Touring - $2000 gift for a Great wife. Please Help

OK, Here is the deal. I am married to an amazing woman who loves to road cycle. For the past ten years money has been TIGHT TIGHT TIGHT.. yet she hasn't complained even though she can BARELY keep up with her gf's on their LONG road trips. They have lightweight advanced bikes and she has fought to keep up on her heavy mongoose leasure bike WITHOUT a single word of complaint. Frankly i don't know how she did it. The long distance rides are even tiring for her very fit gf's and yet my wonderful wife never uttered a word of complaint as she rode her heavy Mongoose tank. I have LONGED for the day when i could buy her an amazing bike and it has arrived.

I am considering one of two bikes and both are within a few dollars of each other and i think i am pretty set on one of these two bikes. they are both carbon fiber and both by good companies.. my concern is this. I don't have the expertise to compare the specs, which components are best and frankly which company may be best. i will of course have her "fit" to the right size but she relys on my research abilities to determine the brand and model.. based on price, of course. I think Trec has a crash replacement program but i need to call Specialized today to see if they have a simular program.

thank you so much for your help in this important gift to an amazing woman.

thanks again for your help.
Sincerely,
Steven aka.. Seacoast

Trek Pilot 5.0 WSD (Women's Specific Design)

Specialized Ruby Comp (model engineered for women)

honestly? find a store that has both, and give her a card that says you two are going out to have a special holiday, take her to brunch, and then take her bike shopping. or, get an old beater bike at a garage sale or goodwill, put a bow on it, give it to her, and then say, "but the real bike is still at the bike shop."

this because the specs, components, etc. are not the issue at that level - it's the subtlety of personal preference and fit. she has to ride them before she knows which one fits her best.

when i went out bike shopping, i rode probably fifteen equally nice bikes from different companies.. similar components, etc. one emerged as the clear winner, just because it felt right. i'd bet that the same will happen for her - or she may even find out that neither of those is perfect, and she'd like to ride a few more. either way, that's quite an investment, she should get what's perfect for her. (imho).

srrs is right on the money. You can buy the most expensive bike you can find but if it doesn't fit her, you just wasted your money.

What the other guys said. You pretty much get what you pay for as far as objective quality when you're buying a new bike, and the dealmaker should really be how it feels to her. Have fun!

The latest issue of Bicycling has a 2 pager on womens gear. They suggested for $1200 the cannondale R700 feminine. (alum) For 2520 the scott usa cr1 contessa carbon. the other is a $3,500 Orbea Dama Race. I know that wasnt really what you were asking, but they also mention other gear, Pearl izumi shugar shorts. Fi'zi:k Vitesse twin tech saddle. I guess it is allways feast or fammine. Happy Trails

Those are both beautiful bikes designed with women in mind and I'm sure she will be happy with either one. As others have mentioned, it is more a matter of fit and "feel" than raw specs in that price range - both will have excellent components and both are excellent brands. I just want to clarify one thing though - when you mentioned long road rides you meant long one-day rides, correct? Because neither of those models is designed for mounting racks or other devices to carry panniers for overnight trips, something many of us on this forum use our bikes for. Assuming the bike is for those long day rides, either one will be excellent - take her down and see which one she prefers.

Look at Burley's women's frames too. They're very nice.

I agree with them. Get your wife a $2000 gift certificate for the bike shop, and let her pick it out. If you pick it, it won't really be "hers". Great gift idea man. I wished I had married you!!! ;)

I agree. Although it would be great to surprise her with a new bike, in the long run she would probably prefer one she has picked herself, as choosing a bike is a very personal thing.
Unless of course you are worried she will want to spend the money on something else....

Great gift idea man. I wished I had married you!!! ;)

me too! way to go big fella!

Yes. lovely idea, but get her a rose or somesuch then take her to the shop so she can ride and choose on her own. If you pick, you might put her in the position of being 'polite' and not telling you she'd have preferred the other. My hubby simply said his bonus was mine and I could spend it on a bike. mmmm. love that man.

;)