Hybrid frame size

[Biz-R]

Howdy folks, I'm looking at buying my wife a bike for Xmas and as much as I know that getting her to try them out etc is far better, this is a complete surprise for her so I'd rather not go down that route.

The thing is, I'm a little confused about what frame size to get. She's 5'0 and prefers the ladies-style crossbar. I'm looking at things like the Specialized Globe, Carrera Subway and Claude Butler Urbans but some seem to go as low as 13" while others don't even start until 17"

Any help you could give would be much appreciated

 

[Twenty Inch]

Please don't buy her a bike without her input.

Why not buy her a voucher from your local LBS to the value of the bike? Then she will have the surprise, and get to choose what she wants with some expert help from LBS, including on set-up, maintenance, ongoing help and support, and the right kit.

 

[Twenty Inch]

Lovely thought, by the way, don't get me wrong. Just that you may end up spending a lot of money on something that is uncomfortable or unsuitable.

 

[ed_o_brain]

Biz-R,

What twenty inch said.
Maybe buy her some accessories as a subtle hint and then print her a home made voucher so that you are not tied to any particular bike shop. Gives you a chance to get creative too!

My partner is 5"3 and with so many variations of frame sizing, especially with the smaller sizes, it's a piggin nightmare!

 

[Biz-R]

I had a feeling that might be the case.

Basically it wasn't the route I wanted to go down because it will be a battle to actually get her to go buy it. Not because she doesn't want it, of course, but purely because she'll know there are a million other things the money could really be spent on and won't see treating herself as a priority!

But thanks for the replies, I shall have to find someway of dragging her down there and not letting her come away without one.

 

[ed_o_brain]

I had a feeling that might be the case.

Basically it wasn't the route I wanted to go down because it will be a battle to actually get her to go buy it. Not because she doesn't want it, of course, but purely because she'll know there are a million other things the money could really be spent on and won't see treating herself as a priority!

But thanks for the replies, I shall have to find someway of dragging her down there and not letting her come away without one.

To be honest, if you in a semi-tight spot financially, is it not a lot of money to spend without consulting your partner?

Maybe a good second hand bike would be a better way of getting her on side?

Does she work? Is there a bike to work scheme? Can she save money by commuting?

And if you waited until the summer, at least you would have the nice weather to get started with.

Sorry to pee on your parade, but if cycling is YOUR hobby you could maybe cause resentment?

Maybe take her on a tandem experience or something involving hired bikes for now? Maybe less pressure that way.

I believe Louise of this parish is 5" and she has just bought a Specialized Vita - which is what I would recommend. I think hers was extra small, but you can probably read up on a couple of her threads just to confirm that.

 

[Biz-R]

To be honest, if you in a semi-tight spot financially, is it not a lot of money to spend without consulting your partner?

Maybe a good second hand bike would be a better way of getting her on side?

Does she work? Is there a bike to work scheme? Can she save money by commuting?

And if you waited until the summer, at least you would have the nice weather to get started with.

Sorry to pee on your parade, but if cycling is YOUR hobby you could maybe cause resentment?

A few assumptions there. At what point did I say things were tight financially or that my hobby was cycling?

Firstly, spending the money is not the problem, simply that there are other things that we could spend the money on if we so desired. Frankly, I wouldn't mind a PS3 and if I told her so then she'd actually go get me that instead of buying her bike. That's just who she is.

Secondly, I don't cycle.. it's her hobby. She was given a bike to get fit on which she did, but it's a heap of junk. She cycles to the gym and to work occasionally but it's hard work on that old thing so I'd like to make it easier and a bit more fun for her.

I appreciate your comments regarding the commuting to work scheme however her work have no intentions of offering such a scheme as we checked when she first had the idea. In fact they even went so far as to tell her that her bike was not welcome on their property even in a safe and secure place. Nice, eh?

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

A few assumptions there. At what point did I say things were tight financially or that my hobby was cycling?

Firstly, spending the money is not the problem, simply that there are other things that we could spend the money on if we so desired. Frankly, I wouldn't mind a PS3 and if I told her so then she'd actually go get me that instead of buying her bike. That's just who she is.

Secondly, I don't cycle.. it's her hobby. She was given a bike to get fit on which she did, but it's a heap of junk. She cycles to the gym and to work occasionally but it's hard work on that old thing so I'd like to make it easier and a bit more fun for her.

I appreciate your comments regarding the commuting to work scheme however her work have no intentions of offering such a scheme as we checked when she first had the idea. In fact they even went so far as to tell her that her bike was not welcome on their property even in a safe and secure place. Nice, eh?

I'm sure there's someone she could kick up to about that. Not suggesting she rocks the boat 'cos I know that makes things tough at work .. but that is a dreadful attititude on their part. Did they give any excuses? (I won't say "reasons").

 

[Biz-R]

They said they had no facilities to store them safely outside and wouldn't allow it to be brought inside. She listed a number of places it could go, or that facilities could be put and they simply claimed either H&S wouldn't allow them to do it or that it just wasn't economically viable.

Edit to say she had to resort to attaching it a railing in the middle of Birmingham City Centre

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Ah, the old H&S thing. I often wonder how many of these "H&S won't let you pick your nose" stories you see in the press are actually spokesbod-speak for "we can't be bothered to do that or we're scared we might get sued for no real reason so we're blaming H&S".

We don't have facilities where I work so I just lock my bike up in a corner of the car park. It's out of the way of the cars, tucked away out of sight of the roads around us - but visible from my office and covered by CCTV.

It's a shame .. boo to them.

 

[ed_o_brain]

Biz-R,

It wasn't an assumption, hence using the word "if" to qualify what I said.

I was just trying to be constructive.

To be honest, if Birmingham City Centre is the best place she has to secure her bike at work, it might not be such a good idea to get something new and flashy. Not without doing something to disguise what it is, and carrying a beasty lock. In practical terms, if the bike she has fits her okay, then it might be good to look at what can be done to improve it?

That said, if it is ill fitting then a replacement bike might be a better idea. Wrapping old inner tube around the main tubes and securing them with tape is good for making a new bike look drab and it is easily reversed too.

If her old bike is 'ok', then it might be nice to buy her a bike to enjoy riding for sunny days! Then you don't have to worry so much about the practicalities of a commuting bike!

Or maybe you should try a tandem

Just my two penneth.

 

[Biz-R]

Just to update, I'm now a little confused.

Went to LBS today who was pushing some Python Paragon range, and saying that the one with front suspension is bar far the better one to go for. While he obviously knew what he was talking about with regard to some things, this pretty much goes against everything that I've read on here - at least in the price range I'm looking at.

Any ideas?

 

[mickle]

The Python Paragon isn't very nice. What is the maximum you are you hoping to spend?

 

[Biz-R]

Well she doesn't need anything wonderful so it will very much be an entry-level bike, but at the same time I want her to have something of reasonable quality. I've seen some Claude Butlers and Specialized Globes under £250 online and I know they are thought of well on here, but that the LBS shop route is much preferred.

 

[ed_o_brain]

http://www.factorydirectbikes.com/bikes/python_paragon_fst_18sp_lady/

17kg!

That's heavier than my disc and suspension equipped MTB. Another 3kg and it will be as heavy as our Tandem. I'm not a weight weenie. That bike is nearly a third heavier then what I would consider an entry level road/hybrid bike to be.