" and I'm not sure but I think I have either long or average legs. I definately am not a person with a long torso.

I am near enough to look in Frederick or winchester or even silver spring. All they have fir women is treks in Rockville at revolution but of course it owns up way more options if I can do a man 's bike.

Just got on the scale w my moutain bike. It weighs 33lbs.

Does steel cause vibration too? I have a feeling my main problem with my wrists are they are flexing on the mtn bike but am not sure if it's sharer the bike is made of that's contributing.