Carbon Frames/Durability

[SadieKate]

I sense a determination from you to stear me away from either purchasing a very expensive bike prefering maybe to just change certain components on her current bike, or from deciding exclusively on a WSD bike.

Ha! I'll change components or build up another bike to fit a special niche because I'm somewhat of a princess when it comes to bikes.

Being just just under 5'4" myself and having small hands, I honed in on these comments. Brake lever reach is not solved just by a shorter top tube or stem. Using the shims on her current bike will help you solve this problem now while you are making a decision. Yes, I do think that a WSD bike is not always the answer for women our of our height though they can be a good thing. Just don't limit your choices.

As far as expensive, whatever you want to do. I love beautiful bikes and high end componentry. Apparently the new 2006 women's Ruby Pro has a short reach bar and Dura Ace brake combo (must be new as Dura Ace wasn't short reach last year), 700c wheels and the fork rake adjusted to prevent toe overlap. It's a purdy bike, but the inner chainring/cassette combo might not be low enough for her. Around here a 39x27 low gear won't get you far but don't know your terrain, what gears Mindy currently uses or if she's expanding her cycling horizons and will need more gear options.

One last factor is that the bike has to make her heart go pitter-patter!

[Mindyhubby]

We ride with our local club at least 3 times per week covering at a minimum of 100 miles per week. We have mixed terain, but the touring we do takes us into hillier areas where Mindy utilizes her triple chain ring combo on the Lemond. The Ruby would only have the 53x39, which would bother her, and it's the only deterrent so far. She likes her Lemond, but it's more masculine looking and it doesn't make her heart go pitter-patter.

Since you're a Princess and I'm only a Jester, I'd like to know if you'd recommend a different bike considering you're similar in height to my Queen?

[SadieKate]

In the price range of the Ruby, you could go custom and really treat her properly! If you're waiting until spring, take the time to search out a bike shop that can really fit her well with a Serotta fit bike or something similar. Read lots. Look at some of the non-big brand stuff. Perhaps buy a frame and order parts. Are you in an area with high end roadie shops? Might be worth a trip just to ogle non-big brand bikes to get a feeling of everything that is out there and she might find something really intriguing.

Your shop might also be willing to swap out the double crank to a triple but not sure if Dura Ace will shift a triple.

Hey girls, other carbon bikes to look at? Parlee, Calfee, who else? Seven makes a Steel/Carbon combo. Titus does an alu/carbon combo. All of these would solicite envious stares from others. Independant Fabrications - do they use carbon?

[Bike Goddess]

Scott makes carbon frames as well. Look them up on the ole internet. They wrap their carbon differently than most others.

These bikes were originally designed for the European racing market and have since come to this country- they are made here in the USA.

I've been looking at a Scott bike at a local bike shop, but haven't tried it set up to my measurments. I currently ride steel and love how it handles.

[caligurl]

Your shop might also be willing to swap out the double crank to a triple but not sure if Dura Ace will shift a triple.

dura-ace has a new triple out this year....

[tatormc]

My wife, Mindy is 5' 4" and is similar proportionally between her upper and lower torso lengths. Mindy currently rides a Lemond Buenos Aires, but has considered riding the Specialized Ruby Pro carbon fiber. Mindy's best friend, Eileen rides the Giant TCR Composite 0.

Hubby - I'm 5'2" and also equally proportioned. I ride a Giant TCR Composite 2 and love it. It's a perfect fit for me. I did get a fitting at the LBS and due to my equally proportioned body I do not need a WSD. Good luck with the bike search!

[Mindyhubby]

Obviously I've gone to the right source for information. You ladies made suggestions and given opinions that our many LBS's haven't. I truly appreciate the many responses and I'll remember your advice as I continue to search for the right fit. Thanks for the help.

[Kathi]

Obviously I've gone to the right source for information. You ladies made suggestions and given opinions that our many LBS's haven't. I truly appreciate the many responses and I'll remember your advice as I continue to search for the right fit. Thanks for the help.

Have you looked at Aegis for a carbon frame? Aegis frames are handmade in Maine. They are a small company and wonderful to work with.

The Swift is designed for smaller, lighter riders and they are now making the Victory in smaller frames.

I prefer Campy shifters for my small hands and since I have short arms the short reach handlebars make a big difference.

Whatever you do find a good fitter that takes arm length and femur length into account, not just standover or tt length. I didn't know I had short arms and a short femur until I had a Serotta refit done on my Aegis.

If your thinking custom Serotta, Titus and Seven make ti/carbon frames. I believe that IF is into carbon also. Be aware they run in the $4,000 range for the frame and fork.

A friend of mine is around your wife's height and she bought a Serotta Fierte Ti. Not the same feel as carbon but she liked it better than the Trek carbon that she test rode.

Have fun shopping.

Kathi

[Mindyhubby]

Your responses are more than I could have hoped for and much more than I imagined. I thought my research had almost reached the closing stages, and now since you ladies have shown me so many other possibilities, it makes me believe I've just begun. It's a shame I didn't ask these questions before the Thanksgiving holiday, because if I had I would have given thanks for all of you. You ladies are groovy!

