What do you think about WSD?

[runningcyclist]

I ride a small-size Giant Avail. It's the women's version of the Defy. While it does have some curly-cues on it, I changed the white saddle and handlebar tape to black to toughen it up a bit. The bike fits me really well (me=short torso, longer limbs) and only needed minor adjustments. In the end, I think it all comes down to geometry (WSD or not). I'm currently borrowing a 50cm Lemond and it fits me like a dream.

Just shows how different people and bikes can be. I'm (newly discovered) short torso, long limbs and yet found I'd have to get a shorter stem, smaller bars and possibly the Shimano levers or reposition the ones already on it to make a better fit on the Giant Avail XS.

Looking forward to trying the Trek 1.2 XXS and the Surly LHT. I wonder what tweaks would have to be made for those?


Veronica - you and your beloved have things worked out but that doesn't appear to be the case with Lesley although I'd love it if she got her bike with or without his 'approval'

[Aggie_Ama]

Money with couples is personal. DH makes more and gets a better bonus but it is our bonus. We share a bank account and have since we got back from our honeymoon but when it comes to his bonus I think of it as his. He bought me my last bike, the Gary Fisher, out of his bonus but we agreed on the budget. If we weren't both into cycling I could see bike spending being more of a debate. Even with us both liking to ride I don't always agree on how much he wants to spend on bikes (I put my foot down on him getting a carbon mountain bike).

As for the WSD debate, it definitely comes down to personal preference and manufacturer. The year I got my Cannondale the geometry was very little tweaked from the mens. They used shorter reach shifters, smaller bars, slight changes to sizing but Cannondale has changed that (I think). Whereas my Fisher is quite a bit different from the comparable men's bike. I have an extremely short torso and longish legs for being 5'2" so WSD generally works. However in Specialized mountain bikes WSD is way too compact and I hate the fit. So even WSD doesn't always work.

I am big on how a frame looks, my Cannondale is very non-feminine but my Fisher is girly. Sparkly black with just enough pink to be AWESOME to me. I am the opposite I like slightly feminine details on my frame, but I don't always like the swirly, flowery stuff some companies use. My first bike I was not more constrained on budget and just had to take what I could get. If I am spending as much as I was I am going to like the looks. Luckily they took it in stride because we have been loyal customers for several years.