road bikes for women

pipps
pipps Posts: 2
edited April 2010 in Road buying advice
Hi I am a regular cyclist mainly on trails and use a mountain bike...in an attempt to lengthen the cycling season am now considering buying a road bike..not keen on being out by myself on trails when the dark evenings set in and thought I could take to the roads
I bought a 'woman specific' mountain bike after experiencing quite severe shoulder pain after riding a guys...does the 'reach thing' apply to road bikes too?? I'm tall at 5'10''.. any advice would be gratefully received...
Cheers :)

Comments

  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Women generally are blessed with longer legs but shorter bodies in comparison to men and therefore getting a road bike frame with geometry which is more suited to your proportions will help. Best advise is to go to a specialist who carries a range of suitable bikes and offers a bike-fitting service - for your height you probably won't need a women's-specific model, but a frame geometry perhaps with a shorter-reach i.e. toptube length.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    at your height a 'man's' frame should be fine, although getting a good fit is always important, as MD says.

    Get yourself to a decent LBS and try some out for size. Don't forget you can fit shorter stems and/or flip them over to get more stem height.
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • cyclingfury
    cyclingfury Posts: 676
    +1 for the man's frame.
    I took my wife, who is 5' 11" to my LBS. None of the women's specific bikes came anywhere near being big enough for her. We ended buying a men's 1.7 Trek in a 58cm size which fits her like a dream. We did put on a ladies specific saddle for her though!
    Hope this helps.
    ___________________________________________
    Titanium Bertoletti
  • maddog 2
    maddog 2 Posts: 8,114
    is that a photo of her cyclingfury 8)
    Facts are meaningless, you can use facts to prove anything that's remotely true! - Homer
  • cyclingfury
    cyclingfury Posts: 676
    I wish......
    ___________________________________________
    Titanium Bertoletti
  • Will.C
    Will.C Posts: 245
    I wish......

    :o I hope she doesn't visit these forums....for her sake (or yours) :P