[Pedal Wench]

M.Hubby, I've been using both a WSD and a standard compact geometry. My Cannondale R1000s are WSD, and a professional fit made sure I had a proper fit on the right size frame. My Bianchis are non-WSD, but compact geometry, so I've got the same size 'virtual' top tube. One of them is a Bianchi XL Carbon. Comparing geometries, I found them to be close enough. I also just got a carbon Colnago. This is a standard geometry, but in a smaller size. Again, with an adjustment of the seatpost, I get the same measurements. I'm 5'4" too, but probably with a shorter torso and longer legs.

Oh - I do find that I prefer Campy shifting to Shimano. I spent four days over Thanksgiving visiting my bf and riding one of my Shimano Cannondales - even after 200 miles, I was looking for my Campy shifter!

[mars]

Dear Pedal Wench -

Just when I had convinced myself to be open minded to Shimano, you come out with this! I'm a Campy fan and have been shopping for a new bike with Shimano. But I haven't ridden Shimano so cannot comment on the difference. Which Campy group do you ride, and is it 10-spd?

I too am just starting to shop around for a carbon frame, maybe to replace my steel Colnago, but haven't decided yet if this is the way to go. So far have looked at the Specialized Ruby Expert and Roubaix Expert. These have pretty much the same components.

[Pedal Wench]

Oh, I love the Campy stuff. I hate to admit this, but two of my bikes are Record, and one is Centaur. They all really ride the same. The Record is just a touch smoother and quicker. My Shimano bike is on my trainer, and it's been getting more use than I care to think about. Of course, I went out on Sunday on a Campy bike and started to freak out because it wasn't shifting. I was trying to move the brake, which on Campy, is just a brake... With my hand problems (ulnar nerve stuff and bad trigger finger issues) I do prefer the feel of Campy.

Back to the original post, I saw something on Sunday that I hope I never see again. I was riding with 4 other women. I had dropped my water bottle (damn those full-fingered gloves...) and stopped to pick it up, so I didn't see this happen, just the after effects. When I caught up to the rest of the group, one of the women was on the ground. Her brand-spankin' new carbon/alu Raleigh was cracked on the downtube and toptube. She was riding on a flat, straight bike trail, suddenly felt out of control and then ended up going over the handlebars. This was the bike's second ride - a total of 45 miles on it. As the owner of two very precious carbon bikes, I was freaked out. It cracked right at the joints between the carbon and aluminum. (It's a Raleigh Prestige.) I would say that if you go with carbon, go with one of the bigger names - a company that's been making carbon for a while, and in enough numbers to know they're doing it right. There's no way of knowing at this point if something else wasn't set up right - perhaps a loose headset, or even a faulty quick release, and the frame cracked as she crashed, and didn't cause the crash. Probably never know that.

[veloputt]

Hi all,

I'm 5'4" and found Campy was too big for my hands, and I chose Shimano since I was more comfortable w/ them on the hoods and working the levers. But I've not looked at shifters in the last few years, so maybe they've changed...

As for geometry, it's not just the frame, but I also got a stem w/ a shorter extension and bars that kept the levers about 1" or so shorter overall than "standard" components, and made the overall geometry great for me. (And of course the type of seat post and range of adjustment w/ the saddle, too). I have a Mercian frame and front fork made w/ Reynolds 531 tubing and built w/ various components chosen for quality, fit, and weight. It's soooooo silky smooth, after riding it I hated getting on my first real road bike--Specialized Allez Pro--steel frame, but Al fork (much stiffer than steel). It was a good bike, but not in comparison to my baby--"vintage" Mercian.

Ergo, Don't assume all steel (or carbon) frames are created equal, or that the fork material is the same as the frame, either. But it's fun to try to find what you like and if it's not comfortable, there are options!

And as a racing friend always said, it's not the chassis that counts, but the engine! And the caveat, if you can't be fast, at least look good!

Deal of the decade--this summer I added the vibration dampening plugs for the bar ends--they really do help! A great deal for under $10 and I highly recommend them to everyone!!

[caligurl]

Back to the original post, I saw something on Sunday that I hope I never see again. I was riding with 4 other women. I had dropped my water bottle (damn those full-fingered gloves...) and stopped to pick it up, so I didn't see this happen, just the after effects. When I caught up to the rest of the group, one of the women was on the ground. Her brand-spankin' new carbon/alu Raleigh was cracked on the downtube and toptube. She was riding on a flat, straight bike trail, suddenly felt out of control and then ended up going over the handlebars. This was the bike's second ride - a total of 45 miles on it. As the owner of two very precious carbon bikes, I was freaked out. It cracked right at the joints between the carbon and aluminum. (It's a Raleigh Prestige.) I would say that if you go with carbon, go with one of the bigger names - a company that's been making carbon for a while, and in enough numbers to know they're doing it right. There's no way of knowing at this point if something else wasn't set up right - perhaps a loose headset, or even a faulty quick release, and the frame cracked as she crashed, and didn't cause the crash. Probably never know that.

OMG! now I'M freaking out, too! is specialized a "big enough name"????



my hubby had a brand new carbon bike... isaac brand.. big in europe... new to US... it cracked in the seat tube within a month of having it....! they sent him a new frame (after giving him the 3rd degree on what HE did to the bike.. uhm.. NOTHING.. it's his baby!

[caligurl]

)
And as a racing friend always said, it's not the chassis that counts, but the engine! And the caveat, if you can't be fast, at least look good!

ha ha!!!! someone at the century saturday commented that my ruby was one SUHWEET bike.. and i said "thanx... now if i was just fast enough to deserve it!" lol!