Ladies Road Bike for beginner

[trustysteed]

Following on a similar vein to Nickl52's thread 'How Good is this Vitus?', are there similar priced road bikes for ladies out there?

I'd like to get my wife a road bike about that price so she can start enjoying real cycling, not just commuting. Was hoping to find something about the £300 price range as well.

Any suggestions, advice and links welcome!

Ta!

 

[Muddyfox]

Ladies tourer in the for sale section on here for £160 ?

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=40857

Simon

 

[philipbh]

see also

http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=40894

for suggestions

 

[trustysteed]

thanks for the suggestions but i don't need advice on the type of bike to buy, i know i'm looking for a ladies road bike (not a tourer). i was hoping to get some advice on reasonably priced models currently available like the Vitus but for women.

 

[Spinney]

What's the difference between a ladies road bike and a 'normal' one?

I know that for basic bikes there is a different cross-bar arrangement, so girlies can cycle in skirts - but does anyone ride a road bike in skirts?

 

[trustysteed]

stuff like the geometry and saddle-width is different

 

[chris667]

I don't think you'll get anything specifically designed for women at that price. A good shop could let you swap out bits like the saddle, or she might be comfortable with one as it comes off the shelf.
But to be honest, if she wants to do club riding, I'd try to spend a bit more, or buy secondhand. £300 is enough to buy a really, really good road bike secondhand, or a mediocre new one.

 

[wafflycat]

Speaking as a lady, a real one, not the sort forming a sketch on Little Britain, and being of average height, I've never found I've needed a female-specific bike in terms of frame/geometry. Saddles are likely to be the item to change on a bike anyhow, as they are such a personal thing when it comes to fit/comfort whether you are male or female. So unless your good lady is particularly short of stature, you may well have a wider choice of suitable bike available than you think.

 

[trustysteed]

she won't be doing club riding, just coming with me for longer rides on the weekends, about 20 miles maybe to start. i'll hunt around and see if i can track anything suitable down. realise i may have to go up to about £500 anyway. the reason i quoted £300 was because that was the Vitus price.

 

[simon_brooke]

thanks for the suggestions but i don't need advice on the type of bike to buy, i know i'm looking for a ladies road bike (not a tourer). i was hoping to get some advice on reasonably priced models currently available like the Vitus but for women.

Specialised Dolce is a very nice little bike, and good value for the price. I bought my ex-partner one, and it's been good.

 

[philipbh]

From Bike List - Womens / Under 700

http://www.thebikelist.co.uk/Choose/Results?type=3&gender=women&sort=arrp&price=-700

Evans only has one in their sale

http://www.evanscycles.com/products/pinnacle/aura-flight-2009-womens-road-bike-ec018115

Hope this is what you were after?

 

[trustysteed]

yeah, nice one, thanks. quite like the giant from the first link. i've got a scr 2.0 which i like so that's def one to bear in mind.

thanks guys!

 

[AliceTara]

Can you get it through cycle to work? I got a £600 boardman comp at the end of 2008 reduced to £500 then through C2W it comes to about £300. Bargain! Its a good road bike, light, fun to ride and I'm new to it all too. Loving it now...

 

[jann71]

yeah, nice one, thanks. quite like the giant from the first link. i've got a scr 2.0 which i like so that's def one to bear in mind.

thanks guys!

Bit more than £300 but I have a womens Giant road bike too. Got it in July 2008 which I think is an SCR (was £550). Great bike and use it regularly for 30 mile club runs.