Buying advice for the wife

Woggatheboy

See previous post. I know just short of nothing about bikes and biking however I bought a road bike and spend a lot of time riding it and enjoying myself. The wife has seen the fun I am having and decided to spoil it by coming to join me. Due to her height when I look at ladies bike prices there doesn't seem any decent offers but if you look at gents bikes she's obviously shorter for a bloke so you can get some decent savings. What I wanted to know is are there any big differences gents to ladies or is it just cosmetics?

Also any pointers for a lady who is 5'7" tall as to size? Does it differ make to make?

schweiz

Size and geometry differs not only from make to make but within different ranges within a make so it would be better if he could sit on a few different bikes first. My wife is 5'6" - 5'7" and has a 2010 Trek WSD 52 cm but was also happy on a 'men's' Cannondale CAAD8 52 cm frame. 'Women's' bike are generally in more 'girly' colours but they often have narrower handlebars, less drop on the bars and a saddle more suited to the female undercarriage. So that bargain may end up costing a little more if you have to start changing things but, saying that, comfortable is comfortable so try out some smaller mens sizes and see how it goes

Anonymous

Apart from the seat I would say there's not much in it as long as the bike fits. The seat is something a lot of people change anyway. Womens specific bikes just give more options, but she could easily find a good fit on a mens/unisex one.

My wife's 5'5" and has a non female specific 48cm Felt.

Just make sure its not too big or there is nothing you can do to get a good fit and she will not enjoy the experience.
A lot of bike shops seem to want to put you on too big a bike IME.

She needs to get out and ride to find out more what suits her anyway. Her second bike will fit even better ;-)