Bike for girlfriend

fatandwheezing
fatandwheezing Posts: 169
edited March 2009 in Road buying advice
We're looking at getting a bike for my girlfriend so we can go out for rides together. Am thinking of getting her a hybrid, as we'd mainly be going on the roads, and she doesn't like drop bars.

Any recommendations for something in the ~£500 bracket. Trek 7.3 FX Womens has caught our eye, as it is "pretty":

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/trek/73-fx-2009-womens-mountain-bike-ec016511

Bill

Comments

  • weeve
    weeve Posts: 393
    specialized sirrus was my Mrs's first bike..good styling/lots of models to suit all wallets and some great prices on the web for 2008 models
  • fatandwheezing
    fatandwheezing Posts: 169
    Just by chance we stopped in one of our LBS's (East St cycles - Farnham) and saw the Trek for £30 cheaper than evans. Our nearest shop is mainly specialized, so will have a look in there, but she seems very taken with the Trek now she's seen it up close.

    Now I need to practice not disappearing off into the distance on my roadie, or she'll promptly give up riding as quick as she'll be taking it up....
  • giant_man
    giant_man Posts: 6,878
    Birds always go by colours and what looks 'pretty' that's just them bless em'

    You may want to also look at the Spesh Ruby as well, specific woman's bike.
  • weeve
    weeve Posts: 393
    yeah - i heard thats why nicole cooke does well...she like gold

    boom boom
  • fatandwheezing
    fatandwheezing Posts: 169
    Assuming evans stock the whole range, that's way out of our budget unfortunately - using the C2W scheme. But you never know, her brother is well into cycling, so the bug might be in her jeans and just needs tapping into.
  • weeve
    weeve Posts: 393
    bug in her jeans ? sounds unpleasant

    boom boom again (comedy must be in my genes....)

    clearly Ive got too much time on my hands...lost the will to live in the office
  • ColinJ
    ColinJ Posts: 2,218
    Drat - I thought you were offering to give someone a bike if they found you a girlfriend! :wink:
  • torin
    torin Posts: 102
    Has she ever ridden drop bars?
    i thought i didnt want them and now only have 1 bike without them you just get used to it
  • fatandwheezing
    fatandwheezing Posts: 169
    Erm, yes, genes, just like I said.

    She's never ridden drops, but I think it's one step at a time with her really. What i'm mostly concerned about is ensuring that she isn't faster than me!
  • fast as fupp
    fast as fupp Posts: 2,277
    http://www.trendir.com/archives/kohler- ... n-sink.jpg

    :twisted:
    'dont forget lads, one evertonian is worth twenty kopites'
  • psychle
    psychle Posts: 83
    Just been through this scenario but with one crucial difference, my GF wasn't averse to giving drop-bars a try.

    We drew up a short list of requirements/wants/needs:
    Drop bars
    Triple Chainset
    Mudguard Clearance
    28c tyres
    Womens Specific Model
    As light as possible

    We ended up with a Trek 1.2 W '08. £500 (The shop wouldn't give a discount because she was using the Cycle to Work scheme, but the 09 model has risen to £550).
    It ticked all our boxes except it has narrower 25c tyres.

    We would have been happy to spend more but mudguard clearance disappears on higher specced models.
    And oddly, the 08 model was noticeably lighter than the 09 when we lifted them in the shop.

    There seems to be more good options if you want flat bars, Specialized and Giant ranges look good, with plenty of clearance and V-brakes, but heavier - it's all about compromises.

    She's very happy with her new bike. And, yes, she has given it a name. :roll:

    "Like a pig towing a cart-load of sausages - I draw my own conclusions"
  • BigStu2
    BigStu2 Posts: 794
    Just make sure her bike doesn't weigh 2-3 kg more than yours or she'll be wheezing as well.
    The range of ladies urban bikes all seem to have them sitting bolt upright, the Trek Valencia male version is also pretty, Pretty bad ass, but your girlfriend will be in a more athletic riding position for the same money as the female version. Scott also has bikes in this style.
    .........all
    ...at........work
    fun..................&
    ..no.............no
    .....is......play
  • Mister W
    Mister W Posts: 791
    Have you considered a tandem? :D
  • fatandwheezing
    fatandwheezing Posts: 169
    I do quite fancy a go on a tandem actually, but I know I'd be on the front doing the work, and she'd be on the back eating crisps waving at all the lambs.
  • passout
    passout Posts: 4,425
    I'd buy something that you'd like to own, in case she never uses it. A single speed (compromise on flat bars) or perhaps an MTB. Selfish yes, but financially a safer idea. I did it this way BUT my wife is the same height as me - that helped.

    If you are looking at Tandems consider Thorn, although I rather like the Cannondale Tandems - my mate has one.
    'Happiness serves hardly any other purpose than to make unhappiness possible' Marcel Proust.
  • belgiangoth
    belgiangoth Posts: 2,849
    How much cycling has she done so far? If she has little experience, I'd suggest getting something off ebay or second hand. That means you have a small outlay for her to try it out and then spend money on what she likes afterwards.
    My wife currently has a step-through SA 3-speed, she may have ridden it once in the last year. Given the choice I would have bought her a Pashley princess, or talked to a builder and specced her one up for a grand. Glad we went second hand.
    If this summer she takes up cycling, then she can try my other bikes and decide what she wants to upgrade to.

    (PS- isn't the best bike for her to start on one of your other bikes?)
  • fatandwheezing
    fatandwheezing Posts: 169
    We've borrowed a friends bike a few times, and she enjoyed herself, but was unable to keep up, as she's just not used to it. She did try my mountain bike but it's too big for her, I also have a mates MTB, but that is bigger than mine, and my road bike has clipless pedals, and drop bars, so she doesn't want to go on that (probably a bit big for her again anyway).

    I don't think she'll ever be "into" cycling, but she has enjoyed herself on the rides we have been on.
  • LittleB0b
    LittleB0b Posts: 416
    fatandwheezing wrote:
    What i'm mostly concerned about is ensuring that she isn't faster than me!

    So steer her towards a crap slow bike that she'll not like riding, and treat yourself to some upgrades...
    blog: bellevedere
  • The Mechanic
    The Mechanic Posts: 1,277
    Here's a good idea. Give her your bike and get a new one for yourself.
    I have only two things to say to that; Bo***cks
  • il_principe
    il_principe Posts: 9,155
    Specialized Vita? Got my GF one a few weeks ago and she loves it. Flat bar roadies really, 28 tyres, Sora at the back. They do a version with some carbon and the Zertz inserts.

    We got her this one (for £390, annoying now even cheaper):

    http://www.cyclesurgery.com/1026518/Specialized-Vita.html
  • jam1e
    jam1e Posts: 1,068
    I recently bought my mrs an 09 Scott S60 Speedster (Sportster?) for £460. It looks a lot sportier than most of the other flat barred bikes which made it a lot more tempting - she felt she was getting a "proper" road bike rather than some commuting hybrid thing.

    Most of the money seems to be in the frame and forks though cos the brakes and gears are functional but quite cheap plastic things...

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