Road Bike Novice! Help!

[Vikki]

I've been cycling for a few years and own a Pashley Tube Rider and a Giant Talon 29er. Although I love off roading I now want to join a cycling club for which I need a road bike.

I've never owned a road bike and I haven't a clue where to begin. Are there any types that are better suited to women? Are drop handle bars essential? I really don't know where to start. My local bike shop is great but I'd like to have a bit of knowledge behind me before I go in to have a look.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Nearly there]

What's your budget?Yes you can buy women specific bikes but you don't have to,drop bars give you more hand position options and not all road bikes have the same geometry

 

[smokeysmoo]

to CycleChat

They are WSD, (Women's Specific Design) bikes available, however, a lot of women seem to go for 'mens' bikes in a smaller frame size as there is a lot more choice to go at TBH.

Specialized do WSD bikes, but you may be as well just being fitted for a generic bike by your LBS.

Road bikes can have flat bars if you prefer, but again there'll be more choice open to you for bikes with drop bars, IMO anyway.

I'm sure some CC ladies will be along soon with better advice than I can give though.

 

[coffeejo]

Best way to find out which suits you is to go in to the local bike shop and take different makes out on test rides. Some women are fine with men's bikes - all depends on your body's proportions.

 

[smokeysmoo]

Best way to find out which suits you is to go in to the local bike shop and take different makes out on test rides.

See, I knew one of our ladies of the female persuasion would be along soon

all depends on your body's proportions how much cake you consume.

 

[coffeejo]

I meant length of torso and arms, you cheeky oik!

 

[Vikki]

Haha thanks all. I can go up to about £1000. I think I'll just go and spend a few hours in the bike shop then. I do consume a lot of cake though...

 

[vickster]

Also of the female persuasion (and it looks like we may share a name )

I have two drop barred bikes -one 'unisex' (but built from the frame to fit me) and one female specific which needed no adjustment. I did try the men's equivalent but would have needed to make all kinds of costly changes to bars and stem and what's more, I didn't like the design . I am not exactly petite at 5'10

You can get flat bar fast bikes but as you have two and want to join a road club, best get drops

A good lbs is the best place to start and you have a healthy budget. For a grand, you should be looking at alu with carbon forks with either tiagra or shimano 105 group set. Make sure you have a test ride. Now I believe sometimes for sportives , clubs etc you are required to have mudguards so check he bike will take them. You'll probably want to budget for shoes if do not use already on the other bikes

Happy shopping

 

[London Female]

Haha thanks all. I can go up to about £1000. I think I'll just go and spend a few hours in the bike shop then. I do consume a lot of cake though...

Hello Vikki

I would be really interested to know how you get on and what you decided on. I am also looking to buy a road bike within the next couple of months and also have a budget of £1000. Previously I have always had a WSD bike as I am not very tall (5ft 2). I have noticed that the choice in WSD is a bit limited and more expensive, with a lower spec than the mans equivalent. I was told by a friend that I could go for a small mans bike and the handlebar stem can be shortened to make the reach to the handlebars shorter.

Jan

 

[London Female]

Also of the female persuasion (and it looks like we may share a name )

I have two drop barred bikes -one 'unisex' (but built from the frame to fit me) and one female specific which needed no adjustment. I did try the men's equivalent but would have needed to make all kinds of costly changes to bars and stem and what's more, I didn't like the design . I am not exactly petite at 5'10

You can get flat bar fast bikes but as you have two and want to join a road club, best get drops

A good lbs is the best place to start and you have a healthy budget. For a grand, you should be looking at alu with carbon forks with either tiagra or shimano 105 group set. Make sure you have a test ride. Now I believe sometimes for sportives , clubs etc you are required to have mudguards so check he bike will take them. You'll probably want to budget for shoes if do not use already on the other bikes

Happy shopping

I didn't spot your reply before posting mine. They forgot to mention making the necessary changes to fit a mans bike for me would be costly!! Back to plan A and look for a WSD for me then....

 

[simmi]

I didn't spot your reply before posting mine. They forgot to mention making the necessary changes to fit a mans bike for me would be costly!! Back to plan A and look for a WSD for me then....

I agree if you buy a ready made design then start changing bits the cost will be greatly increased, but many brands like Ribble allow you to custom build the bike you want from the start so no extra cost is incurred.

 

[vickster]

I didn't spot your reply before posting mine. They forgot to mention making the necessary changes to fit a mans bike for me would be costly!! Back to plan A and look for a WSD for me then....

It rather depends whether you need to make the changes - at the very least to the saddle so that's £20+ straight off

If you need new bars/tape and a stem, then that's probably another £100

Most women's frames don't come big enough for me. My carbon is a 54.5cm frame and happily so is the Giant Avail.

You can of course buy from Ribble but that requires knowledge - for a newbie to roadbikes, a good LBS is a safe haven (or should be)

Currently recovering from surgery for tennis elbow which I believe was caused by a summer of riding a bike that was too big, I am understandably wary and would rather the frame a little small than a little big

I don't know how tall any of you are (51cm = 5'6 ish?), but this represents a very good deal IMO if the right size and you are ok with the slight damage - 105/Ultegra for £600. It's not even pink or mauve

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=93685

 

[simmi]

Having only recently just purchased my own first road bike for years the most important advice I can give you is make sure you get the gearing right for you.

I didn't know very much when I ordered mine and have since spent over £100 on a compact crank, new cassette and chain which if I had known more could have ordered from new without cost.

 

[totallyfixed]

Buying a mans bike need not be expensive to alter and quite often does not need changing at all, my better half, dr_pink on here, has a collection of bikes, none of which are female specific and she races two of them. If you had to change the stem a good bike shop that you bought the bike from should do that at no extra cost, if you had to do it yourself, a stem can be had for well under £20, similarly with the saddle, the shop should supply you with an equivalent ladies saddle at no extra cost.
The best advice I can give, and I often say this, is to take someone with you who is experienced, don't rely on the bike shop to get it right if you don't know them or they don't have a good reputation.
Good luck and don't be afraid to ask, oh and don't forget crank length, it makes a significant difference if you are short or tall.

 

[Hitchington]

Haha thanks all. I can go up to about £1000. I think I'll just go and spend a few hours in the bike shop then. I do consume a lot of cake though...

Cake you say?