Carbon or Alu for Wife?

[warneral]

Yes what does your wife want? If you spend a lot of money will she be annoyed b/c she doesn't want to feel pressure? Or would she prefer something higher-end?

IMO a bike which shifts smoothly, brakes easily, rides comfortably and fits well makes all the difference in the world in wanting to ride (especially longer distances).

If price weren't an issue I would shop around until she found the "perfect" bike for her. Test ride different materials, sizes, geometries.

My first bike in recent years was a heavy, upright Navigator. Basically a mountain/comfort mix. I could not get up hills without wanting to go back home on that thing.

I ended up finding a used trek 1000 which is aluminum with carbon fiber fork. Tiagra/sora components. The brakes didn't work well, the shifters would drop my chain, and it didn't fit vvery well. I've since invested more $ into fixing the brakes (it really just needed new pads) and changing the stem for better fit. But with only a few hundred miles under my belt this summer I saw the bike of my dreams. Steel with carbon fork and campy chorus components, campy proton wheels. DH eventually agreed to the (extravagant) purchase and I LOVE this bike! I wish I had more time in the riding season and all I think about is bicycling

[ny biker]

I ended up finding a used trek 1000 which is aluminum with carbon fiber fork. Tiagra/sora components. The brakes didn't work well, the shifters would drop my chain, and it didn't fit vvery well. I've since invested more $ into fixing the brakes (it really just needed new pads) and changing the stem for better fit. But with only a few hundred miles under my belt this summer I saw the bike of my dreams. Steel with carbon fork and campy chorus components, campy proton wheels. DH eventually agreed to the (extravagant) purchase and I LOVE this bike! I wish I had more time in the riding season and all I think about is bicycling

I agree that components are also important. I had mostly 105 on my old bike with some Tiagra, including a horrible Tiagra front derailleur that needed frequent adjusting. Eventually it broke from being adjusted so often and was replaced with an Ultegra, which worked so much better.

If had to choose between a carbon frame with low quality components and an aluminum frame with better components, I would go with the latter (assuming fit was equally good with either choice).

The $2000 Trek Madone I mentioned earlier comes with Shimano 105, I think, which would be my minimum for Shimano. As it turns out, the bike I bought has SRAM Rival, which I'm quite happy with.

[purdyd]

I agree that components are also important.

The $2000 Trek Madone I mentioned earlier comes with Shimano 105, I think, which would be my minimum for Shimano. As it turns out, the bike I bought has SRAM Rival, which I'm quite happy with.

thanks everyone for all the great input

is there a preference for SRAM brifters for ladies over Shimano?

[malkin]

thanks everyone for all the great input

is there a preference for SRAM brifters for ladies over Shimano?

Yes, ladies have preferences as do gentlemen, but there is no gender specific preference.

[maillotpois]

Some of us prefer Campy....

[moonfroggy]

how petite is she?

i really can't stand the feel of aluminum. i love my steel bike. that said she should get the bike that fits her the best and that she likes the most. it took me a long time to find a comfortable bike and it ended up being a custom built frame. getting a bike that fits is the most important thing.

[purdyd]

how petite is she?

i really can't stand the feel of aluminum. i love my steel bike. that said she should get the bike that fits her the best and that she likes the most. it took me a long time to find a comfortable bike and it ended up being a custom built frame. getting a bike that fits is the most important thing.

5' 1 1/2" and she looked good on the trek 43cm frame

[indysteel]

some of us prefer campy....

+1.

[redrhodie]

thanks everyone for all the great input

is there a preference for SRAM brifters for ladies over Shimano?

I tried SRAM for the first time last week, and I do think it's ergonomically better for my small hands than Shimano (and I have short reach Shimano brifters). I can't really comment on performance other than it worked perfectly for the ride I took around he block.

[hirakukibou]

I have Shimano Ultegra (although the shifters are older 105's) on one bike and Sram Rival on another. The Sram shifters fit my hands better although the new Ulterga's, I believe are now flatter on the tops and adjustable. Someday I hope to get a set.

The shifting motion is different for each of them. I went from Shimano to Sram so it took some getting used to, but now the Sram is fine. I think I have a slight preference for the Shimano, but that is probably due to the fact that I started with that system.

If I had a choice between Sram or Shimano, I think I would get a new Ultrgra (or even Dura Ace ) group. (However, I would love to try a Campy Record group someday. But that is a long shot!)