Ladies bike choice: Specialized Globe Daily 2 ?

[DCLane]

To bring my tax down below George's new lower limit for Child Benefit I'm going to be getting a bike on the Cycle2Work scheme. Or rather SWMBO is getting one on my tax.

In terms of use, she doesn't ride at all atm but does realise that she will need to in order to keep up with the rest of the family. Road bikes are out and her MTB (on the Classifieds here) was never used because it was too big and heavy for a vertically-challenged Leprechaun (she's 5' 2").

Some questions:

She's seen this one: Specialized Globe Daily 2 Step Through '12 at £499 in Small
http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/specialized-globe-daily-2-step-through-12?bct=categories/bicycles/womens-bikes

Any thoughts? It's got to come from Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative since that's where my work's deal is with.

An alternative is the Ridgeback Speed Women's 12 at £299 in Extra Small: http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/ridgeback-speed-womens-12?bct=categories/bicycles/womens-bikes

Also, the guidelines say I can't get a child's bike. Could I just get a women's one do you think?

I'd then get another Cycle2Work deal in 18 months time for me.

 

[Blue Hills]

I can recommend the Spec Vita. Got one for my partner from Edinburgh Bike Co-Op.

Am assuming that it's still produced.

I have heard good feedback from other women about it as well.

 

[Herzog]

Can't comment specifically on the Globe 2, but I've a Globe Daily 3 and it's a good little bike. It's my primary bike during the winter (fitted with spikes to handle the Swiss snow), and it all held together well. Unbranded brakes and chainset performed perfectly, though the single chainring is rusting a little (superficial). The Shimano Nexus hub has also been great, no issues.

However, the bike is a little on the heavy side, but as this is my winter commuting bike it's not an issue. The rear rack probably couldn't withstand a pounding and I had to rebuild the rear wheel due to a spoke snapping problem. For 500, it may not offer the best value (I got mine from a friend and I think I wouldn't have paid more than 300 for it).

 

[Blue Hills]

yep, just checked - a range of Vita models.

Good value I think - also goes down to XS extra small.

 

[DCLane]

It's ordered; one Specialized Globe Daily 2 Step Through '12 via the Cycle2Work scheme under my salary, not hers.

She didn't like the Vita for some reason; she wanted something more "feminine".

 

[DCLane]

Collected it this afternoon; it's big for a Small and just fits her. It'd also fit me fine.

My overall impression; very pretty and simple to use. It's got a 7-speed hub gear which means she won't need to fuss (SWMBO hates that) and will hopefully get her onto a bike properly for the first time in years.

Yes, there's better bikes out there. But we were restricted to Edinburgh Bicycle Co-op due to a Ride2Work scheme for me (which still allowed me to get a ladies bike) and I wanted something she'd actually use, not just keep stored away for 5 years like her previous MTB.

 

[scrunch77]

DCLane, I'm thinking of getting my wife the same bike. Are you and your mrs happy with it? You mention the sizing can=me up larger than expected - any thoughts on the best size for my 5' 4" wife would be appreciated.

The alternative I had in mind is the Ridgeback Avenida 7 (http://www.ridgeback.co.uk/bike/avenida-7/features). Both have the Nexus 7 hub gear, which I'm pretty much fixed on, as my wife finds 21-speeds too complicated. I can pick up the Globe 2 for £420 or the Avenida 7 for £480. If you, or for that matter other readers, have any thoughts, they would be gratefully received. (Hope this isn't considered as hijacking someone else's post, but it all seems relevant to the original post.)

 

[srw]

...and let's hope no-one from HMRC is reading this.

 

[DCLane]

DCLane, I'm thinking of getting my wife the same bike. Are you and your mrs happy with it? You mention the sizing can=me up larger than expected - any thoughts on the best size for my 5' 4" wife would be appreciated.

A Small would be appropriate - it fits 5'3" to 5'6". My wife's 5'2" and fits with the seat at it's lowest (reflector removed) - and I can fit with it at the highest, although I've short legs.

I'm happy with it, although SWMBO hasn't ridden it yet . I've had a couple of goes and it seems to be very simple to operate. Not saying that SWMBO's simple, but she'll find it easier than my 105-equipped roadie.

...and let's hope no-one from HMRC is reading this.

See above - I'll be using it. Honest, guv. I'm riding to work by bike well over 50% of the time - a silver Spesh looks a bit like a white Spesh as it goes by

 

[scrunch77]

A Small would be appropriate - it fits 5'3" to 5'6". My wife's 5'2" and fits with the seat at it's lowest (reflector removed) - and I can fit with it at the highest, although I've short legs

I've just found Specialized's sizing guide on their website (see below), which says a medium would be appropriate for 5' 3" to 5' 6" riders should. Are you sure you didn't get a medium? That could explain why it's big for your wife.

Step Through (Women's): Daily
Bike Size Rider Height Rider Height (cm)
Small 5' 0" - 5' 3" 152 - 160
Medium 5' 3" - 5' 6" 160 - 168
Large 5' 6" - 5' 10" 168 - 178

 

[scrunch77]

I can report that the bike has gone down well with Mrs Scrunch. Like DCLane says it does come up quite big, but i just needed to take out one of the spacers on the handlebar stem. We live in a hilly area so the other thing I did was to swap the rear cog from 18 to 21 teeth and the gearing is now much better suited to our local terrain. It's now perfect and for £150 (second hand and less than a year old) I think I got her a bargain! And she finally feels happy on a bike that is suited to her! :-)

 

[DCLane]

I've just found Specialized's sizing guide on their website (see below), which says a medium would be appropriate for 5' 3" to 5' 6" riders should. Are you sure you didn't get a medium? That could explain why it's big for your wife.

Step Through (Women's): Daily
Bike Size Rider Height Rider Height (cm)
Small 5' 0" - 5' 3" 152 - 160
Medium 5' 3" - 5' 6" 160 - 168
Large 5' 6" - 5' 10" 168 - 178

Nope - it's definately a Small.