Womens Bike

supercyril

My wife is after her first road bike. So as is the fashion she will be maxing out the CTW at £1000. Im aware of the usual conntenders in this price bracket, but my question is which is the most suitable for a female beginner?

Thanks

BR 1979

Got to be this baby:

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/fi/fi_road ... arbon.html

LittleB0b

Some things i found.

Ultimatly there are lots of nice bikes out there (especially on the internet where the choic is almost too big) - the one you end up buying will probably come down more to what you can actually find availble in your size than anything else.

It's probably worth doing a bike fit (even a online one) to give you a idea about your geometry.

When a guy walks into a bike shop and says he has £1000 pounds to spend they'll show him bikes up to £1500, when a woman does they show you bikes from £300 - 800

If you are thinking you might be doing a bit of *light* touring maybe check you could take a panier easily.

If it's gonna see a lot of commuter or winter use will you want to fit mudguards?

The whole triple v compact issue will raise it's head (lot's of wsd bikes only come triple) - what kind of riding will you be doing?

leedsmjh

BR 1979 wrote:

Got to be this baby:

http://www.boardmanbikes.com/fi/fi_road ... arbon.html

Pretty but that's a kinda short headtube for a wsd bike, may not be that beginner friendly

supercyril

She does like the look of the boardman but will it be too much for a beginner?
leedsmjh made a point that a may not be the ideal starter bike. I dont want to put her off!
It will mainly be used for training initially, then who knows?

Thanks

LittleB0b

I'd think she'll be fine with it.

I think anyones going to find there first few rides on a road bike a bit odd - but over the long term it's better to have something nice.

leedsmjh

It's down to what she's comfortable with. The Boardmans is likely to be the best spec for the money in a women's bike. I'd suggest a test ride if Halford's allow it to see if the position feels too low or just right. Maybe also try something quite different to compare. The Cannondale Synapse or the Giant Defy or Avail (wsd) or Trek wsd for instance all have much bigger headtubes (around 14cm to the Boardman's 10cm) for around the same top tube length so would give a meaningful comparison.

If it helps I'm around 5'6" and am comfortable with a 52-53cm effective top tube and headtube ~ 14cm or ~ 12.5cm with a flipped stem.

outofbreath2

Hope you don't mind me jumping in, especially since I know nuthin' about nuthin', but.... I bought my first road bike (for girls) this weekend. Personally, as a beginner, I think (and it's only my opinion) that a grand is a bit much. Just because you can spend it doesn't mean you have to.

I bought a Spezialised (sp?) Dolce. OK, ok, I know it's only off the peg and to be honest I looked at it and thought yeurgh! it's a girl's bike. Then I had a go and loved it. If feels like no effort required, but that might just be how badlly I ride. Mind you, having done a 50mile sportive on my commuting hybrid the weekend before, anything would feel better.

Don't discount the more humdrum I say.

maddog 2

that Boardman has a stonking spec for £1k and is way ahead of the usual candidates at the £1k price point.

If you look at the WSD designs at £1k from the big players - Cannondale Synapse, Trek Pilot 2.1, Spesh Dolce Comp and so on, they are alu frames and 105 kit at best.

The Boardman is full carbon, Rival gruppo and a significant chunk lighter, I suspect.

Okay, it's a tad racey so that might not be what you're after but if it fits and is comfortable, it's a much better deal IMO.

supercyril

OK, thanks.
She is going to have to go and try a few now. Is there a big difference between the mens & womens bikes?
I ask as she does like the boardman but is not available yet so would sitting on the mens frame give a reasonable idea of fit ?

maddog 2

the smallest Boardman has a 54cm TT, which is longer than the female model and may be too long.

Other than that it's usually shorter stems, female saddles, shorter cranks etc.