Help!! need advice on buying a bike

[andalucianchick]

Hi
I am a newbie, needing and wanting advice! I live in andalucia, spain and am a runner. But I am desperate to start road biking here as it is such a big sport (although you dont see many women) and relish the thought of escaping my kids for a couple of hours rather than an hour.

I know nothing about bikes, ihave done a little research and also have a male friend who is big into roadbiking but he has told me that a WSD is a waste of money!!!!..... I have been to a couple of reputable shops and the bike i am inclined to go with is the Orbea Onix Dama TTG. Is this a good choice??? Help please!!

Any advice would be greatly received!!

[Owlie]

Test out the bike if you can. That's the biggest thing. I don't know about the bike in question, so I'll leave that to other people.

When I was buying my bike, my BF repeatedly told me that a WSD bike wasn't necessary. I'm inclined to disagree, but then, I seem to be what they had in mind when they designed WSD bikes (long legs, short torso, small hands, etc).

[ny biker]

Yeah, a WSD bike would be a waste of money for a man.

As for women, it depends on your own measurements. Some of us will be more comfortable on a WSD bike but others won't.

Also I don't think WSD bikes cost any more than comparable men's bikes.

[zia]

I just bought my first road bike. Definitely a little stressful. But: take the time to figure out what you want. Can you borrow from a friend or inexpensively rent a road bike for a few months just to get a sense of what you like/dislike for longer than a ride around a parking lot?

It really helped me to understand the different component groups, frame materials, and geometries, and what they all meant to me in terms of my own riding goals. I did this through my own research, talking to more experienced bikers, and lots of test riding.

I am short but longer-torso-ed (no long legs, alas), an I didn't think I was a candidate for WSD, but lo and behold: that's what I'm on. The narrower handlebars, easier to reach brake levers, woman-specific saddle, and, in my case, smaller wheels, all added up to a level of comfort that I just never experienced on a frame with wider handlebars and bigger wheels. But it took me lots of test-riding to realize that.

My goal for my first road bike was to get something that could grow with me but not get something too expensive I'd feel guilty about moving on (if I needed to) as I understood myself better as a rider. But that's just me.

[Owlie]

Yeah, a WSD bike would be a waste of money for a man.

As for women, it depends on your own measurements. Some of us will be more comfortable on a WSD bike but others won't.

Also I don't think WSD bikes cost any more than comparable men's bikes.

If equivalent models from a manufacturer exist, they're usually the same price, at least in my experience.

[redrhodie]

Welcome! I was in Spain this June. There were very few women on road bikes. Good for you!

Orbeas are great bikes. Which groupset does it come with? I found it listed on-line with both Tiagra and Ultegra. Ultegra is higher end. I'd say go for it if it fits, and is the one with Ultegra components. I also noticed they had an option with 650c wheels, which some smaller people prefer.

[MommyBird]

I would definitely get measured.
I recently shopped for a road bike and the salesman visually sized me up for a men's frame due to my long torso. When we did the fitting my measurements ended up in the feminine frame range. I went feminine and I love it.

When I bought my mountain bike 18 years ago I went with a man's bike because back then all female bikes had deep slanted top tubes and were heavier. I chose my Rock Hopper because the top tube was shorter than the others I had short-listed. I ditched the RH for a hand-me-down Trek from one of my growing sons a couple of years ago. The dramatic changes in bike geometry from '91 to '04 made a huge difference. The worn out RH hangs from the garage ceiling these days. :-( But I love the front suspension on the Trek:-)

But a mountain bike is a different animal than a road bike. The more horizontal position is an adjustment for a new road cyclist (or returning riders like me) and a proper fit is critical. Get a properly fitted frame, it will enhance your riding experience in a multitude for ways.

Best wishes on your new sport!

[drdwin]

I have the Orbea Onix Dama TDF and I absolutely love everything about it - including the stock saddle - the Terry Butterfly suits me perfect. It is my first road bike - I was actually looking at bike with the 105 components but the bike I purchased was in stock at the LBS with the Ultegra and the price was fantastic (I got the 2009). However everyone's built differently and has different needs so I would definitely try it out (as well as a few others). BTW - the Orbea was not one of the bikes I was looking at (I was testing the Cannondale and Specialized WSD bikes) - however the guys at the LBS encouraged me to try the Orbea and the rest is history.