Help for a very undecided girl on her new bike! =)

[mariademasi]

I never had a road bike before but I think that since I am 14, I always want to have one ...
I wanna choose right, i probably can't afford the best, but i wanna bike that will fit my needs which are fun, exercising, riding around, empty my mind on hard days.
I was wondering which bike you guys suggest aroud the range of $1,000 dollars ?
I went to the Specialized store, here in Sydney, and saw the Dolce Sport EQ, white with purple handlebars, it also made ​​me smile, think beyond good, i think somehow you gotto fall in love with it, it seems silly, but I really think ...
if someone could help me and give me an opinion, i would be so grateful

Thanks girls

[thekarens]

Test ride several and see how you feel on them. It will give you an idea of what you do and don't like.

[Owlie]

Welcome to TE! Try as many as you can, and see how they feel. I will always take a little less bang-for-buck, as it were, if it fits better. (I learned that the hard way.)

I do agree that if it makes you smile and it fits you and your budget, get it!

[azfiddle]

Specialized does make a good bike, but I second what Owlie said about fit and trying a few bikes. You'll be happier in the long run. I have the carbon cousin to the Dolce (a Ruby) - and I love the bike, but not every bike fits every person.

[Skippyak]

DO you get to pay through the nose for Spec in Oz? It might be worth looking at what is competitive in your local market. 1000$USD goes quite a way in the USA but not so far in Oz. KNow what you want from your bike, I have ridden with people who really regretted their first purchase because they had to upgrade so soon. 1000USD is a lot for a leisure bike (enough that you would fret about leaving it locked up outside in a city) but not a ton for a road bike that would allow you to grow for a few years.

[Koronin]

I also agree that if you can test ride several to do so. The only WSD bike I've tried that I even feel comfortable on is the Specilaized Ameria. However that's a carbon bike with a more agressive positioning than the Ruby or Dulce. I also tested the Dulce and felt to compressed/squeezed on it. (also felt the same way on the Trek Lexa). The bike I ended up buying is the Felt F5, it's unisex/men's bike and it fits me great. Definately test as many as you can.

[MGM]

I third the suggestion that you try several different brands and models, as you need to find the right fit for your body. That said, I really do like the Dolce at that price point. I think Specialized offers a well thought-out bike for the money. I rode the Dolce before I decided to spend more and go with a carbon fiber frame, the Spec Ruby.

You may also want to try the Trek Lexa. Giant and Felt make really good bikes too. I really liked the ride of the Felts a lot, and they are somewhat less costly than Specialized.

[mariademasi]

Hi GIrls! Thank you all so much!
So i'll keep trying them out, the problem here is that Sydney is a huge city, you can go out like 50km outside the city and it's still Sydney, scary! There is probably tons of bike shops, but imagine everytime you need something and you end up choosing the one so far from your house, but anyway... what really sucks is that i don't know everything around, i've been living here for 2 years only... I really can't afford more than $1000 that's specially why i came here to ask you guys, i wanted to know, because if i wouldn't be able to find anything in this range, i would wait for 6.. or 7 months... being honest with you guys, i always wanted a bike like that, and i love cycling since i'm 4... but i decided to get the bike because i think it's a great exercise, if it's not the best... here in sydney the Dolce is costing AUD$899 equipped...and i the trek lexa $1.299...
Giant doesnt have many models at the store...like 2 or 3...

[thekarens]

You might do some online research first. Find out what bike shops are in your area. Then research the bikes they carry in your price range. Then go try those particular bikes and see which (if any) you like.

FWIW I live in Houston and you can literally drive for an hour and still be in Houston. It's unnerving, but eventually you do get used to it. Totally stressed me out the first couple of years I lived here.

[mariademasi]

Yeah, it's frustrading! I'll try that than... see if i can find some bike shops that i can go, and try them out...i don't know houston, but Sydney, everything closes at 5... everyday... i'll probably take 6 months to buy this bike... =/
When you guys says that the person felt the need to upgrade to another level...? Why do you feel the need so soon to move on? I wanna the bike for regular exercise and fun... i'm really looking forward to make 140km in a day...

[Skippyak]

Find an AUssie forum, it does not have to be for women at all, blokes are pretty useful and the bike industry is male dominated still. I am 5'3" and I won't even ride a WSD bike so don't feel limited by gender. The reality is you might pay through the nose in Aus for US branding like spec, when there is all possibility that you have Asian choices that will give you the quality without the sticker shock.

[mariademasi]

Find an AUssie forum, it does not have to be for women at all, blokes are pretty useful and the bike industry is male dominated still. I am 5'3" and I won't even ride a WSD bike so don't feel limited by gender. The reality is you might pay through the nose in Aus for US branding like spec, when there is all possibility that you have Asian choices that will give you the quality without the sticker shock.

Ok! I'll do that than!!! Do you know any asian good ones?

[Skippyak]

No, hence find the Aussie's forum. Most of these bikes are made in Asia and just branded anyway. A cheaper spec is probably chinese anyway, so why pay through the nose for US branding? Australia must have way better trading deals in Asia that with US companies that are made in Asia anyway.

[MadisonBronze]

Here a list for you

26" wheels-
Specialized Rockhopper Comp ($880)
Trek 4500 disc ($770)
Trek 6000 disc ($990)

29"wheels-
Specialized Rockhopper Comp ($990)
Specialized Rockhopper Expert ($1050)
Gary Fisher collection by Trek Mamba ($880)
Gary Fisher collection by Trek Cobia ($1000)
Giant Talon 1 29er ($975)
Giant XTC 2 29er ($1200)

Have fun