Girls vs Boys

[millypops82]

Well, yes girls will always be better than boys, but is a slightly different question.

Went to the Specialized store to try out different bike frames and then the sales guy asked if I had considered the Vita range - which is specifically for woman.

Apparantly it is the same as the Sirrus with a few tweaks - is lighter, different saddle etc. I had settled on the medium Sirrus Comp but there was no Vita Comp in my size in the store to try. They only had a small version although they said I might need a large frame in the Vita range.

So before I finally(!) sign on the dotted line and part with my cash, any advice from the cycle oracles who are members here?!

 

[peterdowning]

How tall are you? From what you've written you sound too tall, but if you are 5' 1" to 5' 3", I have an 'as new' 08 Vita Comp you may be interested in. Hardly ridden, cost £699 and will accept £350.

Anyway, definitely worth looking at the Vita range - or any women's specific range from any manufacturer - as the geometry is supposedly tweaked for the fairer sex. Someone told me you are a different shape to us men! :-)

 

[Randochap]

Yes, depends on your, er, dimensions.

Generally speaking, women tend to have shorter upper bodies, so it's the top tube length that usually presents problems, for a given frame size.

However, you might not fit that generality.

Best to figure out your needs and see if they can be met with an off-the-rack "unisex" bike. If not, then see what this Vita bike (which I'm not familiar with) offers. Presuming the geometry (incl. top tube) is optimized for the female form.

Here's a primer on bike size/fit.

Cheers,
The VelOracle

 

[summerdays]

The one comment I would make looking at the spec's on line is that the saddle that comes on it is the Sonoma one which you could easily buy yourself for about £25 and that its a 155 width saddle. At that shop you can have your derrier measured - mine came out as closest to the 143 but due the half upright position I ride in they suggested the 155 for me. It might be worth getting your bottom measured and looking at their saddles - I have both an Ariel and a Windie XC saddle from there (if you wanted to try either of them out you could probably come around - though I don't have a specialized bike).

I think the ladies models matter much more at the smaller end, but to be honest I haven't actually tried one. I did find my handlebars a bit wide and had the lbs cut them down for me... whether that is one of the things that changes on a ladies bike I don't know.

Did they have a large ladies in any of their bikes that you could try and see how it differed to the corresponding unisex bike?