£900 Budget Womens bike

J1mmys
Posts: 50
Hi,
My gf is after a new bike with a budget of around £900, on the cycle to work scheme. She is quite tall at 5ft11. She has been looking at Cannondale Syanapse Alu Tiagra (slight bias as I have a SuperSix but hey ha), she sat on a Mens 56cm bike and it fitted her great. The concern is the haddle bars are too wide and the seat wont suit. Cannondale do a womens version of the same bike upto a 54cm. Getting the bike on the scheme means she has to buy it from a supplier online. My gut feeling says a 54cm female would be best for state reasons?
Are there any female riders out there who could share any experiences?
Thanks
My gf is after a new bike with a budget of around £900, on the cycle to work scheme. She is quite tall at 5ft11. She has been looking at Cannondale Syanapse Alu Tiagra (slight bias as I have a SuperSix but hey ha), she sat on a Mens 56cm bike and it fitted her great. The concern is the haddle bars are too wide and the seat wont suit. Cannondale do a womens version of the same bike upto a 54cm. Getting the bike on the scheme means she has to buy it from a supplier online. My gut feeling says a 54cm female would be best for state reasons?
Are there any female riders out there who could share any experiences?
Thanks
0
Comments
-
If the 56 fits geometry wise just change the bars and saddle as there is little point in women specific bikes as they basically do just that and add pink bits.
The 54 would need a longer (or more showing) seat post and stem to make it fit like the 56 so its a compromise either way.Yellow is the new Black.0 -
I agree with smidsy, in that womens specific bikes tend to be overpriced generic frames with the odd tweak and a splash of girly colour.
A rule of thumb, although not always the case, women tend to be longer in the leg and shorter in the body than men, so sizing down a mens bike is often best. Personally, from what you've said, I would look at the 54 frame and play with the seat and stem to fine tune it. I think you can get a better fit with a slightly small frame than one too large, and whilst a 56 might be fine for the legs it might be a stretch for reach. Women also tend to have straighter backs than men, men hunch over whereas women (generally) have better posture on a bike.
Obviously the best advice would be that you get her to try a few out.Ridley Orion0