Wife looking to upgrade to road bike from Specialized Vita Elite

[Goobs]

How is a road bike an upgrade from a hybrid?

If not an upgrade then a choice of 2nd bike...
It would have to be lighter and the drop bars would give a range of different hand positions and so posture positions to alleviate aches on the 30+ miles rides we now do.
I had £700 in mind as that's what I paid late last year for my Giant Defy 1 but it's really hard to find a WSD bike with 105 group set for under a grand. It seems I'd you stick Ladies on the front of the description you have to add £200 for similar spec men's bikes

 

[Cyclist33]

She's away. And promised she would stay away from internet (and cycling) for a week.

One out of two ain't bad!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

If not an upgrade then a choice of 2nd bike...
It would have to be lighter and the drop bars would give a range of different hand positions and so posture positions to alleviate aches on the 30+ miles rides we now do.
I had £700 in mind as that's what I paid late last year for my Giant Defy 1 but it's really hard to find a WSD bike with 105 group set for under a grand. It seems I'd you stick Ladies on the front of the description you have to add £200 for similar spec men's bikes

No triple though.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/avail.1/19183/77376/

 

[Mo1959]

No triple though.

http://www.giant-bicycles.com/en-gb/bikes/model/avail.1/19183/77376/

Compact with an 11-32 cassette though so should get up virtually anything. Nice bike.

 

[Goobs]

OK it turns out the missus has NEVER used the granny cog in her life on her Spesh Vita - even more hardcore than I gave her credit for

She had a ride on my Defy 1 last night and absolutely loved it ! I rode the Vita and was half a mile behind her after 10 minutes so god help me when she does get her own road bike !

So the requirements are... Under 9.5Kg, Tiagra at least (105 preferred), WSD possibly though she was happy enough on mine, Disc brakes so long as they don't take the bike over 9.5Kg just so she feels more confident stopping but again not a deal breaker.

We have looked and looked but need to start trying bikes out so will dash to Evans York this weekend for her to have a go on some different bikes.

They currently have some Cannondale, Fuji and Specialized in stock. There is a Giant store in York too and they do test rides. Sadly no Felt bike shops nearby - wonder why ?

 

[Mo1959]

@Goobs I think you may just struggle to find all the spec you would like at your budget of £700 unless you could possibly hold off for a couple of months until the 2016 bikes start appearing and some 2015 begin getting discounted. Good luck though, and look forward to hearing how you get on.

 

[jefmcg]

A

It seems I'd you stick Ladies on the front of the description you have to add £200 for similar spec men's bikes

Ah, the dreaded vagina tax.

When I bought my road bike, I decide for some reason that I wanted a WSD bike, and immediately rejected any brands that charged more for the same specs on a WSD bike. I narrowed my choices to Cannondale Synapse and Giant Avail.

If she's happy with Tiagra, the list price for the Avail 2 is £749. And if she enjoyed your bike, how about a defy?

 

[vickster]

Sure vickster will be along soon to help you out.......

She was on holiday but my buddy @jefmcg and others have done the honours

 

[vickster]

Here are a few mail order options around budget, not many triples, not sure on sizing availability

http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-avail-1-2014
http://www.ashcycles.com/site/giant-avail-2-2014

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s134p6316/SCOTT-CONTESSA-SPEEDSTER-25-2015
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s134p6317/SCOTT-CONTESSA-SPEEDSTER-15-2015

Carbon option with tiagra albeit black
http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/m7b0s134p5486/CANNONDALE-SYNAPSE-CARBON-TIAGRA-WOMENS-2013

 

[vickster]

One out of two ain't bad!

I did both

 

[Yazzoo]

I have a Trek Lexa SL for sale? I'm 5'4" and used to ride it but have since upgraded it. It has a triple, Tiagra, carbon fork, has done very little, still on original tyres and tubes as broke myself not long after purchasing it (not broken on this bike!). It's always been stored inside, hangs in my hallway! I know you said no to secondhand but other than that it pretty much matches your description perfectly!

 

[Goobs]

I have a Trek Lexa SL for sale? I'm 5'4" and used to ride it but have since upgraded it. It has a triple, Tiagra, carbon fork, has done very little, still on original tyres and tubes as broke myself not long after purchasing it (not broken on this bike!). It's always been stored inside, hangs in my hallway! I know you said no to secondhand but other than that it pretty much matches your description perfectly!

Thanks for the offer Yazzoo but since visiting all the LBS's at the weekend she has her heart set on a Cannondale Synapse 105 Womens Disc.
We hope to get one as soon as we get a 54 and 51 in the same room to try both on a turbo or a ride so she can make her mind up what size suits !
4 bike shops say she needs a 51 but the fifth (and the one that spend the most time with us) reckon she is a 54 with stem adjustments etc. None visited had both sizes in to try together

 

[vickster]

My 5'5 friend rides a 51cm Cannondale (2104 Sora version), all standard although sometimes she says she feels a little stretched. She had crosslevers fitted to facilitate braking as the shape of the Shimano hoods can be awkward for smaller hands to get enough force from the hoods (even with my larger hands, I steer clear of Shimano brifters). I am 99% sure a 54cm is too big for your wife, can't easily make a too big bike smaller, but you can make a bike a bit bigger (the 51cm comes with quite a short stem so plenty of leeway).

I'd go with the 4:1 ratio! As someone who is 5'10, 34" inside leg riding 54cm bikes with a 100mm stem (bike fit/check has been done on Retul and by specialised physio). She may of course have very long arms for her height and be extremely flexible and looking for an aero position, but you can't go that short a stem (70mm about the realistic min before handling goes awry)

Does the shop saying 54cm only have that one in stock perchance? Wouldn't be one of the larger chains?

 

[Yazzoo]

I would be very surprised if she is a 54 tbh, she's the same height as me and I have quite long arms for my height. My trek was a 52 and always felt short in reach but my De Rosa is technically a 48, with a compact (mens) frame and an actual TT of 52 - much better fit. Women's geometry is not always suitable for women if you're not of 'typical' proportions!

 

[Goobs]

Does the shop saying 54cm only have that one in stock perchance? Wouldn't be one of the larger chains?

No in fact they had no disc models in stock so would need to order in. They did have a 54 carbon though and kept mentioning it

I have heard some mention that the disc brakes are not all that impressive too so hope she can get to have a proper ride on one before throwing £1k at it.
Am I right in thinking they are cable not hydraulic ?