Upgrade for the missus

vertigoscene
vertigoscene Posts: 56
edited May 2010 in Road buying advice
Hello All

My girlfriend currently has a hybrid (Specialized Vita sport) which she enjoys riding, but is starting to want something quicker.

Are getting upgrades to the bikes - say better wheels for £350 or so, a good bet - would that provide as much of an increase in speed as spending £800-900 on a new bike? The model she has at the moment retails at £500, and not sure whether or not to sell the bike on ebay and get a new bike, or just upgrade components on the bike she has (which she finds comfortable enough),

Does the frame warrant component upgrades??

Any advice much appreciated

Thanks

Richard

Comments

  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    buy a road bike, far easier and you'll get much more for your money than trying to convert which is very expensive.

    If she likes it and no longer needs the hybrid then flog it on ebay.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • Splottboy
    Splottboy Posts: 3,693
    BOTOX???
  • Hibbs
    Hibbs Posts: 291
    Splottboy wrote:
    BOTOX???

    I'd say an upgrade for the missus would be something for him... like a LaShawn Merritt special. :wink:


    :lol:

    Sorry Vertigoscene. If it's any help, Boardman have just released a range of women's specific road bikes which look pretty good. Might be worth a look.
  • skyd0g
    skyd0g Posts: 2,540
    To increase the speed on the current bike, the most cost-effective way would be to change the tyres to something thinner & lighter (iro £50 for the pair). Wheels for £350 would be a waste of money on a £500 bike.

    A drop-bar road bike would be noticeably faster, if this is something she'd want to consider? It would depend on the type of riding she intends to do.
    Cycling weakly
  • vertigoscene
    vertigoscene Posts: 56
    I now have to make sure the missus doesn't spot this thread :lol:
  • ALaPlage
    ALaPlage Posts: 732
    My wife went through same. Got her a Scott P3W bike last year and now she wants a road bike - lighter and quicker on the road. Only had a £500 budget but managed to find a Kona Lisa RD on Ebay. A 2008 model in new condition (seller states that it had been ridden once and GF did not like it and bought a suspension MTB instead) - It certainly looks new.

    Geometry designed for women (shorter reach than equivalent sized Man bike) and fitted with 105/Ultegra groupset albeit brakes are Tektro but 105 shifters). Paid £500 + £30 carriage. New price is £1100.

    Second hand may be an option. Find the right bike which will be better specced for the money than new. If the missus really gets into it then you could always buy new later when she next wants an upgrade. :D
    Trek Madone 5.9
    Kinesis Crosslight T4
  • moonshine
    moonshine Posts: 1,022
    A very good upgrade for her (and you! :lol:) is probably a woman specific saddle....

    I'm in the process of getting a specialised BG Ruby saddle for my GF (trying a few different widths - she tried the 130 width last w/e, and will try the 143 this w/e) and the result is very favourable.... she was suffering a fair bit of discomfort on an Arione.......(thanks Dales in Glasgow for the test saddles)

    I think it might be a worthwhile investment (if you know what i mean! nudge nudge...wink wink..) :wink:

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